Prayers for my friends.....

Just a quick note to my family and friends and a couple prayer requests.....

The last couple of days I have been thinking about some of the people in my life who are having difficult times right now. A good friend of mine (Kim) lost her sister this year to cancer and she is feeling very lonely. I lost my friend and my boss (Cindy) back in October to cancer and her husband and daughter are missing her I am sure as we all are! Her tradition was to give us each a book every year at Christmas and I pulled mine out a couple of weeks ago and read all the messages she always wrote on the inside cover.....what a neat gift and never did I think at the time that I would treasure those books so much some day! I have another friend at work who lost both a grandson and a son-in-law in very sudden and freak accidents this year - she has a heavy heart as well. I think of Mark, my brother-in-law, who I am know misses his dad this time of year as he lost his battle to cancer a few years ago. My friend Becky, whose mother had a stroke a few months ago and it has changed her forever. Another friend's dad is struggling with dementia and is causing some stress for their family. Another friend whose mother was just diagnosed with lung cancer and has had part of her lung removed and hopefully is cancer free now.

I know there are more - but, my point is, all of us have our good years, ok years and sad years. There are years when the Christmas spirit is far away and we struggle to find it and others when everything is just as it should be and full of "joy and laughter". This is where friends and family come in! Reach out to those that you know are struggling or maybe just do something nice for a complete stranger - you never know what their story might be. Share our "good" years with those that are having "sad" years......sometimes, it's just the little things that bring the most joy. I never thought the book "Cats letters to Santa" from my friend Cindy would comfort me so much...and you know what? Neither did Cindy.....it was just one of the "little" things that she did to let me know she cared about me!

I love you all......have a blessed Christmas!

Meet "Sneaky Pete"

This is Sneaky Pete. It is the "Elf on a Shelf" toy. I would highly recommend this to anyone with kids! Or - anyone without kids who just wants some entertainment! This elf comes with a book that explains he is Santa's spy. He shows up around Christmas and appears in a new place every morning to watch over everyone in the house and report back to Santa! You cannot touch him or his magic disappears...we have had so much fun with this. Cayden is on the fence about it - but, Vanna is totally 100% in to it. We overhear them talking and even though Cayden is unsure - he keeps telling Vanna not to touch him! They both were almost late to school the other morning because they would stop looking for him! Vanna was sure he had hidden because he really wants to talk to us but doesn't want to ruin Santa's magic. They did find him finally after we helped Carlee see him and she went and told them "I find ef". Vanna saw him hanging from the light fixture the other day and started yelling...."MOM, he is hanging on for his LIFE!". I love the innocence and magic that they show.....just hugs my heart! I told Matt - we can't get these years back....I love it - love it ALL! We were talking about the real reason we have Christmas the other night and the "Christmas Story"....we asked the kids what 3 things they were most thankful for.....Cayden said 1) my family 2) money and 3) trees (because they provide oxygen). We have some work to do here...ha! I hope you all are enjoying your favorite Christmas traditions.....and I hope that God is blessing you all as he has our family. Merry Christmas!!

Gingerbread Houses!

Aunt Annie inspired me to have the kids do gingerbread houses. We have never done them before and it was a lot of fun! Here is our little gingerbread village.....enjoy! By the way - both Vanna and Cayden want to build a life size gingerbread house and live in it....doesn't surprise me.

Fetch....

This is the new thing....who needs to train a dog when your two year old will go out in her robe to get the paper on Sunday mornings? I made the mistake of getting it last Sunday and boy - we had an unhappy camper when they found out. I had to take the paper back out and put it in the driveway so she could go and get it.....wow.

"In the DOG HOUSE"

Cayden has given new meaning to the term...."in the dog house". We heard some commotion in the garage and this is what we found...I thought Matt was going to pee his pants he was laughing so hard!

