I love, love, love the Christmas season!  

 The kids loved decorating the kid tree in the basement with all their special ornaments they have made and some that are bought that represent them...KK loved her Minnie.

 How is this pretty girl almost 7.  On Dec. 1st she woke up to go to the bathroom around 5:30.  I said, "It is still bedtime."  She said, "I just want to see the clock. Yes, it is Dec. 1st...my birthday month."

 CANDY CANE is here and no matter what time it is the kids seem to want to know if he is back from the North Pole.  Macie asked when potting in the middle of the night and Weston is up anxious to look for him.

 Weston said, "Candy Cane is hilerious!"  Even Kinsley noticed him and laughed at this little joke.

 We had a work event and the kids were able to see Santa. He just picked Kinsley up like nothing else.  FEAR was all over her face but she sat there.  Now each time she sees a picture of Santa or Santa she says, "Santa, Ho, Ho, HO!"

 The girls loved getting their faces painted; however, the cotton candy was a HUGE HIT..and not so fun on the white vest.

 MAcie and Weston bakes and decorated Christmas cookies.

 Macie is STAR student this week!  She is very excited.  I like that she is ELSA and a SUPER HERO while working on her project.

 Candy Cane wrapped the potty.  Our church group thought it was a little awkward when they had to use the restroom.

 We had Kinsley's 2 yr check up.  She is healthy and doing great.  Sh wasn't so sure about Dr. Cheng but she loved the sucker she got afterwards.

 When Candy Cane arrived, he brought the kids pajamas.

 She is constantly asking to wear her glasses now.  FASHION DIVA!

 I just love Weston's smile and the way his eyes shine.  He is one sweet boy!

                                                         Miss Kinsley is loving Christmas and taking ornaments off the tree.  Luckily, no presents have been unwrapped.

Happy Thanksgiving

What is better than taking a moment and really thinking how blessed we are!  This year, we had a Thanksgiving tree which was fun to work on in the morning with the kids.  I loved that Kinsley wanted to put her hand on there, too!  She has to do what her big brother and sister do.  

So as I think about all that I am thankful for I realize how overwhelmingly blessed I am.  I am thankful that I  get to sing, kiss and tuck all three of my children in at night.  I get to hear their laughter, shouting, I love you's, and their precious voices each day.  I love that I can take their hand in mine, can hug them as tight and as often as I want, kiss their boo boos, comfort them when they are scared and get to love them completely, no matter what.  Since my friend passed away in March, I have thought about each holiday, each birthday, each day that his family is now learning a new NEW.  His mom messaged me the other day after I checked in on her.  She told me she just couldn't take a picture of her kids even though they wanted her too.  It impacted me in such a huge way(I cried) because I am a mother and can't even bare to think about her heart and how it feels, how is wife feels or how his kids feel.  It also made me thankful again for FAMILY!  We have each other, we love each other, we support each other, and we pray for each other.  Life is not always perfect and rosy but I am thankful Zack and I have parents, siblings, brother and sister-in-laws, grandparents, and other relatives that love us!  I am thankful for friendships, our home, food, clothing, and all the things we need that so many people don't have.  I am thankful for Zack, 11 years of marriage, and the joy of knowing we are walking through life side by side.  But more than anything else I am thankful that I am a believer.  That I know Christ and he knows me.  I love knowing we attend a church where we continue to grow, where our kids are learning about Christ, and where people love/serve him.  I have more than I need and I often forget when I get caught up in life to truly be grateful to God, give him the glory, and to say thank you to all the people who love and care for my family and me.

I told the kids they were going to help Daddy do some work.  There were moans and groans but then they realized ranking leaves can be fun.

We started off our Thanksgiving at Grammy's.  As always the kids have a great time with one another.  Isn't it grand to be a kid.  I loved seeing my cousins when we went to our grandparents house...those are the memories that stick out.  I am glad to know these cousins are making the same memories.

On 3 everyone look at the camera...this seems to be a hard thing to do.  Glad Rosie listened on the second picture.  

Happy Birthday to Kylan and Kinley!  Well, one thing is for sure..we all decided to have kids around the same time.

 This sweet thing turned 2!  All I can say is "Thank you, God, for giving me this little firecracker! She is the perfect fit to our family!" Yes, I wish time could slow down because my baby is no longer my baby.  BUT I tell you what...she makes each day brighter.  I love, love, love her!

 Jillian does all the "girly" things with Macie.  She makes Macie feel so grown up and special.  AND she could teach me a thing or two about hair.

Just chatting

One of the kids favorite thing to do is ride toys down the driveway.  GRAMMY, too!

The second favorite thing these kids love is the GRASSY HILL and the wagon flying down it.

 

PEEK A BOO over and over and over

Off to Nonnie's we went to continue our Thanksgiving week!  We were excited to get there and enjoy all the favorites we do when we are there.

My kids love to ride down the drive off into the grass.

 AND THE WINNER IS....

 Kinsley got to celebrate her birthday again with some MINNIE!  I am impressed with the fact that she is a pro at blowing out candles.

COUSIN TIME!  The kids love playing on the play gym. This time Macie brought chocolate coins to hide and find.  They had such a good time doing that.  There never seems to be enough time! 

  

 I will say I heard these two playing and Macie said, "We can't kiss because we are not married."

 Pappy surprised Weston with a bigger set of golf clubs!  TALK ABOUT EXCITED!!!  As soon as he was finished golfing, he wanted his new clubs to be put in our car so we wouldn't forget them!

 I LOVE FALL TREES....and when did this sweet girl grow up to be 6 and 7/8.

 PROUD to stay in her jammies all day long!

 This picture is out of place but I still can't believe that we were driving from MO to TX and they were driving from OK to LA and we met...at the Arkansas/Texas border.  I think I smiled ear to ear the rest of the way to Tyler.  It was great having an unexpected family reunion.

 UMM...where did your daughter get that hair from?  I still get asked once a week if not more.

 BIG GIRL PANTIES...she was pretty excited about her panties.  She wore them over her diaper.  Now it's time to get rid of diapers.

 Isn't it kind of fun to see how you can tell who is brother and sister in this pic....but then look at KK in the background...I bet people would guess wrong.

 THESE two were being super silly until they got caught will whip cream all over their faces.

 BLACK SHOPPING FRIDAY TRADITION continues...

 SHOULD I EXPLAIN why they all have their shirts off?  Ok...Josh said it was the only way to wrestle.

 Peanut Movie...Kinsley's first movie!

Kinsley loved the movie or maybe she just loved the popcorn. Macie loved the movie.  She grinned all the way through it.  Weston wanted to know where the monsters were and also wanted to point out that it wasn't about peanuts.

 Kinsley was a good little momma rocking her babies by the fire.

Pappy and KK had a nice little chat and then she just started kissing on him..know it made his day.  After each kiss, she would look over at Nonnie.  It was funny.