Cookie day and tree cutting...'Tis the season!

I love this time of year! Besides all of the traditions we have, I love the wonder and excitement of celebrating Jesus' birth with kids. I love seeing them tell the story of Jesus to each other with the Nativity set. I love how excited they get about each ornament we put on the tree. I love that decorating cookies never gets old or boring. I love that I see myself and Nate in each of our kids and it brings me great joy just to spend time loving them and being with them.

This year we went to a little tree farm a few towns over. There weren't a ton of trees and they really weren't that picture perfect pretty, but we had lots of fun finding just the perfect one for us, then realizing it was completely crooked, we chose a second perfect tree for us!

The very crooked tree...didn't realize how curvy it was until I took this picture of Nate about to cut it! The second "perfect" tree!

Waiting for dad...

Our favorite and most difficult time of the day is right in that 5 - 5:30 window. That is when daddy gets home and it is SO hard to wait!

Most nights Joshua waits at the door or stands on something to look out the window and watch for him. Yesterday I was doing laundry and Joshua grabbed Nate's pj pants, went downstairs, and was standing at the garage door yelling "Dada, dada..." He loves his daddy! Once daddy gets home I am pretty much out of the picture for Joshua!

Things can also get pretty silly during this time of the day ~

Sarah has such a great sense of humor. We have a big stack of cowboy hats for her birthday party (more on that later), so I hear Sarah yelling, "caps for sale, caps for sale! Come get your red hat, your blue hat, caps for sale!" This is what I turned around to see:

I love her!

Elizabeth in the spot light...

Elizabeth is in a Musical Theater class this year in her Friday school. She has loved it and got to take part in a little Christmas musical "Christmas at OK Corral". She was so excited and knew all the songs.

(We noticed that she was moving her lips to everyone elses lines as well! ) She sure looked big up on that stage...well, relatively that is!

Joshua loved the singing and would have crawled right up on that stage had we let him! Sarah was singing along with all the songs, as she had been listening to Elizabeth sing the songs for months!

We are really loving this Friday program and the opportunities that Elizabeth is getting to have.

Dressing up is fun to do!

This year the girls dressed up as Mary and Laura Ingalls for Halloween (Sarah was actually a lion also). Joshua was the Poky Little Puppy - so cute!

We had a very fun day starting with Sarah's preschool costume parade, trick-or-treating that evening, and having grandma and grandpa over for dinner and a fun game of pin the face on the pumpkin!

Halloween can be kind of a controversial thing, so there have been many discussions over how we as a family should handle it. We have kindof taken it year by year and will probably continue to do that. This year as I thought about the darkness and evil that surrounds this holiday I noticed that everywhere we went all dressed up and looking cute, we were shedding a light on people all around us. Barriers between people were broken down as they oohed and awed over how cute the kids were - many couldn't help but touch Joshua's cute little face. I realized that bringing a smile to people's faces and spreading a little joy was far outshining the darkness. Where evil increases, God's spirit increases all the more and what a privledge it is to be a part of that! Praise Jesus for His light, life, freedom, and power - I know the bad guy doesn't win in the end - Jesus does!

I am so thankful for the fun filled day we had as a family and pray that the little bits of light we spread around will multiply as we continue to spread Jesus' love!

The First Snow!

We had an amazing first snow this year - 12 inches of heavy, wet, beautiful snow! Lots of tree limbs came down around town, fortunately we only lost one in the backyard. When all the snow melts we will have to see if there is any more damage.

Nate had the day off, so we had a very nice day at home together - played in the snow, helped the neighbors, had Lori and her doggies over for the night (she had no power and a power line in her yard), and had a fire buring most of the day. It was a wonderful day! I love snow days!!

I took this picture on Tuesday, the day before the snow came. I was so enjoying the beautiful yellow glow the trees were giving off! The tree with the tire swing is the same one in the picture below, behind Joshua! That is how heavy the snow was!

Bike rider!

Joshua LOVES being outside, it is something that always makes him happy. He especially loves bike rides - these pictures are of his first time riding on the back of daddy's bike (the helmet looks a little big, not sure how much it will help but he sure looks cute and loves it!). Of course he had to help daddy get it all ready too!

Friends, what could be better?!

We had a wonderful day with the Freeman's a while back. We met half way between our houses and spent the day playing together. I value the friendships that God has brought into my life - what a blessing!

Exploring the old mines...very cool!

I love how the kids just set themselves up like this - they have a lot of experience posing for the camera!

We all piled in the back of the truck as we went up the 4 wheel drive road, smiles al around!

What happens when Sandra gets ahold of my camera!? Silly lady!!

Brian couldn't wipe the smile off his face, he loves his truck!!

Fall is a Favorite!

Every year I have to take tons of pictures of fun in the fall. It is my favorite season! The trees in the backyard haven't fallen yet and we have not gotten to a pumpkin patch yet, so I am sure there will be many more pictures to come!

Have to love good garage sale finds! I got this cute tractor for $10 at a garage sale (it even has a wagon that attaches to the back - love that!). They were asking more but I took a stab at a lower price and thankfully there was a husband there who took my offer, his wife looked a little miffed at him, but I was excited! ;)

More Fall Beauty!

We went up to the mountains a few weeks ago to behold the beauty of Fall. I am in awe of how beautiful God has made the world for us to enjoy and even though it happens every year, I never tire of it. Thank you Jesus, for your beauty, not just in creation, but in who you are.

Just plain cute!

Haven't updated in a while and thought I would just share some cute moments of life around here! Enjoy...

Elizabeth was very proud of the pies she made for she and Sarah!

A big helper!

What we love to do every day!

Our trip to the Cozy Cow Dairy!