Merry Christmas! Ho Ho Ho

 Ebenator...isnt he handsome...?

 Carys...isnt she gorgeous?

 Jocelyn...my little brown eyed beauty...

 Avery...shes growing up so fast...

 What a goofball!

Four out of five of my Brat Pack...

Day 25: Your worst habbit

My worst habbit, I had to ask my hubby for this one, he claims I dont have one...LOL...I would say facebook.  I check it alot on the Itouch because I can carry that around and look whenever I want.

I would also have to say...not cooking, I do cook, but I hate it, and laundry, again I do it, but Im not a fan. 

Day 24: A recipe.

Something simple, and its a family favorite.  Hamburger Strognoff is a HUGE hit in our home.

Hamburger (cooked and drained)
sour creme
rice
cream of mushroom soup

Add all ingredients together minus the rice, cook that on the stove for the size of your family.  Add garlic salt, onion powder, and pepper to the mix and let simmer.  When rice is done put mixture over top.  Yummy!

Day 23: A photo of something that has made a big impact on my life recently.

Why did this impact my life or change me recently?  Well, its simple, I have five kids I'm responsible for, I'm the one who needs to teach them right from wrong and hopefully turn them into good and happy people.  That's huge!!!  I forget exactly how important that is and I need and have been reminded of that recently, and appreciate it!

Day 22: Photo of our wedding/wedding announcement

Ok, I didnt feel like searching for an actual picture from our wedding, so I am giving you the next best thing, our engagement picture.  It was so long ago.  It was 1998.  Thats the year we were married.  Along time ago...how young and cute are we?

Day 21: A hobby of mine.

My hobbies include...scrapbooking, stampin' up, making cards, cleaning, my kids, camping, taking walks, writing/blogging, reading, watching movies, just being with my family.

Day 20: A talent of yours

A talent of mine...gosh...do I even have one?  I think Im pretty crafty, I love to scrapbook when time permits, and writing which I love.  Im pretty boring, plus I cant think of anything right now.

Day 19: A picture of somewhere you would like to travel to someday

In case you cant tell, this is a picture of Italy.  I would love to travel there someday!

Day 18: Post a picture of your favorite memory

Well I would completely post a picture but all my pictures of good memories are at my parents home.  So, my greatest memories are of us camping as a family.  We would go pretty much every year to Fort Stevens St Park, we would sometimes go with some family friends as well, it was so much fun.  I have wonderful memories of it.
I also used to love to go to my grandparents house in Grandview...they had a huge backyard, neighbors with a pool, and always ice cream!  I always had fun their with them.  :)

So sleepy...zzzzz

Isn't this priceless?  I had to start more laundry this morning but I was holding the baby, so I improvised.  There was an empty basket, I put a thick blanket in it and sat him in it while I folded and loaded, I went out for a sec to put Avery's laundry on her bed and this is what I found when I came back.  Isn't he super sweet?  He just melts my heart.  :)  I'm so lucky! 

Ho Ho Ho...Merrry Christmas

Well its that time again...what time you ask?  Its Christmas time of course, which means...visiting Santa at the mall.  I took just the boys on this day less crazy just in case they didn't do well.  Ill take all five when the girls are out for Christmas break and we will tackle it all again.  They did so well.  Eben told Santa he wanted a train set of Thomas, Woody, and Toy Story 3.  I got it all isn't that funny?  Especially since this is the first Ive heard what he wanted.  He is so super cute.  So is Jimmy.  Jimmy didn't fuss or cry either, he was a champ and just kept looking at Santa.  Too cute.  It was a successful day!  Yeah!  :)  Merry Christmas!

Avery's Christmas play was super cute.  She did such a great job.  Such cute songs and so was the story.  Before the play I told her it was dinner time, and she said "Who can think about food at a time like this, its only the best day of my life."  How freakin' cute is she?  Pretty darn.  I had to laugh out loud when she said that.  I cant believe my sweet girl is already in the 3rd grade, and almost 9 years old.  Wow, didn't I just have her?  Now I have five kids.  Crazy!

