Gratituesday

If you haven't noticed, I am trying to get back into blogging.  I have been having issues with Blogger and not being able to get into my account.  Frustrating!  So now I am on a kick to get some posts put up from where I left off.  Which means you might get sick of me.  Sorry.

I've been following Heavenly Homemakers for quite some time and decided it was high time to join in on her Gratituesday.  It's Gratitude.  On a Tuesday.  Brilliant. 

So, here's my official start...*giggle*....I giggle because I am always so good at starting things like this, and then never posting again about.  *I think I can, I think I can*.....

I am grateful for the conversations the girls and I have been having at bedtime.  I bought a new book that talks about Jesus and Easter and all that goodstuff.  Alayna wanted to know if we were going to talk about bunnies.  Sorry kid, no bunnies.  Lots of questions though, from the older two about if God is real, was Jesus really his son, can he see us, is the Bible real, etc. etc.  Oh, and a very important question from Miss little...."mom, how long does nail polish last?"  Glad to know you're paying attention there tootse.

Anyway, I have a book called the Storybook Bible.  It has a story for each day of the year, and it's not too kiddish, but kiddish enough that all three can understand.  I also have a questions book that has a ton of question and answers about being a Christian.  It's been fun having that time with them and hearing their thoughts on the Bible, Jesus and yes, even nail polish. 

Linking up to: Gratituesday

Christmas 2012

Because I am a supermom (in case you didn't know), I wanted to show you all these amazing pictures I took at Christmas to remember our special times together as a family....

Yep, that's it folks.  Enjoy all two pictures I took.  Ugh, if you didn't already know, I am not the world's best picture taker.  Not that I don't enjoy it, but I want to enjoy the moments, and not be behind a camera 24/7.  Maybe not the best excuse, but sometimes I just plum forget. 

We had a wonderful Christmas, we really did!  The girls were happy with what they got, and I sooooo enjoy seeing how giving Rachel and Emma are becoming.  They didn't want much for presents, because they don't need much.  They are also into making blankets to donate, so wanted gift cards/money to buy fabric.  Love it.  Alayna announced she would gladly take any gifts they didn't want.  Haha!

Miss A has been thoroughly enjoying her new American Girl doll, Marie-Claire.  Although we may just have to build a new house for all the accessories they now have...

Snow Day

Ahhh the fun of a snowy day!  Sledding, hot chocolate, rosy cheeks.  It's all fun and games until you're sick of the snow, cold, wind, driving in the snow, having to plow every other day.  But I'm not complaing, just so you know.  Yes these pics are from December, and yes it is nearing the end of March, and yes it STILL looks like this outside.  *sigh*  Spring will come, I just know it will....

Cheese!!

We have a fantastic sledding hill, and the girls are pros at stopping at the bottom before hitting the electric fence.  Hey, it's what we do in the country.

I love this pic, because Maci the cat even got in on the fun.  Although this was right after Alayna thought it would be fun to put Maci on the sled and push her down the hill.  Maci didn't think it was funny.  Have I ever told you that Alayna has a lot of energy? 

Rachel's Orchestra Concert

Rachel's orchestra class got the chance to perform at the Mall of America in December.  It was so fun to see them perform, and they did so well!  She plays the violin and loves it.  Don't ask how often she practices though....thankfully I think she just naturally gets it.  She did not get that from me!

Before performances, she helps her teacher tune all of the instruments.  I am glad she is playing an instrument, I always wished I would have been in band, or something.

Cookie Baking Day

I always chuckle when I look back at pictures of our cookie baking days.  We bake 400 dozen (ok, maybe more like 4) cookies that no one eats.  Seriously.  The kids aren't big cookie eaters, so we always send some home with others.

This year Mom came over and brought her sister in law Sharon with.  Sharon had a ball watching the girls decorate the cookies.  The girls absolutely love her, they call her Grandma Sharon!  We enjoyed potato soup and grilled cheese for lunch, and of course, cookies.

It appears that Emma is in a sugar coma already...poor girl...

Lot's of awesome looking cookies, that unfortunately met there demise a few months later.....

Halloween

Halloween 2012 was full of fun, embarrassment, sugar highs, crappy weather and sugar lows (see picture below).  The girls had some pretty sweet outfits...Emma decided she wanted to be a Pizza Ranch delivery girl, so Brad contacted the manager at our local Pizza Ranch and she gave Emma the t-shirt, hat, name tag and pizza box!  She was tha-rilled!  Rachel was an 80's girl....*sigh*...a girl after my own heart. I may have spent a little too much time getting all the stuff for her outfit, but it was so fun reminiscing.  Alayna was a black cat, we tried to convince her to be a mouse, which is her nickname, but it was a no-go.

As you can see, the end of the evening proved to be a bit too much for the poor kitty cat.  She was D.O.N.E.  Fun had by all, and we shall eat candy for the next year now....

Spring Break

We did an impromptu spring break vacation.  Friends of ours were going to Wisconsin Dells and asked us to go with.  At first we declined because we are going to Disney in June.  Yes I said June, the hottest time of the year in Florida.  We then thought it would be fun to go for a few days, Sunday-Tuesday.  We were just there last June, so the girls were stoked to be going again!

We all had a blast.  Well, maybe except for Brad.  This feller is notorious for getting sick before going on vacation.  I'm serious.  Never fails.  The last time he got sick was right before we went to Mexico, three years ago. 

The girls got to try the rock climbing wall.  Emma almost made it to the top, Rachel's fear of heights took over so she didn't get too far.  Poor kid is just like me.

Emma and Brad did this rope course that takes you waaaaaay up, and then they have different rope obstacles to do.  My hands and feet were a ball of sweat watching them.  At one point I quit watching...

Alayna got to do the little kids course, she thought it was pretty cool!  Our favorite ride was the simulator.  You wear 3D glasses and sit in a movie theater like setting.  The simulator is a mine and everybody has these laser guns that you shoot at the screen.  Your chairs move around with the movie.  It was a blast,  I think I screamed more than the kids, haha!

Of course we had to do the photo booth.  Bet you never knew my eyes could get so big....