a VERY random picture post

So when life and time get away from you, your blogs become LONG and VERY random...but at least it's here, right?!

We went to Chuck E. Cheese's with the Smith's for Eli's birthday. The kids had a blast

 Jeff wasn't able to join us, so my mom came to help!

 I finally got the pictures in the frames and put up! Yeah me...I LOVE THEM.

 Chuck E. Cheese pencil sketch pictures....cuteness.

 He wasn't sad, but maybe he knows what a dunce hat is

 Birthday party for Cooper Holley at the farm :) chasing chickens, petting goats, making goats faint, shooting bb guns...does it get any better?

 love these "twins"

 Charleigh and I had fun trying on all the hats in Walmart.  I took MANY, but I'll just put up the cutest ones!

 Lillian and Creighton having a dress up for their play date.

 Charleigh at Walmart....she LOVES Tangled

 Creighton, same green hat, different time at Red Robin :)

 New hat for Charleigh from Grammy. She LOVES it

 Jackson had strep throat and had to stay home.  We did this 150 piece puzzle. It was fun and although it took a long time doing it with him was just a great quality time thing!

 My crazy cowboy

 The girls LOVE to sing

 Jackson's backpack went to the trash and so we needed a new one. He chose this one! :)

 Mom brought gingerbread houses for the kids...they love doing it.

 Such fun times!

 Creighton's finished product

 Jackson, Brooks and Chandler!

 Random Reindeer.

 Creighton got a new coat! Thanks, Grammy

 Curls

 Bixby Kids for Christ

 Scary and hilarious all at the same time.  She was SO funny

 Staff Christmas party was a Murder Mystery. Only Jeff and I looked like fools. I was the mental person who liked wearing costumes (like a oompa loompa) to work.

 2011 staff and spouses at NBC :) John and Missy Kanady, Todd and Jessica Eubanks, Stephanie and Danny Kern, Terry and Monica Langenberg, Jeff and Courtney Berg, Matt Fowler, and Phil and Carol Sallee.

 Creighton had her Winter PreK program at school. She did a GREAT job.

 Charleigh is so cuddly with Jeff in the mornings!

 Creighton's preK class during their program.

Food and Crafts...or crafts with food

This is completely random. But I saw that a few of the many times I've been creative lately I (or Jeff) have taken pics! For posterity sake I'm posting them here.

 Stuffed peppers...they were yummy, and even the kids ate the stuffing (not so much on the pepper)

 decorating Charleigh's cake :)

 Thanksgiving treat we did at Gramma Debbie's!

 Saw this on Pintrest and happened to have all the ingredients...it was super super yummy!

 Very very very messsy

 and a whole lot of fun

 I love making this soup. It's Minestrone. Our family has an inside joke and we call it Mine Strone. (like rhymes with Fine Lone) Anyway, it makes me feel super healthy and the kids will eat it too! :)

 Made two pies for Thanksgiving dinner and also made Twice baked potatoes but I guess they weren't cool enough to get a picture....but everyone loved them!

 Busy elf I made a TON of pretzels

 Dipped oreos...SUPER DUPER YUMMY

 And although I do not have a picture of the final product, Creighton took a picture of the middle of the old fashioned Hard Candy...CINNAMON. I love love love this stuff and I only make it at Christmas time and it's so pretty. I make it in red and green, and dust it with white powdered sugar....It's divine!

so completely random, but hey, whatever....

A little Christmas Cheer

Man do I ever have so much to be thankful for! 

God is good to us. Oh so good.

 I have three perfectly beautiful and healthy children. 

 I have an amazing husband who diligently put up the Christmas lights on the tree and helped "fluff" the branches with me. 

 We have a nice cozy warm house (well at least it is now that the heating guy came and fixed the heater!)

 I have a full belly and food in my fridge. So does every person under this roof. 

 I have a heart full of love and feel thousands of love from all the people we are blessed to call family and friends

 But most importantly I have a Savior whom we celebrate this season. He loves me even when I am unlovable. He forgives me when I am unforgivable. He holds me when I am lonely and sad. He is there for me in ways that NO one on earth can come close. He is my best friend and I am His. He chose me. Like seriously, on purpose, chose ME. 

 My heart is full. Hopefully my cup will begin to overflow again. I am thankful for those whose cups 'ranneth' over for me when mine felt empty.

 I love nativities. I have since I was little. I have 7 up this year. It happens to be the perfect/complete number. I think mine are perfect :)

 The kids love love love playing with theirs. 

 It delights my heart.

 Seriously. I think it does hers too!

life is hard, but i am thankful for moments