Finally Put The Tree Up!

Emma and I finally put the Christmas tree up today! Now I don't feel like such a scrooge. I have all of the kids Christmas presents pretty much taken care of and only a few more people to buy for. So I'm getting a little more of the Christmas spirit.

My little helper. She was really into decorating the Christmas tree this year!

This is my most special ornament. It was my dad's mothers and its really old and very fragile. I always put it close to the top of my tree and guard it with my life all Christmas. The kids aren't allowed anywhere near it. Emma thinks its really special and I told her when she gets married I will give it to her for her first tree. She said she hopes it doesn't get broke. Me too!

My beautiful Charlie Brown tree!!

The angel on the top was made by husbands grandmother!

I have no theme when it comes to decorating my tree. I just put all of the ornaments that I have on there. Most of them have been given to us since we got married and alot of them are ones that the kids have made or that have been given to them. Its so fun unwrapping ornaments and finding ones that I have forgotten about. Emma loved helping this year and you can tell she puts alot of ornaments in one area. I don't care about it being perfect anyway!

Am I the only one????

Please tell me that I'm not the only one that hasn't even started Christmas shopping. I'm sooooo bad. I really hate to shop. Well I don't hate to shop if I have lots of money and if I was say a size four and buying clothes for myself. But since I don't have lots of money and I'm a little larger than a size four I really hate to shop. Especially for Christmas.

I love my family. I have the best kids in the world (most of the time), an absolutely wonderful husband that I adore, the best parents and in laws, a fantastic sister and the sweetest, most gorgeous niece. That being said, I have no idea what to get any of these wonderful people.

I do know what we are getting the kids. But this one thing that each of them are getting cost more than we usually spend on them for Christmas. I will let you know what it is after the day, don't want to let the cat out of the bag. But since that is so high we will be spending more on them this year because I want them to have more than one little present to open. But I have no idea what else to get them. Emma is really easy to buy for. She likes anything girly and pink. Colton on the other hand is so hard to buy for and we just got finished with his birthday. He has no idea what he wants either. Everytime I ask him he says "I don't know." He told my mom he wants french toast sticks or a ham. Last year he told everyone he wanted a new mattress. People are going to think I starve my kids and make them sleep on a hard floor.

All the other people that I buy for always get what they want or need when they want or need it. What do you get people that have everything? I always feel like I never get good gifts. You know there are some people that just know the right gift to get. My aunt Wanda is like that. She always gets the coolest gifts for everyone. I have always loved getting gifts from her. I can still remember the Fashion Plates game she bought me when I was a kid. I had so much fun with it. I wish I could be more like that. Its like she puts so much thought into the gifts she gets.

I always say I'm never going to wait to the last minute again. I want to enjoy the holidays and not feel stressed. But every year I seem to wait later and later before I even start. I really need to stop doing this to myself. I always dread the holidays so bad, because of the shopping. I need to get a better attitude about and be thankful that I have wonderful people in my life to shop for. I just wish they were a little easier to shop for though!! I better start searching the web for gift ideas, I just hope I'm not too late.

Sometimes I'm Not Very Bright!

We still have about 4 inches of snow on the ground and its still really cold. It hasn't melted much at all. I went outside to do all of my wonderful farm chores such as feeding the chickens, guineas and goat and getting in firewood. Having a little mini farm is not too fun when its cold and snow on the ground.

Well my guineas and chickens were acting crazy when I went in to feed and water them. So I decided maybe they would like to get out and play in the snow for a little bit before dark. The kids were playing outside in the snow and one of them ran in and said the neighbors dog was chasing a guinea. I ran outside with bb gun in hand and seen the dog chasing the guinea through the field. There were three others up on the top of barn having a fit. I shot at him a couple times with the bb gun but it didn't do any good. He still killed one of my white guineas.

This is a different dog than the one that killed the guinea the first time I let them out. This is some sort of lab mutt. I think it might have a bit of bird dog in him too! I went to put the rest up and got all the chickens except one up and there is still three guineas out. I hope he doesn't come back but I don't think I can get the guineas or the chicken up now. I hope they don't freeze to death tonight.

Happy White Birthday Colton!!

"Hey Emma, Let's Play Snow Tackle!"

"Wee, the swings are so much funner in the snow!"

"Yum, Just don't eat the yellow snow, Colton!"


"Happy Birthday to my big nine year old"



"Do you see what I see?"

Wow I can't believe my baby boy is nine years old today! It doesn't seem possible at all. He was so upset this morning because I was going to take him and his friend to the movies and out to eat for his birthday, but couldn't go because of the snow. I told him most kids love to wake up and see snow outside especially on their birthday but he was still upset. Emma was mad too because she was going to stay with Grandma today.

They got really happy when I agreed to let them play outside for a little bit. When they came inside frozen like little ice cubes we all enjoyed a delicious cup of homemade hot cocoa. A perfect treat on a beautiful snowy winter day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy lots of good food and time with family! Remember the ones that don't have family or friends to celebrate with this year and remember our troops and their families today.

I'm getting ready to go to our second Thanksgiving meal and we will have another with my family tomorrow. I love this time of year, getting to spend time with all of my loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Is It Friday the 13th Again!

I decided to tackle my mountain of laundry (that I have been avoiding all week) this morning. Well it didn't happen. I loaded my washing machine full of dirty clothes and turned the dial and pulled it out and nothing...nada..zip. It didn't make a sound, no water, no humming, nothing at all. I checked the breaker, I made sure it is plugged in and the water is turned on. Still nothing. Now all I can do is wait for Travis to get up and see if he can do anything to it. I so do not want to have to buy a new washing machine now so close to Christmas. I did run it yesterday and it worked fine. I sure hope its nothing major:( I need the Maytag man now!

Piles of Fun!!!

The kids made some leaf piles a few weeks ago and had a blast playing in them with Chi-chi. It was almost dark outside so the pictures are really dark. Its amazing how leaves can be so much fun!!!