5 YEARS TOGETHER.....

October 23, 2004 - Our first date.....dinner at PF Chang's. I was so nervous.....I really did try on 5 different outfits and WAS NOT ready when he got there...ha! We had a great time and the one thing I remember thinking that night when he dropped me off - was that he gave me the best hug I had ever had! Still does......I love you honey and I am looking forward to many more years..........thank you for everything you do for me and our family!!!!!

Papa and girls

These girls have their papa wrapped around their little fingers.......

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Ok - Lots of pictures here - but, this is the funnest pumpkin patch EVER. We go every year and spend hours! For those of you who are interested - we have measurement pictures of the kids from the last 2 years in older blogs if you want to look back through them...they grow so fast!

We are still on the hunt for that perfect guy for mom....this guy was a little stuffy....hehe

Spoon Trick - I STILL can't do this!

We save so much money by not going out - since we have all the entertainment we need right at home!

Carlee and Corynn

We spent Thanksgiving at my sister's house and everyone had a great time! The girls love playing together and decided that they would read each other a book.....one of the few times Carlee will sit still. Funny thing is - Corynn has a quiet laid back personality - Carlee is the opposite. I am sure SURE these girls were switched at birth....I feel like I am paying someone else's debt here.....maybe, I'll ask Matt what kind of kid he was....uhhh....nevermind - it's all suddenly very clear.

Just some of the things that Carlee has been up to lately.....

Ok - before you see the rest of these pictures - this is always the end result when she gets into trouble. She says "Momma's bed", "Momma's bed", "Car Car go nite nite". Then she goes and gets on my bed and lays down.....it's actually pretty funny!

Pouring chocolate syrup down the stairs.....thank GOD for carpet shampooers....

We are going to start making her wear this helmet all the time....she has turned into a climber.

This is almost an entire tube of pink lip gloss that she used as eyeshadow.....

At Thanksgiving over at my sister's house - she got a hold of the baby powder and redecorated my nieces bedroom and herself......geez.

She won't keep her clothes on and often rides her horse naked. Don't ask me.....

She should have been a guy......

This is an entire container of blue eyeshadow...this was after I wiped it off of her cheeks and neck......

Now - you are probably all wondering if we EVER watch her....just spend 3 seconds with her and you will agree that the only other option at this point may require some duct tape. One picture I don't have - calling Poison Control over the weekend because she decided to brush her teeth with her brothers toothbrush and the Alvarest (Poison Ivy Cream) that she found in his bathroom drawer! Of course, she tried to wash it off because it didn't taste good - but, she used the toilet to do it! I give up.

All dressed up.....

Me and my handsome husband....don't worry - he did put his tie on before we left.....;)

Me, my handsome husband and some guy we picked up wandering aimlessly around the hotel bar...just kidding. This is Tim Bryan and he is one of our best friends. We both have known Tim for many years - he knew us separately in our past lives...kind of ironic how this fairy tale worked out. You won't find a greater guy than Tim.....one of those friends that even if you don't see him for awhile - you pick up right where you left off. We had a great time together - Thanks Tim!!

The beautiful Colorado scenery....

Just some pictures that I took while we were driving around......the last picture is Laurie's favorite view....it is pretty awesome to see.....just driving down the highway. It was so beautiful there.....

Sightseeing in Colorado

The view from Uncle Mark and Aunt Laurie's backyard....just beautiful...if you look close - you can see the mountains...

We visited the Red Rocks...absolutely beautiful!! If you haven't heard of them...they are amazing to see. They form a natural amphitheater where people come and perform concerts.....

Here is Aunt Laurie and Mom trying to show us how people work out by running the "stairs/bleachers" at the amphitheater.......I think they were explaining to us how it hurts their knees.....love you ladies and I bet you didn't know I got these pictures....I am kind of sneaky....

Colorado Miscellaneous....

Carlee - the first night

Carlee - the second night

Breakfast with Aunt Laurie (we had dinner with Uncle Mark, Alison, Adam and Aunt Laurie the night before - it was great to see them!)

We were trying to find Mom a new man....we didn't have any luck!