in husker country

We are in Nebraska! We just got some lunch at Taco John's in Yankton, SD. Yum! :)

I was going to post some pictures that I've took but it's a little awkward in the vehicle right now. The trip has gone well so far. Thomas and Elle have watched the movie Cars and Ava has took a couple of naps. She's cried a little too but not near as much as on the trip to Missouri this summer. Scott and I have been listening to AmericanRight on XM radio. Cigar Dave's show was entertaining and now Scott is in the mood for a cigar. :) I've been working on a handbag that I am knitting and then am going to felt when it's done.

That's all for now.

over the river and through the woods

We are on our way to Nebraska as I type this. I thought it might be fun to do a little live blogging on the way. We left our house at 6:30 sharp this morning. We are packed in like sardines, Elle and Ava are both asleep, the Christmas tunes are playing softly, and Scott is drinking lots of coffee. Dale, we are just passing through Staples right now at 7:06.....I thought you might be curious about that. :) We can't wait to see all of you. I'll post again later with a picture or two when it is light out.

snow day

Last night we got a little snow. Thomas and Elle were so excited. They played outside in it for a couple of hours then came inside for a mug of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows.

christmas with ava

too cute

into everything

I took these pictures of Ava yesterday afternoon. She's like a kitten....she likes to play with my basket of yarn! She is officially crawling. She's not fast yet but she's working on it!

too much energy

This morning the kids have had way too much energy! I had to send Thomas and Elle outside to play because I couldn't take it anymore. It must be the excitement of Christmas or something. They rode bikes and played in some forts that they built until they got cold and their tummys told them it was time to come in and ask mom for some lunch. :) I made some tomato soup and served it to them in a snowman mug. That put smiles on their faces. Now they are calmer and hopefully ready to finish up science and history after lunch.

They are asking me if they can eat some candy off of their gingerbread house now....do I dare let them?!!

Ava Mae in her highchair enjoying a few Cheerios.

This is the wildest one of the bunch! Don't let that sweet smile trick ya! :)

Here's Thomas reading a Boxcar Children mystery during lunch....his favorite books! He doesn't look like he could ever be wild does he?!

candy houses

This afternoon we had a baking and gingerbread house decorating party with some friends. Thomas named his house Fort Cavity and Elle's is called Sugarlicious.

the tooth fairy is coming to our house again

Elle lost one of her bottom middle teeth today while we were out running some errands. She now has a big hole on the bottom because she already had lost the tooth next to it this summer when she bumped it at the park. She was so excited to lose it.....she's been a little jealous about Thomas getting $1 bills for his lost teeth so she knows that it's her turn this time. :)

just in time for winter

I finished knitting this scarf for Elle last night. I'd like to get some more yarn to match and then do a hat but I don't know if I will do that right away. I have a pattern for some baby booties that I want to make for Ava and I've been wanting to give felting a try on a handbag. I guess I'll decide when I go to the yarn shop and get inspired by the yarn I find. :)

our christmas tree

what do you want to be when you grow up?

Elle has decided that when she grows up she wants to be a Grandma! :) She had a conversation about it with Thomas on Saturday. First she thought she wanted to work at a grocery store but then she decided that being a grandma looks like more fun I guess.

chocolate chip santa cookies

Today I made chocolate chip cookies with Santa shaped chips along with the chocolate chips to celebrate the first day of December.

Almost Crawling

Ava is so close to crawling. She gets up on her hands and knees like this and rocks back and forth.....like she's reving up for a race! She moves her legs but hasn't figured out how to coordinate them with her arms yet. Life is going to change around here when she is mobile! Time to baby proof the house I guess. Today she was playing on her tummy and one of the outlets caught her eye so she rolled her way over to it and I had to pick her up and move her. She's little Miss Curious! Thomas is going to put all of the little stopper things in the outlets this afternoon for me!

Christmas Tag

I found this over at The Homespun Heart and thought it looked fun!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog! I love it at this time of year....cold and warm. I remember mom making it on the stove top one year when I was young and I remember that as some of the best egg nog ever. :) I'll have to try to find a recipe for it this year and make it for us because Thomas and Elle like it too.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He delivers them all wrapped up to Grandma's house

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White everywhere

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually on Thanksgiving weekend but this year I didn't get it done until a few days after.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Dale's waffles for breakfast after opening gifts on Christmas morning.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Acting out the Christmas story with cousins when I was younger. Mom sewed costumes for all of us and my little brother Tory got to be baby Jesus.

8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? The only gifts that are opened are the ones that are exchanged at Grandma Betty's house.

9. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? The tree in the family room is decorated with white lights and ornaments that have a homemade feel. There are mittens, snowmen, gingerbread men and hearts. I also made gingerbread type cookies cutout in christmas shapes that are baked and then hung on the tree with fabric strips.

10. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love snow at Christmas time but do not like the cold that comes with it.

11. Can you ice skate? I can but it isn't pretty. :) The kids are excited that I will be able to get out on the ice with them this year since I'm not pregnant. They thought I was really missing out last year when I couldn't join them.

12. Do you remember your favorite gift? A keyboard that I got from Mom and Dad when I was in 2nd grade. This was the year that my mom decided to wrap all of the present and put them under the tree without a tag saying who they were to. My brothers and I didn't think that was much fun but mom sure did. :)

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family and celebrating Jesus' birth.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Peanut Butter Balls and Popcorn Christmas Wreath with Peanut M&M's

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Baking Christmas cookies & candies

17. What tops your tree? A sign that says 'Believe'

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Receiving is fun but I really do like giving best. It's fun to try to find something that you think the receiver would really enjoy.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Joy to the World

You can read Thomas's Christmas Tag here