My helpers!

I have been making a few batches of cookies here and there for the holiday's...

and of course my children think they need to help. It is hard to find things they can do without

a lot of supervision.

Here is a job they really like and they are really good at it...unwrapping candies!

They really do it!! These girls will unwrap them and not eat any until I say they can at the end.

They have way more control than I do!

O Christmas Tree!

Well it was off to the Lion's tree lot to find a Christmas tree this year.

This is only the second year we have had a real tree. I always had a real tree growing up, some even gave Charlie Brown's tree a run for the money, but they always looked great decorated. I really do like the imperfections and the fact the tree is definitely different every year!

Everyone was in agreement that this one would do just fine!

Yep there is one more in our gang. Ry was hanging with us in the morning.

Her and Kacy had gone to Christmas is for Kids down at our church.

The Boys with the tree, we did need to cut a bunch off the bottom,

our house it not that tall!

The girls had a blast weaving in and out of the trees.

Oh to see the world through their eyes!

Happy Halloween

Tonight we took Sleeping Beauty, a baby cow and a teenager out trick or treating!

Bret thought he should stay home and hand out candy, we thought he should walk the neighborhood with us...well that paid off for him, they still gave him treats! Luckily the weather was not horrible and and we enjoyed the hospitality of our neighborhood.

We then hopped into the van and headed down to Grandma Linda and Papa Geno's. Well that is were we stayed for the rest of the night, the kids played and ate homemade chicken noodle soup and the grown ups talked. We had fun! It was certainly nice having Halloween on a Saturday, I think people started a tad earlier and then they were home earlier!

Princess Aurora


Baby Cow....she was a riot walking around in her costume...... Once she finally got into it,

At this point Madi wanted to be in the picture, but not in her costume!

All bundled up and ready to roll!

And here are the Anderson's.....Handy Mandy and a Garden Fairy Princess!

Look who finally caught on that they give you candy!!!

Off to the Elden's!

The three girls!

Jr's Baby Shower

Sunday we had a shower for Heather and Dan. It was a smashing success with good food, lots of people, a new home and lots of great gifts! Lets just say

Heather has enough stuff for three babies!

On a downer note Mom was not feeling 100% and decide not to go...like she said any other year it would not matter, but this year with all the stuff going around she thought she had better not take any chances! Jr's room is John Deere, so that kind of set the tone for the day! Everyone enjoyed to chance to see their beautiful new home. And my kids did not stain the carpet or write on Uncle Dan's walls!!!

Here is their new home! It really is nice!

Everyone needs a profile pregnancy picture!

Heather and her Mom in front of the fireplace.

He better come out a boy, because we are boy ready!

This is actually a wonderful cheesecake!!! They are delicious...

Dan may keep her around just for that reason alone!

Great Grandma Grabarski and the Johnson girls!

I love trying to get these pictures, I am very glad my kids know who their GG's are!

Johns Deere?

One of three or four monitors she got!

The quilt Great Grandma Grabarski made for the baby!

The quilt Great Aunt Sandi made!

John Deere rack!

Birthday at the Farm!

Well Kacy was a lucky girl this year, she got to have two birthday parties! Since we were at the farm so close to her birthday and Nana & Papa did not make it SCF we got to have cake again....in fact we got to have Cinderella cake again!

Well at least Dad and Mom smiled!

Do you get two wishes if you have two cakes?

Nana and Papa with their grand kids....we will be adding one more soon!

Finally a picture where they both are smiling. Usually

one of them has their mouth open.

Kacy knew that everyone who was invited had already sent her cards,

but she was lucky enough to get a few more gifts!

Oh yes it became a pajama party for the little kids,

the Anderson's and Mark & Bret were heading back to St Croix tonight,

so once the pajamas came out for them, my girls wanted in too! The girls and I are staying an extra day after Heather's baby shower.

Trey Finally Visits The Farm!

After many years of asking Trey finally got the chance to visit the farm in Arkdale! Every time we come back from a visit to Arkdale Trey reminds us that he wants to go to the farm! The last time the Andersons were in Arkdale he was baking in his Mommies belly. Well, we finally figured out a weekend for the trip, it just so happened that we had to drive down in the snow Friday night, what would a trip be with the Anderson's without a snow storm! OK, it was not a storm, but it was very slushy on the roads! We are so thankful Saturday turned out to be pretty nice. The sun was shinning and the kids had that chance to get out and see all the sights of the farm...... I am not sure that they left any section unturned.......

Becky got quite an eyeful as well!

Here are our four farm kids riding a cow.....this really is the only way
Madi was going to get in the picture.

The majority of the day was spent splashing in the water, I think Trey was through two sets of pants before noon! And the waterproof boots did not keep their feet dry what so ever!

The girls up in Dan's combine.

No tractor rides where taken, but their was big talk by some little kids!

Bret looks pretty small next this tire!

Madi loves her "Baby Cows!"

Trey talking to the cows!

Yep, they even had to check out the hay mound! I am telling you they saw it all!

We hope the Anderson's had a blast. I know my parents consider them family

so they can come back and visit anytime.

Kacy's 4th Birthday!

Kacy was so very excited for today!!! In fact she has told me many, many, many times how excited she was, and that she could not wait for her party. Luckily I had done a lot of food prep the night before so we were able to get Ry so the girls could play! I was looking for some sort of distraction for her and maybe a chance for me to get the rest of my work done. I am amazed that she is already four! Most days she is such a big girl......then those are those moments that she acts like a 2 year old. Her Dad still has those moments too!

Kacy is all about the Princess's right now.....and after our 3rd choice at Walmart we did get an adorable Cinderella cake. This seemed quite fitting, since she had just seen Cinderella the weekend before at Disney Live.


Girlfriends!!!!
Oh for the love of girls!!! Poor Trey and Bret are so out numbered!

No this is not frosting....It is a party favor that Rylee's Mother just loved!

Shouldn't every little girl get some lip gloss? She even knows what to do with it!!!

Cousin Bennet enjoying the party!!! How can you not smile when you see this face!

Kacy was a very excited to open her presents.....

She is a very fortunate little girl to get so many nice things from everyone

As you can see from this gift she has not given up High School Musical!

She got two to this gift in fact.......

She needed a Barbie to put on her new Barbie Bike.

How can the devil look so cute!!! Now this is frosting!

This is her Dancing Dora.......

Aren't our kids loud enough....do they really have to make so many noisy toys too!

Kacy got her very own big girl Barbie Bike from Mom and Dad.

She is very excited to get it outside and learn to ride.....she says she knows how to peddle, but I have never seen her go very far.

Doesn't he look good in pink!

Kacy and Grandma Ruthie

The birthday girls in their matching shirts. Thanks Aunt Nene!

All set and ready to ride! Too bad the bike is still sitting in her room.

I hope it does not stay there for the whole winter!

Grandpa Mike, Carolyn, Miki Jo, Bret Madi and Kacy!

Thank you everyone for sharing in Kacy's birthday,

she had a great time and is already planning for next year. Bret is the same way,

as soon as one is over her is getting ready for

next year too!