Gingerbread Party

Starting last year, my good friend, Lynette, threw a Gingerbread House Decorating Party. Oh my, it is so fun! This year was the second annual party, and boy did we go to town on our houses. All four older girls made a house, Scrunchie ate people's houses, I took pictures, and Daddy held Hunk and helped out when he could.

Lynette has a great set up in her basement--it's nice and open and has great crafting space. So we got right down to business. My friends Mandy and Caroline were there, too--and some other guests that I didn't know as well, but I have a feeling we'll get to know them better as the years pass and we continue attending this awesome party. Lynette has plans to make it an annual event--and we look forward to it now every year!

Lynette is a serious gingerbread house maker--she makes these all from scratch--and she makes the frosting, too. Then each guest brings some candy--we brought skittles, mini chocolate chips, and peppermints this year. There were gum drops, lollipops, red hots and several other candies there to choose from as well. 

 She did a great job decorating her house.

 Yes, the adults have some big-kid fun, too. Here's Caroline giving her hubby some frosting.

 Boushka's house--I helped her a little bit, but she did most of the work. Yes, Scrunchie, we see your photo bomb.

 I think she'd been enjoying some stolen candy right before this picture.

 He can hold babies and little girl scarves. So nice of you, Daddy!

 This is Mandy's--- I mean, this is Mandy's daughter's house. Pretty stylish with the twizzler roof!

My Peach did a fantastic job with hers. I didn't help one bit--the decorating was all her!

 Boushka working hard. I loved frosting so she could style!

 Daddy helping with the frosting!

 Cute kids. This little boy is the most huggable babe ever. I love getting hugs from him! And I love this little Brownie too! It's weird... these two aren't related, but they kind of look it here, don't you think?

 

 

Here's Peach's clean slate.

I can't believe it, but I didn't get a single picture of our great hostess. Lynette, you did a great job. We had a blast! I know several of us mommies did not want to go! And I know none of the kid did either! A successful party!

Thanksgiving Festivities

Thanksgiving was a month ago, but I am finally blogging about it. Better late than never!

We have a tradition of doing our Christmas decorating and tree buying on Black Friday. A few years ago, my sister and I would go shopping on Black Friday, but now it's a full blown family day. With my sister always gone on Thanksgiving, I lost my shopping partner and this tradition evolved... and I do love it!

We went to one Christmas tree farm for a few years, but we haven't been since 2010 because it closed down. So last year we visited a new one about 40 minutes out of town, and we loved it. So we went again this year.

When you first pull up you see a big red barn. Inside the barn they have free treats, a few goods the sell, and a craft area for the kiddos all set up. My kids really enjoy making the pinecone angels!

They can also make a picture frame out of colored tongue depressors, and then they color the picture--like Boushka is doing here.

Here is daddy with his hot cider and a baby boy all bundled up. He is such a good daddy--always willing to do baby duty so I can capture the memories.

Here's the kiddos at the craft table.

Once the crafting is complete, we hop on a hay-rack ride and venture out to the trees.

I have a thing for Douglas Firs--which are imported to this particular farm--so that is what we get each year. I know they can be conveinent, but I just can't imagine skipping the real tree experience and sticking with a fake.

Here are all the kids with mama.

Both years that we've visited this farm, it has been really cold and windy. Thank goodness they have a warming hut with a stove and coffee. This hut also offers some great picture spots.

Once we warmed up, I had the kids squish onto a bench outside the hut. They're too cute.

Once we had the tree all tied down, we snapped one quick picture outside the big barn. Can you tell it was extremely sunny that day?

Saturday we had Thanksgiving at my mom's house. There was quite the spread. I kept forgetting to take pictures at the actual family gatherings like I normally do. In fact, I think this would've been the only picture at my mom's if it hadn't been for the fact that my Uncle and Aunt surprised us with a visit. So of course, then it occured to me to take picutres.

My mom's brother, Uncle Lysle, holding Hunk for the first time. Quite the pair. Hunk was close to being born on his great uncle's birthday, but missed it by a week.

Here's all the kidlets with their great uncle.

My Aunt Carolyn and Hunk.

And here's my aunt, uncle and mom.

After they left, I guess my camera stayed out because I did get some pictures of the girls opening their Christmas pj's.

They were tickled to get them.

This one is holding a new dress as well. Each girl got a new Christmas dress and boots (to boot)!

We celebrated with Matt's family on Thanksgiving this year, but I didn't get a single picture. It seems that one holiday per year, I forget to capture one celebration. Though I don't think it's "forget" as much as "don't have time because I'm chasing 5 kids and nursing one." At least that's what it was this year. His grandma had a bunch of us over for a great lunch. It was a nice day, so the kids got to run around outside a lot this year. Of course, Uncle Mike and Aunt Amy chased them--and the girls loved every minute of it!

Thanksgiving Eve

Oh my goodness... I love Thanksgiving. But what I love even more is Thanksgiving Eve. I love it because that's the day my kiddos get to stay home. I also love that it kicks off the holiday season-- at least in my book it does.

This year, I have two in elementary school, two in preschool, and two home with me full time. So to be able to have them all home with me for five whole days was a complete blessing. I was so excited that I planned a fun day for us on Wednesday.

 First things first--pumpkin bread, bacon and eggs, and hot cocoa. Breakfast of (my) champions!

I stayed up late the night before creating fun little rhymes for a scavenger hunt. I tell ya, it's opened a ton of doors for me now that my oldest is reading like a champ. I addressed the first clue to her. I stuck the envelope with her name on it to a jug of milk. My plan was to ask her to hand me the milk from the fridge--and it worked like a charm.

She saw the note and read it aloud for all to hear. And then the hunt began. I sent them from room to room in our house

 From the kitchen we ran to the front porch, and then to...

our master bathroom, followed by...

the garage, and then to...

oops... more cute garage pictures,

 couldn't pass up this one of Brownie. Makes me giggle...

From the garage we went to my craft area in the basement...

which led us to...

 the piano (or like Boushka says "pinano),

where Peach read the final clue leading us out to...

the play equipment in our backyard. 

 Attached to the last letter, the girls found the Christmas Ice Age movie. The had been eying it for quite some time, and I was so excited to watch it with them.

So we sat down with our hot cocoa and watched it. I love making memories with these babies of mine. 

Birthday parties

Thanks to the fact that we are always super busy in the fall with three birthdays and lots of soccer and Nutcracker rehearsals, birthday parties tend to get put off. That coupled with the fact that we added a new fall birthday this year, we were slow getting Brownie and Bug's parties done. Also, the school directory wasn't out, and I kept hoping it would be so I could send invitations. I tell ya it's no fun having a fall birthday when your school is super slow on getting the directories out. Especially when they're in the earlier part of the school career and you don't know the parents as well yet. Anyway, we made it happen, finally! It was only a month late, but we had fun.

Both of my girls wanted a bowling party--so bowl we did! We scheduled the parties back to back and it worked pretty well. I think the most important thing was that they had fun.

It was great to see all our friends helping to celebrate the girls' birthdays.

This picture cracks me up--do you see Boushka in the background? Hilarious!

YAY! Bug loves Barbie--can you tell?

Brownie was even able to have her first sleep over. I was so excited for her. The girls did so well together, and we had not midnight interruptions. They slept very soundly.

And these bowling pins were signed by our party guests, and each girl has it displayed in her room.

Girls-I'm sorry you didn't get a party nearer to your actual birthday, but I'm thrilled you got the party you wanted. I love you both to the moon and back. Happy Birthday, Bug! Happy Birthday, Brownie!