Monday, December 31, 2012

Up, up, and away...

Well, our plan was to go sledding on Zach's day off.
There is a local sledding hill with a tow rope,
but when we found out the price for tickets($60.00) for the whole family,
we decided to give our dead end road a try instead.
 
 Heading down the driveway,
my husband yells for me to watch out...
he wasn't going to miss any opportunity to sled on this excursion.
 
 The hill doesn't look that long in the picture,
let me attest to it, it is. 
Zach and I both pulled our kids up the hill to get a good path beaten down.
 
 Well, it worked great for the kids,
but the adults were too heavy:(
The kids ended up going down 3 times and walking back up twice.
At this point, I was rethinking the sixty dollars.
 
Zach stayed on the top of the hill to help send down the kids to me
at the halfway point(just to make sure everyone was ok)
We had a great time.

 After we got finished sledding, it was time for some serious fort building.
Another reason to love my garden boxes, they make the best snow forts
when your husband has scrap lumber:)
 
 Oh yes he did.
The roof is secured and mama doesn't have to worry about cave ins.
This is the best fort ever!
 
 The girls even have their own rooms in the fort.
My eldest has been busy building walls everywhere
for when the enemy(dad) attacks with snowballs.
 
We had a great day off...

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Christmas morning...

was absolutely delightful.
 
 The kiddos excitedly opened their stockings,
proudly holding up their own oranges,
which they devoured immediately.
 
 After eating our traditional Christmas morning Kringle,
we started in on the gifts. 
 
 I had to add this picture of my big girl
because it reminds me of "two-blades".
When I was younger,
all I did was to wish for "two-blades"(ice skates)
and I have a picture of me opening them and having this same expression.
 
I treasure home-made gifts,
which is probably why I hand them out every year,
sorry family:) 
This gift is a favorite for this mama,
made my eldest little love.
 
We hope you had just as much excitement as we did.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas to all

My wonderful husband surprised me yesterday with glass ornaments to
repair my grandmothers kissing ball.
He even found pink, which is what I always thought were the
prettiest ones when I was young.
My girls love those the best too:)
 
Many Christmas blessings to you all.
May you be surrounded by the love of God, family, and friends.
 


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Breakfast with Santa

Well, all the kids took their turn with Santa.
They all made their requests:
My eldest for a battle game to play with his cousin.

My little princess for a Polly pocket slide,
to which Santa responded, "No one has ever asked me for one of those before,
but I will get one for you"
Of course, to be the first one was all she needed to hear.


My big girl made me laugh out loud.
She was the third to see Santa.
She knew he would ask her name and what she wanted for Christmas
so she walked up to him(didn't get on his lap) and said,
"My name is ---- and I would like nesting dolls"
and turned to walk away.
 
We had a great time.
The kiddo got to see some of their cousins
and get to pick out some presents for mom and dad to put under the tree.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

O Christmas Tree

Well, we got snow just in time for finding our Christmas tree.

We got bundled up and took a hike in the woods looking for the perfect tree.

We found one and it was my turn to cut it down...
someone should have told me to shake it off first:)

The excitement grew and grew...
snow, Christmas trees, oh my.

My strapping lads carried the tree out of the woods 
 
and to the house.
 
Our selection is dwindling for good Christmas trees so
I think that will be on my planting list for next year...
Christmas trees in the clearing.
 

Friday, December 14, 2012

A Bit of Variety

 
These may seem like random pictures,
but I have had many pictures and haven't had a chance to post
so bare with me...
 
We got back from our trip
 and set up the girls room with their new bunk beds.
They love them and have already provided hours of playing.
 
Another fan favorite, is the new blender we got from my parents.
We have been making smoothies almost everyday.
 
 I splurged and got myself a little treat (pickled herring) the other day.
I found out I'm not the only one who is a fan:)
My big girl ate most of mine without the crackers.
It makes me smile and think of my Grandpa, who also loved this little treat.
 
Here's a picture the day before it snowed
as we picked up the outside items and winterized.
My silly cat "Mittens" loves my garden boxes.
 
I love the snow and in my opinion:
if the weather is going to be cold, there should be snow on the ground.

I don't think you can get anything better than this.
 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

My Family Christmas

We had a lovely time in Green Bay for my family Christmas.
It was a whirlwind time with three activities per day, at least. 
 
Friday started with opening Christmas presents.

Everyone was having a blast and sharing:)

My big girl only has this look on her face
because Nana gave her the whole candy container.
To get to this one's heart:  use food!

 
We had a wonderful visit from my sister's friend Ami.

 
Everyone loved getting in those hugs that we had waited too long to give out.

 
Even though half of the household was on antibiotics,
we still all had to see the doctor(s) at least twice a day.
Below is My Big Girl giving her cousin a checkup.
 
My cutie holding our newest niece.
 
We all got dressed up to head to my niece's baptism.
 
And slip in an updated family photo.
 
A quick picture of the newest member of the church with
parents and God-parents.

Then back home for dinner and cookie decorating contest.
 
Here were some of the winners...
the judges were woken up to award the titles.
The son-in-laws took a whole 6 awards this year,
which is the most they got in one year. 
Way to go guys!
 
Saturday was another big day with all of my mom's family
and their children coming to town for a family reunion.
It was a busy day: haircuts, making food, and visiting relatives.
Did I mention there was snuggling going on?

We all had a great time!
The only thing I would change is the frequency of how often this happens.
I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends.
 
 
 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Computer problems...

I have to apologize for the delay in posts...
 I'm not able to post pictures right now and
I have many to share.
Computer problems aren't one of my strengths:) 
Until then...