Thursday, December 26, 2013

These Are My People Y'all!



top left: our oldest niece and her family.
top right: niece #2 and her family
2nd row left: our grands
2nd row right: youngest son and family(expecting #3)
3rd row left: my baby sister's children
3rd row middle: our daughter's girls
3rd row right: our oldest son's family

niece and nephew on hub's side

Merry Christmas 2013!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Christmas Card Carousel 2013 and an ANNOUNCEMENT!

My love of Christmas cards borders ridiculous.

Going to the mailbox in December is one of my greatest joys!

I love hearing from people I have known over the years!

I have a dear friend in another city who designs my cards.

She is so talented and I love her work!

(Thanks Sarah!)

Here is our card this year!
(photo by: JennyConklinPhotography)


All EIGHT Grands!

And to think, we will have ANOTHER grand next year!

Yes, grand #9 is due in May!

These brothers are getting a sibling
(and we are getting a baseball team!!)
:)



We are so excited and can't wait to find out who he/she is!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15

Saturday, December 14, 2013

i THOUGHT i loved a crying santa picture…….



……….until THIS one!


All three siblings loved Santa this year!

Doesn't get more precious than this.

Well, maybe it does:


Saturday, December 07, 2013

Goals For November Update and Happy Birthday Daddy!!!


UPDATE!!!

Baby S was born so I missed devotions for a few days 
and I definitely didn't lose four pounds.
 But other than that, I did great!

And, Happy Birthday Daddy! 

You are the best dad ever!





I am a list maker.

I accomplish more when I set goals.

So, I am going to list my November goals here.

  • Put up Christmas tree
  • Buy all/most gifts
  • NEVER skip morning devotion time
  • Take Christmas card pics
  • Clean all 33 windows inside and out (30 done!)
  • Clean out corner cabinets in dining room
  • Lose four pounds
  • Bless someone with a surprise gift
  • Have carpet cleaned
  • Clean out toy baskets/kids table supplies
  • Organize wrapping paper station
  • Address Christmas Cards

I don't want to be too hard on myself if I don't get it all done.


The new grand is due the end of the month.

I will come back and update as I accomplish a task. 

ALMOST met my goals!



Can't wait to see which sister Baby S looks like!








Monday, December 02, 2013

Triplets


no, we aren't having triplets.

but

these three sisters look amazingly alike at birth.

upper right: E.C.
bottom right: A
left: brand new baby S

We can trust our God
He knows what He's doing.

thankful for these three grand girls today.

Friday, November 29, 2013

SHE Is HERE!


This NEVER EVER gets old!

Baby S is here!



She was born on the 27th.

Weight: 7 lbs. 2 oz.

Length: 21"

A baby changes everything!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Anxiously Awaiting.............



................

the birth of grand # eight.

She will be here Wednesday if not before!

Pray with me for the delivery of our precious baby S.

Will she look like her sisters?


Thursday, November 21, 2013

Happy Birthday Oldest Son!


How the heck do I have a son that's 36?

Yikes!

I didn't have a CLUE what I was doing 
when he was born.

But I sure did love him!

Still do!

Happy Happy Birthday B!


You have a heart big enough to share!

Thankful for that sweet sweet heart!

We love you today and every day!



Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Three + Four = Happy Birthday!



On Monday, the 25th, this precious grandgirl will finally be 

FOUR!


She has a huge amount of fashion sense

And amazes me with her opinions!

She was our second grandchild 

And we learned how big our hearts were

And how much love we have to share when she was born.

A, we love how you love to have 25 *night nights* to sleep with

And how you love to play *Emily.*

We love that you are confident but sensitive

And that you pray for all your family when you pray.

Happy Birthday Big Girl.

You are adored!


On Tuesday, the 26th, this adorable grandson will be 

THREE!



He has more energy than you can imagine!

And he has some of the best manners I have ever seen!

He was our third grandchild

And taught us how easy it was to love a grandson!

B, you amaze us with your memory

And your quickness to learn.

