Our Snowy Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Some things I wanted to jot down so as to not forget!

1. Christmas Cookies! We spent some quality time making, frosting, and candy-coating cookies for Santa. It was hard for the kids to stop eating the cookie dough – memories of my childhood w/ Mom and Grandma Morse…

2. The snow! Yes, we always seem to want a white Christmas until it does 5-16 inches across the state (along with some pre-party ice/sleet)
3. Christmas Eve Mass – we got there early (45 minutes early) and got some pretty good seats. The kids did well throughout thanks to some good distractions packed by Mommy.


4. Christmas Eve Dinner – for the past three years we have made Grandma Swenson’s ham balls – delish.
5. Cade making sure we cleared the way for Santa to get in the house by moving any objects obstructing the fireplace.
6. Decals…not fun to put on!
7. The kids slept in until 7:45/8:00! Cade actually was up at 6:04, but went back to sleep in a make-shift bed next to ours! Good rest for mom and dad!
8. Excitement over all gifts from Santa

9. Glad to see cookies ate, Cade’s card was taken by Santa, and evidence left by Santa (a boot print) by the fireplace.
10. Breakfast – eggs, sausage and doughnuts. The kids ate great…I think mostly because we made them wait until after breakfast to open gifts from us!
11. Scooping the snow! We had to get out and clean the snow off for the four-wheelers. We managed to hold off until Noon, but these four-wheelers are not made for snow!
12. Lunch – we made ham-salad from remaining hamball meat…then started eating them only to find out the ham (we think) was not cooked… The nurse at Mercy thinks we will be ok…just watching for “turning stomachs”.
13. The barking dog (to the tune of jingle bells) – a gift from my boss is the most popular toy in the house…and the most annoying… ;-)
14. Breck wanting to put on her new elmo & zoe underwear…we put them on over her pants – pretty funny.

15. Trying to figure out plans for trying to head to Minden (will it happen?) in the snow…while trying to figure out what to have for dinner as we were not planning on being home Christmas Night!

I am sure there will be more to come, but I wanted to jot down a note from our day. It has been a nice family day. The kids have had their usual battles over toys, but they also have had some good times playing together. I am thankful for our family time this holiday. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus Comes Tonight!

And we are soooo excited!! We baked cookies for him this morning and will frost them tonight after we go to church. Cade asked for a 4-Wheeler and a Webkin. Brecken just stared at him in awe. When later asked what Santa was going to bring her, she would reply, "a candy kind!" (Because that's what he gave her when she saw him.) We're not sure though if these two ended up on the naughty list or the nice list...stay tuned!

30 Days of Thanks

During the month of November, many were posting the things they were thankful for on Facebook. I thought that was a great idea, but since I'm not one to use Facebook much, I am posting mine here...only it's 13 days late! ; ) What can I say? Life is busy!

Nov 1 – thankful for solo shopping trips
Nov 2 - thankful that I am busy at work (leary about this one, I was thankful for my job last year and look where it got me!; ))
Nov 3 - thankful for those who run for office and want to make our communities better
Nov 4 - thankful for keeping in touch with friends - old and new
Nov 5 – thankful for lunch dates with my hubby
Nov 6 – thankful for Survivor nights
Nov 7 – thankful for a good husband who is a great dad
Nov 8 – thankful for seasons
Nov 9 – thankful for good health care and the doctors and nurses that took care of Brecken during her hospital stay for croup
Nov 10 – thankful for our home, feels so, so good to be here after the stay at the hospital
Nov 11 – thankful for all the men and women who have and do protect our country and freedom by serving in the armed forces
Nov 12 – thankful for our little family and our ordinary life, even during the trying times
Nov 13 – thankful that my husband got to visit old football friends in Ames and that he made it home safely
Nov 14 – thankful for a Cyclone win and tailgating with great friends
Nov 15 – thankful for wonderful friends and family that came to help us celebrate Brecken’s 2nd Birthday
Nov 16 – thankful that I was able to use my mother-in-law’s cupcake recipe and make some unbelievably yummy cupcakes for Brecken to take to daycare for her birthday
Nov 17 – thankful that Cade didn’t cry at drop-off today
Nov 18 – thankful for occasional coffee drink stops
Nov 19 – thankful that I work part-time and could be with Brecken when she had a double ear infection and had to get her 2-year shots
Nov 20 – thankful for dinner and drinks with a dear friend who I don’t get to see near as often as I want to
Nov 21 – thankful that we took Cade to the eye doctor when we did
Nov 22 – thankful for emergency vet care so we didn’t lose Wrigley to mice poison
Nov 23 – thankful for reading bedtime books with Cade and falling asleep with him
Nov 24 – thankful for “stretch-your-belly” day at work…delicious breakfast and desserts
Nov 25 – thankful for lunch with Cade at his preschool where the kids helped make the meal, made table decorations, set the table, etc. So cute!
Nov 26 – thankful for my fun family that we spent Thanksgiving Day with!
Nov 27 - thankful that my mom and sister-in-law will go shopping on "Black Friday" with me
Nov 28 - thankful that we got to spend time with Jim's family for a delayed yummy soup Thanksgiving
Nov 29 - thankful that my dad and stepmom come up the first weekend of December every year to celebrate Christmas with us
Nov 30 – thankful that 11 years ago a couple of guys encouraged another guy to approach a girl and that he did! : )