fun photo friday

Fun Photo Friday

This is the post where I will be sharing all

the pictures I took on my iphone during the week.

I have been taking more and more pictures on my

due to the fact it is a lot more portable

and quick to pull out and shoot.

This is going to be a big post because I haven't 

done one of these all month!

Thursday

November 8

Every Thursday Cohen gets to come 

and play in the morning with us!

He loves to see himself on my phone.

I flip the camera around so it is the front

view and he will watch himself!

Friday

November 9

This weekend Michelle and I had a mini girl getaway

while Josh and Jordan had guy time at the house.

On Friday since they had Early Release I dropped 

Jordan off with Josh at work. They then went and had

lunch and went to see Wreck it Ralph.

Meanwhile Michelle and I had girl time!

 

Saturday

November 10

Michelle and I went to go get pedicures

and lunch before meeting up with Josh's mom.

The kids got to go spend the night while

Josh and I went out for my friend Karissa's 30th birthday.

Wednesday

November 14

Jordan no longer really naps.

I know he is 6 but he has always been

a great napper!

Some days he will still fall asleep

during his "quiet time" in his room.

Thursday

November 15

Another fun morning with this little cutie!

 

 

After school on Thursdays I also have my 

other two nephews Josiah and Eli.

Josh started church basketball league so they got to 

come along with us and "watch" the game.

They spent the first have on the ipad and DS games.

Then I made encouraged to go run around and play.

Saturday

November 17

Josh getting photo bombed by a friend

at a wedding we attended.

                       

Tuesday

November 20

Finally after years of wanting and dreaming 

about a photo wall I have one!

I have had the pictures in frames for months.

Finally I just told Josh lets do it and he did!

It makes me smile all day long looking at it!

Sunday

November 18

Michelle got baptized at our church!

Thursday

November 22

Thanksgiving day!

  

Friday

November 23

We spent the day recovering from Thanksgiving.

We had Jordan's favorite kind of day.

A pajama snuggle day!

Michelle has been practicing fish tails on a ton on my hair.

She loves to take a picture so I can see it.

Saturday

November 24

Finally dragged out the Christmas decor

and got started on decorating.

Still waiting on a tree for the corner of

the living room to finish it up.

 Wednesday

November 28

Cohen got to come an extra morning this week!

I just love having this little guy.

He loves to play and explore the house.

He stays very busy but rarely gets into to much mischief.

I love it when he crawls over and pulls himself up on my leg.

I look down and he smiles up at me.

I pick him him and cover him in a bunch of kisses.

After that he usually ready to escape and get back down.

  

  

This week my nephews Josiah and Eli also came after school on Wednesday!

I thought it would fun to take them for donuts.

All three boys always have so much together.

The three of them together is always a wild, loud, and filled with laughter fun!

I also tell them they have magnet hands because 

they are instantly attractive to one another.

I love that they get to spend so much time together!

I may be pulling my hair out but they are having the time of their life!

Thursday

November 29

Cohen got to come back again this morning so my sister

Jana could run some errands!

   

                                       

   

Advent countdown activities

I love this time of year!
I love the traditions we have started
and get to do year after year.
One of those is our advent countdown activities.
Here is a look at how we countdown to Christmas.
read my post here on how I put our countdown tins other.

When it comes to planning the activities for

the month I find it helpful to print out a calendar

so you can see what day of the week activities will

work best on. Also you can check to see what else is

going on. I also keep this with my day to day calendar so 

I can look ahead to prep for activities as needed.

Every year I keep a few of the activities

that have become fun family traditions for us.

This year like most years we are pretty busy.

On top of all the usual life busyness

it is my 30th birthday this year!

My husband and I are taking a mini getaway just

the two of us to Whistler!

That took away four days in which we are able to 

do the activities I had planned.

Luckily I was able to fit them in 

on days I knew we would be home.

Some days as you can see on the calendar may 

have more then one activity going on.

Below is what my calendar looks like.

After I come with a list I type 

them up on word, print them, cut them into strips,

and put them in the corresponding number tin.

