Winter Concert

This is the year that the magic came alive for Annabelle she placed all of her faith as only a child can do in Santa for this years Christmas gift magic and he did not disappoint! What did she ask Santa for you may ask why make-up of course because mom and dad had already said no.



Preschool Love (Too Cute)

Denton Christmas

Grandma Monica and Grandpa Doug always know just what to get the kids for Christmas Brad got a lot of Bakugan things and a very cool holder.

Annabelle got two ZUZU pets that her wonderful grandpa waited two hours in line to get!


And best of all Monica always gets the kids a new ornament for the Christmas tree.

Christmas Morning

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas has come true in a big way. Can you believe all of that snow. The kids were so very excited to wake up to a yard full of snow! The birds however do not seem quite as excited.




The new Wii games were a huge hit (I love Brad's expression)




Santa did a great job as always Brad got a charger for his electric scooter, and Annabelle got a crib for her baby Isabella.






Merry Christmas to you and yours! And if you don't celebrate Christmas may you enjoy the season.

Scenes of Christmas

Trimming the Tree

Can you believe it we were actually able to get that huge tree into the house through the front door (with a little pulling by dad and a little pushing from mom). After trimming, the tree measured 8 and 1/2 feet tall by 6 feet wide. It is beautiful and magic making and we will never forget the year that the tree was huge and took up a whole wall in our livingroom.

Dad had to get on the step stool and REACH to put the star on the top! We all waited with baited breath praying that he wouldn't fall into the tree.

Here is our tree in all of it's glory! Can you see the bungy cords attaching it to the wall they were a must for safety.

twinkly twinkly lovely tree

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

This year we were blessed once again to be able to make our annual trip to Millers Pines to select our Christmas tree. This will be the last year for getting a tree from Millers Pines. The Miller family has decided to stop selling christmas trees not only for health reasons but also because the trees on their farm are getting too old to sell. We will miss this tradition but I am sure that we will find something great to replace it for next year.



Because this would be our last year at Millers Pines the kids and I selected the tallest and biggest tree we could find that looked full and healthy. Boy did we have fun trying to cut it down!

Freezer Paper stencil Shirts

Our first try at freezer paper stenciling is going great. The kids are very excited to be creating their own shirts.
There are many freezer paper stencil tutorial available on the Internet so I will just give you a quick overview.

To make our pictures I selected a picture from clip art and then enlarged it to the size I wanted. I then printed the picture onto the paper side of the freezer paper. I found that the freezer paper feeds better if you tape it to a piece of printer paper.
next you carefully cut out the picture.
When all pieces have been cut out center the freezer paper over your shirt and iron it on. Once the shirt and paper are cooled down you can begin to paint your shirt. I recommend placing a piece of cardboard between the front and back of the shirt to keep the paint from soaking through.

Let the paint dry overnight and then remove the freezer paper by slowly peeling it away from the paint.

Check your paint label some require you to set the paint with heat others do not.

good luck with your freezer paper stencils.

The lost post otherwise named Fiber Goodies

I was looking back through my old posts when I found this poor draft lost in the post archives from the beginning of the year (think January). So let me catch you up. At our fiber gals meeting we created mixed batts to spin and enter in the fair. I chose brown llama, brown wool, blue wool, and blue snips of eyelash yarn.


I did send the yarn to the fair but the judge said it did not have enough color for the category I entered it in. I am currently using it to make a cowl.

This is a picture of some of the yarn I was thinking about entering in the fair. Five of the pictured skeins come home with ribbons!

And this is one of my Christmas gifts. Brad ordered me a ball winder and I have used it repeatedly throughout the year. I now have it attached to an old ruler that I can put under my leg for ease of winding on the run or when a table is not available.

Cows up close and personal

My children are not farm kids but neither are they city kids they fall somewhere in the middle. After apple picking in Brunswick they had a chance to see a mother cow and her baby up close. We have seen cows many times driving down the street but we have never taken the time to stop and look at them this close.

There was even one cow that came close enough for them to touch. We did make sure that they cows were safe to touch. We were assured that they were quite friendly and used to being petted.

This is a childhood experience that I am sure they will remember for a very long time the were both very excited and chattered about the cows and apples all the way home.

Apple Picking

Brad and Annabelle had their first experience with apple picking while we were in town for the Brunswich Pecan Festival.

They filled many baskets and a box before they were all done.

There are many childhood memories that I want my children to have and many that I would like for them to create with their own children. I hope that this will be one of their many fond childhood memories.

Brunswick MO Pecan Festival

The following picture is not a trick. This is a broken window in down town Brunswick MO as seen during the Pecan Festival Parade. My mother noticed it first and I of course had to take a picture.

Brad and Annabelle had a good time and enjoyed looking at the animals, bouncing in the bouce house, and browsing and booths. I munched on pecans and had a great time catching up with Dixie my favorite Aunt. Aunt Dixie treated us to Dinner at the Red Rooster (I hope I got the name right) they have a killer catfish dinner. The restaurant is in the back of a liquor store and you have to go into the store to play. My chidlren had never been inside a liquor store, talk about a new experience you don't want your children to remember! Annabelle got to ride a horse for the first time which she enjoyed but I don't think that she will ever become a cowgirl.

Thanksgiving

My Uncle Pee-Wee has always been good for a laugh! Annabelle had a very good time playing with him after the Thanksgiving dinner.




My Cousin Nicole is always beautiful but she hides from pictures. We lived close to each other most of my childhood, I wouldn't change those memories for anything.




My Mom and Dad

I thank God every day that I grew up in a loving supportive family.

Loving of the Yarn & February Lady Plans

This my readers is my February Lady Sweater yarn all finished and washed and ready to knit into my first sweater.

Here is another picture of the yarn and swatch as well as the other skeins that I did not send in to the fair. I will most likely use every bit of this yarn so this could very likely be the last picture of this yarn in a swatch or skein.

Of course any time the mom is on the floor with a camera small hands must assist. I think that this was my favorite picture out of the bunch.

Family in the Park and the Cutest Nephew Ever

My baby is getting much too old, it seems that as each day goes by he gets closer to being a preteen. Even though he still wants cuddles and our attention he wants more and more private time in his room alone. I am not looking forward to this time in our relationship, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Baby Nephew Christian is getting bigger and bigger, he seems to always be smiling and happy.

Annabelle loves nature and is almost always finding something new to bring home after wandering around outside.

DH Brad holding baby Christian. Brad has always had the touch with babies and can calm them and put them to sleep in no time.

The Chair

Ares and Sam have picked their favorite spot in the house, Daddy's Chair!  For years daddy has sat in that chair and typically kicked out anyone who dared to sit in it when he was at home but now the boys rule his chair and he doesn't even say a word.  The boys will even beg to sit with you if you sit in their chair and then they will instantly fall asleep!

Ares says man I taste good!

Sam is still snoozing he is such a cuddler.