Christmas is coming soooo fast!!!!

I have been spending the last few days thinking about all the different things I want to get done in the next few weeks. Kind of boggles the mind! :) I started making listS today. So today, Syd and I (and Isaac, too) started our baking! We started with one of the simplier ones, Ginger snaps. I downloaded, from Itunes, some Christmas music and away we went!  One of the songs I have found was by Amy Grant "I need a Silent Night". One of my new favorites for sure!! If you can find it, have a listen! I was trying to find it to add to my blog, but I can't figure out how or if I can do it.  It says a lot! And I think even though there are a ton of things we want to get done this month, let's take a few steps back sometimes, and have our own Silent Nights. :) 

And here is a question for you!  A couple of my friends and I have been discussing Christmas baking. Would you consider Ginger Snaps as part of Christmas baking!????

Family

We have been involved in a 8 week "program" at our kids' school. It is to encourage family togetherness, encourage families getting into the school, families getting to know school staff, and many other positive things! We are so greatful we were able to attend this program. We had supper together there, we enjoyed a various amount of activities with our kids, along with time with other parents (without the kids). Last night was our last night of this. We will miss it! But it was a nice, last get together and they presented us with this gift.

Blog Candy

I was directed to this fabulous blog from my friend Jen's blog.  Interested!!!?? Check it out and enter to win!!! 

Passion for Crafts        

Communication

Something that is so important, but not always easy to do. 

A couple of good friends and I were chatting over a Red Lobster meal one day in S'toon...... about this and that. And one of things we were talking about was Shannon's Son's teacher. This teacher has an amazing thing that she does with each student in her class. It's a journal that she writes back and forth with the student in. It gets somewhat personal (age appropriate) but talking about feelings, etc...... And then the students (some more than others) open up in their journals as well. Sooooo

I decided to take this idea and do it with my oldest daughter (she's the only that can read and write fluently enough....I do plan to do it with the other ones eventually too). 

Just something I thought  I would throw out there.....thought it was  a neat idea!

A rare sight

On Saturday, we sat the kids down and talk to them about chores. And how we all need to work together, to help each other, to learn, and to give mom a bit of a "maid" break! ~ we have done many different chores and chore charts in our house, but with the busyness of life, sometimes the umph of it gets lost. So here we go again. Just a simple chore chart. They each have one specific thing they have to do each week (which will rotate between the three of them), each of the girls have to take one evening a week to do dishes with mom (OR DAD??), they have to make their beds, and clean up their rooms every day. So it is a simple chart. As for the allowance.....we are hoping to come up with extra jobs that they can actually work for their allowance. 

So anyways, after our little family chat my kids were almost excited to get cleaning! They were choosing to do things, I didn't even ask them to do, and fighting over cleaning the floor LOL :)

Here's a rare sight in my house, but a great one!!

Another addition to the Zoo :)

A few months back, Grandma had the kids in a pet store........just to look at all the cute animals. And like any normal child, Kaelie asked if she could have a new pet.....a hamster. Grandma, of course said no.....but that Kaelie would have to ask us......and our answer of course was no. However, Grandma then came up with the idea that if Kaelie did a ton of research on hamsters, that Grandma would buy her one for Christmas. Well.....within that first week Kaelie had a TON of research on hamsters! So Grandma told Kaelie that after Dan & Tara's wedding she could get her hamster (now Grandma didn't mean right after, but that's what Kaelie thought!)......... so Sunday (the day after the wedding!) Kaelie got to go to the pet store with Grandma (and mom) and pick out & buy her hamster! (this is still her Christmas present, just early)
Everyone was eager to check her out! At Dan and Tara's! So this new little creature travelled home with us for 10 hrs. in a van (prob one of the easiest pets to travel with LOL)

Having some fun with her...... Her name is Cupcake. Isn't she cute! We all really like her.

Reception

My little brother is married!!!!  :) And he married a great gal!! 

a few pics

The wedding ceremony

On the way in the Limo!! :) Tara and her dad Ken.

My girls were sooooo excited to be able to get a ride in the limo, too!

There will be another post of the reception........ stay tuned! :)

the day of the wedding...... the guys (and us, too).

I wasn't at the house for the whole chunk of time while the guys were getting ready......and when I was there, I was busy getting myself dressed, and the girls dressed.......so here are a few of the pics from the guys.......

My handsome brother Marc  and mom.

My other handsome brother, Dan (the groom!), and mom


Some of the guys....... 
Dad helping Kevin with his suspenders
Check out these good lookin' guys!
Me and my handsome brothers!

My handsome brothers and my pretty girls!

The day of the wedding.......The girls........

Hair and Makeup!!! All of us gals got our hair and makeup done for the wedding. It wasn't something I HAD to do, but I am really glad I got it done :)  And everyone looked soooo nice!

Kaelie's pose of hiding her face.......need to work on that. 


Shayna took this neat picture of the two girls. 




Cheers to the bride with Orange juice and Champagne.

There were many getting their hair and makeup done....... all the bridesmaids, etc.....but there are so many pics to choose from these are the ones I will post :) 

The day before the wedding........

 Decorating the hall.......

Instead of a guest book, they had a framed pic of their engagement that people signed as well as a platter for people to sign! Great idea! (I think!)

and Tara painted the little picture of them on the platter! 

Shayna and Tara trying to work out the seating arrangements......hard to please everyone, but I think they did a great job!!
Dan and Kaelie working really hard ;)
Shayna and kaelie

the two dads
Tara's Baba and Gido also helped out! Here's a pic of my mom and Gido working hard!

The rehearsal........


The rehearsal dinner....... There were a TON of people over at Dan and Tara's. It was a fun time.