hoping for snow

"Look mommy, I can use my Webkinz snake as a scarf! Now I'm ready to go outside and play in the snow!"-Cale Let's hope the snow actually comes...the boys are anxiously awaiting it's arrival.

Christmas home tour

Today the Nester is hosting a Christmas Tour of Homes and I thought it might be fun to join in. I don't have much Christmas decor, but I'd love to share what we do have. Welcome to our home...

the outside is hubby's only job as far as the decorating goes (he likes blue lights and I like clear...this is our compromise)

The main tree (the boys decorate it by themselves every year) It is full of the ornaments the kids made at school. We also buy the boys a new ornament each year (something that shows something unique to that year). It's fun to put the ornaments on every year and remember the meaning behind each one of them from years past.

Remember when I said that the boys put the ornaments on the tree? See how bottom heavy the tree gets...it always so many more ornaments on the bottom half than other part of the tree. I guess it's right at their level. I love it!

This is the first year that I've had a grown-up tree to decorate just how I please. Funny thing is that I've always wanted one, but now that I have one, I think it's kind of boring...none of the ornaments have any meaning to them the way the ones on our big tree do. Don't get me wrong, I still like having a grown-up tree though. I didn't have a tree skirt for it so I used the afghan that I kept when my Grandma passed away. I think of her every time I look at the tree.

the fireplace

the table in our living room with a few Christmas items and my ornament platter hangs on the left of it

this poor little snowman is our first casualty of the season as the bird on his hat already needs to be glued back on (the boys just can't seem to figure out that baseball is better played outside!)

the table in our entry way

this is the plate we put Santa's cookies on each year

Santa found a nice warm home on my stove top

The shelf in the hallway with a few of my favorite things...I love snowmen!

And lastly, Santa sits on the breakfast bar.

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!

lucky girl

The other day while the big boys were at school, I got to sit and do this...


I got to sit down with Cale (who was still in his pj's at 1:00 in the afternoon since the only time we had to leave the house all day was to take Connor and Coby to and from school) and hold him while he fell asleep in my arms. It's moments like these that I feel so blessed to be a stay at home mom. I know my days of holding a sleeping child are going to be end soon since Cale is my last baby. I am determined to enjoy these moments with him. Lately he's been wanting me to "rock a bye" (his words) him before bed at night. I. love. it. No matter what I'm doing, I always stop and do this because I know he won't want me to do this much longer. I want to soak it all up while I can!

just wondering...

Is it a bad thing that while eating the Special K bars (which I actually made for me the kids) Darren said, "Man, you could build a house with these bricks!" Surely that was a compliment, no? Funny thing is that he went back for seconds! I guess he liked my bricks at least a little bit.

turkey day: take 2

Yesterday the boys and I spent the day at Nina and Poppy's house for the Crooks' family Thanksgiving. Darren was working, so he wasn't able to join us, but as is the case every year thus far, all the siblings, spouses and kids were all able to be there. The cousins, Connor(9), Coby(6), John Michael(5), Cale(3), Lincoln(2 1/2), Juliet and Audrey(2 year old twins), Madison(2 in Dec.), and Lauren(1 1/2) all had SO much fun together this year. It was a zoo, but I've never seen all the kids play and have as much fun together as they did this Thanksgiving. I honestly thought the boys and I would just stay for a few hours (lunch was at 1), but we didn't get home until just before 10 pm. I always find that once I get there, I just don't want to leave...and the boys, well they're the same way. What a fun day. Can't wait to do it all over again on Christmas day.

first there was food...lots of food

Coby, of course was still at the table eating THIRDS when everyone else was done.

then the REAL fun began with a day of outdoor play (Connor and Poppy opted for golf)


Coby and John Michael had bicycle races (they got hot so they decided to go shirtless)


Poppy took Lauren and Cale on a wagon ride to the pond (the big kids followed on their bikes)


Coby rode the sit and scoot (the adults love this one as well)


The best part (aside from the fact that the whole family was together) was that the kids were worn out by the end of the day. They sat down and watched all of Madagascar 2 while the adults conversed. What a perfect day!

Oh, be sure and check out our photo site, I am finally up to date on it! I am going to try to keep up with it from here on out. We'll see how that goes! ;)

turkey day

We had a great afternoon with Darren's side of the family today and look forward to spending the day with my family tomorrow. It's so nice to be able to spread Thanksgiving out over a two day period so that we are able to fully enjoy time with both of our families without having to rush. I am thankful for so much this year, but my healthy, rambunctious boys and amazing husband top the list.

Sadly, I didn't get a pic of all the boys on this Thanksgiving day. The only pictures I took were of Cale. He and I spent some time outdoors while waiting for the turkey to get done (I was trying to keep him entertained).

I forgot to share the pictures from Cale's Thanksgiving feast at school last week. So, here they are...better late than never! Right?

pumpkin bread

I came home after church this evening and made two loaves of pumpkin bread. I've been meaning to make it since the beginning of fall, but just now got around to it. Maybe I was just not in the mood since it has been staying in the 70's here for the past couple of weeks. It is really hard to want to make pumpkin bread when it is that warm out. Today is the first day that it has really started to cool off. I LOVE it!!!! I am ready to be able to wear my sweaters, jeans, boots, coats and sweatshirts without getting all hot and sweaty in them. It finally feels like fall is here. Nothing says fall like cool, crisp weather and a slice of warm pumpkin bread. Mmmmm. I heart fall.