Please pray for Warren

It seems he has ruptured a disc in his back again. He's had a bulging disc for quite sometime, but it has finally had enough  and blew out this morning. We go to the orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday. Hopefully we will know more then. We are praying he won't be out of work as long as he was 6 years ago when this happened (2 months that time). He's in extreme pain right now, and I know he could use lots of prayers. Thank you! We'll keep you posted.

Christmas Clothes

The kids sure looked spiffy in their new duds for church on Christmas day! :) Poor Hallie will have to wear hers for New Years.

Christmas Day

 Traditional Captain Crunch Breakfast

 It was wonderful to spend Christmas morning enjoying our time as a family. Following church, we had the Corb's over for a tasty ham dinner. It is so nice to have fabulous friends to spend the holidays with since our family is so far away. Just after they left and we got the kids to bed, I headed over to the children's hospital with Hallie.

 Classic- Cass with a book, Hallie with a ball

 Poor tiny with her rash coming on worse

 Yoda and his "dinosaur" bone

 Thank you, Mimi and Pops!

 Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa!

 Thank you, Heidi, Grandmother and Grandpa Duck!!

 And Thank you, Auntie Dee!!

 And thank you to Warren, Cass, Cade, Luke, Jake and Hallie for making my christmas wonderful!!

Jake's highlight- a new bike!! He doesn't have to ride the old pink one with popped tires anymore- YAY!!!

Family Nativity

 Joseph, Mary and Baby

 Shepherds coming to visit

 Wise men visiting (not sure if Jake was a camel, donkey, sheep or what)

 Look at those smiling faces, even though Mom was grouchy things weren't running as smoothly as she'd invisioned

Merry Christmas!

Happy 12th Anniversary!

The past dozen years have been the best. Love ya, Babe!

Christmas baking

 My favorite of the treats we made this year was our candied apples! Granny Smith's dipped in homemade caramel, chocolate and white chocolate- sprinkled with M&M's. YUM!!

Big Boxes...

...are always more fun than the contents inside, unless they are filled with 3 silly boys!!

Quite the scare

We had a visit to the ER on Christmas night due to an allergic reaction to Amoxicillin. Thankfully she is clearing up much faster than the doctors said she would. But now her legs look like they are covered in bruises. It was a scary few days. She started a new antibiotic yesterday. We are hoping her little body will be able to tolerate this one. Not a very fun way to spend your first Christmas!

The "Candy Express"

I was instructed by the kids to get pictures from all angles of their "Candy Express" train- inspired by the "Polar Express," Jake's favorite show. We spent hours getting it ready. I'm nervous about our visit to the dentist tomorrow. The kids will probably have those gummy things still stuck in their teeth! As much as I love treats, I am looking forward to cutting back on the sweets after the holidays.

Santa Bubble Beards

The boys hollered at me from the bath tub saying "Ho Ho Ho", begging for me to take their picture. :)

so content

I can't get enough of this girl!

Christmas Tree Job Chart

 Oh, yes. We are very fancy around here using left over craft paper and painters tape. :)

This has been the best job chart created. I can't believe the response I am getting from my kids! I put a bunch of chores on the tree, and whoever completes them first gets to put their ornaments on them. Everyone has their own color of ornaments and everyone has to complete 6 chores. It has been a great way to clean house. It is a race to get the jobs done so they get to pick their favorites (or not have the least desired). The biggest crack up has been Luke- begging me everyday to be able to clean the bathrooms (he just learned how). LOL!! True, in my house they could probably use to be done on a daily basis, but I had to hold out today to build the anticipation for tomorrow. What a funny kid! I'm sure this enthusiasm will only last a few more seconds, but I will take it!! I put the least desirable chore in the star's place, since everybody want their star on top. What a crack up. We may have a christmas tree chart year round at this rate!

Mischief Managed

 This guy is trouble. Look at that face. Curiousity written all over it. He got into my laptop and my mascara today. If you get random texts from me- you know who is sending them.

Anniversary

Warren and I just celebrated our 12th Anniversary this week. It has been the best. Love ya, Babe!

Hallie's officially CRAWLING!!

 Watch out! Here she comes! She puts everything possible into her mouth, and loves to explore. All she needed was to see how much fun Ella was having walking and crawling around. Hallie decided she needed a piece of that. As much trouble and craziness it has been, it is just so dang cute to see her motoring around now.

 Nice sock, Luke.

 Such a smiler, even when she hasn't been feeling well.

Oooo, cabinets!!