O Christmas Tree

We have as a family decided that we will have a real Christmas tree. We love to go as a family and pick one out and then watch daddy cut it down. We are trying to let the girl's take turn picking out the tree. They both have done a great job so far. For the past several years we have gone to Grohmans, which is a local family in Knoxville. Great place to go. They have some sheep, alpaca's and some other farm animals. It is fun to walk out and find the perfect tree and then ride back on the hay rack. A good time was had by all.

Ari's Birthday

Several weeks ago we celebrated Ari's 7th birthday. We had her favorite food: Roast beef and mashed potatoes and gravy. She had one little girl over for supper and cake. Ari had been wanting a guitar for her birthday so I had a friend who knows guitars keep on the lookout for me. I was excited when he called to let me know he had found one. Well that was her BIG present. She received a few little things. It is tradition to have a muffin for breakfast and open some presents in the morning. We saved the guitar for that evening. After supper we sent her on a scavenger hunt to find it. When she went into our room and saw the guitar laying on the bed she wasn't quite sure what to say or think. She asked is that mine, is that for me? She squealed with delight or more of a scream. I love when my kids are so grateful and appreciate things. It has been so much fun watching her play with it. My same friend who found it for me is going to teach her a few things also. She is such a joy to have. I have loved watching her grow, and learn new things. I have added a slide show of the pictures because, I couldn't just pick a few.

November

Since I'm behind in my blogging I'm going to do a recap of what has happened in November. I won't post every single picture I took but I will put a few of the highlights. It has been so crazy this past month. Molly had her very first band concert which went very well. She plays the flute and has been blessed with the musical gene. She can look at the music and pretty much play it. She also loves to pick the songs out on her keyboard. She amazes me. She had a brief duet with another girl. It was fun to hear the band. You could actually recognize the songs!! Another big thing that happened this month was Ari learned how to ride her bike!! She has been wanting to learn for quite sometime. We don't have the best setup. Our sidewalk is mostly brick and we have a gravel driveway. Well, her training wheels were loose so daddy was going to tighten them but decided to take them off much to Ari's encouragement. Molly worked with her and pretty soon Ari was off and going. She learned super quick. As many of you know we have been working on our house and getting it ready to put on the market. Well it finally happened, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving our realtor put the sign in the yard. We have done a showing. I'm not worried yet God is ultimately in control and it will sell in his time to the right people he has in mind.

Ari had a cute Thanksgiving program at school where she had to do a couple of readings. It is so fun to watch the kids perform.

Well that is the month of November in a nutshell.

Happy birthday Charlie

Just recently my hubby had a birthday. Some friends of mine thought it would be fun to decorate my porch. He isn't even 40 yet, I hate to see what they do in a couple of years.

Happy 18th Caleb!!

Most of you know I have a son. Well he turned 18 the 1st of November. That makes me feel super old!!!! UGH!!! I had my parents, Caleb and his girlfriend in for lunch we had good food, fellowship, and fun.

the finished product

cookies

After school before Halloween the girls and I decided to make some Halloween cookies. They helped roll them out, cut them, frost them and of course eat them.

more pumpkin fun

Carving pumpkins and Making cookies

Being the cheapskate that I am, I only bought one pumpkin this year and the kids each carved a face on the pumpkin. Of course the fun part was cleaning the "guts" out.

Halloween

Well I'm back. I have been so crazy lately. Getting the house ready to put on the market. Halloween was fun. Ari dressed up as a butterfly and Molly was a cat. Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of her. Not sure how that happened but, it did. She is in a phase at times where she refuses to have it taken. For the past three years our church has done what is called trunk or treat. It is so much fun and is a easy way to see lots of kids all dressed up. We had our vehicle in this time. Molly enjoyed helping the younger kids in the big blow up toys. Ari made the rounds once then she wanted to help pass out candy. Good times were had by all.

Observations of my almost 7 year old......

Yesterday we were driving down main street and we had to sit and wait for a train...Go figure. There are some really big grain bins or silos right by the tracks. Ari says to me mom the white ones look like great big rolls of toilet paper and the brown ones look like the empty rolls. I thought that was too funny. I'm going to try and take pictures of them so you can see what she means. She is right, now when I have gone past them I chuckle and think of her.

Homecoming

I like to show off my kids so I'm going to post a few pictures of Caleb and his girlfriend before her Homecoming Dance. He is so grown up and she looks so pretty. I will have some pictures to show soon of his 18th birthday at my house.....that in itself is hard to believe.

more pictures

loved all the shots of the ladies getting pampered.....