Kisses from Katie

I ran across this book while waiting for Chris get a Redbox one day in the store. I have not bought it yet, but I really need to. I will. I read the beginning and the cover and saw that there was a blog to follow Katie's story. It's powerful! It brings tears to my eyes and I wish I could do something exactly what she is doing now. Leaving everything in our USA life and going to live where she is needed and help children and families with basic needs. Anyway, if you want, you can see her blog too at kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/
I guess I'll say more after I read it.

Inspiring!! 

Eight is great!

Happy Birthday Addy! 

This is a picture of her in her blessing gown I made while I was in college at Ricks. My cousin Mandy Black took it. She did an entire photo shoot with her. She did an amazing job! Thanks! It was really fun and all the pictures turned out so great. 

I was going to do a picture of just her, but when I saw this, it kind made me stand still. I feel like this all just happened! How in the world did 8 years pass! This picture just shows "time"! Addy is still so amazingly beautiful! I love you my sweet Addy! 

"Happy Birthday Addy!"

Her response to that is... "Happy Birthday to me!" 

"I don't really know what else to say, so I agree that I should have a happy birthday!" :)

 I did another attempt to make a cool looking cake. It was going so well.... then it didn't turn out great, but hey, I tried and Addy loved it!! She is so sweet and it really did taste Hot Dog AWESOME! :) Especially from yummy real ingredients! :) I followed the Hershey's Baking Cocoa Cake recipe on the side of the box. Best Chocolate Cake EVER!

Aubrey got to come over for dinner! 

I will add more to this when I have time. I have a cute Happy Birthday song video and everything! YAY! It will be like you actually were right here! To some, like grandparents, that may matter. :)

Tattoos!!

 What a cool dad to let us put on a Hello Kitty tattoo on! Only real men do that sort of thing! You should see him on dress up nights and nail polish moments! ok, so maybe not. ;) I think he is such a cool dad to do things with his girls! :) 

I was talking to him on the phone the other day while I was playing Barbies with Bea. He said he was always the mean girl when plays with Barbies. He says now Bea wont let him be anything else except the mean girl! hahah! That is funny! 

Addy got tattoos for Christmas, so she shared. Oh gosh, I hope Isabel got a picture of Charlotte. She kept coming back with more tattoos to put on and Addy just kept putting them on. She had like 10 tattoos on her body. So funny! Anyway, that was just fun to do. 

Oh yea, Thanksgiving!

We had Chris's dad come for Thanksgiving! He brought is girlfriend Jerri and then our niece and nephew teenagers people Sebastian and Kaelia came with him. It was a very nice time. I am really glad we had a very nice day. I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one too! :)

 It's tradition... so we had a Turkey that turned out great! Great job Chris!!

I didn't have more pictures because I was juggling lots, but this is just a GLIMPSE of what happens in my kitchen when I cook anything.... esp PIES!! :)

oh yea, leaves happened

This fall, suddenly all the leaves fell in one hour! 

All around our neighborhood, all the leaves fell! It was like a rainstorm of leaves everywhere. It was totally amazing actually! 

So, when the kids came home from school, I took these pics because me in the pictures playing in the leaves is just a little weird. 

Loving making cards with American Girl card making packet. Way cool!

Winter pictures

I am not a great photographer, but I try. I wanted to get pictures of the girls for winter. I got lots of crazy pictures, but I did get a few cute ones. 

 Char did not really give me anything, but this "cheese" face is soo cute. :)

How to peel oranges

Start with this orange. 

Have mom start a little bit and then peel off a bunch before mom gets a picture. 

 Then you just keep concentrating. Make sure you get under the peel just a little with your little cute fingers. 

 Oh, yes, and just throw those peels on the floor or across the room. Have mom get those. Ok, so try to get mom to get those. She always ends up me doing it. 

 Then you split it apart like this.

Yep, it's totally cool. If I can do it, and I am 2, then you can do it! :)

This is Charlotte's most favorite thing to do. If she sees a orange, it will be peeled. :) Oh cute! 

What Gabe does on his days off

Freezing Star Wars guys....

Darth Vader getting a taste of his own medicine. 

It's been a mild winter, so ICE has to come into play somehow!
Poor Star Wars men are getting into trouble getting frozen in carbonate. THAT can't be a good day. Bummer. 

Who I wake up to every morning

I would say something, but I think the pictures speak for themselves. :)

Flour

Here is my Helper when I cook. 

She's happier and so that make me happy. :)

Gabe's Awesome Self

The family was all in the car one day and it was unusually quiet. Almost like everyone was in deep thought. I was enjoying the time to think. Suddenly, Gabe thoughtfully says,

 "I think I am going to break up with my awesome self."

"I think it's time to let go of that side of me because people are thinking I am too awesome. Especially Mrs. Kokx sent me out of her room yesterday and I was just sitting there, not doing anything to get me in trouble that time. I think she thought I was too awesome and she couldn't stand the sight of me."

He's changed his mind a few days later.