Family Ties

We have returned from Missouri. I had a great time. We arrived Wednesday evening and spent time just sharing updates with the family. I ended up with a migraine, so I rang the new year in with a pillow over my head in total silence. Oh what fun! Thursday we all gathered at my grandparent's home for Christmas lunch and gifts. It was fun watching the kids (all boys) playing together and sharing their new toys. In the picture they are sporting their new shirts that Grandma Davis made for them. So goofy (the kids, not the shirts!) Thursday night I was able to sneak away with my sis and Aunt Leslie for some girl time at Wal-Mart (there is not much to do in Rolla ... Wal-Mart is the place to go!) It was nice to get to talk with each other openly. Friday I was blessed to enjoy some one on one time with my Aunt Debbie and then we added my Great Aunt Faye for some more shopping fun. I really enjoyed spending that special time with them. Friday night I got to spend some time with my Uncle Bob and Aunt Diane and their kids. It was so hard for me realizing that their son, Adam, is turning 16 soon and has a girlfriend! I remember holding him when he was a baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ugh.

Well, it's back to reality tomorrow. Aiden returns to school, Logan to daycare and I'm back to work. It's been a great 12 days off! I needed the r&r.

Love to all!
Carrie

Carrie Out for 2008 ...

Good evening.
I am sitting here enjoying the sounds of the boys setting up the game, "Ants in the Pants" in order to play with Daddy. They are so excited to play these games with us lately (we really hit it big in the game department this year).

Anyway ... we have had a wonderful holiday season thus far. We started on the 23rd with Christmas at our house for Marcus' side of the family. Marcus made a wonderful dinner while others pitched in to make it complete. The kids had a fun time together. The night ended a bit early due to weather, but it was still fun. Christmas Eve morning Marcus made a HUGE breakfast for the four of us. We stayed in our pj's until mid afternoon when we headed to a Christmas Eve service. We ended up staying up until 1 am wrapping gifts and such ...whew! Christmas morning the boys actually slept in until 8 and then ate breakfast before digging into the gifts. They were both thrilled with their gifts. Aiden's eyes were huge when he saw that he finally got the skateboard he has been begging for and Logan's eyes were equally as large when he saw his new Thomas bike. We headed out the afternoon for Alexandria and about a million gifts with my family (can you say overboard?????) The boys got a basketball shoot thing with 15 other games! Marcus got a snowblower and I received a Kitchen-Aid mixer and new pots and pans! Now ... where are those cooking lessons I've needed for so long?

Anyway --- we are heading for Missouri tomorrow morning for a few days. I really miss my family out there and am excited to see all of them. My Aunt Leslie and her kiddos are going to be staying with us so that our FIVE boys can play together. Can you see nerf gun mania??? I will be sure to share the pics!

So ... this is my last post for 2008. As I sit here and think of all I've been through this year, I can hardly believe it! New house, new job, Dad had a stroke, celebrated my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary, my parent's 30th wedding anniversary, Marcus turned 30, Aiden turned 5, Logan turned 3, I turned 25 (just checking to see if you are really reading this), I finished college, Aiden started kindergarten, became landlords ... I could go on and on! But it's amazing to me how much I've seen God in each one of these items (and obviously more). Our faith grew a lot in 2008 ... and I am sure God has more faith stretching for us in 2009.

I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year and I'll write in a few days!
Love,
Carrie
PS ... the game table has now started a game of "Operation." Did you know that the guy in that game now holds a cell phone!!!????

Christmas Pictures

Bucket List

I am currently sitting at my desk with an electric heater at my feet attempting to thaw from my 2 hour shift of ringing bells for the Salvation Army this morning. I had a ringing partner that I had never met before and am so excited to tell you about her!

Her name is Cathrine and she turned 80 in June. She decided to make out a "bucket list" for herself (bucket list would be things that you've always wanted to do before - well, kicking the bucket). Thus far she's been able to check off having her first manicure, pedicure, going to Las Vegas, flying over the Grand Canyon in a 4 seater plane, attending her first demolition derby (that was my fav! HA!) and now ringing the bells for the Salvation Army. She doesn't have much left to do on her list. The one that is going to take her the longest is tracking down some of her friends she hasn't seen in years. Some live in Ohio, some in Florida and some she isn't sure where they are.