Here is the list I came up with for this year.

I always include jokes with a candy for days I know

we will not be home.

Also I like to fit as many Christmas movie nights as we  can 

including a movie night with the cousins.

Chop down and decorate our Christmas tree

Lighted Christmas Parade

Make peppermint crunch milk chocolate cookies
together and watch a Christmas movie

Christmas movie with candy cane ice cream
{with brownies would be yummy!}

Pizza and movie night


Candy cane marshmallow pops for hot chocolate
and watch a Christmas movie


put together and decorate gingerbread house

Decorate sugar cone trees

make pretzel kiss treats together
and fill out letters to Santa
{for fun and the scrapbook}

Play would you rather
Christmas style with the cousins

picnic dinner by the tree
with candles

Gardner Family Christmas Party
{candy too}

Make a giant picture together

Make Christmas gifts for the kid's teachers

Sleepover by the tree and watch Christmas movies
with the cousins.  Something new this year I am
added a snack store that they can "buy"
snacks for the movies!

Christmas minute to win it games
I took ideas I thought
would be fun and easy for all family members
found here and here

write a Christmas story together

On three days we will have a joke with candy.
Here are the jokes.

Q: What do you get when you cross an

apple and a Christmas tree?

A: A pineapple!

Q: How do snowmen greet each other? 

Answer: Ice to meet you!

Knock knock!

Who’s there?

Snow.

Snow who?

Snow use, I have forgotten my name again.

Christmas Eve every year we read the Christmas

story from the Bible and the kids get new jammies

On Christmas morning we will have our traditional coyotes for breakfast. 

 I don't know the actual name for this meal that is what we called it growing up. 

 It is fried bread dough and then you can eat it with powder sugar, jam, or syrup.

If you enjoyed this list and would
like to see previous years check them out!

2011

2010

2009

To see some photos of the activities in action
you can view some of them here.

Advent Calendar

This is my 4th year putting together an activity

advent calendar for the kids!

It is something they look forward to every year.

I love coming up with new ideas each year.

There are a few that have become traditions that  we do each year too.

First off this is how I put together our activity calendar.

1. I went to Micheal's and bought 

{with a 40% coupon of course}

a tin favor kit.

2. I printed up numbers that I attached with double sided tape.

3. I used a hot glue gun to attach magnets on the back.

{we bought ours on the fridge each year}

 4. After I have come up with my list

I type it up on Word, print, and cut into strips

that fit inside the tins.

5. I arrange ours into a Christmas tree on the fridge!

Super easy and fun to use year after year!

To view our list of advent for this year view post here.

I will also share links to the past 3 years if you need a variety of ideas.

happy thankful day

I have so much to be thankful for 

today and everyday!

I am thankful for God!

He has blessed me in more ways 

then I can sit here and type out.

I am thankful for my husband Josh!

He is my best friend, always there for me, 

puts up with me when I moody,

Always lets me know how much he loves me,

and works so hard to provide for our family.

I am thankful for my kiddos.

They do bring me so much joy!

I love their smiles, hugs, and

watching them grow into amazing kids!

I am thankful for my amazing family!

They are always there for us,

love on my kids,

and helped make me who I am today.

I will leave you with the cute thankful turkeys

I am made with the kids last night!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

blast from the past

i LOVE looking through old pictures.

That is why I take them right?

To capture the moment and memory!

So here is a blast from past Thanksgivings!

I just have to add that as I add these pictures

the kids are upstairs having a sleepover in Michelle's room.

I can hear Michelle reading to Jordan!

I am so thankful for my kiddos.

2001

Michelle's 1st Thanksgiving

with Buffy

2002

Michelle and Buffy again

2003

making green bean casserole with my little helper

{don't mind the look on my face}

2004

Enough pictures mom

I am ready to go

2005

A family picture!

2006

family picture

and 

Jordan's 1st Thanksgiving

2007

family

2008

2009

We hosted at our house this year

checking in on the turkey

2010

{see blog post here}

2011

{last years blog post}

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

i will share the kids thankful turkeys tomorrow!