Party Time

Caroline set up her new princesses in the castle to have a tea party. She also set up the birthday party Little People to have a birthday party at the castle. I think Santa did a good job bringing the Princess Castle! Grayson helped for a few minutes, then started stealing her chairs and running off with them.....what are little brothers for?

Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup

I love using the crock pot! It makes dinner so much easier and I often use it on days when I have to work. I made this Chicken Tortilla Soup for dinner. The kids like it too.

Ingredients

1 can cheddar cheese soup

1 can cream of chicken ( I use low sodium, low fat)

2 cans chicken broth ( I used the low sodium and low fat)

1/2-3/4 jar of chunky salsa ( I use mild because of the kids but you could use hot)

2 frozen chicken breasts

1 can black beans or cannelini beans whatever you have

1 bag frozen corn ( I didn't have any this time)

Recipe

Place it all together in the crockpot. I sometimes use Ro-tel tomatoes instead of salsa if I have it. You can add diced green chiles if you want more heat. I usually add cilantro as well, dried or fresh if I have it. Cook on Low about 8-10 hours. If you don't use the frozen chicken just put it on low for about half the time. Take the chicken breasts out and shred them and place shredded chicken back in soup. Serve over crushed tortilla chips with sour cream and shredded cheese. YUM! Hope you enjoy!

The Pirate and the Cowboy

We are having a lazy morning. We were planning to go to church but.... Mark hurt his knee last week and woke up with it all swollen this AM. We were trying to figure out if we should go to urgent care or not. We decided to wait till the morning and call the Dr. He is layin on the couch being a couch potatoe and putting ice on his knee. Grayson woke up in a bad mood throwing MAJOR tantrums. The laying in the floor, kicking, snot all over his face kind. It just hasn't gone so well. So now we are watching Kung Fu Panda and waiting for Grayson's bed clothes and blankie to dry so he can take a nap (he peed the bed).

The kids have been playing dress up and this is how Caroline came out this morning. She was a princess before this but wouldn't let me get a picture.

Grayson is wearing his Texas Ranger badge and his cowboy shirt (says "Get off your horse and drink your milk").

Nap time can't get here too soon. I am venturing to Wal-mart to get Mark a wrap thing for his knee while they nap. Wal-Mart with no kids YEA!!!

Christmas

We had a good Christmas considering all that was going on! I am glad its over though. We were getting ready to leave to go to Delaware on the 19th and my Dad called and said he could go with us if we waited for him....he had lost his job! It was a HUGE shock to everyone. We regrouped and waited for him and all left for Delaware. The next day his Mom went into the hospital with a lot of confusion and other symptoms and they are still not sure what exactly is causing it. She is still very confused but physically getting better. It was a hard weekend but we managed to enjoy visiting with family and friends. We came home on the 23rd and drove through freezing rain for the last few hours of the trip. We were definitely glad to be home. Christmas Eve we went to church and then my Mom and Dad came over to spend the night.

We decorated cookies for Santa with our neighbors, Jack and Terry. The kids put their milk and cookies out (Grayson drank the milk twice and we had to refill!). They went to bed and Santa came!!

The kids had a great Christmas morning and were so excited to see what Santa brought. Caroline got a princess castle and baking set and a Barbie. Grayson got tractors and tools, and a monster truck set. They had lots of fun!




Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I just kept thinking that no matter how bad our circumstances seem, when you remember that Christmas is about God sending his son to be our saviour, it can never be a bad day. That is what gives us hope and peace even through the tough times! Merry Christmas and wishes for a BLESSED New Year!!!

Oh, and here's the aftermath of the Christmas festivities:)

Going to Bethlehem

Well, I have been stressed out to the max trying to get ready to go to Delaware and doing all the Christmas stuff. I came home and thought I should just relax and enjoy my babies! We watched an animated Nativity cartoon and then they started playing. Before I knew it they were riding their horses to "Bethlehem to see the newborn king" according to Caroline!

Then they said "Come on Mom, come see my Bethlehem" The picture below is what they said was Bethlehem....????

Of course then I HAD to see Baby Jesus!!