Decorating the tree

We had alot of fun decorating our snowman tree, too bad Eben got tired and fell asleep poor kid.  I love this time of year!

Thanksgiving Day....

Here are my monsters.  Our little Brat Pack as we call them.  We spent a wonderful day at my Moms house with just us and my brother Brandon and his little family.  It was so nice and peaceful.  We just hung out and enjoyed eachothers company, played games, and somehow my girls ended up rubbing feet...hahaha...they are so cute!  :)

Day 17: Your favorite website.

Oh, this is good.  I love finding new sites.  I am a major blog stalker.  I know they arent websites per say but I love them so.

My favorites though:

People.com
craigslist.com
amazon.com
youtube.com

Day 16: Name a song that makes you cry.

I have a lot of these especially church songs..however Im gonna go with The Rose by Bette Midler and Somewhere over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo.  These make my heart smile and bring a tear to my eyes.  Seriously though I have so many.  I love music.  :)

Celine Dion-My heart will go on
Josh Groban-any
Miranda Lambert-home

Day 15: A photo of you and a person you have gotten to know this year.

I think my relationships this year have completely changed over this year.  I think this past year my relationships have all grown and some havent...but I am happy to say though that I have met some great new friends.  I am also happy to say that you should always take the time to get to know people.  :)  This is my friend Crystal.  I became her visiting teacher earlier this year and we have become fast friends.  It is nice.  I didnt have one of us but this is her with her son Levi.  :)

Day 14: A photo of a person you'd love to trade places with for the day.

Who would I want to trade places with for the day?  Gosh, I don't know.  I'm gonna go with money so I say....OPRAH!!!!  Duh!  Ultimate woman power!  :)

Day 13: What is currently in your purse/bag/diaper bag

Currently in my purse/diaper bag because that's what I do, one bag for both. I used to carry a purse and a diaper bag, after the 5th kid I got smart lol.
-wallet
-diapers
-wipes
-shot folders for all five kids
-lipgloss
-compact
-formula
-nursing cover
-check book
-keys
-binky
-notepad
-few pens
-fruit snacks
-WIC folder

Day 12: Something I'm OCD about.

Oh my where to begin...ha. I like lots of things organized, but I'm really OCD about cleaning. I love it. It relaxes me, rewards me, it's just great. I write out my OCD list and get started until everything on it is done, no matter how long of a day I finish the list!

Day 11: A photo that makes you angry/sad.

This is a hard one for me...gosh...I think there are alot of things that do this but I just went with the first thing that came to mind, but I don't have a picture. Parents that don't buckle in their children, or they shove a ton of kids into one car that doesn't have seats/belts/car seats etc..for all of them! Pfft! That makes me angry and sad.

Day 10: A picture that just makes me happy

How does that not just make you instantly chuckle out loud??? LOL

Day 9: Dream House

I know several different ones...however, I like the BIG glitzy show houses, I love your typical suburban house which is classic and adorable, and I love the Cabin house.  I used to watch The Wilderness Family growing up and I thought for sure I was gonna live in one, of course this one is a little bit, nicer.  Of course they are all just the "dream".  Part of the fun right?

Day 8: Favorite Quote

"Life is not measured by how many breaths we take, Life is measured by how many moments take our breath away."

Day 7: A picture of the person you have been closest to the longest

This is my sweet hubby.  We have been married for 12 years and he has been the most consistent, most supportive person in my life. 
I do have a close 2nd though.  My mom.  I have a great Mom, just know picture on this computer, so...she has been a great friend and Mother to me.  Its funny we weren't very close growing up, but now, I cant imagine not having the relationship we do.

Day 6: Favorite Book

Im gonna go with the cliche' but this is my favorite book for so many reasons....

This is my favorite series, its different its fun...Love it!