Jelly Belly Tasting

The girls got an early Christmas present from my Mom's cousin, Melody... a box of Jelly Belly's.  20 individual flavors and one whole hour of entertainment for me and them.  (Thank you Melody!)  I decided to let them open this up while I was doing some cooking last week.  They both sat at the kitchen counter.  Sarah read off the lid each individual flavor then they would each take one of that particular kind of Jelly Belly and sample it.  

Sarah's favorite flavors were Sunkist Lemon and Cotton Candy.  Phoebe's favorite flavors were Coconut and Sunkist Tangerine.  

Next, they decided to try mixing two flavors to see what that would taste like... Sarah read the box and picked out her two flavors to mix.  Phoebe did not read the box, or ask anyone to read it to her... instead she picked two colors that she liked.... a blue one and a red one.  These happened to be Blueberry and Sizzling Cinnamon! Almost immediately she began to make funny faces and whine about it tasting "picey".  Sarah and I couldn't stop laughing!  It was actually pretty hilarious!  (Had I been more on top of it, I would have gotten a few more pictures of her making the funny faces.) Yes, I am that mom that laughs a little or maybe a lottle, when something spicy happens to find its way into my child's mouth.  (I am also that person that laughs when someone falls down.  I can't help it.  That stuff is funny.)

Me: Did you like that Sizzling Cinnamon Jelly Belly that was in your mix?
Phoebe:  NO! That why I take a drink so I would swallow it down.
Me: Are you ever going to eat one of those Sizzling Cinnamon ones again?
Phoebe: No, it was yucky and I didn't like it.

Cheryl's Christmas Cookies

One day about two weeks ago the UPS man left a very yummy, fun, and very cool Christmas gift on our front porch.  It was a box from an online company called Cheryl's.  (A cookie decorating kit.)  It was a gift to us from Eric's cousin, Venus, and her son Nate.  Inside the box were a lot of individually packaged sugar cookies, white and green icing, and lots of Christmas sprinkles.  So, the next evening, after putting Silas to bed Eric and I decorated Christmas cookies with our girls.

This family activity went a lot better than I had anticipated... I anticipated icing and sprinkles all over the floor, covering little girl's hands and fingers, scattered on the counter tops.... but, both girls were into it and took their time, trying to make each cookie look cool. They each helped spread icing on the cookies, and with a little help from Daddy, sprinkled on the sprinkles.

We each enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate while we decorated the cookies.

These cookies tasted delicious!  Thank you Venus and Nate for this thoughtful gift for our whole family.

Toward the end of the cookie decorating, Phoebe started to get a little fussy.  We tried to ignore her and kept on decorating the last few cookies.  Then we each sampled one.... In a matter of about two minutes when I realized that I hadn't heard a peep out of Phoebe, and she hadn't asked for a cookie to sample, she had laid her head down on the counter and had fallen fast asleep.  Cookie decorating can really wear a little girl out!

Abundant Fall Blessings

Below are some random pictures that I took this fall... when in that moment, the girls or I thought, look at THAT! That is beautiful, cute, or cool... a Fall BLESSING to see and experience.  Thank you God for these "moments" that reminded us of all the things that YOU made and created for us to enjoy.

 

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank him.

Psalm 103: 1-5

Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 34: 1-10

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Oh, taste ans see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Isaiah 30:15

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.

 Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying "this is the way; walk in it."

Thankful for Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving... actually we had five different Thanksgiving meals this year with friends and family.  We got to see and spend time with many people that we love.  I decided to post a few of the pictures below and then we all looked back through them together and shouted out things that the pictures reminded us that we are thankful for....

"I am thankful for a wish bone because you get to make a wish." -Sarah

"I am thankful for warm coats with hoods and the smiley faces that are surrounded by those hoods." -Stacee
"I am thankful for a cousin named Ayden because he is nice." -Sarah

"I am thankful for sliding because I like sliding down that slide." -Phoebe
"I am thankful for the Merry-Go-Round because I rode it a lot... about a dillion times." -Sarah
"I am thankful for a sister and a sister-in-law who love my kids and enjoy being around them and playing with them." -Stacee

"I am thankful for Ayden because I love him and I talk to him." -Phoebe

"I am thankful that I get to eat Thanksgiving dinners, especially one with my bro (don't like the added 6lbs though)." - Eric
"I am thankful for Grandma Sharon's hugs because Grandma Sharon is special." -Sarah
"I am thankful for cuckers (suckers) from Uncle Tom because I like cuckers (suckers)." -Phoebe

"I am thankful for all the kids in the picture, including Grandma Great." -Sarah

"I am thankful for the chaos that each one of these kiddos brought into our lives.  Thank God for kids! Without them life could get very boring." -Stacee

"I am thankful for Daniel playing with me." -Sarah
"I had fun playing with Daniel." -Phoebe
"I am thankful for my cousins.  Watching their kids play with my kids reminds me of playing with them when we were younger." - Eric

"I am thankful for Dorothy, without her, none of the great people in the picture below would be here.  She is a great mom, grandma, great grandma, and friend!  She is full of energy and love.  She is thoughtful and caring.  I am so happy to be a part of this family" -Stacee
"I am thankful for my Grandma.  If I make it into my 80's, I hope to have the energy and drive that she has.  I love you Grandma." - Eric

"I am thankful for digital cameras and a delete/erase button, and the laughter that was created when we tried to get all these great grandkids to hold still, look the same direction and smile, all at the same time!" -Stacee

 "I am thankful for Daddy.  I love him.  I was dancing with Daddy, and I danced with Bret a little bit." - Phoebe
"Bret is a good dancer.  I love Bret and Andrea.  That was really really really fun... the dancing with Bret." -Sarah
"I am thankful for a husband who likes to have a good time.  He is fun and funny.  He can make me and our children laugh and smile in an instant.  He chooses happiness daily and helps keep our family smiling!" -Stacee

 "I am thankful for Daddy's, Uncles, and Grandpas who love kids, and still on occasion act like kids when they are with kids." -Stacee

"I am thankful for my parents who love to spend time with family and especially their grandchildren.  We have many happy memories because of their willingness to be big parts of our lives and our children's lives.  Their big hearts for family and friends are always in the right place.  They are a shining example to others of a giving friend." -Stacee

"I was thankful for Holly, the girl elf.  She was funny and her voice sounds good." -Sarah

"I am thankful for Lindsee because I love her.  Her play with me." -Phoebe

"I am thankful for a husband who works hard so that we can have and do all the things we need and want to keep our family safe, healthy, and happy.  He is my Knight and my Prince Charming." -Stacee
"I am thankful for Olaf because he is silly. Because he melted and he maked that smooshy face." -Sarah

Fall Pictures

Fall pictures of our kids...