O a sledding we will go......

Today was the best.

I love days when our family can get out and enjoy God's beautiful world.

Today we conquered the sledding hill.

We bundled up. ( But not too much, ya need to know that we are in the middle of a heat wave~ 32 degrees today!! It hasn't been this warm is at least a month!) Headed over to Grandma Kay's house to drop off Audrey and pick up my 2 little brothers who wanted to sled with us.

Off we drove the The Hill.

We climbed and climbed will until we made it to the top, all pulling our sleds behind us.

Lucky little Owen gets a ride up the hill:) Wish I was 2!!

The boys made it to the top first and down they flew. Getting thrown out of their sleds just about every trip down.

Even I had to try it out a few times. I was lucky enough that Ben had the camera this time so I could relive this trip down the hill. Thanks Honey!

I did get thrown off the sled in a much worse fashion later on but thankfully Ben didn't have the camera on then. Although when we reached the bottom of the hill another family was just getting there and they had to comment on The Amazing Flying Woman that they had seen when I was making my way down the hill. Yup that's how I "Roll" haha:)

I think a fun time was had by all. I can't wait to get out there and do it again!!

The "Mommy Blunder of All Time" Award goes to....

ME!!!!

Thank you , thank you. I would like to thank my camera for offering the opportunity for this magical event. I would like to thank my husband for forgiving me for earning this award. And a special "thanks" to my kids will will undoubtedly never forgive me and will bring this up many times as the day mom ruined Christmas.

Would you like to hear about how I won this prestigious title? No? Too bad, I'm going to tell you anyways.

We had a lovely day spent at my parents home for Christmas Eve, which I spent most of the day trying to capture it all in photos. I admit I was being a little camera happy. ( You would too, if you finally had a nice camera for Christmas.)

Christmas morning was spent in the typical way, reading the Christmas Story for the Bible, opening presents and eating our typical breakfast tradition of Monkey bread and Orange Julius'. I was having such a great time capturing the kids excitement with my camera as they opened the gifts that we had gotten them. Audrey's face was precious as she opened hers that contained a kitty that meowed, purred ,and walked. Owen was so excited to get a big Tonka dump truck and the older boys were jumping up and down when they each opened up a new video game. Then there was me, jumping up and down when I opened a gift from Ben that was the famed Photo Shop. I could hardly wait to upload the program onto the computer.I started taking even more pictures just so I'd have more to edit on the new software. While waiting for it to upload, I decided to try to find the setting for taking pictures in the RAW form, but when I got to what I thought was that setting I was in fact in the card format and stupidly clicked OK instead of CANCEL. Just like that all the pictures were wiped clean off the camera and card. I panicked and cried. Desperately hoping for some chance that they would still be on there. But alas, it was not to be. I started to think about all the memories I'd captured on that card, all the moments I'll never again get to enjoy in the same exact way. I won't ever see those snapshot again. I now am trying to reconcile to myself that the pictures were not that important. I still have the memories, right?!?

This makes me think about when Jesus was born. About Mary. It says in Luke 2:19 :

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

 She didn't have a camera. But, she did treasure those moments and had the memories so she could remember that special time. The most important thing that could ever happened and she experienced it! And she DIDN'T HAVE A CAMERA!! Because of that I will try not to feel too bad that I lost all those precious pictures because I will still treasure those moments and I'm sure will ponder them many times in my heart.

Merry Christmas!!!!


From our house to yours:)

Hopefully He'll Forgive Me Someday.....

.........But I doubt it!



Owen has been sporting a new "look". He has taken over Audrey's Tutu which has annoyed her so much that I had to make her another one so they could both be wearing them. He loves wearing it and I'm sure Daddy will not be very happy to see that he won't take it off. I'm hoping we will be able to go to Ben's parents Christmas party tonight without too my hysarics when we won't let him where it there. I'm sure he'll live to regret this someday, but I am actually enjoying this little bit of entertainment since it has gotten quite boring around here with all the snow we've been getting lately.Nothing like a little boy pretending he's a princess to wipe away those winter blues! I can't wait to put these in the paper when he's 18 and to be able to bring out to show his girlriend someday.

