Advent day 19....

It snowed ALL day, so we decided to make homeade hot cocoa!  This was the most delicious hot cocoa I have ever had.  It was so rich, and creamy. It was just what we needed on this cold day!

YUMMO!



Advent day 18...

Learn how to wrap presents, and promise not to tell Bub what presents we wrapped for him.

Yes, Anna is wearing the same jersey as she did the day before.  Since, we didn't leave the house, I told her it was ok. You may have noticed Trin wearing the same green shirt two days in a row as well.  With that girl, I'm just glad she has clothes on.;)

Let's just say that learning to wrap is a process...

Neen thought she would be cute striking the same pose as Anna, and she was right!!  Would you believe me if I said the girls were already fighting over Bubs gifts?  I'd go into detail, but Bub reads the blog! Sorry Bubba...not getting any info out of me! ;)

We also made some bird ornaments that I found on Pinterest. The girls decided they wanted them to be colorful.  Anna's is purple, and Neen's is rainbow.  I think they turned out really cute, and they were super easy.

By the way...Mason cut his first tooth!  That means he is really growing up...

How can Mason be 8 months old?



Advent day 17...

..make peanut brittle, and take some to our neighbors.  The kids were really excited about this activity, because they love getting to visit with our next door neighbors.  They are an older couple, but are so nice, and full of energy.  They truly seem to love life.  Plus, Bub was hoping that if they got some tasty treats from us, that they might give us some of their treats again this year.  Dana made us the most amazing Christmas candies, last year that we still talk about!

Can you tell from the get go that this activity was going to go awry?

Two silly girls with the giggles.

Bub decided to spend the night with a friend, so he did not participate.

Things are going well at this point. Measuring ingredients, listening to Dad.

Reading the directions again for the tenth time.  (Casey is not used to cooking with the girls, and they don't understand not helping.  I let them do more than just help.  A lot of the times they end up making the whole thing)

And....reading the directions for Dad again.  It really flustered him to have helpers on a recipe that is time sensitive.

It didn't help that the girls were acting CRAZY!!

Using microwave time to root on the Cowboys!!

The three of them trying to stir before the brittle hardened! Ha! ( I usually designate jobs. ;)

Look at the look on Casey's face. Priceless...

After the stirring Casey started trying to spread out this hard lump of stuff onto the cookie sheet.  Anna let him know that he had not finished the last step, which was put it in the microwave for two more minutes.



Microwave time= Crazy time! What is this? She is a total mess.

Let me say that the peanut brittle was nothing but a hot, sticky, mess!!! Even...the second time when Casey made it all by himself. It didn't turn out, neither one of them. Ha ha! So, the neighbors won't be getting peanut brittle.  Maybe for day 18 we will make chocolate kiss peanut butter cookies, because we are all good at that!! :)

Advent Day 16...

Go see Santa at the Mall, and tell him what we would like for Christmas.

I am so surprised that there are no tears in this picture!! I was actually worried that Trin would be my crier.  I was proud of her.  She didn't actually tell Santa what she wanted, but she whispered in Anna's ear, and told Santa that she wanted a toy poodle.  I was not aware that a poodle is what she was wishing for, so I told her that sometimes....Santa brings things that are even better than what we ask for.

Anna told him that she wanted a doll, but was not specific as to which kind.  She really wants a reborn.  Have you seen those things?  They are hideous in my opinion, and way too expensive.  If she can be really good the rest of the year, then I bet Santa might find one that is not so expensive, and not so rebornish looking, but still a reborn.

Santa didn't ask Bub what he wanted for Christmas.  I guess Santa figured that mom already knew...ha ha! Remember the Santa letter? Still cracks me up!



Advent day 15...

Well...go see Santa didn't happen on this day.  I had planned to take the kids right after school since it was an early release day, but I left the house with Mason's bottle still in the steam bag in the microwave.  By the time we came back home, and got lunch, everyone was cranky.  Instead, we went to Michaels really quick to pick up frames for the kids teacher gifts.  While we were there they had ornament kits on sale for 69 cents.  Score!! Our new advent activity. ;)

I found this Christmas ball, and had planned to do Mason's footprint on it in glitter glue, but that did NOT work.  So, instead I got the wrapping paper we are using for Christmas and curled it, and put it inside.  I love how it turned out. :)

My sister helped me with these teacher's gifts.  She actually found the idea, and after giving her the words/phrases I wanted to use, she did the wordle for me! Thank you Amanda! Without you, they wouldn't have gotten made.



Advent day 13 & 14...

I'm having a really hard time getting motivated this week.  Things have been crazy, and there is so much to do before Christmas. I just can't get in gear.  The last two days of advent shows my lack of thought and energy.

Day 13... Anna read a new Christmas book that Neen got at the store...BORING! I could have done better than that.

Day 14...I left up to Casey.  After dinner I asked him what he decided to do for "adment"( per Trin)  tonight, and he hadn't thought of anything. 

 So, he decided to surprise everyone with sundaes from McDonalds.  Eh....the kids enjoyed it, and it was a nice treat.  I also asked Anna to recite her verse that she learned last week at school, and she did.  The verse was Luke 2: 8-14. With the verse thrown in there it felt more special.

Today's advent will be more fun.  We are going to take a quick trip to the mall to see Santa...lysol in hand, LOL! We don't want anymore germs!!  Hands in pockets...no touching, or breathing! ;)



Advent day 12...

Yes, I am missing a few advent days due to Mason being sick in the hospital. He went in on Saturday morning, and came home on Sunday night.  He went through a lot on those days, and I'll try to post more about it soon.

 Dad still did fun things with the kids on the days Mason was in the hospital, but nothing specified as advent.  That's okay though, because we are making up for it!

Yesterday our advent activity was....Have a dance party, and Rock out to Christmas music.  The kids always love dance parties!! I only took pictures with my cell phone, so they are ALL blurry, but I love them just the way they are!!

Last minute, we also decided to make salt dough ornaments.  It was a great party :)

Advent day 8...

Our activity yesterday was to make SMORES on the grill outside.

We have never done this before, and the kids flipped!  They loved it, and have already asked if we could do the same activity on another day!

I just have a second of computer time, because Mason is still really sick.

 Enjoy the pictures.

(iphone doesn't take as great of photos at night :( !)

Mason update:  He is still very sick...even after meds he is not better at all. Rota virus is definitely kicking our butt! Total, this is day 13 with sick kiddos.  Dr said Mason's would probably last 2 weeks in itself. Hopefully this medicine will kick in soon, and he will be on his way to healing.  He is so weak and frail.  Half the time he sleeps through diaper changes.  What the doctor is most worried about at this point is his hydration.  Said, as long as we can keep him well hydrated we should be able to avoid the hospital. He gave me several tips, and things to watch for.  Please pray this virus passes soon! He's just a teeny little toot that can't afford to lose any weight.

Yesterday, he let everyone love on him, and loved on them.