It is so hard to forget the true meaning of Christmas, but this is it!! The GREATEST gift EVER!!!BABY JESUS:)

25th Anniversary

December 9th Mom and Dad celebrated 25 years of marriage. I was 4 when they got married. I don't really remember life before they got married. I am so thankful to have had a loving christian home to grow up in. Thanks Mom and Dad!! Congrats on surviving 25 years:) Marriage is hard for any couple and weathering the storms of 25 years is a big accomplishment, especially with a blended family. We celebrated on Sunday night with a surprise dinner at the Olive Garden (YUM!). I hacked into mom's email and invited her Bible Study group to join us. We had a great time and they were really surprised. Here are some pictures of the evening....

Christmas Tour of Homes

I am joining in the fun at BooMama's Christmas tour. Here are a few pictures of our Christmas Decorations. We have been so busy this year that I just put the boxes in the garage yesterday from putting the tree up! I apologize for the weird configuration of pictures, still learning this blogging thing.Here goes anyway...

Here is our tree. The ornaments have slowly migrated to the top as a result of the 1 and 2 year old who live here:)





The mantle is always my favorite because I always wanted one. The pictures on the stocking holders need to be changed. I still have pics of the dogs and cat instead of the kids!!!


This is our fiber optic snowman my Grandma gave me. We love him...as you can see by Grayson's face!





A few of my favorite ornaments....AHH, Starbucks...I want a Gingerbread Latte!




My favorite circus giraffe in his cage from when I was a kid, next to what is that....a jock strap? I found that at this FANCY place called the Golden Lamb Inn in Lebanon, Ohio. It was in their gift shop among lots of nice Christmas stuff. I couldn't resist. We laugh every year when we put it up, especially when I think where it came from. I think they must have just had them there to make people laugh or something. I mean who buys a jock strap ornament?? Well, me I guess....Hope you had fun!

Christmas Lights

We have had a BUSY week!! We are trying to get presents made, house cleaned, ready for our trip to Delaware and still slow down and enjoy Christmas. Friday night we decided to head out to Cliton Mill and see the lights. Mark and I have gone every year since we have been together. It was so cold Friday, but we bundled up and went. We had dinner at Young's Jersey Dairy restaurant (YUM, sweet potato bread). Then we headed to seee the lights. The whole mill is lit with thousands of lights. They also have a display of santa figures that is HUGE. They have a tiny building with real reindeer (well, stuffed) and a sleigh on top. Santa sits in the building and waves through the window. He comes up the chimney every once in a while and waves to the kids. Caroline (who is NOT a fan of santa up close) was soooo excited to see him up there. We looked in the window of the house later and santa was writing on his desk. Caroline said "Look, Mommy he's making a list". They had a lot of fun but Caroline said "I'm cold, can we go home?" after about 30 minutes. Here are some pictures from the evening.....pictures just can't do Christmas lights like that justice!

Back Online

Yea, we are back online! Let's hope Grayson doesn't shove the computer off the table and break the wireless card again!! I have so many Christmas projects going on my head is spinning! Christmas will be here all too soon. Tonight is the Ladies Christmas banquet at church and I am hosting a table. I am responsible to decorate the table and bring all the dishes etc. I went to the church last night and decorated mine. I should have gotten more pictures but I will try to tonight. Here is what I did get as well as a few others that were all done.

I made Peppermint "trees" and a topiary. I tried to be on top of things and got them dona about 2 weeks ago. THe directions didn't say that the royal icing yellows after a while......oh well! Here are a few of the other tables. It will look really pretty when the lights are down and they are all finished tonight!

Enjoy the pretty tables and I will try to get better pictures tonight!

No Internet....

WAH! Grayson broke the wireless card and we have not had internet since Friday afternoon. We are supposed to be getting a new one in the mail sometime tomorrow. It's amazing how much we rely (sp?) on internet! We are at Mom and Dad's this afternoon so I get to catch up a little. We are going to see a live Nativity this afternoon. We will try to take pics and I will post as soon as I am able! Say a prayer we get internet soon , I may go crazy in the cornfield with no internet!!

All I Want for Christmas...

All I Want for Christmas......

Wouldn't that be the prettiest charm bracelet ever!!! And with a bracelet like that you have to have that beautiful winter ring right.......I can dream :)