Improvision...

This is improvising...at it's best!  

No sled?  No problem!  

Just find the nearest ratchet strap and laundry basket...

take it to your nice snow-covered hill in the backyard, and, TA DA!, 

perfect snow-sledding fun!

 

  

 

  

 

SNOW much FUN!

We had SNOW much FUN...

Building our first family SNOWman...

Even if we did have to improvise with...

 celery (nose), 

dirty rocks (eyes), 

kid shovels (arms/hands), 

and pinto beans (mouth & buttons)!  

What can I say?!  I wasn't prepared for this!!

SNOW much FUN!!

Christmas Morning

What better way to start Christmas morning than with a snow-covered yard, snow steadily falling, homemade chocolate gravy & donuts, two kids anxiously awaiting their gifts from Mommy & Daddy, and lots of fun in the snow?!

Here are a few snapshots of our Christmas morning... ;-)

Let it SNOW!!

Little words are needed to describe my kids and their first snow!!  So, instead of words, here are a few pictures to show their excitement... :-)

 

 

 

 

  

 

What a perfect addition to our Christmas...a WHITE Christmas! 

Christmas Pictures

Each year, we do our best to take updated pictures of each family represented at my Granny's house.  Here are a few...

Our family...

Me with Mom & my sisters

My sweet Papa & Granny

All of the "cousins"...all grown up :-)

An Amish Love

I recently received the An Amish Love to review from Booksneeze.  This book is a beautifully written trio of novellas by three different authors, but woven together from story to story through the setting and through characters.  Each of these novellas are very easy to read, and very difficult to put down once you begin to read them.  The all share stories of love, loss, hope, and forgiveness. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book of novellas, and getting small glimpses into the Amish life, while also reading fantastic Christian romance at the same time.  I rated this book 4 stars.  I would recommend this book to any woman who love the Amish stories, or would like to begin reading the Amish romance stories.  The novellas are relatively short, which makes them easy to read, even for the busiest person.  


I received this book free from Booksneeze as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Wordless Wednesday

Our "oh-so-yummy" homemade chocolate gravy & donuts, courtesy of my Granny.  

What better Christmas tradition breakfast could there possibly be!?

Just Like Daddy

One of Austin's Christmas surprises from Mimi & Papa Ricky was his very own Buzz Lightyear bath set, complete with shaving cream and a razor.  Now, Austin gets to shave with Daddy, instead of just watching!  He's just like Daddy...

 

A Little Christmas Teasing...

What's Christmas without a little Christmas teasing??  Katie really wanted a Leapster this year...she's wanted it for at least 8 months or so now...she's played with her best friend's Leapster as often as she could!  So, that was our plan for her "big gift" from Mommy and Daddy {and, of course, Austin had to have one, too...to alleviate any knock-down, drag-out fights}.  And, that's what we did!  

We also gave a few family members "ideas" of gifts that the kids would need to go with their Christmas surprise.  What we didn't think about {at first} was that they would end up getting the accessories first...and then...their Leapsters!  Once we realized it, we decided to sit back and see what happened {we're so cruel!}  And, here's a little snippet of the fun...

Opening Accessory #1 at Mimi's house:

Mommy!  I got something like my friend Elizabeth has!! 

Really, that's great, Sweetheart!  

Oh...That's funny, hehe {with little enthusiasm}...

What is it, Katie?  

 It's empty.  Why didn't they put games in it like Elizabeth's?  What do I do with it?

Well, I don't know, Sweetie.  Look!  You have another gift to open! {grins}

Opening Accessory #2 at Granny's house:

Look, Mom!  I got a Ni-hao Kai-lan game for my thing I got at Mimi's house!!

That's cool, Katie!!

But, how do I play my new game now?

Well, Sweetie, you can't play it, because you don't have the Leapster for it.

Oh.  O.K. 

{Mommy's starting to feel a little bad about the Christmas teasing at this point...but it's so worth it to see her the next morning!}

Opening her Leapster on Christmas morning:

And, oh! How excited she was!!  This was the first toy that had to be opened and played with...over and over again! 

So, maybe a little Christmas teasing wasn't so bad, after all.