12.07.15

Tonight we hosted our 

Neighborhood Christmas Donation Night!

The past few years, 

our neighborhood has been doing this,

in lieu of neighbor gifts.

We bring items to donate to a local charity,

using the money we would have spent on neighbor gifts.

I had people dropping stuff off throughout the day,

and even this picture is not the full extent of what was donated! 

Thankful for my generous neighbors! 

Christmas at the Cabin

Escaped the City Life for the weekend 

and spent time with family 

moving into our new family cabin!

Snow, Christmas movies, hot chocolate, cookies,

watching squirrels, exploring, sitting by the fire,

twister, puzzles, games, and day dreaming.

Wisemen

Light the Night Festivities

Strolled through Christmas lights,

gazed at candy sculptures and gingerbread houses,

and nibbled cookies and sipped hot chocolate.

And!

I answered a Christmas trivia question and won us a prize! 

Thanksgiving Scenes

[Headed out for the drive to my homeland, trying to beat the snow storm]

[Making Pies, the Grandkids' Oreo Turkeys, and Feasting]

[Grandma's homemade gingerbread houses for all the grandkids to smother in candy]

[The ladies making chocolates on Chocolate Making Day]

[The serene 8 inches of snow that kept the kids thoroughly entertained all weekend!]

Not pictured:

The night all my sisters and I and our spouses

stayed up way too late 

playing our own version of the newlywed game.

The tears were rolling from so much laughter!

I love that we could all be home together for Thanksgiving.

Kick-Off to Christmas!

Our 5th Year of doing our fun 

"Kick-off to Christmas" Weekend!

We stay in a hotel,

eat out WAY too much,

and browse our favorite stores for Christmas List ideas.

This year,

we also went to a hilarious dinner theater,

for their Christmas show,

and we all LOVED doing that!

When we got home that evening,

we then all worked to rake and bag our leaves in the yard,

and working together as a cheerful team,

was the perfect ending!

I LOVE being a part of this Family!

Halloween

[Spooooooky Things]

It's Great to Be Eight!

10.31.15

{Baptism Day}

A Perfect 60

My Sisters and I got together,

and planned a 60th Birthday Ta-Do

for our Mom!

For planning via text,

it all came together real smooth-like!

[Here's just a peak!]

We hosted a Luncheon,

and in lieu of gifts,

we asked that everyone share a fond memory,

or story of our Birthday Girl!

In addition to the above pictures,

we also had displays of quilts, talents, pictures 

and a time line along the wall, of our Mom's life!

Our Guest of Honor loved it all,

and beamed from her shining eyes!

Love You, Mom!

Birthday Girl

So many of my FAVORITE things, 

all in One Day!

Early morning miles,

breakfast in bed,

smelly soaps,

homemade coupons,

my favorite people,

and 

a belly full of sushi!