Terrific Thursday

11.21.13

Kinsey and I are starting our morning at MOPS today.

It's a service project day and we are making a meal for the kids from very low income homes to give to their parents.  It made me sad to think there are families that appreciate a meal as a Christmas gift but I am so grateful that I could help make these meals.  We filled plastic containers with 7-bean soup then topped it off with some pasta.  I thank our Heavenly Father every day for the many blessings in my life. 

After I picked Beck up from school, he showed me the puppets he had made and they are so cute!

Late this afternoon, I took the kids to Faulkner park and we first stopped at the pond to feed the ducks.  I am in love with the colors of the trees!

Then, we went to the play area and it started sprinkling so we ventured into the woods to get some protection which was a great learning opportunity for the kids.  The trees kept the raindrops from falling on us.

My friend, Tiffany, mentioned that her son, Tommy, is doing a boy scouts project a few weeks ago and I talked to Brent about helping him get started.  Brent graciously offered to help so we met Tiffany and her family at the baseball fields so Brent could tell them what all they needed to get the project done.  Tommy is building boxes for baseball hats that will be mounted above the bench seat in the dugout.  Beck and Kinsey had a blast playing with Tiffany's two other boys by running around the bases.

As we were leaving, we found a huge toad and one of Tiffany's boys caught it.  I cannot tell you how much fun we all had watching the kids play with that poor toad.  We all laughed so much but deep down, I really felt sorry for the toad.

This is what Beck and Kinsey do to our bedroom.  They use all of our pillows to make a comfy pallet and they bring every stuffed animal they can carry in our room.  It drives us crazy but we wouldn't trade it for anything.  

Topsy Tuesday

11.19.13

Today is picture day which means I had to tell Beck that he had to dress up.  Did he like it?  Not really but he didn't put up a fight and that made me so happy!

Since I'm so far behind on updating this blog, here is Beck's good-lookin' school picture.  He is such a handsome boy!

Kinsey absolutely loves her dance class and she does so well listening to the teacher, Mrs. Candy.  I think she has inherited the love of dance from mommy. 

Church and Family Home Evening

11.17-18.13

The Bishop asked Brent and I to be on the Christmas ward party planning committee and our first meeting was two weeks ago.  This is what we have planned...ham, turkey and rolls will be provided and we will ask members to sign up for sides; the Bishop will sit in a rocking chair on the stage and read the Christmas story to all of the children; bells will be passed out and Santa will approach the kids while we sing, Jingle Bells.  Brent volunteered to make the fireplace since we have the large boxes from our new sectional couch and I was volunteered to make the flyers to be placed in this Sunday's programs and a poster.  I quickly discovered that the programs I had on my work computer and help from the IT department at my old job made creating projects much easier.  I tried so many different things and kept striking out.  It was so frustrating!  But, alas, I finally came up with something that I was proud to print.  What do you think about my flyer/poster?

I sure have enjoyed my fall decorations but they will be replaced soon because we are anxious to get the Christmas decorations out.

Family home evening was spent bringing down many boxes from the attic and putting up the Christmas tree.  Beck and Kinsey were so excited!

Kinsey is ready to add the top of the tree.

I'd like to get a bigger tree one of these days but this one will do for now.  Our tree is decorated with ornaments collected over the years.  Neena always gives me a fancy ornament each year and she finds the best guy ornament for Brent.  We also have the Disney characters and many china cherubs.  It's not a fancy tree but it's filled with many memories.

Beck and Kinsey's tree which is also decorated with ornaments they have received since they were born.

Hot Diggity Dog!

It's a little overcast today and hardly anybody is here which is awesome because there are no lines!

The very first ride...the spinning alligator! 

Beck loves the fun house!

I'm not sure why we still carry her....probably because we love her very much!

Daddy is too cool!

This picture is priceless! 

This picture is for Kiki...because she loves dogs.

The Rockin' Tug would have made me so sick...going from side to side while twisting around.  Luckily, Daddy is a good sport about riding the kiddie rides.

These two love to play fight.

It's been a lot of fun and we especially enjoyed no lines this afternoon.

Instead of buying the expensive cotton candy, we took the kids to the dollar store in the shopping center near the mall and bought some cotton candy there.  Lol!  Thanks for a fun afternoon!!!

Breakfast with Santa

11.16.13

We had planned on going camping at DeGray Lake in Arkansas with the McClure's along with seven other families but Kinsey had fever on Thursday and I didn't know how she would feel this weekend so we backed out.  Plus, we heard it was going to be a cold and rainy weekend there which does not mix well with a sick child.  Since our plans changed, we were able to go to Breakfast with Santa at the mall this morning because Kinsey was feeling fine.

The Kidgits club at the mall offered breakfast, a few activities and the Beauty and the Beast high school ensemble performed for the kids.  We also received a free sample of Christmas popcorn which was delicious and a children's clothing store opened up their doors this morning for us and served apple juice and cookies.  I was told that if I made a purchase at the store then I could get a free 5x7 print of the kids with Santa. 

Kinsey would not let me take a picture of her with the girls all dressed up in their costumes.

After the Kidgits event was over, we walked to where Santa is located in the mall and Kinsey could not wait to see Santa.  However, she was petrified when it was time to sit in his lap.  So, I was right next to her and they happened to capture this sweet picture.  Beck looks so happy and if you look closely, you can see that I'm holding Kinsey's hand.  And, the 5x7 was free if I bought a picture package.  Oy vey! 

As a Kidgits member, I was able to purchase $5 wrist bands for the amusement rides in the mall parking lot.  Let's go home and get Daddy!

When we got home, I took advantage of the kids dressed up and had a quick photo session.  This is what I captured before Daddy came out to help me.

A little better...

This is the money shot!!!  We are using this one for our Christmas cards.  Done!  Yeah!