Sleigh Ride

Every year we take the kids to Thanksgiving Point were they have a horse drawn wagon ride through their Christmas light display. We dress the kids up in their winter clothes and out we go to freeze for a half hour but have a great time doing it. This year I got a little smarter and grabbed blankets for everyone. The sad part was that half the lights weren't working this year. So some of the displays had half a figure lit up. One wooden solider only had a hand waving and the big Santa at the end was half a Santa. But it was still fun all the same. Laine got the whole wagon to sing two of his favorite carols. Afterwords we went up and thanked the driver and the kids got to pet the horses that took us around. Then up by the water tower they had two live reindeer on display. They were holding one up to the gate so the kids could pet him. Chesney very carefully picked out some straw on the ground and tried to call the other reindeer over to eat. It didn't work but it was cute! Jaycie kept asking where Rodolph was. We kept telling her he was with Santa. It was a good time had by all.

Gingerbread Houses

This year we added a new activity to our list of holiday fun. Decorating Gingerbread Houses! Kaylee got her own house to make. Chesney and Jaycie got to share one. They had so much fun. Chesney wanted hers to turn out just like Kaylee's so she paid close attention to what older sister was doing so she could do the same.

Here is me trying to keep the house from falling down!

And here are the finished works of art!

Decorating the Tree

The weekend of the Thanksgiving holiday is the weekend we put up the Christmas Tree. The kids were so excited! Although, all of them got pretty board doing it pretty quickly.

Random Cuteness

I have to jot down this story before I forget it.
So as parents when your children are learning to tell jokes you do a courtesy laugh to make them feel like they have done a good job. Apparently we have done it to much at our house. The other night at dinner Chesney was asking us if we wanted to hear a job and telling us different versions of the chicken who crossed the road. Jaycie, of course, couldn't be left out and asked everyone if they wanted to hear a joke. We all said yes and waited for her to continue. Nothing but silence. After about 15 seconds Chesney bursts out laughing. "Ha ha ha. That was a very funny joke!" We all lost it. It was the funniest thing that had happened in a long time.

The Holidays have begun

The kick off to my favorite time of the year has begun. I just love the Holiday season. I guess in my book it should begin with Halloween because I love that Holiday too. But something in the air happens right around Thanksgiving and lasts until the first of the year that makes my heart feel so good and grateful for every moment I get to spend with family and friends.
We celebrated Thanksgiving over at Tom's dads this year. What a great day. The food was excellent and the company was wonderful as always. The spirit of the Holiday shown through as we all gathered around the tables to feast. The only sad part was missing the rest of our family and their company. But for this particular occasion we have to limit ourselves to one family a year. Just know that the rest of you were in our hearts.
I must say that I love having a birthday in November. The best dessert of all time. Pie, especially pumpkin, can take the place of a birthday cake in a heartbeat! This year for my birthday all I asked for was not to cook. So Laine and Kaylee made me breakfast in bed. Scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. Delicious. Chesney and Jaycie helped me eat it. Then for dinner Tom bbqed some steaks and make mashed potatoes and corn. We were even lucky enough to get some of mom's home made rolls left over from the feast before. What a wonderful dinner. Kaylee snuck past me at the store earlier and bought me a lovely silver necklace that says mom. Absolutely beautiful. Laine and the girls got me some bath salts to help me relax in my tub. And all of them gave me an outfit (that I bought earlier). Such a wonderful family I have. Then we spend the next night at my mother's to celebrate. My grandmother made me a wonderful apron. And my mother made me some crochet teddy bear ornaments and two little animal purses that I asked for in miniature! I love getting my mother's work. I don't think I could ever get enough.
I am so grateful to everyone in making me feel loved. You are all hero's in my book.
We started putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house for the holidays. I am looking forward to the fun family activities we have in store this year. Making sugar cookies for Santa. Decorating gingerbread houses, and going for a sleigh ride to see the Christmas lights. Then of course, the big day itself with all the fun and excitement brimming. What a wonderful time of year!

Halloween 09

Halloween this year was different to say the least. This was the first year that we stayed home for Halloween. In years past we have always gone to my mothers house for a big Halloween party. This was the first year that she had decided not to do it anymore. Even if she had decided to we would have had to decline our invitation. Laine and Kaylee are old enough now that they want to Trick or Treat with their friends so for the few years they have left to do it we needed to stay put.

With that in mind, it was a good thing that we were home. Halloween was on a Saturday this year. The Monday before Tom came down with the flu. For three days he was home sick. Then on Thursday, Chesney, Jaycie and I came down with a really bad chest cold. Jaycie, I would dare say had the same flu that Daddy had. So Halloween came and no one was up for the festivities.

It did turn out nice though, since we were on the down side of our sickness we still got everyone dressed up and took the little ones out Trick or Treating. Laine was a Werewolf. Kaylee was a Cowgirl. Chesney and Jaycie were both Princesses. I made Kaylee's shirt and both princess outfits. Very proud at my first attempt at something so complicated. Then we just stayed in the rest of the night. Chesney and Jaycie had the most fun answering the door and handing out candy. So all in all a good Halloween.

Chesney is 4!

Every time a birthday comes for one of my kids I just can't believe where the time has gone. My precious Chesney is now 4 years old. WOW! I must say that she is a cute 4 year old. For months all I would hear at every toy commercial on TV would be "can I have that for my Birthday?" So shopping for her was really easy to do. Just go down the toy isles and pick a toy you like and she would love it. I love this age for things like that.

We had a small family party on the 19th. The actual day of her birth. We picked up a cake. All she said all morning was that she wanted a cake with purple and pink on it. So we found a princess cake with purple and pink icing on it and brought it home. We got her a couple of outfits, the mom standard gift, and a new "big girl" bike with helmet and pads. I think she was more excited about the cake then the bike.

Then the following Sunday we had her big birthday party. Again she wanted rainbow cake. Mom, not being a baker in the very least, made cupcakes and formed them in a rainbow and frosted them to look like a rainbow. She wasn't as excited about that but it worked. Everyone came and she made a hall, as usual. She got coloring books and crayons, Littlest pet shop, a toy phone, a Yo Gabba Gabba costume, a dance camera that you plug into the TV and see yourself dance, the Elefun game, and some very cute clothes! Everything was a big hit! It has been so cute to see and hear her use her imagination as she plays with everything.

I must say, I don't think there was a happier 4 year old on the planet! She had so much fun!

Thank you everyone for helping make her birthday a great one!