Out on the Ranch...

My mom and dad own some land out in the country. We call it the ranch.

A few weeks ago my parents, my sister and her family, my brother and his family, and our family got together out there for a cookout and a day of fun (we do this every year in the fall- it's become a little tradition of ours).

We ate hamburgers and hot dogs and roasted marshmallows.

The kids played with each other and had a big time.

When we all get together there are 16 of us total- it's wild to say the least.


Playin' on Papa's tractor w/ cousin Morgan...

My nieces showing off their many talents...

Me and my sister (me- lookin' rough)...

Ruthie jumpin' with cousins Kenzie and Ashley...

My brother and sister...

All the adults except me and my dad around the fire trying to stay warm...

Me and my boy...

Mimi and Ashley and the Kanester (I love this picture)...

Goin' for a ride...

The two that started it all...

My sister, dad, and mom...

Me and the love of my life cuddling...

Jumpin' like some crazies...

All the grandkids (a couple of years ago my brother and his wife built a house on the land- in the background)...

A wild bunch...

Family is so great! I love it when we all get together!

How Twilight should have ended...

Go HERE to check out this Youtube clip of how Twilight should have ended.

It is so stinkin' funny!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Some of our traditions include...

1) Each year we go to this little boutique in town and we each get to pick out one Old World Christmas Ornament that we feel suits us for that year. My hope is that one day when the kids are married I will pass their ornaments on to them to enjoy on their own trees.

2) I collect Santa Clauses to decorate the house with.

3) I don't fret about fancy wrapping- instead I let each kid pick out what wrapping they want. This year- Kane pick Transformers and Ruthie picked princesses.

4) We pick a night to put up the tree and to decorate it as a family (while we watch Christmas movies). This year Nolan unwrapped ornaments while Kane and I put them on the tree (Ruthie wandered about). It is so fun to look and talk about our ornaments from Christmas' past.

5) Christmas Eve we celebrate with our families and 2 other families from our hometown. We play Chinese Christmas (or dirty Santa) and over eat on finger foods. It's great!

6) On Christmas Day we visit 4 houses (we sleep and wake up at Nolan's parents', my parents next, then his grandparents', and then his other grandparents'), open lots of presents, over eat, and enjoy our time celebrating w/ loved ones the joyous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7) My mom has an awesome recipe for homemade hot chocolate mix that she makes each year. We drink it until we are floating with it while we are all home for the holiday. My sister and I always make a cup of it before we start opening presents- we just can't open without it.

8) My sister always plays Santa handing out presents for us to open at my parents. She's 40, I'm 29, and my brother is 37, but some traditions die hard.

What are some of your traditions?

Our Family Tree full of our Old World Christmas Ornaments that we each get to pick one of each year...

My new dining room table and chandelier all decorated up (my favorite Santa)...

Some of my Santa's on our entertainment center...

The Kanester's tree in his room w/ all of mine and Nolan's ornaments from when we were little...

My ornament that really doesn't symbolize anything but he's pretty...

Kane loves Pirates...

Nolan is a coach and the mascot is the Scottish Highlanders...

I apologize, I forgot to take a picture of Ruthie's, but it was a Hippo in a tutu.

Ruthie's tree in her bedroom...

Whimsical ornaments for Little Misses tree...

Playroom Tree with Santa looking over it...

Merry Christmas...

For a Woman the Love of Chocolate begins at a Young Age...

I gave Little Miss some Nutella (cocoa and hazelnut spread) today to dip her banana in. She enjoyed it so much that she thought it would be nice to share it with her babies. She was so proud of herself. She ran into the kitchen where I was- yelling "Babies- Babies". She grabbed my hand and led me into the playroom with her where I found this:

She ate most of it but she saved just enough...

...to share with her baby.

Here's some milk to wash down that chocolate baby...

Yum...

"Hey I think I want that chocolate back!"

So yummy!

Coming Soon...

Refurbished Cabinets

Christmas Decorating

Shopping Goodies

Gift Ideas

Weekend getaway

Sewing

I've been busy- and I plan to share it all!

Thankful Moments from Thanksgiving...

I thought this was funny...
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Full of wonderful things to be thankful for- like family, friends, food, and faith. I know I did!

We always spend Thanksgiving at my husband's grandparents. My parents come too so it is so nice to be able to share the day with lots of family from all sides of the tree.

Nolan's grandpa Rex carving the deep fried turkey...

The Apple and Pecan Pie w/ homemade crusts I made ( I also made homemade cinnamon ice cream and it was so good!)...

So thankful for this guy...

My sweet sister-in-law (Nolan's sister)...

My wonderful mom and dad...

Sweet little man...

The Spread...

Family and Friends...

Getting his yummy food with the help of Nana...

Visiting after dinner...

Playing outside...

Ruthie's turkey shirt and skirt I made...

Nolan's brother Clay, his sister Karli, Me and Nolan...

Me and my mother-in-law Holly...

Me and Clay waiting to play cards...

I love Thanksgiving! It helps me to remember all of the wonderful things I have to be thankful for! I hope you all had a wonderful Turkey Day!