Self-Sufficiency

Yesterday I was in the process of completing the big pajama pants sewathon for my kids. While I was doing this, my daughter apparently decided she was hungry. When I walked through the kitchen to show off my progress to Danny, I noticed Ellie sitting at the table with a pop tart on a plate... happy as a clam. Upon further inspection, I realized she had scooted the stool over to the counter (we have very high counters, so quite scary actually) climbed on top of the counter, grabbed herself a plate, got down, went into the pantry where she got herself a pop tart, put it onto the plate and sat up to eat.

Now, I know she loves pop tarts. She would eat them all day long if I let her... IF I let her! Now I have to keep my eyes on her, as she will just help herself whenever she wants. Sometimes I wish she was my little baby still. :)

PJs

For the first time I am actually making my children's Christmas pajamas this year instead of buying them. I just finished Ellie's and I love them! They turned out really cute! I even took the time to put a pocket in the back (something that I probably won't do for the boys). Anyway, check them out...

Front:

Back:

PS... To see them bigger (up close) just click on the picture.

It's Tiring To Be A Girl

Ever since Kayla was here and introduced my daughter to painting nails, Ellie is always wanting to have pretty nails. She sometimes gets confused and calls them pony tails instead of fingernails (silly girl). She loves to have them painted and she actually sits still while they are drying. This particular time, she actually fell asleep while her nails were drying. She was so cute, just sitting there with her fingers spread and her head on her arm. See for yourself... So cute!

Christmas Decor

I've been meaning to post pictures of our tree for a while now. We got a real tree this year. It is the first year we have gotten a real tree. And it's BEAUTIFUL! I love it. Danny says it's too big. :)

I was also able to put out my nice nativity set. I love that thing! I wish it was pertinent for me to keep it up year round!

Pictures

Fun In The Snow

After the big snowstorm earlier this month, the kids wanted to go play in it. Preston had the grand idea of making a snow "gum-ball machine", so he and his friend went to work on that. Kaden, on the other hand, wanted a really great snow fort. He invited a neighbor friend over to help him with it. They got about 1 foot of the walls up. Then it got dark. It was a good idea though. :) As for Ellie, she just wanted to be a part of the big kids' fun. And she just played with the fluffy white stuff.

Pictures!

From Thanksgiving To Christmas!

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving! Danny's family came and stayed. We had everyone together except Matt and Kim who are in Virginia (we miss you guys). We loved visiting with everyone and (I must say) had a really great Thanksgiving meal (turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pretzel salad, spinach salad, rolls, honey butter, etc, etc. - I could keep going). It was awesome to see everyone. And we know what it took for them all to make it here. Between the many storms, it was amazing that they were here.

Anyway, Danny's mom gave each of us girls a project to complete. It is such a cute advent calendar (of sorts). I really wanted to finish it by today so that my kids could join in the fun of counting down to Christmas. Here is the final product:

Isn't it awesome. I just have to say that Ann thought of absolutely everything and I really appreciate the time she put in to this craft. The picture doesn't do it justice. It looks even better in person. And, if you can't tell, each of the little people, animals, buildings, etc hang on buttons. So from now until Christmas, the kids will get to hang up one picture each day.

Now all I have to do is get to the store and buy a hook for it to hang on. I was going to do that today, but from my earlier post, you might gather that it's just a little too snowy out for that kind of outing. Maybe tomorrow...

(Thanks again Ann!!! You're the best!!!)

What!?! No School???

One of the pros to us moving to the Boise area is that everyone we talked to said that the winters here are so mild. They all said that it might snow a little but that it usually melted by the next day.

Well yesterday it started to snow. And it snowed... and snowed... and snowed. I think it has only let up for a few minutes this afternoon and then started back up again.

So when we woke up to the announcement of "no school for Meridian School District", all I could say is, "mild, my bum." Oh well. I've lived with the snow my whole life, guess I'm just meant to live in the fluffy white stuff for the rest of it as well.

Our Back Yard:

Out The Front Door: