We Have A Saying In Our House.................

We have a saying in our house and it goes like this;

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, NOT WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN!!"

This is a picture of Ryanne after she ran into our wall/fire place. I have this long medal Christmas card holder hanging from this tall wall and as Ryanne was running to get into bed she ran smack into the wall and card holder. Seriously? Since the child could walk she has been smacking into the same wall/fireplace like we just built it. Ugh!!! Dan & I often hear ourselves yelling through the house,"WATCH OUT RYANNE!!" Poor kid, hopefully she drives better than she walks.
The funniest part is we get to her classroom yesterday morning and I am fully aware that everyone is obviously going to ask her what happened but here is what went down.
Teacher: "Ryanne, what happened to your face?"
Ryanne: "uummmm, I don't really know."
Me: "Are you kidding? You ran into the wall, remember? Almost knocked yourself out, I packed your face in ice, ringing any bells here?"
(Random parents just staring at me.)
Its then that I realize you sound like you have beat your kid and are trying to get them to tell a different story.
That's OK, I hear they serve a mean turkey dinner in jail this time of year!
"RYANNE WATCH OUT!" Gotta' go!!!

Answer to Prayer

For two weeks now Morgan has been telling me that she was praying for a cold, white Christmas. I kept telling her that Christmas is usually warm and that we often are wearing flip flops playing outside on Christmas morning. I said,"I just don't want you to get your hopes up honey." Well, if you will look below you will see that believing in God is ALL about getting your hopes up & child like faith.Morgan got her Christmas prayer answered as it snowed off and on all day yesterday and through the night. The above picture is taken off the back side of our property.
Here are the girls in our backyard. We went for a walk at 7am this morning and got to see our little bobcat friend walking around and playing in the snow in our yard as well.

This one is taken from our front yard.

And last but not least this one is taken from our back patio. It was fun because last night at like 7pm it was snowing really hard and we noticed Caleb and his dad playing out in the snow and building a snowman so we got all dressed in our snow gear and headed out to bomb them with a sneak attack of snowballs. It was really fun out in the dark until I got hit right in the eye. Thanks Caleb! I guess all those baseball games are paying off huh! ;)

Firefighters Christmas Party

Last night was the firefighters Christmas party and it turned out really nice.

Mindy was showing off her fancy dance moves here. hhmmmm............

Oh ya' and yesterday I cute 9 inches off my hair! Man I think I lost about 5 pounds! So what do you think short or long? I think I might actually like it short. :) The food was great, music was fun and we had the most amazing view over looking the city from our table. Have a great weekend.

Random stuff from our weekend

Happy Tuesday everyone!! Just a few random things from our weekend and week so far. I took this picture the other night from our back porch. I know I take allot of photos of sunsets and things but it is so beautiful that it seems like an insult to God to not run and get my camera. Oh yes, it's that time of year again where its' in the 40's, the kids get in a warm pool and work out and the parents sit on concrete benches freezing our butts to them. BRRRRRRR.........it was cold last night. I have decided that swimmers are REAL athletes and especially our little Yucaipa kids who swim out side year round in the freezing cold. Doesn't Morgan look cute here though!! :)

Every so often our teams play each other and it gets a little, lets see how should I say this? U-G-L-Y at our house. Actually the game was good on Sunday it just ended really badly for my Cowboys. Boo-hoooo! Oh well, I guess I have to follow through with our bet and wear Dan's shirt now. Ugh! I will not be taking pictures of that. I dont want any proof. ;)

We did go cut down our tree on Sunday when Dan got home and it was all cold and rainy. Perfect for decorating a tree! :)

The girls loved it of course!

Have a great day!!

Morgan's Christmas Party

Can I just say that I am exhausted! Whew, never been so glad to see a calm quiet weekend get here. Tons of fun stuff though. :)

Yesterday was Morgan's Christmas party and we had a great turn out. 65+ kids from our home school group showed up. And all of Morgan's friends were there so it was really fun for her. They got to hear a Christmas story.................................

Do an ornament exchange................................

We painted crafts and I got glue flung through the air which so perfectly splatted across my chest, ya' what are you gonna do?
What else do you do when you are waiting for the party to start? You get your groove on right? Silly girls. :)
Now I hate to disappoint but I think this may be my last post for the week. I know, I know, but don't worry I have another crazy week next week so I'll be back. Until then good night! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Gingerbread House Creations

When my girlfriend moved in next door she started the tradition of having the kids get together to make Gingerbread houses. So today was the day and I am pretty sure (no scratch that) I am certain that most of the candy was going into Ryanne's mouth and not on her creation. ;)My pictures down loaded in the wrong order so here is the finished product and then all the hard work it took to get there. It was a great top off to our crazy busy week.
Do you love the tongue hanging out? So funny!

A group photo of all the fun.
We had snacks and things out to try and soak up some of the sugar going into their little bodies. We had lots of fun just being home and with our friends. Thanks Marianne for putting it together for us. And Susie if you are reading this, we missed you & the boys terribly this year and wished you were here *sniff*. You were on our hearts for sure though.

On a side note and just cause I think she is cute, it was hat day at Ryanne's school today and this is the hat she picked to wear.

Logan's Candy Cane's

Last night was Morgan's home school field trip to Logan's candy shop out in Ontario. I know I have posted allot this week but stay with me it's just that time of year. We are having fun but trying to keep up with us all having that nasty cold is crazy. We weren't about to miss the handmade candy cane and chocolate lesson though. ;)The tour started outside in front of the old candy shop that has been making all of their candy by hand for 75 years. I know this picture is blurred but I still thought it was cool of the kids trying to all get in front of the picture window to see the candy man.
Then we moved inside where they showed us from start to finish how they make their candy canes. Afterwards we all got to sample a piece of warm candy cane. Have you ever done that? They melt in your mouth!! So good!!!!
Ryanne getting a little lift from daddy so she could see over all those big kids.

Did you know the peppermint oil they mix into the white part of the candy cane costs $600-$700 a gallon? OH MY GOSH! Now your probably wondering why the candy doesn't cost more then right? Well, for every like 45+ pounds of candy canes they use less than an ounce of the peppermint flavoring. Whew!!! Little trivia for your morning. :)

Morgan and her friend in front of the store.

After they were done I snuck in and bought Dan and I a piece of chocolate, YUMMMMY! After the candy demonstration that lasted about an hour the kids all got a little sample bag of the candy from the store and of course a candy cane. If you have never been and you get a chance stop on over at Logan's in Ontario. It's tons of fun, the people are super nice and they even shared a little about Jesus on our visit which totally topped it off.

Ryanne's Christmas Program

Last night was Ryanne's Christmas program. Below are my attempts at getting pictures of the girls together before we left. None of my pictures from the actual program turned out. :( Oh well, I got a few good ones here and of the kids in her class getting ready. Seriously, do you love the leggings and brown crocs? It's SOOOO Ryanne. She is not a foo-foo sort of girl so she was NOT having some shiny, fancy dress.
It took me forever to get the girls to stand still. I guess they were a little excited about Ryanne singing at school. ;)

This photo really speaks volumes about my family!!

Ahhhhhh, I love when I catch moments like this on my camera. So stinkin' cute!! I am going to blow this one up and when they are fighting show it to them.

Love you girls!!!

More Pictures

Here are some more random pictures we took as we were getting ready to leave for Ryanne's school. Morgan took this one of me and Ryanne. Good job Morgan! :) I think this is the only picture where you can really see Ryanne's Croc's that match her outfit. Those are the only shoes she will wear so when I was buying her Christmas outfit I was determined to find ones that matched. I found those cute brown ones and they were perfect! I think she has a pair in every color now!!!! Ryanne and Daddy!

I LOVE the look on Dan's face here. We were trying to get the girls to look at me and instead they are climbing all over Dan and he just had this hilarious look like,"why did I come home again?" He,heeee!!

This is more like it.

Here is Ryanne with her teacher Mrs. Kidd. The program was super cute and the kids and teachers worked really hard to make it special. At one point I found myself getting choked up. I realized this is my last one going through Pre-K. It's my last Pre-K Christmas program. Or maybe I was crying tears of joy because God answered my prayers and Ryanne didn't do anything to embarrass me. Either way it was moment. ;)

The look on Ryanne's face here says,"that's right Mrs. Kidd, smile pretty cause tomorrow we are going toe to toe you and me!"

Homemade Treats & Blessings.............

This yummy plate of homemade goodies + these cute hand painted boxes=

really cute, really simple gifts for friends and neighbors, or teachers or the mailman, or your hairdresser, or.................OK, you get the idea! ;) I just went to the local cake decorating store and bought some candy boxes. Put some cute red and green polka dots on the boxes and tied them up with some raffia and little ornaments. On the inside I dipped Treader Joe's peppermint Joe-Joe's in white chocolate and dusted them with red bakers fairy dust stuff and then I also made peppermint bark. So easy and something the kids can help with too.
I had my appointment today for my infusion and I have not been feeling well with a cold (thanks Dan for passing that on by the way) so I was kind of blah, not to mention Dan is on a 72 and that makes for allot of work for me when I get home feeling poopy from the hospital. This is going to sound horrible *gulp* but I had these little gifts all done up for my oncologist and the nurses that take care of me every month and frankly I didn't feel like being jolly and delivering treats. Since I wont be back till' after Christmas I delivered them and smiled and thanked them. They were SO happy and touched and then the nurse hit something bad in my vein (twice) and I started sweating through my clothes as she tried to "fix" the problem. At the point where I was thinking I was either going to pass out or throw up I thought about taking my cookies back or wishing I had put ex-lax in that batch. Hey, I'm just being REAL honest here people. Any-whooooo, I survived and after some apple juice was back to having some color. I left feeling a little beat up and so when I got home and the girls said that these had been dropped off.......................


I guess you could say I was a little surprised and humbled that someone was thinking about me all the while I was sitting at the Dr.'s only thinking about myself. I have had the privilege of being reunited with my softball coach from high school and let me just say I knew he and his family were great people back then but unfortunately when you are a teenager you are, well you just ARE! So God is faithful and has allowed that friendship to continue with my brother in Christ. When I was trying to earn money for Angels family he didn't miss a beat to help out. When he needs prayer he lets me know and the same goes for me. Isn't that fun? Something I most certainly took for granted has been brought back around full circle. He knew I was going in today for my treatment and he just wanted to send encouragement. Made me wonder about my own attitude just an hour or so before. OOPPSSSSS! God knew what I needed. Well, besides a swift kick in my grumpy cookie delivering butt! ;)

This N' That...............

Today it was rainy and cold so it was GREAT that we had all our errands done and could "just be" at home and enjoy the clouds and rain. After getting all the laundry done and mopping my floors I got an itch to do something creative. I picked up this material at JoAnn's yesterday. My 9 month old niece has to have surgery on the 15th of Dec. and since her mom and dad have nicknamed her lady bug I thought this would be perfect for her bed at the hospital. So I made this really simple soft blanket for Alexandra. I hope she loves it! ;)

Then I decided I had all this beautiful material in my sewing box and my couch pillows desperately needed a face lift so I made some slip covers. A little mix-matchy but I love that look so it works in my earth toned house.


Last night we had the pleasure of having dinner with some friends and then the kids made turkey hand print cookies.

Gobble-Gobble!


The little ones really got into their cookies. Too fun!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

7 Random things about ME!

OK, so I have been tagged like three times so I am going to be a good sport and play along. It's just that I don't think there are 7 random interesting things you want to know about me. ;) But here goes nothing.

1. I LOVE to read and in fact I probably easily read 2-3 books a month. The sad part? If you stopped me on the street & asked me what I was reading I could no sooner tell you the title of the book or the author or anything. I could tell you what it was about but once I am done reading I completely forget. I don't know if its because I read SO much I just have to filter or if I am really that absent minded. Yikes!

2. I HATE the dark. If I have to walk from one end of the house to the next at night I will flip all the lights on along the way. I just like to be able to see everything at all times plus doesn't the boogy man still live in the dark under my bed? ;)

3. I LOVE to scare people. Not like the put a mask on and hide in the closet and jump out kind of scare but the more passive just stand really still while you walk around the corner and see if you notice me kind of scare. Dan and the girls get so made at me. They try to get me back all the time but I am paranoid when the house gets quiet so I come around the corner swinging. I know, I know, my kids are so going to be jacked up.

4. I have what I like to call a "numbers disorder" everything has to be the same. Like if I am putting deodorant on, each pit has to get the same amount of strokes. ohh, ooohh and like the heater in my car has different controls for each passenger; well if I am alone I have to have the numbers all be the same. I cant believe I am telling you this. So random!

5. I LOVE shoes but HATE to wear them. I LOVE purses and handbags but HATE to carry them. I LOVE fashion and make up but ALL of my makeup would literally fit in your pocket and I am most comfortable in worn out jeans and t-shirts. When I grow up I want to be an adult all put together with a look other than a pony tail! :)

6. I LOVE adventure and change. If Dan came home tomorrow and said we were moving across the country/world I would be ALL over it. I love change and things to get shook up once in a while. I LOVE big city's and small country towns. I honestly could live anywhere. I curb this part of my personality a bit by constantly learning something new. I am itching to take dance classes at the moment. ohh, ohhh and the piano.

7. When God wants me to do something or lean my heart in a certain direction it happens in the middle of the night. More times than I can count I have had dreams or something to that affect that leads me to pray for someone and call them to find out they were in need or hurting. I also am convicted during this time if I am in sin. God wakes me up and it is VERY clear to what I am to do.........................ok, is this weird? Oh well, you asked for it!! ;)

Funny things kids say and the death of a mailbox...........

Our kids say the most hilarious things almost daily. In fact I could do an ENTIRE blog just on the things that come out of their mouths and you would be in in awe and possibly often times frightened at the way their little minds work. Morgan: "wanna play princess?"

Ryanne: "oh yes, can I be a princess too?"