We love how you love toy magazines

And how you cry EVERY. TIME. someone leaves to go home.

(Because you don't want them to leave.)

Happy Birthday buddy!

You are truly loved!



Happy Birthday to two of our favorites!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Seven Years is a Great Start to Forever…..


……and forever is a wonderful thing!

Happy Anniversary to our daughter and son-in-law.


They are about to increase their sweet family to five!

We are both blessed and thankful for their marriage.

Forever is a wonderful thing!


Monday, November 04, 2013

October



I didn't mean to take a blogging break!

It's not like I haven't had anything going on….

I truly haven't had the time or energy to post.

Well, I haven't TAKEN the time to post.

The energy is still up for debate!

:)

The big boy twins turned two and celebrated with a
 Tractor Party!










They had such a great party with lots of friends and family!


The next weekend the big girl grands had a 
Princess Party!
They are turning four and six.




The next day we had a baby shower for my daughter, G.
(Mom to the two birthday girls.)




My mom and my daughter.

In between all the festivities we had Halloween!



Bring it on November!

Grand #8 is due this month and we can't WAIT!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Two and Six Equal Wonderful!


Six of our eight Grands have Oct/Nov birthdays!

TWO!!

These boys turn two on the 25th!



How did they go from this:





To this:

In just one year???

These two TWO YEAR OLDS are a joy.

They are a ball of energy and full of life!

There are so many things I love about them.

I love how as soon as they hear an ambulance 
they clasp their little hands together and say *Dear Jesus.*




I love how they love everyone and their smiles light up a room.




i love how they look for each other when they realize
brother is not close by.




I love how they think their reflection in the mirror
is the other twin.

These boys are adored!


Happy Birthday Big Boy Twins!


Lots and Lots of people love you!







SIX!!

On the 27th our oldest granddaughter turns SIX!!!

She started kindergarten this year!

Our family has grown by leaps and bounds since she was born.....

But, we will never forget how special that first baby girl was!

12 hours old!


I love how happy she was even early on!


.....and how much she loves her sister!

And, I love how she loves playing dolls and dress up!!


This girl has a heart of gold


and an innocence about her that I love!




Happy Birthday big girl!

Nonny and Poppy adore you!



Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Love Me Some Pumpkin!


Sharing my love of all things PUMPKIN here!!

Up first are these:


Have you had these?

My daughter told me about them so I had to try them!

They did not disappoint!

Toast them and spread with butter!

They are fabulous!!!

Only one grocery store in our area carries them
 so, I had friends
looking everywhere for them!

They found them and now I have a few packs in my freezer!


Next up are these:


I am NOT a big flavored coffee drinker.

I drink my coffee black.

BUT, my mom gave me these and they are GREAT for a chilly afternoon!

Just a touch of fall!


Do you make PUMPKIN DIP?

It's my favorite!!!


2- 8oz. Cream Cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
1- 30 oz. can pumpkin pie mix
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
(makes 7 cups)

Using a mixer,
mix the powdered sugar with the cream cheese.
Add remaining ingredients.
Refrigerate.

Now yall, you can use gingersnaps or graham crackers.

BUT,

I ONLY use these from Trader Joes':
They are THE BEST I have ever had!!


Mom's Pumpkin Bread is another favorite!

Our family has made this for years and years!

We love it with cream cheese spread on it. 

You can add chocolate chips to it too!

3 cups sugar
1 cup salad oil
4 eggs
1 can (2 cups) pumpkin (not pie mix)
3 1/2 cups plain flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2/3 cup water

Cream sugar and oil. 
Add eggs and pumpkin.
Mix the above.
Sift and add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture
alternately w/water.

Pour into TWO greased and floured loaf pans.

Bake at 350 for one hour.

Remove from pans after 10 minutes.

SO SO GOOD!


One more thing.

Have you had these?


I just bought them yesterday at Target

So I haven't tried them.

But, they are pumpkin

So, what's not to love?

Do you share my love of all things pumpkin?

:)

OH,

And yes, I do drink this crack: