Family Photos

Now that I've sent out my Christmas card, I thought I would post some of the pictures my friend from high school, Erin Jackson, took of our family back in October.  We went down to the purple people bridge in Newport on probably the windiest day of the year.  It was crazy but the pictures turned out great.  Erin does a fantastic job.  Check our Caroline's dress.  It is one that my mom made for my sister and me to wear when we were little.  Love it!

truffles

I've never made truffles before.  This year, I saw a recipe that I could not pass up.  Chocolate chip cookie dough truffles.  Yes, cookie dough truffles.  I would rather eat cookie dough than baked cookies.  Growing up, my mom was always swatting at our hands to keep us out of the dough.  This cookie dough doesn't have eggs, so it's completey safe to eat (not that the eggs have really kept me from it before!).  If you need something else to make, or something to put in the freezer for the year, here's a great recipe.  And let me say, they are amazing out of the freezer too!

These aren't my actual truffles, these came from the website listed below.  I sprinkled ours with red and green sprinkles. 

http://www.whatmegansmaking.com/2010/12/cookie-dough-truffles.html

Thanks Grammy and Grandpa

When my parents came to visit this weekend, they gave the gifts that we are really enjoying.  We can't wait to go visit again and bring them with us to play their dog a song, or leave there, or tuck in the car with the kids and the grandparents, or....

Here's just a sample.  And did I mention they both have one???

Love/Hate Relationship

Caroline doesn't quite get Christmas just yet.  Especially this whole, big red guy with a beard thing.  Today we went to one of Tommy's work friend's house for a holiday party.  In the middle of the party, Santa showed up.  Caroline couldn't  take her eyes off of Santa.  She needed to know where he was at all times.  When it was her time to see him, let's just say she wasn't the first in line. 

Having her coloring interrupted by the sight of Santa entering the room.

Jack sat in Santa's lap willingly this year.

Thrilled to be there.

Caroline willingly went up there to see Santa when she realized he had a gift for her.

Still not so happy about being that close!

Love the group photo.  See Caroline on the far left.

Early Snow Days and Christmas Presents

This past week we had 2 snow days.  We were out Monday with about 3-4 inches of snow and then Thursday with 4-5 inches of snow.  This is much more than we are used to this early in the year.  I'm starting to think we'll be in school until the end of June!  Don't get me wrong, I love snow days, but we were just a week away from Christmas break.  Plus, I really enjoy my summers at home with the kids.  Anyways, here are some highlights of our snow days.

Playing and clearing the deck before the next snow

Paiting our sugar cookies.  Caroline just used the white icing!

So messy, but so fun!  We had to let her help.

Jack loves painting the cookies.

Some of the finished products.

At the neighbor's house trying to figure out her new snowblower to get rid of the 5 inches of snow on our driveways.  Who wants to shovel?  Tommy decided to snap some pictures as he was working from home that day.

We caught him!

Grammy and Grandpa came in this weekend to visit and bring some Christmas gifts.  Caroline loves her new kitchen and dressup clothes, while Jack was thrilled with his legos and remote control monster truck.  We had such a fun visit.

Checking out her new kitchen.

Playing and cooking with Grammy

sweet cuddles with grammy

Caroline had fun with Grandpa

cooking up a storm

So that she can feed her monkey

Didn't get any pictures of Jack building, but here he is (with the help of Caroline) to open his monster truck!

More pictures to come soon of Christmas.  We are expecting to get more snow/ice this week, so we'll see what happens!  Looking forward to 2 weeks home with the kids!

Update in pictures (and some words)

We've had a busy month since Thanksgiving.  My sweet Grandma passed away the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  What a blessing to have such a great relationship with a sweet, strong, Christian woman.  What an encouragement to hear the strong stories people were telling us, one after another, at her celebration service.  As I make her sour dough bread recipe this holiday, it is hard not to be sad when I can't call and tell her how each batch turned out, but I try to remember that she is now rejoicing with her Savior!  I'm just so glad to have the great memories with her and that the kids remember their sweet Gigi.  During the visit, the kids got to meet their cousin Sarah Beth.  Elaine came in from California with SB.  Some pictures of the kids first visit...priceless.

Pretty good group pose.

Uncle Mark had fun babysitting all the little ones...as long as they didn't poop!

Love it

Caroline is baby crazy right now.  She was pretty happy to see a real one!

Jack loved SB.  He said, "she'd be a good brother."



Trouble, trouble, trouble.  I think we made Elaine nervous!



Here was our first snow of the season last weekend. About 3 inches.

Caroline enjoyed it much more this year!

Yep, here she is ducking from a snowball that Tommy is throwing at her.

Being a ham

Breaking out the sled

Jack going by himself.  He's getting so big.  I guess he probably needs a helmet?

Caroline did not go voluntarily.  She kept telling Tommy "no, no, no!"

We visited the Creation Museum last night for the live nativity.  Great!  And the lights were beautiful.

My sweet boys, yes sweet.

I actually got my pic with the kids!

Jack loved that they had dinosaurs there.

Caroline being Caroline in front of the tree.