The other fun fact of Cathrine was that not only did she used to teach the music courses at a local school, but she was also the pa ton teacher! HA! I had no idea there was once a pa ton class or club!

Anyway, I am so glad I was blessed by Cathrine today. I know I will think of her for years to come. And now ... I think I should start my bucket list ...

2008 Christmas Tour of Homes

I am participating for the first time in what is known as the Holiday Home Tour sponsored by BooMama ... I hope you enjoy our humble abode ...

First up, the tree. We have alternated years on which son gets to place the star on top. This year was Logan's ... I don't know how many more years Daddy is going to be able to hike the kiddos up high enough!

We have quite the eclectic tree complete with multicolored lights. I always notice those themed trees that looks so gorgeous and like they should be displayed in the window, but ours says "lived in" if you will. There are homemade ornaments from family members, ornaments that Marcus and I had as children, favs we have purchased or received as gifts. Most ornaments have a story about the person it was purchased for or about the person that gave it to us and so on. I highly doubt a themed tree is in our future, although they are gorgeous. Oh, and you may notice that some of the string lights are placed in a vertical fashion. Marcus and I have a "discussion" about this every stinkin' year! I think it's completely ineffective way of adding more lights and he swears by it. Someday I'll just string them by myself, but that hasn't happened in 5 years, so I am not holding my breath. Ok ... on with the tour!

This is my favorite part of our house. We have LOTS of shelves that I can put fun, festive items on. Marcus says it's just more for him to dust (which is true) but he has enjoyed it all thus far too.

Our nativity set is a cheap-o one that I bought a few years ago. I love it thought because they are all little kids! Look at the faces on the kings and Shepard! It's so sweet and it's perfect for a house with kids. I would be bummed if one broke, but not devastated like I would be if it were a family heirloom. The boys like to move the pieces and try to tell a story to go along with it. It's really sweet.


This center piece is what the boys enjoy most about our decorations. It plays Frosty the Snowman and the little ice skating snowman "skates" in circle.


o next is a view from out our backdoor. We have five pine trees that we did not like at all when we first looked at this house. We were going to have them removed as soon as we moved in --- but now I am so glad we didn't! We both love them. This picture doesn't do them justice. Next year I'd like to add more lights to them, but that wasn't in the budget this year. Oh, and yes, one of them is a runt.


You may have notice that there isn't a pic of our stockings. Yes, we do have them and they are displayed, but I am not thrilled about how they are displayed at this time. We have no place to put them! This is our first Christmas in our new home and we haven't found a place for everything just yet. I think we may try those hooks that stick to the wall and then are removed without leaving a mark. I am nervous tho ... anyone have a good/bad experience with them?

Well, now that you've endured the tour, why not sit down and enjoy a slice of eclair cake and a cup of milk with me. I'd love to get to know you too! Thank you for stopping by and I'd love to see you again soon!

Merry Christmas,

Carrie

Eclair Cake: 2 packages of Instant French Vanilla Pudding, 2 1/2 cups of milk, 8 oz bowl of whipped cream, box of graham crackers, chocolate icing (dark or regular, not whipped).

Beat pudding and milk with mixer for 1 minute. Fold in whipped cream. Layer graham crackers in bottom of pan (9x9 works best) then spread a layer of pudding mixture and repeat until the top of the pan is reached. End with a layer of graham crackers. Refrigerate for an hour before icing. Best if then refrigerated for another 4 hours before serving. ENJOY!

Christmas Poem

I have no clue who wrote this poem, but I have to share it with all of you scrapbookers (or those that live with one that scraps ...)



Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree. I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me. Could it be cardstock or chipboard or lace? Or a Cricut, I said, with a smile on my face. And that's when I heard him, "Hi Santa, " I said "You know....good little girls should be in their beds." "I know I should Santa, and now I've got caught. But I was just so excited to see what you brought." "Well, let's take a look in this room where you work. " He shook his head quickly, and left with a jerk. I heard him exclaim as he put it in gear. "You've got enough crap, I'll see you next year!"



I am also sharing a picture from our office Christmas party. Yep ... it was ugly Christmas sweater day. Big fun!!!

Hello!

