Christmas!

We had a grand Christmas!  It was even white.  Adam said we got 8 inches of snow on Christmas!  We got up and opened stockings.  Then while the cinnamon bread baked, Adam cut up a fresh pineapple.  (We decided last year we would celebrate holidays with a fresh pineapple.)

This year I was successful in my selection of Pineapple.  Last year it was OVER RIPE! YUCK!

We then opened presents and played!  We had a great time just the 3 (or 5 with the cat and dog)
 of us!

Later we went out to my Aunt and uncles house to spend some time with the family!  Naomi did awesome!  She was a little clingy at first (We had not been there before).  Once she warmed up she was great.  Her cousin even let her help open a present.  then when to was time to go she didn't even make it to the highway before she passed out!  Poor girl!  She had a wonderful time!

 

Christmas Eve

Christmas eave we decided we wanted out of the house.  We wanted to do something Christmas related...But having a 19 month old, being unemployed and the rain outside hindered our options. Then I remember seeing something about a large gingerbread house display at Crown Center.  We decided to brave the mall aspect and go.  So we loaded up and Adam and I mentally prepared our selves for a mall outing on Christmas eve.  (Are we crazy or what?)

Once we parked and got into Crown Center we were pleasantly surprised.  There we quite a bit of people but not as many as we had imagined.  Also everyone seemed to be just taking their time.

Naomi LOVED the Gingerbread town display. Especially the train.  She would sit and wait or it then she would squeal "Chooo chooo"  I would have killed to have a video capability on my camera.  It was adorable! 

It was a very pleasant day.  We walked around crown center and we walked around the Westin.  They have a waterfall with a HUGE Christmas tree. with several versions of Santa over looking the area.  Naomi threw pennies in to the waterfall.  Many people were taking their family (or children's) photo in front of the tree.  We also went up on the balcony where I took these pictures.

We got home just before the rain turned to ice. That evening we went to church with my grandpa. Afterward we visited some friends and let our kids open their Christmas pajamas. (Thanks mom!)

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

Merry Christmas

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus Christ

 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
  "Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

 

Merry Christmas! 

Love,
Kelly, Adam , Naomi
Bootsie and Rubia.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Me and a group of friends had a birthday party Jesus Party for your kids!  We had a TON of fun!

I made the cake...

We used instruments and sang Christmas songs, and Happy Birthday to baby Jesus!

We Chowed down on some Pizza and played games.

Finally we opened some Gifts. We had seclected names so each child would "shop" for another child. Naomi received matching tutus for her and Abby (her Doll), and a cradle/ changing table set! Here she is with her tutu on! So cute!

We all had a great time!  Happy Birthday Jesus!

Afterward we put attempted to put the kids down for a nap so we could have some Mommy time.  We watched "Sisters Keeper."  (Personally I am not a big fan of the movie but I thought I would give the book a shot.  Maybe I will post something once I read it).  Anyway, the kids barely napped. Call us mothers of the year! Because we just let them play in their respective areas (while listening for any "real crying")  so we could finish the movie.  After the party I think all the kids went home and took real naps!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:14

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies!

Yummmm!

These are some of my favorite cookies! And I have only made them 3 times!
(Yes Sarah these are the ones I brought to you in the hospital with Luke. Sorry I did not get you the recipe before we left.)

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream together butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix in vanilla extract and cocoa powder, then add peanut butter, and stir until smooth. Gradually mix in the sifted ingredients until well blended. Pour milk into dough, and stir until fully combined.
3. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven until edges are lightly browned, 11 to 13 minutes. For a crunchier cookie, bake an additional minute or two.

I also used 1/4 cup Chocolate chips and pressed 3 in the the top of the cookie. A little extra chocolate never hurt anyone right?

Enjoy!

Little bit of summer!

Hope this warms you up a bit! I know it is C-O-L-D here. yesterday was a balmy 21 degrees. Today it is suppose to get in to the 40's Yea! Think warm thoughts!

More Christmas Gifts...

I am working on another gift. This one is for my father-in-law and his wife. I am pretty sure they don't follow my blog. But if you do I suggest you not read it today...



unless you want to ruin your surprise!



I'll wait



(OK I think they are gone)

I got the idea this summer. I think I blogged about our stay there. I took tons of pictures of their property, and animals. I am going to give them a photo collage of their new home. Here is the general idea.

























I am super excited!

It was super easy. For this I edited my pictures in Photoshop Elements. But then I made it in to a Collage in Picasa. It is a free photo editing program. The only things I am not a huge fan of is that they bump up the saturation a ton. and the fact I can't chose what picture goes where in the collage. But for a quick put together I love it.

Now for the actual gift I have a collage frame from my favorite craft store I will use. This was just to get an idea of how to put the pictures together. And so show off to my lovely readers! Thanks for letting me show off!!

Fingerprint Friday: memory lane...

I found these pictures.  I went on a photographic stroll down memory lane.  Theses are all from our first year of marriage(ish) the top two are our First Christmas, jammies and all.(Bootsie took the picture for us, or maybe it was a timer, whichever.)  Then there was when we got Rubia.  This was after our anniversary.  Isn't she just precious? So tiny!  the the bottom was from a significant rock formation close to our  first home.  We used to spend our free time driving around the county looking for the historical places marked on our historical society map.
  We used a TON of gas but we got to talk a lot and we fell in love with our first home.  All of the roads in the county that are not a highway are gravel.  I think we had to replace 4 flat tires that year and a half we lived there.   Ultimately, we would love to go back.  However we have no idea where God will send us.  That will always be a place we can call home. 

Want to see more? Check out Pampering Beki's blog for more inspiration!

What do you think?

I am trying to put something together for my dad... What do you think?

play date

A few weeks back our MOPS group got together at the community center. We had a lot of fun. The Kids enjoyed it. I got to talk to some other moms as well. I spoke to one mom who had just had her 5th child.

Nutshell

Here is my life in a nutshell...

• The weekend before Thanksgiving we had our church planting assessment. 

 (These were our fellow Kansans!)

• We were home a total of 4 days and we then went to Texas for a week. 

• We got home early Saturday morning.  
• Took a nap and regrouped from driving all night. (Naomi ws up from 1:30-3:30am.  It was a very long 15 hour drive.)
• Sunday we loaded up in the van again and headed to Emporia.  There Adam preached and They asked us questions about our "calling."  We got to hang out there all day and Adam lead a Bible study in the evening.    
• Thursday was MOPS. I had a wonderful time and we even had two new moms!

This weekend is packed as well.  I have a Women's Christmas Brunch , an association Christmas party in Topeka, We are going to have a Christmas get together with some friends, as well as trying to finish getting the decorations up.

I love the Holiday season!  Just why does it have to be so busy? My head is spinning from the up's and down's and unknown's we are currently facing.  It is just the start of the Christmas season and I am exhausted!  I am continually praying for God's peace. I know I am greatly blessed.  Though this may be a bit of a "valley" I know there are others who are struggling more than I.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.

 Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

Psalm 23