Morgan: "No, I'm the oldest so I am the princess."

Ryanne: "that's not really fair, I want to be a princess like you!"

Morgan: "let me think.............hhhhhmmmmmmm, I've got a great idea!

You can be Porky Pig!"

(we are sitting at a place eating lunch)

Ryanne: "daddy, was I birthed from you?"

Dan: No, daddy's don't "birth" babies Ryanne only Mommy's can do that."

Ryanne: "oohhh, ok so was I birthed from you mommy?"

Me: "no honey, remember we adopted you when you were a baby."

Ryanne: "oohh ya' so who birthed me then?"

Me: "your birth mom."

Ryanne: "whats my birth moms name?"

Me: "Kristen."

Ryanne: "cool ok."

Morgan: "And just for the record I was the one who wanted you!"

I was in the house running around with my head cut off trying to get everyone out of the house on time for swimming when Morgan comes running in;

Morgan: "Mom, the mailbox fell over!!!"

Me: "the what did what!!!???"

Morgan: "ya' the mailbox fell over and oh I might have been swinging from it AGAIN! But if makes you feel any better on the way down it hit me in the head REALLY hard!"

(yes my child in some way that does make me feel better)

So I threw everyone in the car, backed out of the driveway pausing long enough to snap a photo on my cell phone and then sent it to Dan at the fire station with this text attached;

HAPPY FREAGIN' MONDAY!!!!! :)

What is it about my children that they swing, climb, hurdle, launch themselves off anything they can find? Is this normal? Well, its Tuesday whats the worst that could happen right? ;)

Your Input

Hello everyone, now is your chance to tell me what you think. I shared in my previous post that we are trying to really keep the present giving and receiving in perspective. To spend less and give more. Does that make sense? Nobody "needs" to be smothered in gifts at Christmas to make it special and our family is no exception. I mean what if we all sepnt less and gave more of our time, resources and energy to eternal things? Man oh man wouldnt that speak volumes to the world around us! So every year I have this really cool wood advent house I set up and everyday the girls open it to find little candies, scripture, or coupons for dates with mom and dad; things like that. This year I want to make it 25 days of service to our neighbors. Take the trash cans in, grab the mail, rake up leaves etc. Can you guys give me some ideas that would bless you if you were our neighbors. Please keep in mind that we are pretty close and friendly with most all of our neighbors so it can be more than the average surface thing. I know God will bless our entire family and grow us through this and I pray it will minister to others in a way that we don't even know yet. Come on Bloggers I need 25 ideas!! Have a gret weekend.
(p.s. if you are one of my neighbors reading this you do NOT get to put in your two cents! he,hee!)

Living in the moment

I was recently thinking about how hard it is for us to live in the moment. We are always worrying, thinking or planning about the next "big thing" we have going on. I realize that I am very much like that in the sense that I have a hard time slowing down long enough to enjoy today. I don't know about you but I can often tell when I have my hand in to many things especially during the holidays. I will all of a sudden feel this panic coming on and my brain feels like it is going to explode on the next person that asks me anything about anything. Are you following me? To be honest I have no desire to be that mom who does it all. I would be happy just doing a few things well. I got to thinking about how stores make it really hard to live in the moment. I mean when I was shopping for Halloween I had a hard time enjoying myself because the store clerks were climbing over me to put Thanksgiving stuff out. Now as my family gets all excited about Thanksgiving we have to climb over Santa statues to buy a Turkey platter...........ummmm hello!!I totally get starting stuff early and in fact am almost done with my Christmas shopping (more on that in a minute) but it's already so hard to just enjoy TODAY without all the "pushing" from the outside world. ugh! Seriously when I start shopping for Christmas decorations they will be throwing Valentines cards at me. he,hee! One way we stopped to enjoy the amazing Fall weather was to go to our home school harvest party.Ryanne and her friend Seth. Show me those mugs!!!!
They had a pumpkin rolling contest and Ryanne and her little friend had to work together because the pumpkins were SO BIG! It took these two forever to get down and back but they laughed the entire time and never gave up.

Morgan did great too!

Ryanne came out with this crown on this morning, I guess she wanted to make sure everyone knew who was in charge today. ;)

Yup, they even had sack races. Morgan was all business!

OK, so I wanted to share our idea we are using to keep Christmas small and in perspective this year. Every year we say,"let's not go over board, cash only, etc." Well, this year I got this great idea out of a magazine I was reading. Dan and the girls thought it was a great, fun way to make Christmas more fun and keep our eyes on the Lord. You buy three gifts; one they REALLY want, one they REALLY need and one that is a total surprise. We are doing stockings for them as well. It has really caused the girls to stop and think about what they are asking for and what we can buy for Dan as well. Just a thought. :)