Gingerbread Houses!

 

The kids had a great time this morning decorating their Wilton Pre-made Gingerbread houses. (Aren't after Christmas sales wonderful:) This is the first year that we have done Gingerbread houses, and after this morning I think it will become a new post-Christmas tradition. Daddy even got in on the action - helping Hunter with his house. We had so much fun. And of course, the icing hadn't even dried before the kids were taste-testing their creations!

Christmas Sunset

The heavens declare the glory of God...Merry Christmas! (Taken from our front porch on Christmas evening)

Christmas Evening

 

On Christmas evening, some friends from church, the Weavers, came over for sledding, snacks, and games. We had a great time! It was the perfect end of a wonderful Christmas day!

Church Christmas Program

This year we combined our Youth and our Children into one musical program. The title of it was "It All Happened In The Country", and the kids did a fantastic job. We had several people tell us that it was the best program they had ever seen! Wish you could have been there:)

Congratulations, Katie Joy!

The mine where Mike works has a drawing contest each year for their work schedule calendars. The drawing has to be related to mine safety. Katie won first place for her age category, and received a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart. Mike just got his new calendar today, and Katie's picture is featured in the month of March. Great job, Katie Joy! (Mike was one proud Daddy:)

Our Newest Remodel Effort

We have wanted to do something with our "woodstove corner" for a long time. A dear friend of ours offered to lay the rock for us, and then a couple of weeks ago, Mike's old boss gave us this leftover rock from a job they had completed. All we had to do was buy the hearth stone, wire mesh, and mortar. We are thrilled with our new corner! (and very thankful to be able to use our woodstove again - it was getting a might chilly around here:) And boy, do we appreciate our friends!

Beautiful Christmas Lights

This is a house that the kids always beg to drive by on the way home from church. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but I thought that some of you might enjoy seeing it. We had our church Christmas program tonight, and the kids did a fantastic job! I will hopefully be blogging a slide show of it in the next couple of days. Blog you soon:)

Christmas Stockings

We have (in my opinion:) the most beautiful Christmas stockings in the world! My wonderful, incredibly talented Aunt Gail made these for us. It all started when she made my stocking - back in my single days. As she was doing it, she realized that it was an "expert" level pattern! YIKES! But being the dedicated person that she is, she continued on - and produced a work of art. Then I got married, so she made Mike's stocking. Child #1, child #2 - you get the idea. After finishing Hunter's stocking, I am quite sure Gail is wanting us to have no more children! Thanks, Gail. We love you! You are the bestest stocking maker ever!

SNOW-SNOW-SNOW!!!

 

We have almost 10 inches so far, and it's still coming down! Yeah for snow! (But I don't think I'll be going anywhere today:)

A Christmas Card for You!

Make a slideshow!

Goodbye, Bear

This morning an unfortunate accident caused the death of our dog, Bear. He was such a good dog - great with the kids, good with the chickens and the cats. It was always fun to see him drinking from the same water container at the same time with the cats and chickens. His favorite place to sleep was smack in front of the door - on the door mat. He didn't like to move, even if we were coming in with a big armful of wood! He chased the coyotes away at night to keep the chickens safe. We'll miss our friend. Goodbye, Bear.

Sledding!

 

This is the first time this year that we have had enough snow for the kids to go sledding. And this is their favorite way to do it! (I don't think Daddy really minds too much either:)