It's the end of another year . . .

I love this collage - it reminds me of how much fun I have had this year and the ups and downs of our year.  I am grateful for the idea and know that I have documented things I don't think I would normally document in our life.

12.31.10

We almost forgot it was the middle of winter today.  The kids helped rake up some leaves so they could jump in them.  When you live on 3 acres instead of a 1/4 acre and you have lots of trees - you have lots of leaves.  The kids had so much fun.  They played and played in the nice weather - but it didn't last.  Later that afternoon we were under tornado watch and the evening ended with mother nature's fireworks rather then ours.  A good old midwest thunderstorm with rain, rain and more rain.

Good thing we are staying until Sunday. 

Wouldn't want those fireworks the boys bought to go to waste.

12.30.10



We spent the afternoon at the Children's Museum in Cape Giradeau, MO.  The older kids walked in and didn't want to stay.  Their dad took them to see Tron while the 4 younger kids played for a couple hours in the museum.  Of course Peter loved it - there was a fire truck to drive.  Peter, Alia and Kirsten played in the kid area pretending they were in a boat and sailing off to see.  There were so many things to do and see.

12.29.10



Here is what we do when we get to the Kempe's house.  DROP!

We drove down to visit the Kempe's for the New Year.  We had a pretty uneventful drive down.  Esther is the perfect traveler.  She ate before we left, at lunch time and then when we got here.  She pretty much slept the rest of the time.  Hope our trip home is just as nice.

12.28.10



Six years ago this beauty entered our lives.  She was a much anticipated child who has changed our lives.  Today we celebrated with a trip to the store to spend the money that people had given us for Christmas and Kirsten's birthday.  She totally got what she wanted.  A new zuzu pet, a new toy car, a color book, a dog that has twin puppies and new crayons.  Later she got a couple of new books and clothes from the family. 
For dinner we went to Red Robin and she got a purple balloon to match her purple outfit and also a Sundae that she shared with all of us.

Happy Birthday girl!  I know you have been waiting all year for it to be your turn!!

12.27.10

Here is sleeping beauty who has made sure all the animals and dolls are neatly tucked in bed.  Isn't she sweet?

12.26.10

Here is one of the dresses I spent most of yesterday afternoon making.  I wanted to get a picture of the 3 kids in their matching outfits but Peter didn't want to wear his vest - no way, no how.  Kirsten got out of her dress so fast your head would spin and so Esther who can't complain or take her own clothes off had her picture taken.  Isn't she cute?

12.25.10 Christmas Card

12.25.10

Merry Christmas to All!  Our family has had such a nice day.  The kids had soo much fun opening presents.  The big family gifts we got this year were our new big screen TV and red wagon.

Peter has had fun playing with his new remote control Mater toy, his zuzu pet, new car transporter, Handy Manny Play set, and some books.

Kirsten played all day with her new Cinderella baby doll, Littlest Pet Shop animal, lady bug pillow pal and many new books.

Esther enjoyed her first Christmas by sleeping most of the day and showing a little bit of a smile as her brother and sister showered her with all the fun toys she got.  A glowing musical seahorse, a musical pull toy pig, a noise maker frog and her first baby doll.

Mom and Dad sat back and enjoyed the day and the new set of glasses they got, canvas picture, ties and new Angel ornaments.

After all the commotion of opening presents was done - we had yummy waffles with flavored syrups - a new tradition at our house {one passed on from the Anderson household.}

The rest of the day was spent playing with our new toys and having a fun Skype conference call with the whole Hall family.

12.24.10



Today is Christmas Eve and we spent a good portion of the day cleaning the house and making dinner.  We had yummy ham, cheesy potatoes and Jell-O. 
Kirsten was so over the top excited about the fact that we could open one present today.  She could barely contain herself.  She kept asking, when can we open it.  Can we open it?  Of course it is the same thing every year (although I don't think she remembered from years past.)  PJ's!  Of course in all the fun, I forgot to take pictures.  I'm sure I will take them tomorrow.

12.23.10



You see I have this great friend Liberty, who loves to craft with me.  I was starting to get a bit stir crazy with the 3 kids and since Dave had today off, I took off with Esther to play at Liberty's house.  We made this cute Creche' to add to our collections.  This one is great because it is unbreakable.  I love the simplicity of the blocks and the cute clip art design. 

Thanks Dave for cutting the blocks and Liberty for having pity on me and letting me run away to your house!  I think I can be a better mom now :)

12.22.10

We took an outing to Bass Pro Shops - Winter Wonderland, to keep our mommy sane.  It had many things to do and we invited our friends the Parkers to come and play with us.  Of course, Peter's favorite part was getting on the four wheeler and pretending he was driving away!!  Or was it the boat and speeding off into the sunset with our other friend Regina?

12.21.10



Today it is officially winter (according to Kirsten) and so let's just drop our coat and other paraphernalia  where we stop, when we come in Peter.   {That is where it goes, right????}

12.20.10

The kids had a ball tonight at Family Home Evening.  We watched a couple of church videos that reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas.  Then we dipped pretzels in chocolate and covered them in sprinkles.  We had a ball making them and I know I heard Kirsten exclaim, "We had never done this before."  Then we put a couple in the freezer to speed up the process of hardening and then enjoyed the pretzels together as a family.  It is experiences like these that remind me of how important family is and how important it is to do things together as a family.  I hope that these are the things they remember when the get older and are trying to decide if they want to do something with the family.  And I hope they choose to join the family rather then go out with friends . . .

