Landon's Wagon Pulling Adventure

When my family moved to our current location my senior year of high school, Lacy welcomed me into the church/school family. We had around a year of 'friend fun' and then Shawn whisked me away to become his wife. Since that time, I have had a 6, 4, and 2 year old and Lacy has graduated with a nursing degree and works as a nurse. She met someone that made her feel like Cinderella and in planning her 2010 November wedding, asked if Landon could be a part of that day.

Ready to go to rehearsal...
Practicing his part...
Landon (the calm, middle, easy-going child) continues to sit perfectly still while waiting for further instructions - and nobody was left at the front of the platform except him...ha! Ethan and Morgan would have been turning around, etc. but not Mr. Landon...
Showing his brother his 'soon-to-be gift' if he "performs" well....
Some snapshots in the music room before he heads out the door...

Did exactly like they practiced...

I think all the pep talk I gave him gave him a big head because he sure was proud of himself!
Me, Lacy and Tim...
Tim and Lacy got Landon a gift for having a part in their wedding - two guns and accessories. Landon did great sharing with big brother. So well, in fact, that ETHAN commented and said, "Timmy gives the best gifts - ever!"

"Each friend represents a world in us,
a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting
that a new world is born." - Anais Nin

Nov. in Dec.

Wanted to show you pictures of our Pastor Appreciation Day. We have a wonderful lady in our church who comes up with the neatest ideas for every event. I don't know how she comes up with different themes for multiple baby showers, get-togethers, etc. If they ask me every 3 years, then yes, I can help! Ha!
The board got in touch with my mother, who was too busy to do the task, so she ever so willingly (humor me, people!) offered my name along with my sister. We ended up having a blast getting to work together....here are some pictures of that day....won't see anything like it for 3 more years....!

Spray painted the $1.00 pumpkins....
Shawn made me these logs a few years ago...since we have a large wooded area behind our home, it's quite accessible and cheap....
Shawn made these candle holders for me a year later....so many holidays you could use these for!...
My children helped gather lots of corn husks from the fields right by our property...for the project below...
The corn-husk idea started while searching for ideas....find here (My sister and I didn't go to all that work. We used fishing wire and then slid the corn-husk around the wire)

Me...the pregnant one on the floor....
These cages are used for wedding cards...but I wanted to use one....made the card tag and attached it with ribbon...Since it was Pastor Appreciation, I made these covers for the candles (also made the candles with cheap candles, mod podge and glitter)
Needed something to entertain the kids, so I found this picture online and set one at each seat for the kids to color...
And ya gotta have dessert....! (Thanks to my dad for writing on the pumpkins for me and Shawn making sure the top pumpkin wouldn't roll off!)

It's A Wrap

Holiday Wrapping Ideas

If you head over to
Our Sheltering Tree,
you will find my post on the thoughts of gift wrap.

I will leave you with some pictures of past wrapped gifts I have done. Hopefully this will get your creative juices flowing and you will be ready to tackle all the beautiful wrapping, curly ribbon, glittery name tags, etc. that you will find in the Christmas section of your favorite store!
Feel free to come back and share your ideas with me!

Thanksgiving Turkey Legs

We had turkey legs coming out our ears......!
(14 - to be exact!)

Have you ever had a turkey leg filled with candy?
There is a first time for everything!
Found this awesome idea here


I take this as a sign that the kids
were happy with their treat!
(4 Starburst and a roll of Smarties
stuffed a crumpled paper bag in there first)


Thanksgiving and praise be to God, our Heavenly Father
Every good and perfect gift comes from above
Thanksgiving and praise be to God, our great Creator
I will ascribe to Him all majesty
And praise Him for His love.
Words and music by: Jerald Glick


Would you like to hear this chorus? Listen here

Thanksgiving Project

Inexpensive board (cut by Mr. Handyman Shawn)
Wrapped in brown burlap (done by yours truly)
Scrapbook paper (donated by my mother)
Internet leaf template (just Google to find your own favorite leaves)
Twine (purchased 3 years ago)
Thumbtacks (purchased 7 years ago and then spray-painted black last year)
**Each child chose their own special paper for their 3 individual leaves**

___________

Book (checked out from Library)
**Brought home several books from Library to read about Thanksgiving. Going to have a week of zeroing in on thankfulness and learning about the first Thanksgiving.**
Note: We do teach our children to be thankful and grateful year-round, but this is a good time to focus on it.

'Deer' Daddy

“Any man can be a father,

but it takes a special person to be a dad”

I went hunting with Daddy and guess what happened?

...something totally rad!

We all went to the back of our property to see...

Landon got a picture too...

Morgan was unsure at first...








...but then she got brave!

How do we keep our kiddos warm while out with Daddy?
Cabela's Long Johns

P.S. We have been enjoying deer burger...
also waiting to be eaten is deer roast, deer tenderloin, salami...
Mmm, Mmm...!

Music Room

Filing Cabinets - Target (which holds organized music)
Lamps - TJ Maxx
Curtain Panels - Bed, Bath & Beyond
Shelving and Brackets - Menards
Mirror above piano - passed along from Shawn's grandparents
Picture/Frame above organ - passed along from Shawn's grandmother's mother
**special feature**after purchasing my Zebra Rug from Z Gallerie, I was at Shawn's grandparents and discovered that there happened to be an animal print rug under the piano in the picture. I bought her a new picture/frame ($30) and brought this old one home
Framed Mozart and Beethoven - yard sale finds
Chair - passed along from my grandparents
Vase - passed along from my aunt and $16 dollars spent on the arrangement (Hobby Lobby)
Piano - engagement gift from Shawn
Organ - $100
Marble Flooring - Lowes on clearance