Christmas Cookies

I think I went a little overboard!

The Puppies Are Here!!!

Head on over to The Cairn Farm for full details and a bunch of cute pictures!

Pizza Night!

Usually once a week we have homemade pizza night.  My in-laws usually come down and join us.  Most weeks I make buffalo chicken wing pizza, but last week it was just us and I wasn't in the mood for that kind.  So I started digging through the cupboards and fridge to see what I had to throw on the pizza.    

 I ended up cooking up 2 chicken breasts in tablespoon of butter and seasoning it with seasoning salt.  Then I made up some homemade alfredo sauce and spread it on the homemade dough.  Then I topped it with the chicken, added mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and onions.  Then I topped the whole thing with Mozzarella cheese!   Doesn't it look great???

HIS timing!

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Philippians 4:11

This is a really hard concept for me lately.  

We are in need of a job.  Doug has been working on his father's dairy farm for a while and to end a long story, it is not for us.  There is so much I could elaborate on, but in the end that about sums it up.  I'm just ready to have a happy husband again!  

Doug is applying to jobs all over the United States for firefighter postions.  We are both kinda stressed with timing as the farm is for sale and the talk is that the farm is going to be done by the end of February.  

Of course we have a million people praying for us and on good days, I know that HE has perfect timing.  I can put my trust in Him and know that we are not going to be left stranded...that He will carry us through.  On the bad days however, I feel like I'm going to split and there is no way I can play tough guy anymore for Doug's sake!  LOL  We have gotten encouragement from many people who have "been there" and reassurance that everything will be ok.  Well on those bad days, I really want to come back with...how do YOU know?  Can you promise me that we won't have a lapse in pay?  Can you promise me that we will be able to pay our bills?  Can you promise me that we won't loose our house?  No, in all honesty no one can promise me that.  BUT... I have realized that if I trust that the Lord is not going to leave us stranded...that one way or another we will be provided for and He will not leave us, than the rest doesn't matter.  I'm pretty sure I'll have more rough days before this is said and done, but I'm trying to bury my nose in my Bible and spend a bunch of time in prayer when I do start feeling anxious.  Even though I have had these two verses memorized since I was little, I'm holding them close now!  

Isaiah 40:31...But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  

I know I know...

...I'm early!  I thought I would post  "virtual" card for all of my blogger and online friends!  I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

(It sounds like I won't be posting again till after the new year, but have no fear, I will still be posting!)

I have finally learned to sew and it has brought out my crafty side!

I decided to ask for money from my parents and grandparents this year for my birthday and Christmas and buy my own sewing machine.  I did some researched and chose this one.  I have never really been crafty, but we need curtains, and some repairs need to be done around the house.  Besides my mother-in-law and myself are making purses and looking to sell them for a little extra.  We could get more accomplished if we both run machines.  

 I didn't actually use my machine to repair these chairs.  But I'm not sure I would have attempted it before my crafty side started coming out.  These are our dining room chairs.  I should have taken a before and after picture, but its a little late for that now!  I'm VERY happy with how they turned out.  They were pretty much rags on there before and shredded pretty good too.

 Marissa is going to be the death of us financially!  LOL  Just kidding, but she is really bad on jeans or any type of pants.  They last her about a week average before they start to really show some wear and then the holes start coming.  I have gotten really sick of it.  So I decided to start making my own patches.  They turned out adorable I thought and Marissa absolutely LOVES them!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We have finally gotten around to getting our Christmas stuff up.  I'm not sure yet if we are going to get to  decorating the house with lights this year.  Its been a bit of a trying time this year and we don't want it to be an overwhelming feeling trying to get it done.  If we can get to it, thats great...if not, we aren't going to worry about it.  

The gifts are hidden under the tree to try and prevent digging to find theirs since they all know how to spell their names now!

Chloe's set up for the coming puppies

...

We do have a zoo...see?

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!!!

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???     

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)

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!

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!

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! ;(

 

It's Pumpkin Time!!!

Last night we finally got around to decorating some pumpkins. The girls LOVE doing this. We are not allowed to carve them though, aprrarently it's "killing them". Thank you Charlie Brown! LOL Anyhow, here are some pictures of our adventures....and you know me, I had to post them all! Madalyn was being a clown!

The pumpkin on the left is "Mommy's", made by Madalyn.  

The pumpkin on the right is "Daddy's", made by Marissa.

Madalyn's pumpkin, made by her and Marissa's pumpkin, made by her!
Aren't they cute???  

I'm personally a huge fan of the Mr. Potato Head pieces to decorate pumpkins.  I need to find some more so they can have some more variety.
I hope you all enjoyed your day!

Homeschooling Craft Day

My biggest fear when I started homeschooling is that Marissa would lack in the social areas of her life.  Probably because that is what EVERYONE tells me when I say that we are homeschooling!  Either that or they will never be able to make it through college after homeschooling.  Regardless, I have joined two homeschooling groups.  I LOVE IT!!!  The kids have a blast together and so do the moms.  On Tuesday, my friend Aubrey put together a rag doll craft.  She stayed up till midnight (or later) sewing the majority of the dollies and preparing them for stuffing.  The girls had so much fun with this project.  It was definitely a big hit with my two!

Stuffing their "dollies"

The best picture I could get of Marissa and her dollie 

(affectionately named "Marissa")

Madalyn wasn't cooperating either (her dollies' name changes on a moment by moment basis

Most of the girls and their dollies

Just about the whole clan!

I can't wait till our next craft day!!!

Casen

I went to my parents house to spend some time with Cristale and Casen while they are here visiting. We had a great time and I got to bond with both him and Cristale. He reminds me so much of his Daddy and of course that makes me miss him more, but hopefully he won't be gone too much longer! Casen absolutely loved the girls. Although we couldn't get the three of them to cooperate and be awake all at the same time for a picture, LOL. We are going to work on that next time!

Nature Hike

Thursday we went on a nature hike with some friends after school.  It was a beautiful day and the Black River was really flowing.  The leaves were in the midst of changing colors and the scenery was just to die for!

Marissa and Hayleigh

Aunt Laurie and Madalyn...Madalyn's personal assistant

When we got to this part, I got super nervous.  I could take pictures but the girls had to sit still.  I was sweating like crazy the whole time!

Again I tried to get a cute picture, but they just weren't having it!

And it gets worse...

Ok, Mommy gives up!

But I still got one!