Monday, November 28, 2011

Thankful

There is nothing worse then being away from your family on a holiday.  But, there is nothing better then being far away and being invited and welcomed into somebody's home to join in their family festivities.  So, for this we are THANKFUL.

Our Thanksgiving started at the first of the month when we decided to write down each night (we made it happen every other night...pretty good I think) something we are thankful for.  We each wrote it on a piece of paper and then taped them on our back door.  The best part was to see what the girls were thankful for.  I learned that when you are 3 you are thankful for things like: Dora, firetrucks, family, Trynt, Bryce, Santa, Christmas trees, and Mrs. Maxwell.  I learned that when you are 6 you are thankful for things like: Princesses, friends, family, my teacher, Bryce, Trynt, Meme & Popi, Jesus, and Heaven. 

The week before Thanksgiving Addison's school had a Thanksgiving feast and of course there were goodies.  Daddy made Pilgrim hats out of cookies and marshmallows for us to take.
And of course it was great fun for all of us, but mostly Trynt and Addison.
Pictures like this make me want to cry because I can't imagine them without each other.

It was interesting to note that both girls were thankful for our little cowboy friends, Trynt and Bryce.  And I must say, their family made it on to all of our lists.  We have been blessed twice, once in Sumter, SC and once here in Texas to be "adopted" by a local family.  Our family in Sumter started out as our Realtor and she and her family took us in and really took care of me the first year Nate was in Korea.  That relationship grew to me working for her and her husband even filling in with flowers on Valentine's Day when Nate was away.  Words cannot express our deep gratitude to them and what they have meant to our lives.  And then when we thought we would never have that again we met the Palmer family.  Our kids are the same ages and we met through their school and our church.  They have allowed us to be a part of many of their family festivities and have given their time and love to us as any of our "real" family would.  My heart cries when I think of leaving them and what this will do to our children.  They have touched our lives in a way that we can never repay them.  They were God's blessing to us when I could see no good in moving to Texas.  We are thankful for families like the Palmers, who are willing to open their home to others in a very unselfish way.  They are a blessing to all who know them.  

This was our Thanksgiving with the Palmer family...

They live on a farm, so to speak...
Our invite started out as "bring a side"...it was mashed potatoes...then I got a call..."Can you look in that kid magazine and come up with a kid friendly dessert and a craft?"  Normally, I would not have time to do this with 3 kids.  But, I am locked down several times a day with the pump (the one Addison so eloquently showcased here) on the couch so I said, "sure".  This is called multitasking, even if it is a the 2 a.m. pumping.  So, sure enough I found two great ideas!

We started off with the craft....

First you need tissue paper, glass or plastic jars, glue, LED tea lights, and pipe cleaners.
  and you get LANTERNS!

Then you get to eat kid friendly dessert...cherry pies?
Ok, ok, chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate surprise in the middle, lots of icing, and red M&Ms...way better then cherry pie!

And then of course there are four different ways of consuming the kid friendly dessert.

OPTION 1: 
Icing and M&Ms only.
OPTION 2:
One small lick at a time...with your pointer finger.
OPTION 3:
There is the princess, graceful version that is neat and dainty.
OPTION 4:
And then...there is the BOY version.

What a day and we wouldn't have traded it for anything!

P.S. Allye was there...
sleeping in someone's arms and being passed and cooed over like she was one of their own.

Monday, November 21, 2011

A Doughnut Kind of Day

Some days you just need a doughnut, or a snickers, or a large bowl of ice cream, or a chocolate cake, well, you get the point.  Well, for Addison and me (Allye was standing guard in the swing), it was one of those days and since I bought the stuff to make homemade doughnuts before Allye was born, and no ingredients for any of the other above mentioned, we decided it would be a pj and doughnut kind of day.

It went something like this.  "Hey Addison, want to make some doughnuts?"  "Yes, yes, can I help?"  And we were off!  

1. We dug through the very disorganized recipe book and found the recipe for Apple Cider Doughnuts.

2. We got the cider ready to boil down. 

3. While the cider boiled on the stove we made the sugar coating...and a mess!

4.  While we waited and waited for the cider to cook, Addison helped...
make more mess... I mean mix the dry ingredients.  Then I put her down and told her we had to wait for the cider to cool and she should find something to do while I clean up the mess.  I am busily cleaning up and getting ready for the next step when I turn and see this...
 
I needed this laugh.  This is why God gave me girls.

5. After a BIG laugh we mixed the dough and cut out the doughnuts.

6. We fried 'em up, threw 'em in our sugary mix, and shook 'em.

7.  Then came the best part...we ate 'em!

And they were good!

There's nothing like a little quality time and a GOOD laugh!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Guess Who Turned 1 Month Old?

So, many of you have asked if Allye really does exist?  And where are the pictures?  Well, let me explain something about having t.h.r.e.e. kids...nevermind.  Anyway, here is a glimpse of Allye's first month, from her perspective, of course.  

