Saturday, November 27, 2010

Successful Thanksgiving!

We had a GREAT day!  Tons of food and great company.  I should have taken more pictures...oh well, nothing I can do about it now!!!  LOL
The spread
The official turkey carver 
The girls minus one...not sure what the looks are for!
Jennifer got to taste her first food, she was not impressed


Junior wanted in on the pictures too!

I hope you all had a great day too!!!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Thanksgiving is right around the corner...


What are your plans?  
This year we are hosting Thanksgiving at our house.  Two army wives and their 6 kids are coming to spend it with us.  I think this is the first time I will have cooked the turkey by myself...I'm pretty sure my Mom is going to be sick of hearing from me that morning!  LOL  
It's kinda fun because everyone has their own traditions.  And this year we get to combine the traditions of three families.  I'm excited to see if any rub off and stick with us!  
I'm cooking the turkey and gravy, stuffing and squash.  I'm also making pumpkin pie, and serving pickles, olives and cranberry sauce - without the berries ;).  The other wives are bringing potatoes, rolls, cranberry salad, corn, green bean casserole , sweet potatoes, Twinkie pie, and gingerbread cake.  I think we should have plenty of food!!!  I'm hoping to top the day off with an evening of games and chit chat.  Unfortunately Doug has to milk cows, but hopefully he will be able to partake in most of the festivities.  
Great news is.....he is not milking on Christmas!!!  
So what are your plans for Thanksgiving???     

Monday, November 15, 2010

Photos...

I realized that I was in dire need of some updated "good" photos of the girls!  Knowing that I'm going to need to get a few Christmas cards out got me up and moving in that direction I think! ;)  Speaking of those cards, I picked out the card we are going to use and have it all set to go as soon as I get my code.  I'm in love...
Anyhow...back to the purpose of this post...
Does anyone else with small kids struggle to get good photos?  Marissa HATES to get her picture taken.  Always has, and probably always will.  I can bribe her or ask her to smile and she does, but its forced or fake or something.  You know what I mean???  After taking close to 100 pictures the other day, I finally got 2 of the 2 girls together that I liked and one of each of them singularly that I liked.  If it was just up to Madalyn we would have had it done at like picture 4...she is such a ham.  Any tips or ideas to make photo shoots more fun, and ways to get kids to smile like them???  (Does any of this even make sense...I kinda feel like I just went in circles and didn't make any sense at all! LOL)

Friday, November 12, 2010

Shutterfly Offers Free Photocards to Bloggers

My sister in law forwarded this offer to me and I couldn't pass it up!  Every year we send out photo Christmas cards to friends and family.  Between my family and Doug's family, plus friends, we usually send out close to one hundred cards.  This year, just like we everything else, we are trying to cut back and ironically were planning on bailing on the whole card tradition this year.  That was until I received the email from Cristale.  
I have heard a ton of good about Shutterfly, but I have not actually had any personal experience with them.  I looked through their site and the stuff they offer and it is all so neat and I love the designs.  Not only do they do Christmas cards and photo cards, they also have wall calendars and my personal favorite...photo wall art!  
I have fallen right in love with their holiday photo cards.  They are so cute and simple!  They have the best layouts I have seen.  The hardest problem is going to be picking!!!  
So give it a try...I know for a fact this works!  Check it out here and you can get your free 50 Christmas cards too!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Calling All Mamas!!!

When Doug and I were looking at car seats for our girls, safety was the #1 reason why we chose our seats.  We wanted them to have awesome reviews in crash tests and yet be affordable.  We looked at the Britax car seats, but we just could not afford them.  So yesterday when I saw one of my fellow blogger friends post about a Britax carseat giveaway, I had to check it out and of course enter to win it!  Want a chance at it too?  Go on over to The Cloth Diaper Report and see for yourself!!!  Good luck!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Cancer Stinks Big Time!

It seems like you hear about cancer sneaking up in more and more people.  Meet my cousin Chris and his family.... He has been fighting Stage IV Lung Cancer after being a non-smoker for his entire life.  
(From left to right...Cal, Sam, Kim, Chris and Ben)
 
 (Chris' daughter Jenna)

This morning I received news that Chris' fight to cancer ended and he is now with the Lord, fully healed.  Praise God for that!  My heart goes out to Kim, Jenna, Ben, Cal and Sam.  Praying for peace for that family and that God would be with them in a very real and special time as they work through this together as a family.  
We will miss you Chris! ;(