Winter is Here!

We had a great Thanksgiving with sweet family and to top it off, we got snow!! We're pretty pumped at our house. So to celebrate the wonderful upcoming Christmas season, and the new snow of course, Loren decided we should go ice skating. We've taken Katie several times and she loves it. Sammy has never gone. And being the one with less athletic motivation (we'll say), we weren't sure how long we'd be at the ice rink :)
Getting all suited up. And yes....it's true. Our children are THOSE kids whose parents make them wear helmets. We had to hang our heads in shame over this one.



Okay....we're having fun so far!!


Starting off strong...still on our feet


Gimme a break Mom, it's been a couple of years


After a few times around it all comes back to her and she's doing great!






And the verdict is..... we like ice skating!



One tired little ice skater. She did get quite a nice compliment from a boy we found out later we knew from church. He said, "WOW! She has the coolest hockey helmet!!" This was pleasing to her :)

The Christmas Train

Every year, Sammy's favorite thing is for Grandma and Grandpa to get out their train to go around the Christmas tree. It is a MUST that we talk about the train every day. It's better if we can go see the train. If that isn't possible, quite a bit of conversation about the train is required. Well.....yesterday was the day after Thanksgiving and guess what came out?? We have a happy boy :)

Uh oh, paper crafts....a holiday must be coming!

These cute little hand turkeys are so fun to make and so easy too. Even not-at-all- crafty, I-hate-coloring- Sammy had fun making them!



He does, however, enjoy glueing anything and everything he possibly can...



and, drumroll please.......


A beautiful turkey in the shape of Sammy's hand. This is a proud moment for me as a mother of a boy. He's completed a crafty task people.

Being the complete opposite, this one oozes creativity and craftiness from every single pore.



That's my girl!!



She takes great pride in her work, doesn't she?

Cookies and make -up..odd combo I know

This week we had a special visit from our friend Mrs. Dingfield. So the girls (Erica, Katie, Mrs. Dingfield and Kate) and Sammy too, had a cookie baking adventure. During the mixing, Sammy got out his guitar and was our live entertainment! We followed that up by trying on some new make up that Mrs. Dingfield so graciously shared with us. Thanks Ruth!! Of course during the make up portion, Sammy and Mr. Dingfield retreated to Sammy's room for some "guy time." :)

My 7 (very) random things...

Here you go Kate!!

1. My dryer broke last week. I told Loren not to buy me a new one.

2. Katie and I have become pioneers and are hanging our clothes to dry and loving it! Does that count as a separate one??

3. I am picking up Mindy and her family from the airport at midnight tonight.

4. I canned apples this summer (weird I know) and am loving all the apple goodies I can bake so easily!

5. I've already purchased my children's Halloween costumes for next year. You'll have to wait to see what they are :)

6. I ate dessert for lunch today....apple crisp from those canned apples :)

7. Loren just ordered the Peanuts Christmas music cd for me. It will be here Wednesday and I don't know if I'll be able to wait to listen to it!!