UGLY SWEATERS

As many of you know, Bryan's family has a tradition of exchanging ugly sweaters/shirts. With this tradition we like to have votes on who is wearing the UGLIEST and MOST CREATIVE shirts. Please vote ASAP!!! Voting will end in one week. Then we'll post the results. Thanks.

Don

Lois

Terin

Tucker

Janelle

John

LeeAnn

Katelynn

Bryan

Stacie

Claire

The Group

Get your votes in now!!!

Just Some Fun Times

As I've said before, I teach preschool...the other day we were talking about nursery rhymes and one of the projects they had us do was Mother Goose headbands. One of the mothers helping talked about putting lipstick on the mouth of Mother Goose. Claire took it a bit too seriously. She put lipstick on her lips and kissed her Mother Goose headband; too bad the lipstick was a purple marker. Oh the funny things kids do.

I am not one to dress my girls up matchy matchy, but it is cute. Mia needed warmer pjs so I bought her these thermal pjs. Claire saw them and said she needed some too so she and Mia could be twins. Back to the store we went and purchased some for her. I have to admit they look really cute being matchy matchy...even though Mia isn't happy. (It was bedtime and we were trying to hurry up with decorating the Christmas tree)

We usually do a big extended family home evening to make gingerbread houses, but that didn't happen this year. Instead we got together with Grandma Lois, Grandpa Don and Paul (a friend from Germany) to make graham cracker houses. It isn't as easy to make a house out of graham crackers, but it is nicer with kids since they tend to break them. After a few minor set backs with the icing we were ready to go. Claire had fun making hers; although I think she had more fun eating the candy that was supposed to go on the houses. Bryan and I took turns making ours. He built it and did the gum shingle roof and I decorated it. We make a good team. Here is our little family with our two gingerbread houses.

Photo Shoot

This past month we were able to have a friend, Tiffany, come over to take pictures of the girls. We love her work and here are a few of the amazing photos she took for us. (If anyone needs a photographer...she is great!! I can give you her information.)

Mia (3 months old)

Claire (almost 4 years old)

My Girls (Claire loves being a big sister)

Thanksgiving

This weekend was a busy one, but it was great. The weather made it a little difficult for my family to get here, but they all made it safe and sound. We started out Thanksgiving day by running the 5K turkey trot. It was a cold morning.

Here is Bryan running the 5K.

I was a just over a mile into the 5K when I ran into Lois and Claire. She was crying so hard and all she wanted was mommy. I stopped running to be with her. She was freezing. You can tell from the picture below that she wasn't happy and this picture was taken after she was in the warm truck and had drank some hot chocolate.

She was however happy to play in the snow with her cousins.

With all this snowy weather we decided to take advantage of it and we took the kids sledding. They had so much fun sledding down Lois and Don's hill. Claire was brave and went face first down the hill.

Just another picture of the kids sledding.

Then we finished the weekend with Mia's baby blessing. It was so great to have most of my family here to support us on this special day. Here she is in her dress made by Grandma Lois.

Here is our latest family picture. It isn't easy to get a good picture of all of us.

Here we all are! This was all the people at my house for Thanksgiving weekend. Despite the weather we had a great time. Bryan and I are grateful for all the family that came to support us with this special day. We love you guys!!