12.19.10

CUTE.  I don't think I need to say more.

12.18.10

Phase 2 on the cabinet redo.  We added the cabinets on the left side.  When I said we, I really meant Dave did. He worked most of the day on this, but when it came to be time for dinner the dining room table was full of the cabinets contents and the area around the new cabinets was dirty.  It was a night out for dinner.  If you are wondering about the microwave (now sitting on the counter), there is supposed to be a new one in that spot above the stove.  Hopefully it will get placed in the next couple of days.  It fits fine, but the screws to hold it are too short and Dave needs to find a solution to the problem.

12.17.10

O Christmas Tree!  O Christmas Tree!  What is the problem with your branches?
O Christmas Tree!  O Christmas Tree!  It's getting darker by the minute!!

I think we have a problem.  Oh well, there is always next year to have a fully lit tree. {At least they are going out in a pattern of sorts.}

12.16.10

This guy loves this little girl A LOT.  Maybe just a bit too much.

Today I ran upstairs to do a couple things and had left her in her carseat asleep.  I came back downstairs and found her on the floor on her face and Peter standing over her . . . I have NO IDEA what happened.  All I know is she was asleep and then . . . plop she is on the floor.  OH BOY!!!  Guess I have to be super careful when I leave them alone together.

 Then he wanted to hold her.  I think that is what happened before but because he doesn't know how to hold her when he is standing, she ended up on the floor.  Poor girl.  Even when he is holding her it is a bit rough.  I guess she will probably be stronger in the long run.

12.15.10

I'm late!  I'm Late!  I"M LATE!!!

These boxes are supposed to be in the mail, LIKE yesterday or was it Monday or was it last Friday??!?!?!?  It is just like that around here, NOTHING gets done in the time frame that I want it to.  It is just how it is and will be for awhile.  I think I can get things done and, well - they just take 3 or 4 times as long as I expect.  I had most of this ready for sending before Esther was born (mostly handmade gifts this year.) BUT I wanted to include my Christmas card and let's just say everything got in the way of getting them done and the machine at Sam's club broke down in perfect time to not let me get half of the stuff I needed. . . and Excuses, excuses, excuses.  I guess I need to give myself some slack - I have a newborn, right??? 

Oh well they will  get it when they get it,  It won't ruin Christmas if they don't make it in time.  Life will go on.

You can't see it very well but Kirsten did all of the bows on top.  She is amazing that way!!!  Love IT!!!

12.14.10

You're hired boy!! 

Now if I could get him to clean the house so eagerly then we'd be in business!!

(Need to document because in a couple of years when I want him to do it, I can remember the "good old days" when he begged me to do it every time we go out after a snow storm.)

12.13.10

There is something about Mondays that they always seem to be a bit more trying then most days.  I was tired but knew we needed to do our Family Home Evening.  I was looking through a book that has Christmas stories in it, trying to find the perfect "story" to share with the kids . . . when they started playing with the Little People Creche I had brought home from the Nativity.  All of the sudden they were using their blankets to be Mary and Joseph and Esther was perfectly wrapped up in her carseat like the baby Jesus. . . It occurred to me that I didn't need to read them a story about Christmas but that we need to read the Actual Story in the Bible, while they played the parts.  I ran upstairs to find some white fabric for me to be the angel and the play began.  Dad read the account in Luke 2 and we played our parts.  It was the perfect end to a not so perfect day.

12.12.10

The final night of the Nativity has come and after the people left, Liberty and I took down the Creche display.  It meant that we were there until after 11 pm but nice that we aren't going to have to go back to take it all down.  There are so many displays and it is fun that each one is a little different.  We have some from Jerusalem, we have some that are very, very small (less then an inch high), we have some that are very big (over 15 inches tall) and we have children's plastic ones.  There are so many beautiful ones and all of them center on the true meaning of Christmas - CHRIST!!!  I love it, even though it will make it hard to get up Monday morning and function.  I know I don't get enough sleep as it is, but this will put me in a more sleep deprived mode.  Oh well, it was worth it!!

12.11.10

Our Annual Live Nativity began tonight.  It was rainy and cold, but it is always miserable weather the weekend of the Nativity.  The people were diligent and the show went on.  I didn't get a chance to go outside and watch or should I say that I chose not to go outside because of Esther.  The kids went and enjoyed the show in the rain.  Kirsten performed with the primary children inside in the chapel.  They sang songs about Christ and Christmas.  It was great.

12.10.10

My three helpers for setting up the Nativity: Sleepy, Watchy and Helpy.  It took us most of the day to get the Creches up, but they are done and now we can enjoy the Nativity this weekend.  It is a lot of work to put this thing together.

12.09.10

My neighbor gifts this year.  I am not really very original, my friend Liberty gave me one like this last year.  When I found the bells on 75 or 90% clearance last year I bought them and put them with my Christmas stuff this year.  They were easy and fun.  I love getting new ornaments each year and hope my friends do too.