A White Christmas???

As much as I have been enjoying the awesome fall weather, I really would like a white Christmas.  It just wouldn't feel the same without some snow.  But it certainly feels like Christmas in our house, I love getting all the decorations out.  I get it from my mom, I remember as a kid every year helping her get out box after box of Christmas stuff and replacing pretty much all the decor in our house.  It was magical!  I want my kids to have that as well.  I'm still building my Christmas decor stash, but I'm having fun and I can't wait for the after Christmas sales!  Here are some pictures of our Christmas fun so far.

I can't get over how grown up he looks in this picture!

And just so you know, I plan on keeping all this up until the end of January! 

Busy Busy

Isn't everyone this time of year? Seriously, I have no idea how Christmas ever happened in our house while I was teaching! I have been so busy with all stuff Christmas related that I don't know how I ever got it done last year. How did I not have a mental breakdown? Have I ever mentioned how thankful I am to be a stay-at-home mom? (maybe I should change my title to domestic engineer). Anyhow, I've been busy with the following: making photo books and calendars on Shutterfly by sale deadlines, writing our family Christmas letter, assembling Christmas cards(folding letters, stuffing letters, stuffing photos, sticking labels, sticking stamps, gluing envelopes, oh my), buying presents, decorating the house, and wrapping presents. Bummer, it seemed like a lot more when it all needed to be done. And don't misunderstand this post, I'm not complaining about it all, I love doing all these things because I love everything about Christmas! I was just so eager to get it done that it seemed like a lot of stuff. In the midst of it, last week we had a little stomach bug go through our house. It was strange though, Rylan got through it in about 12 hours, Kenzie in about 20 and me in about 30. But then we all felt totally better, so I'm thankful for that. I guess this would be the type of stomach bug to get if something was coming no matter what.

We are all feeling great though, and ready for Christmas! The only other thing to do is the baking! I had so much fun with my first gingerbread cookies last year, I can't wait to do them again! Merry Christmas!

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Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for, but this year, more than anything, I am thankful that I get to be a stay-at-home-mom! Honestly, every day since school has started this year, I think about it at least once a day, how thankful I am to stay home. I did love my job, but with both kids in school this year, I seem to be busy all day and I don't know how I would do it all and stay sane if I was working. I'm so thankful that I'm the one to drop them off and pick them up every day. I'm so thankful that our mornings aren't rushed, which means we are all in a good mood. I'm so thankful I get to help out in their classrooms whenever they need me. I'm so thankful I don't have to worry about everything that goes along with sick leave and being a teacher. I'm so thankful I have such a wonderful husband who works so hard for our family. I will continue to be thankful every day because I am truly blessed!

For the Thanksgiving weekend, we headed out to the Ranch again to spend time with Nick's family. Despite my getting hit with a nasty head cold and spending an entire day in bed, we had a great time. The weather was beautiful, the food was fantastic as always and the company couldn't be beat.

We did a little horseback riding again and the kids got in on the fun too.

Nick and Mackenzie on Jack

Me on Bailey

A little switcheroo - Grandpa and Rylan on Jack now, Gramdma on Jake.

However, Jack and Jake are the old guys and they decided it was time to stop when we went through their pasture. So the saddles came off and Grandma and Rylan took a little cowboy break for a snack until the 4-wheeler picked them up.

We also did a little Christmas card photo-shoot that was successful!

And just look at this sweet niece of ours, she can't possibly get any cuter!

Mote Family Fun

We played lots of games!

Of course there was time to relax; what better place than on a heated, fur pillow?

Mackenzie was a ham, even in time-out!

We had fun watching funny YouTube videos.

The best parents ever!

The sibs, spouses, Sylvie and Lady

Family

Like I said, we were up visiting Rach and Andrew last weekend, but it was extra fun because the whole family was there. With work schedules, we aren't sure we will all be together at Christmas, so this was a perfect weekend just to hang out and have fun.

The guys, telling stories, then getting to work!

Rachel, Kenzie, Sylvie, and Lady

Taking the dogs for a walk

Grandma, Kenzie, Rylan, Uncle Spencer, and Lady

Kisses for Sylvie

Always enough snuggle buddies

Rylan, Mackenzie and Sylvie checking something out

Blast from the Past

Last weekend, we were visiting my sister and her husband and I found some old pictures on her camera that I had to have. Check these out from Christmas 2 years ago! Kenzie was only 18 months old!

Ace and Bathtime

But not bath time for Ace, thank goodness! I gave Ace a bath in our bathtub/shower once when I was pregnant with Mackenzie, and I am scarred for life. I will never give another dog a bath, EVER! But I digress.

Ace lives in our garage; our wonderfully heated garage, so he's got it pretty good. He has never liked dog beds for anything other than ripping apart, so we've always gotten him carpet pieces to sleep on. However, he has taken a liking to this.

It's the trampoline safety net in a plastic swimming pool, two things we have no use for and were going to throw away. The pool has a hole in it and the trampoline was demolished when it flew 200 yards to our neighbors yard in a wind storm. Nick had tossed the net, pad, and mat in the pool... just because. Ace managed to get the mat out and push the pad to one side so he can lay on the net. He must like the ventilation it offers, because he sleeps here all the time. So guess what, we're keeping it!

This next photo is what I found when I asked Nick to give the kids a bath. Daddy lying in the doorway reading the news while supervising.

He did wash their hair and make sure they were clean though, he was just multitasking!

Just Plain Cute

Maybe she will hate me for this picture someday, but it's just too cute. I love that smile!

Quite The Neighborhood

This is what I found in the living room the other day. I had to take a picture to document that Rylan and Mackenzie had been playing nicely together. And even though it looks like Penguin, Batman and the herd of dinosaurs are planning attack, I think it was a completely friendly environment.