A Butcher...A Baker...A Gingerbread House Maker

We're getting into the holiday spirit around here! Reagan tried her skills at gingerbread house making tonight.

Opening the package

Kneading the dough
Holding the sides of the house in place while the icing dries

Having a snack while the icing dries

Decorating the roof

Peppermints on the roof

Placing each piece of candy with care

Caught...eating a piece off of the gingerbread house

So proud of her work!

And of course she had to eat some of the left over icing

The finished product

She did such a great job and had fun too!

Another view of Reagan's house

Girls' Night Out

The ladies from my small group at church had another Girls' Night Out Saturday to celebrate Christmas and birthdays for Shawn and Jennifer. We had a wonderful time talking and catching up with each other.

L-R: Shawn, Sandy, Michelle, Cindy & Diane

L-R: Jennifer, me, Jean-Marie, Carly & Kristen

Tool Kit

Cooper loves, loves, loves to carry things around. Namely his sister's pink doctor kit. For his birthday, Ms Beth and Anah & Sera got him his own Home Depot tool kit so he could carry something a little more manly around ~ and there would be less fighting. Cooper still likes to carry around the doctor kit, but is slowly warming to his tool kit.

So glad Reagan's taking a nap so I don't have to fight for the doctor case

Well, if the stethoscope doesn't work, the drill should!
Hi-ho, Hi-ho, it's off to work I go

Is Reagan coming?

Good, I can play with her doctor kit all by myself!

More Birthday Presents

Cooper is still enjoying the benefits of turning one ~ more gifts than he could ever imagine! Ms Deb was unable to come to his birthday party, but did give him a gift.

Tearing into the paper

Ooh, what is it?
Cooper decided to read the instruction manual while daddy got the toy out of the packaging

A rooster flashlight

Can I have my rooster back now?

Thanks Ms Deb

Did you see what I got?

Sleeping Beauty

Nap time has always been difficult for Reagan. She doesn't nap at school during the week because she's afraid she's going to miss something (what she's going to miss when all the other kids are asleep...I have no idea). On the weekends, it's no different. Although we always make Reagan go to her room for a nap, she rarely does. Usually, we hear her running around for 2 hours and playing with baby Judy. Today, after an hour and a half of running around, all was quiet. A sneak peek into her room and this is what we found...

How peaceful is that?

Such an angel

Where's Cooper?

We finally managed to get Cooper some manly bibs ~ cammo and baseballs! We had to get some with sleeves on them because he can pull the others off in no time.

So happy to have a boy bib!

Who's ready to eat? I am, I am!
Where's the food?

Got the giggles

Eating his 1st Nilla Wafer ~ mmm, mmm good

Special Soup

Reagan loves to cook for us every evening. Tonight she made "special soup" which consisted of m&m's and fruit snacks. I hope she's this much help in the kitchen when she's older!

Stirring the soup

Her soup has to bake in the oven
"You have to be patient, mom. It's almost ready"

Fixing mom some milk

Look how many utensils it takes to cook "special soup"

Reagan told me she didn't cook with "pencils", she used spoons!

This morning when Reagan woke up:

Reagan: "My nose not working

Mom: "Do you need a kleenex?"

Reagan: "No, I need my nose to work"

Mom: "Let's get a kleenex and blow your nose"

Reagan: "No, my fingers can get them out"

OUCH!

After Greg got the Christmas tree down from the top shelf of the storage building, he thought it would be a great idea to straighten up the building and get everything in order. Bad idea....He took a little tumble and caught himself on the ladder all the way down.

Just a little bruise ~ no blood, no foul right?

One Dozen

Yesterday, Greg and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. And as they say, "it seems like only yesterday..." We've had a great 12 years and I'm lucky to be married to my best friend.

So, in honor of our 12 years, I've made a list of 12 things I love about him:

1. He loves the Lord with all his heart

2. He loves me in spite of my faults ~ not that I have many!

3. The way he can make me laugh ~ even when I'm trying to be mad

4. How he plays with Reagan and Cooper ~ just like he's still their age

5. He can shop with the best of them

6. How he will try to "solve" my problems when all I want to do is vent

7. He's taller than me, so he's a great protector

8. He's always reading books trying to better himself ~ He's currently reading the Love Dare

9. The way he folds clothes (even though it isn't always the way I would do it, at least he's willing to try!)

10. How he calls Reagan his beautiful princess and plays play doh sitting at her little table

11. How he can't wait to do "guy things" with Cooper ~ he's already got a list in his head

12. He does the grocery shopping for the family ~ unless I need a little time all by myself

I love you Greg ~ thanks for all you do for our family!

Visit with Santa Clause

We took Reagan and Cooper to see Santa Clause on Sunday afternoon. Reagan wouldn't even go near Santa for the past 2 years, so this was a BIG accomplishment!

My little elf, Cooper

My little elf, Reagan A little shy, but at least she's sitting in his lap

She told Santa she didn't want to touch his whiskers

How cute are these kids?

Ho, Ho, Ho ~ Merry Christmas!

Where did Daddy go?

Do I know you from somewhere?

Santa gave coloring books to Reagan and Cooper

What's inside?

I would love to have some snow at our house

The Tree is Up

We debated on whether or not to put up a tree this year, because Cooper is so inquisitive about everything ~ we were afraid he might pull the tree down on top of himself. But, we decided to go for it and if we needed to, we could always put up the Super Play Yard around the tree...until he learned to scale that! But so far, so good. He's not even gone near the tree.

Here is the finished tree. Reagan and I decorated it while Cooper was napping.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care.
The real trick to keeping Cooper away from the tree ~ the vacuum cleaner. He hasn't gone near the tree, not even once!

After hours of decorating, it was time for dinner. Reagan, the baker, decided to join us tonight!

Notice the carrots on Cooper's face, arms and high chair ~ he's still trying to learn to eat table food and not play with it!

Waiting on Daddy

Greg doesn't usually get home until 6:45pm and the kids spend many anxious minutes waiting on him.

Watching for daddy

Is it almost time for him?
Eating will help pass the time

Eating potato chips with a spoon!

Got milk?