Saying Good Bye....

To a Great YEAR!!
2010!!!

I made 2010 cookies..

They frosted them...

With all the left over sprinkles from 2010!

Then they gobbled up 2010....

We had such a colorful year...we decided to buy a rainbow of colors... of balloons...

Everyone wrote their favorite things for 2010!

We released them...
Saying Good Bye..to a GREAT YEAR!!!

Christmas Wrap up!

I love Christmas!
There is just so much JOY and LOVE!!!

This is our Christmas 2010 in a quick nutshell...

The start of a highly anticipated doll collection!
Chelsea has patiently waited her turn to get her first doll from Grandma!

Grueling game of golf....with high stakes!

Chelsea won!
Which also meant she won Dad's hat!

Leaving dad...sporting a cute little Justice glam hat!

Nothings better than visiting with out of town guests who bring dogs!
My girls LOVE the short time they get to play with Ginger!

3 Full days with DAD!!!
NO work!!!
AMAZING!!!

Lots of Great White Snow...and cold temps...kept it feeling like Christmas....
And warm socks kept us COZY!!!

I can't believe it is almost time to say Good Bye to 2010...
It has been a FANTASTIC year!

Tender Writings of Brooke!

God is Always There

He's there when you need him,
He's there when we don't.
He's there in hard times such as being pregnant
Or your in depression.
He's there at your side no matter what you do.
He's there with you always,
It's forever true.
Love is forever,
But things are not.
Just believe in the one who created you.
Your faith is important,
So don't drop it,
When your with you friends, hard time, or your in bed.
GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US.

By Brooke
(10 years)

Reindeer Lunch!

I wanted to make the kids one last Christmas Character Lunch...
This one was worth posting...it turned out adorable!

We are on the letter R this week...
So I tried to make as many Reindeer, Red, and Rudolph items as possible!

It came together quickly...and the kids went nuts!

I got the sandwich idea from super heroes and princess...click here!

My Constant!!!!

I love nativities...this year I picked up a couple that were made from children in third world countries.
It was so fun to see all the different views...
I wanted my kids to see it!
There were so many cool ones to choose from, I decided to choose a couple that wouldn't break if dropped...or hurt if thrown....
Basically Brady proof!

The one above is made from gourds...so they rattle!

These are paper mache...

My kids have played non stop with them!

At the end of the night, when play time is over, and it is time for bed...
I loved how Annika left it...
Everything is changeable...except Jesus!
This is the baby Jesus that she has always known...
A new Joseph...wise me...is fine...

I couldn't help but think how much that relates to my own life...
If there is one constant in a world of change and unknown...
It is My Savior Jesus Christ!

I am honored to Celebrate his birth!

Luke asked, "I want to buy a gift for Jesus?"
"How will he get it?"
Chelsea replied, " You have to give him your heart, he has no use for things, he wants us to love and serve others!"

I couldn't have given a better lesson...
Infact, I think, I am the one being taught a lesson!

What gift will I give Jesus?

Gingerbread Houses!

This year's gingerbread houses stood!
Last year we just ended up with plates full of graham crackers and candy!
I used my Uncle Ivon's tip, and made all the houses ahead of time!

Perfect!

Christmas Candy Cane Brunch!!

We are 6 days away from Christmas!
Every Sunday, after church, we have Sunday brunch...
This week the kids wanted to make it a special Christmas brunch!
With a few quick and simple touches we were able to create a super fun "candy cane" brunch!!

Tulle, and hanging candy cane hearts!

Hot glue three candy canes to make name card holders!

I just happened to have a candy cane elf costume....so I dressed the part!

Dad bought small gifts for the kiddos!

Things to do with a friend!

Brooke invited a friend over to play...she brought a list of things to do at a friends house!
She said she googled it, and there was a list of 100 things to do!
Her list was 20 long!
I enjoyed watching them work through the list!

2 of my favorite were...arm wrestle...
and dress each other in the dark, including make up!
I think they tried to make a mess...
I loved it!

Honestly it is a great idea to have a list of activities for these pre teen girls...
They are stuck in the middle of two completely different stages!
They don't seem to run to the Barbies anymore...and yet they aren't into boy!
(Yippee!!!)
I have to admit, I am loving the age Brooke is right now!
I wish I could freeze it!

A great last minute gift for a girl who still love mom is...
Just Mom and Me...
Absolutely love it!

Precious Nativity!

Luke was asked to make a Christmas ornament for his preschool's class tree!
I was so excited!
There are so many cute ornaments to make....
reindeer
snow man
cinnamon
...the list goes on and on...
He went downstairs by himself and made this adorable nativity scene.
Remember he is 5!
(I fixed it a bit, so it would be more sturdy...but the drawings are precious...)

T is for ........

Luke's drawing of the week..
Ten Turtles
Almost Ten Toucans
Tree
Tigers...
and so much more!

Telephone!

Tee Pee filled with all the T toys we could find!

Tiny Tree Treats!

The kids made these adorable ornaments!

Tree Treats!

Hand print Trees!
This cracked me up....
We have been doing hand print pictures with each letter...
For some reason it hit Annika this time!
Maybe it was because we cut them out.
But she was so excited that it was her actual hand!

Tornado in a bottle!

Tiger shaped
Treasured soap..... with Tadpoles...(frogs..but we need T's)
for Tub Time!

We are having so much fun...who would have known that letters could be so exciting!
Even my big girls get involved!

Luke is reading...just a bit...but still reading!
My favorite work book so far...is
Abeka ABC 123...I am thrilled with how it has moved him right along.

I have quite a few other programs, but this one has worked wonders for Luke!

I have also used the Kumon books...which you can get at Target or Amazon!