You're Here by Francesca Battistelli

5 reasons I should have stayed home!

Its snowing here....again.
I don't think we've had so much snow by this time of winter in years. It is beautiful and the kids love it. I just wish Ben didn't have to work in it. I really worry about him out driving in these snowstorms. I really hope this one doesn't strand him out in South Dakota like the last one!

Last night was our church's Children' Christmas Program. The 3 oldest boys did a great job remembering their lines and I was a proud mama for sure. But the evening didn't start out so great. Trying to get 5 kids and myself fed and dressed nicely and to the church by 6:30 is a feat in itself but when you throw in the extra hiccups I was about to find a nice little dark quiet hole to hide in. It started by the rushing through the house, trying to get coats and shoes and hats and gloves on everyone because it was a cold night...-7 degrees.

 #1 reason I should have stayed home=While we were driving into town I realized that dummy mommy forgot to put a sweater on Audrey who was wearing a sleeveless dress.When we got to church I realized I forgot mine as well.

 #2 = Trying to rush into the church from the parking spot on the street while we were running late while trying to balance a 1 1/2 year old on my hip along with carrying all the gifts for the Sunday School Teachers, the diaper bag, my purse, my big camera and holding a 2 year old's hand so he wouldn't get hit by the cars that were driving past. My blood pressure was I'm sure sky high just by doing this when the gift bag for one of the teachers decided to rip open from the bottom and out flew the 2 ltr of Sprite and a roll of Summer Sausage across the street. After yelling for the kids to "HELP ME" we managed to get into the door of the church.

 #3= While standing in the entry, Ethan, who is holding the platter of Christmas Cookies that we brought for the fellowship afterwards drops it and they all roll onto the floor. Right there I just wanted to cry and run away! Finally we get all the treats picked up. All the kids go to where they are supposed to be.

#4 =  I go downstairs and see my sister and she asks me if I'm all right. I just break down right there. Tears and all. I ran to the bathroom to try to suck it up. The program starts. My mom takes Owen to sit with her. The program starts and I'm so proud of my kids up there. Then the singing starts.

 #5 = Audrey decides she needs to go up there and sing with the other kids, unfortunately for here Mommy won't let her have her way. She proceeds to scream and throw a hissy fit every time the kids do a song. I finally gave up and walked out with her. 

Finally the program ends and we visit for a while and then go home. I was so happy to go home. Its days like this that make me hate Ben's job. I hate being alone for special things the kids have. I don't think he's ever made it to any of the kids Christmas Programs. It makes me sad that he doesn' get to see his kids up there. It makes me sad that while everyone else's husbands are there for them to help them just to get the basics done ,like helping everyone get to church,I am all alone trying to manage 5 kids. I know my husband hates being gone for those important things too. I'm so thankful that I have a husband that works so hard to provide for us even if it means him having to miss out on all the fun stuff with the kids but it doesn't make it any easier.

I realize now that even though I wanted to run away last night, I'm so blessed with such a great church family. When the cookies dropped a wonderful lady from church quickly said "It's o.k honey, 5 second rule right and the carpet just got vacuumed so its clean. Let me help you" What a lady- she is so sweet. I don't know if she knew how close to tears I was. Blessed with a mom who helped me with Owen and helped me get all the kids out to the van when it was over.Blessed with a sister who knows what I'm feeling and understands when I break down in tears in front of her. My other sister who tells me she likes my skirt even though I felt like I looked like crap. My pastors wife, she tells me that I encourage her when I don't know how that could be when she's the one that always has an encouraging word. It makes my tear up just thinking about all the wonderful people God has put in my life to be there for me when I feel like I can't take it another minute.

I have so much to be thankful for and I'm just so thankful that He is always there putting people in my life when I need that bit of comfort or encouragement. Its so amazing to me that the God of All the Universe cares about me. About all of us. He sent his one and only son to be a savior to us. Just to live so he could die for us. Think about that. Did you know that you were loved that much? And even more amazing is that He would have done all that just for me or even just you. He is Wonderful. I hope that you want to know Him if you don't already because He is there just waiting for you to accept that amazing most wonderful gift of love.


