Merry Christmas....a few days late.

Things have been a bit crazy around here...illnesses....a trip to the hospital for my father in law during the visit and I did not take a whole lot of pictures to share.
BUT - we did have a nice time between the craziness and stayed focused on the true meaning of Christmas...our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Mackenzie on Christmas Eve before church. She actually served in the nursery as a helper for two of the Christmas Eve services....I am so proud of this little girl - she has an amazing heart....


We have a tradition of making a birthday cake for Jesus every year & singing to him - I did not get a picture of the whole cake but here is Mackenzie with her piece peaking in the picture...I think I'll copy what my friend Melissa did - look HERE


and Jonas, inhaling his piece....

The kiddos getting ready to open their 1 Christmas Eve gift...always a new pair of pj's and a new "friend" to sleep with. Thneir new friend this year was a cat handmade out of a sock from Domino Pads

Mackenzie on Christmas morning with her new princess earrings and crown from Grandma and Grandpa - and she has her key from her new Tinkerbell jewelry box (which is definitely her favorite gift)

Jonas opening his new tools - the pliers have rarely left his hands - he carries then around everywhere and is even eating his cereal with them as I type this....crazy boy!

and yes, we are true Raider fans......

and what the season is all about.....

Merry Christmas everyone! What a gift we have all been given.....

41 and I spent it at Disneyland!!!!

My day in pictures......

My cuties....

I love them. They love eachother.
I am so thankful.

Tis the season.....for ickies!!!

Oh how I wish there were a shot to just never get sick. Third week into November & I am battling cold #2, Mackenzie has the same thing & Jonas is coughing. JT - well, he says he's "fine", but that's his typical answer for everything.

Other than that, things are good around here. The kiddos keep me busy & I find that anytime I start daydreaming while on the computer, one of them does something interesting to get my attention. Today Jonas decided to use half a bottle of Bath & Body Works foam soap on his hands & Mackenzie came running out freaking out that there were a ton of bubbles in the sink and they wouldn;t go away! Ha! Thank you God for the gentle smack upside my head. The kiddos are now napping, so I have no guilt for being on here now. I've gotten very sucked into Farm Ville on Facebook. Yes, it's true. I deleted about 100 people off my friends list and now spend my time being able to catch up with friends & family that are not local and building my farm. Nothing like a mindless game to zone out on. If I put even half the energy into cleaning my house that I put into having a nice farm, I would have a model home! What fun would that be? So backwards!!!

Last Friday, hubby & I actually went on a date! We went down to Calvary Chapel in Santa Ava and saw Bebo Norman, Natalie Grant & Jeremy Camp. It was nice & I love all of them! I must admit, I was offended that everyone stood thru Jeremy's performace & were in a coma for Natalie - she's my favorite! Here's some pics from my cell phone - my guess is as good as yours as who is who but there is one of each performer! Ha!

Jeremy?...maybe?

Natalie? Possibly?

Bebo? Hmmm..I have no clue!

JT - he is so busy with work and is loving In The Trenches. Someday soon I sould have the logo to share with you! he is a great husband & provider.

Brandon - still in jail. I have received a letter. I pray for him daily and rest knowing that he is building his testimony for greata things in his future!

Mackenzie now has 2 patches on her AWANAs vest & loves going each week. She's a great kid & I am so blessed to be here "Mama" as she calls me.

Okay - so I have been a busy mama & have to admit something - I just looked for a recent picture of Mackenzie and don;t have one - the last one I took was from Halloween! (((blushing)))

She was so tiny here...why do they grow so fast? I'll have to add that question to my list of things to ask God when I go to heaven.

Jonas - well, that kid is just plain crazy. That about sums him up right now, plain and simple. I love my little man.

See: he's crazy I tell you!

Last week the little ones performed at SMILES - Mackenzie was so involved, Jonas, on the ohter hand, yawned thru the whole thing! Ha!

(I cannot take credit for these pics - Tamara took them for me on Jennifer's borrowed camera)

I have made a memory quilt out of the kids clothes but have a ton of snipping left to do before I can share with you all, when it is done I will though - it's beautiful & the kids love looking thru it & picking out their items.

A recent custom minkee backed I-spy for Alea:

and one for Rami - Alea's brand new baby brother:

Just got an order for a hat/scarf sets from a lady that I have made sets for the past 2 years - those will keep me plenty busy at night.

"Brandon's song" is on right now........

Be blessed!

Halloween & more....

Let's see - some busy days around here.....
Last Friday we did some pumpkin carving
Mackenzie loved it - Jonas said "ewww" and
would not participate - ha!!!

Friday night - off to a Harvest Festival.....

Our little Cinderella & Thomas....

The cake walk....

Saturday (Halloween) was life as normal - off to church

except the kids dressed in costume, Mackenzie decided to be

a cheerleader this time...I kept to our same routine, as I

want my kids to know that church & learning about

Jesus is way more important than Halloween. We did

make it to a friends after church & the kiddos got a taste

of trick or treating though.

Today - Jonas wanted to be the cheerleader

so sister helped him...ha!!!

JT left for a couple of days of work, so that

meant time to play with my hair as always &

have gone brunette!

and - my most recent memory quilt & lovie for someone.

I love these - so much so that I am cutting up my kiddos clothes

and am going to start a big one out of theirs.....

Crazy Dress Up & Gooey Butter Bars....

Well, she didn't win for craziest & but she's the cutest one
in my book! She did win an award for not needing any help
with her bible verse of the week though!


and...Gooey Butter Bars
I just made these for the men's bible study
"In The Trenches" tonight:


email me for the recipe!!! These are so good (and fattening)!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Cold, cold day - Jonas had a flu shot today so we decided to

have a little fun after! Thing is...the older they get, the more

afraid they become - I took them to this same place 2 years

ago & it was a hit - this year, not so much!

Both loved this one:

Mackenzie made one rotation while screaming the entire time

that she wanted off! Jonas...well...he made about 5 rotations

and looked like he was holding his breath on the last one.

They both loved the bounce house!

Neither were fans of this - Mackenzie was crying in this

picture but made it to the top & then screamed all the way

down. Jonas made it to the top then backed all the way down

the ladder! Ha!!!

Tonight is "Crazy Dress-up" at AWANA's - should have some pics to share of that!

Mackenzie is determined to win - her teacher said that there is a prize involved!

Ooo - and have you seen my little princess in her AWANA vest??