We started off with lots of this...
and lots of this...
occasionally I would peek out to see what was going on...
and then one day Mommy thought it was a good idea to take some pictures of me...
and I did NOT like it one bit and I told her so like this...
so she thought she would be sneaky and try it when I had a full tummy...
this is the best I would do for her...

so then she thought maybe she should leave my clothes on and keep me warm...
then she begged me because it was important...she said I was one month old and I would regret this awfulness in my baby book...so, I cooperated...
By the way, I hear Mommy tell everyone I am her best baby yet.  Really, I am...I just cry when she pulls that terrible big black thing out that makes a bright light, sometimes when I am hungry, and well, I am not to fond of that swing just yet.


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

October Festivities - Part 2

So, even though I had an itty bitty newborn at home I was determined to make some Halloween outfits/gear for the girls.  This was crazy, of course, but I was going to do this.  And MAN?  I am sure he thought I was crazy but he smiled and patiently took care of things while I sewed, and sewed, and sewed.  So here is what we came up with.  See that "we",  I am giving him lots of credit...joking aside, this wouldn't have gotten done without you babe!

#1 - Beauty of the pillowcase dress....last year's dress, this year's swing top!

#2 - Had to have the Dora top---"sew" we made some cool pants!

#3 - Mommy already had the Hello Kitty top, "sew" we put the pants to good use...and this was the skirt Olivia ordered...

#4 - Of course Allye had to have something too...she is not trained in picture taking yet...

I have to share some of Addison's festivities at her school....she was determined to wear the mermaid outfit to everything and then Meme showed up with Ariel hair and there was no convincing her otherwise. 
 
Before the Senior Zone visit to sing Halloween/Fall songs!
Waiting on the Costume Parade and Fall in the Park event to begin.
Aren't they cute?  And check out the genuine smile from the teacher leading them.  We LOVE her!
No event would be complete without her Best Friend Trynt!

and then there was HALLOWEEN!

Well, for months Olivia has talked about what she wanted to "be" for Halloween.  We finally settled on Rapunzel.  Meme even found the hair for this one too.  But then Olivia changed her mind.  And what did Meme say when I had to break this news to her?  " I love it.  A girl has a right to change her mind!"  Of course, a momma would have said, "No way, I already bought everything, even the hair."  So, what did she want to be?  Hermione.  Hermione?  Really?  Well, I have to say, she did make a cute one...and looked pretty close to the real deal.  Most importantly, she was happy.  I am committed to letting them "be" what they want to be for this spooktacular day...

This blow-up is in our neighbor's yard.  They are the "cool" parents on the block.
and then we were off to Adventure Night at our church....
where we came across Harry Potter!  He was like "really?" and Olivia is about to bust with excitement!  
Ok, I could dedicate an entire blog to taking this photo but this one portrays each of them so perfectly!  Our cowboys turned into a knight and a dragon for the night!  Isn't that the cutest idea ever?
Yes, yes he did.  He says Olivia "guilted" him into it.  But, um, she had nothing to do with this...
and then there is Allye.  While she slept through most of these events we did get her in her costume for some quick pictures.  But, I thought you might like this little test first.  I am nostalgic...and crazy...since I have three girls all born within 30 days of each other (you know what I mean)...they have all worn the same costume.  See if you can pick them out...

 and 

the 

right 

answer 

is

Addison, Olivia, Allye....

Our Sweet Butterfly Allye and her First Halloween!


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

October Festivities - Part 1


It's FALL Y'ALL!  

Sorry, I couldn't help myself...especially since it is below 80 here in Texas, like I don't know how many days in a row!  Anyway, we got started early around here with some Fall festivities...crafting, baking, all the things I shouldn't have been doing since my unborn baby (at the time) didn't even have any diapers in this house.  Crafting and baking, and baking, and baking, sounded way more fun, so that is what we did.  

First we had to get our rotating picture frame fixed up with one of our famous seasonal paintings.  This is a great craft for all ages.  This was Addison's first attempt but I had to finish it up (it takes a little longer then she cared to spend).  Outline an image, give your babe a pencil with a flat, unused eraser, some paint and this is what you get.
Next we made a "treat" as we call them in this house.  I saw it in a magazine, can't remember where, but all you need are mini Nilla wafers, chocolate icing, pretzels, and Hershey kisses.  Then you get this...
ACORNS!  
We bagged 'em up and gave them to the teachers and "Hoped their day wasn't too nutty!"

Then we had a BABY...but we got right back to work.  

While Meme was here we completed our next craft...one for her and Popi...
and one for our house...

Then we had a project for Olivia to complete for school.  In honor of the letter "C" she had to create a clock out of a paper plate.  Of course, Addison needed to make one too.  Insert "anal retentive" mother and "let it all fly" father.  I'll let you determine who helped which child...


Our final project????  PUMPKINS!

We headed out to the patch...but we were a little late.  So, we took some pictures with the pretty stuff...
and then headed to the fancy grocery store in town.  Oh yes, we got pumpkins!  We let the babes choose what they wanted their pumpkin to look like and created teams.  Nothing like a little healthy competition...
Then they got their hands dirty...
and you won't believe what you are about to see...ok, maybe we just can't believe what we did!  
Let's do this JUSTICE...
So there you have it....all this was to lead up to the BIG day...stay tuned for Part 2...babes in costumes!
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