2 Corinthians 12:9,10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" Therefore I will boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in persecutions, in hardships, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

5 on Friday

Hold on to your pants people, we got a lot of ground and sweets to cover here.

1. Cookie Cut-outs. Tradition. This is one of many. It just wouldn't seem like Christmas without making Christmas Cookie cut-outs with the kids. I grew up doing this with my mom and sisters and it is one I will continue doing with my kids. Its the one time I try really, really hard not to get so picky on how they are cutting the cookies out. I gave them each a hunk of dough and they went at it. They got to decorate their cookies too and eat them ( because if you had seen them, you wouldn't have wanted them either- so many sprinkles and layers upon layers of frosting!) But they had a blast and so did I:)

2. We still try to carry on the tradition of making cookies with my mom and sisters every year.

This year it was at my sisters house and bake, bake, bake we did. So many goodies and sweets we felt sick from looking at them all. We had so much fun laughing and tasting everyones cookies and candies.The only thing that was missing was my sister, Jessica, she had to work and couldn't make it. I love spending time with my mom and learning from her. She is one of my bestest friends. I love that woman and have always wanted to be like her. Just look at her- what a babe:)

3. Gingerbread House Party.

This year was the second annual Gingerbread House Party. I organized this party and had so much fun doing it. A bunch of our friends came and each family had a "house" to decorate their ownIt was really fun to see all the kids (and moms when the kids got tired of doing it;) creativity in how they decorated their houses with tons and tons of candy.

4. Snow, snow, snow....

It can be a love/hate relationship.

It's not fun to drive in. We get stuck in it. We get snowed in our house. It's cold. It makes for a lot more work for Ben.

but.....

It

is

Breathtaking!

And so worth it:)

5.I just thought I'd share our favorite

 Christmas Cookie Cut-out recipe.

Old Fashioned Sour Cream Cookies

1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

2 2/3 c. flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg (optional)

1/2 c sour cream

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cream butter, sugar,egg and vanilla together until smooth.

In another bowl, mix together dry ingredients.

Alternating the sour cream and flour mix add gradually to butter/sugar mix.

Cover and refrigerate for a few hours.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut out with cookie cutters.

Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes. Frost when cool.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You will probably want to double the recipe. I usually do and sometimes triple it.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. It is so yummy and the cookies are nice and soft. Delicious with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee.

I'm still here!!!

Hello again!
Its been a while since I've posted anything. We've been busy, but I'm not really sure what with. That time of year when the days go by faster than I can think.

We've The kids have been enjoying all the snow. Although I did don my snowpants and boots and head out there with the kids this week. We made snow angels and played king of the hill. We've made some Gingerbread Men and our living room looks like a blizzard with lots and lots of snow flakes hanging from the ceiling. Everytime Audrey comes downstairs in the morning she just giggles and squeals because she just loves those snow flakes. She is amazed that they are "floating" in the air:).

We have been infested with mice again. I thought I'd gotten them all this fall when we caught about 12 of them in traps. But once again they've made there presence shown with droppings all over the counters, in the drawers, and chewing the nipples off of bottles that were rolled under the couch or under Audrey's crib. Yuck! I really hate mice! We caught 2 the other night. That day I opened the door under the sink to get out the dishsoap and there sat a mouse on a sponge. After thoughlly freaking out and jumping up and down I tried to figure out a way to catch that sucker. It just sat there but as I tried to catch it in a bucket it ran off. A little while later Owen opened the cupboard there it sat a gain. This time Ethan thought he would take a crack at it with a dart. It got scared and ran off. I decided we better just set up a trap and sure enough not even 3 minutes later we heard the "snap"! Gotta get those rodents outta hear!

Ben and the three oldest boys are off ice fishing right now. They were so excited,. They just love fishing with Dad. We even gave them each one of there Christmas presents- sleds- so they can sled out on the lake. I hope they gets lots of fish because I could really go for a fish fry!

Well, I'm goign to go put the little kids down for a nap and maybe take one too- don't get this chance very often that the house is quiet.