A visit with Santa

The girls were very excited to visit with Santa this year! We went on a random Thursday morning, and we didn't have to wait!!! Perfect!!! :)Sharing their wish list....I'm sure! :)

I think Emma's making sure he's got it all right! :)

Maddie's Christmas Program

Maddie had her Christmas program last week (I know..I know..I'm behind!!!) :)

She was SO excited for this day...and to wear her Christmas outfit!

Waving hello to their special people in the audience!

I was so excited that Maddie was standing next to Eli DeVisser (family friends!) It makes the pictures more special when you have a friend in them...rather than just a classmate!

To our surprise, Maddie and Eli, were part of the "hand bell" choir. They did a nice Christmas medley. SO cute to watch their eyes...while they waited until it was their turn!

Can you guess what song we're singing here? :) Precious!!! :)

Maddie and her "Bampa" :)

I had to put this picture of our friend Tyler Stiger.

It's perfect! :)

10 Honest Things about Me!

Thanks Gretchen for honoring me with this award! Now I just have to think of 10 things that I want to share with my blogging world!!!! :) Which is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be!!!

1. I wish I could grow long, beautiful nails! I love to go get manicures, but my nails get to a certain point...and then they start to break!! It makes me mad!! :)

2. Phil and I joined the YMCA last month! I go almost 5x a week...and I love it! In the past two weeks I have lost 7.4 pounds...weigh in is tomorrow for this past week!!! Hopefully Thanksgiving didn't ruin my diet!!! :)

3. I wish my hair was pin straight. I wish I could comb it, and let it air dry...Instead, I 've been blessed with some funky curl that has to be tamed every morning!!!

4. I never considered my self a cat person, but I love our cat Max! He's the best pet we could ask for!!!

5. I don't like clutter! I get very frustrated when my house isn't "just so"..and the way I like it!!

6. I haven't had a dish washer in the past two years...but that will all change soon!! :)

7. I love to host parties/get together's.

8.I like being busy. If we don't have something to "do" on the weekend, we often seek out some sort of fun. We love our friends and enjoy hanging out...even on a moments notice!

9. Many of my good friends are old friends! :) I have known many of my friends since I was very young! Thanks for all the great memories girls!!!! :) "God is soverign Christi" Classic youth group quote!!! :)

10. I have known my husband since I was in the 2nd grade. He is my very best friend and I'm so thankful that God answered a middle/high school girl's prayers! I love you "pak" man!!! :)

Phew...I actually thought of a few more..but I'll save them for the next time around!!

Now I have to pass the award along to some friends! :) SO....Lindsay, Liz, Amber C., Crystal, and Stacey. If you want to play along, post the award above on your blog and list your 10 truths!! Linds...I'd say this is an adult form of truth or dare...so I know your in!!! :)

Oh..Christmas Tree...Oh Christmas Tree....

It's that time of year again! It's amazing how quickly you can find a tree when it's raining outside!! :) We found a beautiful Frasier Fur....I LOVE IT!!!! (Thanks Phil...your so good to me!!! :)

I ran back to the van to get my camera (b/c of the rain) and by the time I got back Phil had already cut it down!!!! I know...the nerve ....right??? :)

Make sure he does it right girls!! :)
YIKES!!!!! Again..the girls did a great job supervising this year!!Emma was very concerned that the tree was going to fall off into the mud!!! Fortunately Phil's done this a time or two!!! :) In staying with the the local theme this year...we bought our tree from a farmer that use to work with Phil!What a great thing to do after you retire! Before we decorated the tree, the girls indulged a little hot cocoa and a rice krispie treat!You can't decorate on an empty stomach!!!

Every year we buy the girls one special ornament from the two of us.They look forward to opening it before we decorate the tree!

The last time we on our way to North Carolina we stopped at the Tamarack in West Virgina.

It is a glorified rest stop! :) There are a bunch of local artists that make and sell their work there. It's a fun place to stop, stretch, look around, and of course go potty! :)

This year I found these really cool blown glass ornaments for the girls...and I just had to buy one for myself too!

The tree is "trimmed" :)

Love my new lights...thanks babe! :)

Emma's ornament...pink of course! :)

Maddie's my purple girlie!!

Mine..pink...of course! :)

Where does she get that from????

Happy Thanksgiving!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family this year. We enjoyed the Macy's Parade in the morning and the football games in the afternoon! Here are a few fun pictures from our day!

My Uncle Lew is usually called upon to carve the bird!!

And he made it look beautiful...I might add! :) With a little help from my Aunt Shelley! :)

This Maddie's new favorite thing to do at Nana's house.

"Seriously...you're just gonna let her do this to me..aren't you?" My sister and GG
After dinner my dad and the girls prepared a little song for the family!
Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving weekend!!!

Bird is the word....

In no way are we endorsing Family Guy as a quality tv show...
But this was the theme song for our Thanksgiving this year!!!
We just laugh hysterically every time we watch it...
As usual, turn off the music at the bottom first! :)
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Admit it...you're smiling...just a little right???
And I guarantee you'll be singing it the rest of the weekend! :)

The Day of Feasts...

Today was full of yummy food and fun!!

Both of the girls had their Thanksgiving Feasts at school.

Maddie's plate full of bite size treats.

She wanted to take sausage from Yoder's in Shipshewana...that's Phil's daughter!!!!

Her teacher encouraged all the kids to "get new taste buds" today!!!
Our little Pilgrim

Probably my favorite picture of the day...

Tyler Stiger "cheeeeese-in'" for me

We left Maddie's feast a little early, and headed straight to Emma's school...

for more yummy FOOD!!!!

Emma and her friend Madison

My little Indian..



Emma and her teacher, Mrs. Rus
As I reflect on what I'm thankful for this year, I think of all the common things...like family, friends, good health, and Phil's job!! But the one thing that God has really laid on my heart this year is our ability to send Emma to Heritage Christian!! I am so very thankful that she has the opportunity to attend this school. It is truly a gift and a blessing!!! She has grown so much over the past 3 months! She is a confident little girl that LOVES her teacher, her friends, and most importantly Jesus!!!