Man ... the weekends go way too fast these days. Friday, Aiden had his play date with Brent S. They had a ball. The first thing Brent's mom said to me was that Aiden had wonderful manners. Man ... that makes me so proud. Earlier in the week a person at the daycare told me the same thing about Logan. I love when our parenting methods actually take! Anyway, Logan wasn't feeling well that day (I'll spare you the details) so we just vegged on the couch that evening. We watched Frosty, Frosty Returns and The Flight Before Christmas while all snuggled up on the couch. I love that. Saturday we didn't do too much as we were waiting for my parents to arrive.

I was scheduled to ring bells at W*l-M*rt for the Salvation Army that afternoon. Mom and dad hadn't arrived, so the boys got to join me for awhile. They were too cute! Logan was not thrilled, he just stood there saying, "I am CooooooooLLLLLLd!" But Aiden was having a great time! He was singing Jingle Bells and talking to anyone and everyone that walked in. At one point, he looked at his reflection and said, "Mom ... I kinda look like a dork (and he did ... no one looks great in a toboggan even if it is a Colts one). So, he decided to sing Jingle Bells with his own lyrics: Jingle dork ... Jingle dork ... Jingle dork today. It was too funny. Where does he get it? After we thawed out, we went to a 50th bday party for some friends and then to the park in CC to see the lights. It was a fun night.

Today we just hung around the house. Mom and Aiden organized his closed and clothes while Papaw, Logan and I just vegged. The above pics are the boys wrestling with Papaw. The top one Logan is kissing his nose. So cute.

Side note ... to anyone and everyone that has received a Christmas card from us ... I am soooooooooooooooooooo sorry if you now owe the USPS a penny. I just realized that I sent at least 20 cards out with the 41 cent stamp ... oops. I am such a dork sometimes! I am really not that cheap! Again, I am sorry.

Have a wonderful week!

Carrie

Jingle John and his Reindeer! - Updated 11/11

***Update - FYI ... the picture on the top of the blog is 3 of the 5 pine trees we have in our backyard. It's funny ... the very reason we didn't want to purchase this home is the thing I am enjoying most about our holiday decorations! We (ok, Marcus did the work, but I asked him to do so) put lights on all 5 of them and I stare at them through our bedroom windows, living room window, kitchen windows and dining room windows! LOVE THEM!

Also, the picture of Logan (below) raising his hand was because he wanted to say something to the elf and kept his hand like that for 20 minutes! He finally said, "I have a dog!!" and that was it. Worth the wait?????? ***

Took the boys to the library last night to see a reindeer! The boys seemed to enjoy it, Mommy could have enjoyed it more if the reindeer weren't so smelly! There were a TON of people there (I am guessing 100 or more) so we didn't stick around for individual pictures, but the boys seemed ok with that. Aiden informed me that the elf wasn't real because the real ones are only in the North Pole and they wouldn't be on vacation during December! HA!

Check out our Elf Disco video before you leave. It's good for a laugh or two!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/VwVBWz3WuKPm46IH
Love,

Carrie

Weekend Update

We had a very busy weekend. The boys were invited to their babysitters home in Alexandria for the annual Christmas party. They literally were counting the days down all week until they got to play with Jonah and "Seff" (Seth, but Logan says Seff and it's so darn cute!) Saturday was the Farmer Family Christmas Party (Marcus' fam) and the SDI Christmas Party. We were just party hoppers! Sunday Marcus and I went out shopping and got a majority of our Christmas shopping done ... HOORAY!

Oh, and a HUGE answer to prayer came along on Saturday morning. After having the house on the market for 6 months with no offer, we put out an email a week ago that we were going to rent our house and we've already gotten a renter! It's an answer to prayer for both sides and she's already called to say how nice and cozy the house it (ok, and to let us know that the fridge is having an issue, but I like to dwell on the positives!) Anyway, we are certainly learning that everything happens in God's time. We never wanted to become landlords, but right now selling isn't in the cards. Funny story though, the renter was thrill because the kitchen's theme is apples, the master bedroom is purple(ish) and the other bedroom is blue ... all three are the same as the house she has to move from! She said it was a sign.

Ok, I am off to make chocolate suckers with the boys. A little "elffett" (is that female for elf or is elf not gender specific?) gave us this chocolate melting machine and it's time to try it out. I'll post pics.

Have a wonderful week,

Carrie