"Mama, that's not good"

I love vegetable soup. I cook it with all kinds of canned vegetables along with 1lb of hamburger meat and 1lb of sausage. I let the juices of the canned vegetables act as the "soup" part. Oh it's so good. When I cook a batch of soup, I usually cook enough for an army. We tend to eat it for days afterward. Lunch and dinner. The last time I cooked the soup I decided to freeze half of it instead of trying to eat it all. Well tonight I decided to take it out of the freezer and warm it up since I was having an extremely lazy day. I fixed the kids their bowls of soup and had them sit at their table. Christian asked, "Mom, what did you cook us?" while he looked at his bowl. I told him soup. He said he didn't like soup. I told him to just try it. Well he did. And then he said "Mama, that's not good." I said "It's not? Here let me try it" After I took a bite he said "See? I told you" For once he was right. It wasn't good. I don't know what happened since soup usually freezes good but this one didn't. I have a pizza in the oven now. :)

Birthday Party celebration

These aren't the best of pictures because the lighting in the skating ring isn't that lovely. But you will be able to get the just of what is going on. When we first arrived, they had let the kids go skate for an hour. Then we came together and had pizza, cake and opened presents. Then the kids went off and skated some more (or played video games)

Daddy and Christian are going for their first time around the ring.

Grace and Pa playing

I love this picture. This little boy is 10 days younger than Grace. She is looking at him like "Did you see that?" It looks like they are having a conversation among themselves.

Christian and Blake skating around.

Most of the party goers eating their pizza.

The sign that the skating ring had made up for Christian.

His cake. Toy story 3 of course!


I sent 18 invites to Christian's classmates. Only one showed. This is Acacia. She was so shy at first but right at the end of the party she loosened up and took Christian's hand to go skating. So cute.

Christian's friends, Cody (on left) and Noah (on right)

Not sure what they are laughing at but it sure is cute!

We are singing happy birthday to Christian and he had this little grin on his face just watching all of us. Acacia, RJ, Christian, Noah and Cody. Also at his party was his cousins Jackson, Brandon and Blake.

That's some good cake! RJ (on left) Noah (on right)

And Christian opening presents:

Grace was chasing the lights on the floor

Then on Monday (his actual birthday) I took cupcakes up to his school for him and his classmates. What I learned was NEVER EVER get blue icing again. It stains. Not only the mouth, lips, teeth, tongue and little fingers but it stains the clothes too. I'm sure I have some moms that are upset with me. Oh well. My little boogers had fun. And all the kids went home looking like smurfs. :)

When we got home later that evening, we had a package from B'nana, Papa and Uncle Jeff on our porch!! Christian opened the package while talking to B'nana and was surprised to see a Woody costume in the box! Oh he was so stinkin' excited!! While he was playing his new Toy Story 3 Wii game, he was also wearing his new Woody costume.

Here he was still on the phone with B'nana and just had his cowboy hat on.

*Sigh* Another year gone by. I keep trying to get these kids of mine to slow down some but they won't. 4 years old. I blink and he will have kids of his own. I cherish these times. :)

Thanksgiving at our home

Yes, it's true. I've been called a dork quite a many times. Mostly by my husband. But it's ok. This dork has fun. And has lots of pictures to scrapbook. So yes, I may be a dork for taking pictures of our food but hey. I'm just trying to live up to my standard. Our menu was excellent! We had a dessert cheese ball (like my husband-get it? cheese ball? OK I probably can stop with the dorkness now huh?) It wasn't exactly a ball but it tasted the same. I decorated it with the crackers and made it look fancy. I normally don't like cheese balls but I have to say this one was really good!!! (Susan's recipe that we called her the night before for)

Another one of Susan's recipes that is my favorite. Cinnamon apples. Except I didn't let my apples cook long enough so they were still hard like an apple but it was ok. They were still good!!!

Here is my cheese ball cutting up the ham.

Our lavishing menu! We had sweet potato pie, corn on the cob, ham, turkey, rolls, cinnamon apples, green bean casserole, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, giblet gravy, dressing, banana bread (bought from the store) deviled eggs . A feast fit for a king!! (but I couldn't fit in my pants the next day)

After we ate, since it was a gorgeous day out, we went out to play. While the sun was up it was pleasant out. When it started getting dark is when it got a little chilly. I couldn't help this picture, It was the cutest dern thing I've seen. Grace and Cleo "talking"

Time to bring out the Christmas decorations!!!

Grace had to help too so she carried the cord. How very sweet of her to carry such a tough load!! :)


You know I'm a sucker for closeups.

Little Miss. Bonafide Country gal walking in her cousin Blake's boots.


Grace couldn't resist another minute with her eyes open. All that play time and good food and a pinch of Pa holding her, she was gone like a light.

Family, good food and good times. A moment to remember.

Thanksgiving Feast at school

Christian's 3K class did a Thanksgiving feast at school. All the parents were invited to attend. This was both the morning and afternoon students. I was assigned to bring good ol' Kraft macaroni and cheese. The kids sang a Thanksgiving song as the prayer before we ate. All the girls were in Pilgrim hats and the boys were in the Indian hats. (Which they made themselves) Here is a picture of his entire class.

This picture is so funny to me. I was taking a picture of Christian with his "hand turkey" he had made (it has a thanksgiving poem underneath it) and his friend Blaine came up and said "Can I be in the picture too?" How could I say no?? I love taking pictures of Christian and his friends together.

Then Acacia (pronounced A-kay-sha) saw what was happening and wanted a piece of the action too! The more the merrier!

And then sweet Elizabeth. Oh how I love this picture. Christian standing behind her and holding on to her like he loves her already. Yes, this is the girl I want to be his first girlfriend.

Right after we got done eating:

During the meal:

This was while Christian was sitting on the rug before we got started. Not sure who the little girl is. I believe she may be in the morning class.

Our menu for that day was Kraft Mac N cheese, homemade mac n cheese, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, fruit salad, cookies, brownies, and oranges.

Sweet memories.