ChRiStMaS cOuSiNs!!!

and BrOtHeRs!

My brother and his family came home for Christmas, it's been a blast having the cousins together and spending time with his family. I love it, even when it's CRAZY!!!

take 1...

and take 2...

Youngest to oldest...

Abram 5, Kamiryn 7, Ethan 8, Cassie 8, Madi 9, Caleb 10, Elle 12 & Miranda 13.

My wish is to someday have ALL my siblings home for Christmas...hear that brothers!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.

PiAnO

Ethan has been taking piano lessons for about a year now. He started in the fall of 2009 and struggled. I think part of it was his age and the other part was his lack of reading skills. So Last January he quit and we decided he would pick it back up in the fall of 2010.
What a HUGE difference a year has made. His reading skills and LOVE for reading have made all the difference in his piano playing ability. He LOVES the piano and loves it when I sing for him while he plays.
Ethan was blessed with the opportunity to play some prelude music for his school Christmas program. This was his first time playing for anyone other than his teacher or family and he was really, really nervous. He chose "Away in a Manager" and "Jingle Bells" and did an AMAZING job! He made us proud and thankful that our piano lesson payments are paying off.
Keep it up Ethan!

Merry Christmas to ME :)

This year I got all new stainless steal appliances for Christmas...

and New Years, and my birthday and Mothers Day...

and every other gift giving holiday my husband could think of...

I agreed that was OK with me!!!

this is what we had before...they were nice, all matched and worked. But...we came across an incredible deal on our new GE ones that we couldn't pass up AND I was able to sell these ones with one phone call. I was pretty darn excited!

Thanks Steven!!!

Christmas treats

Every year I bake Christmas goodies with my boys. I feel it's important that they know/learn how to cook, bake, measure and know that I really enjoyed these moments with them.

This year we made...

Christmas mice...

and cookie jars...even Steven joined in the fun!

I love all the help!

all done!

and Snowflake mix...

and cinnamon pretzels...

all our goodies...

All our recipes came from this fabulous magazine.

I told the boys I hope in years to come they will look back and remember our Christmas baking days and smile and hopefully do it with me and theirs kids...because you KNOW Grandma Salena WILL be baking with her grandkids!!!

Merry Christmas!

6 months ago today...

Our bedroom went from...

to this...

our dining room looked like this...

and today...

our bathroom went from this...

to this...

Our living room went from this...

to this...

I am happy with all the things we've accomplished in 6 months.

We still have so many more projects we'd like to get done though...all in time.

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree

how lovely are your branches...

What we're thankful for...

Each year, after we pray for our Thanksgiving feast we all go around the table and say what we're thankful for...this year a new rule was implemented...you can't repeat any one else's Thankfulness AND my mom got to chose who went first, next and last...
Derek-Our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Mom-warm houses, good food and healthy families.
Kamiryn-pink <----such a girlie girl.

Abram-his dog, Charlie
Madison-peanut butter
Ethan-FOOD
Lloyd-family and friends
Danelle-books
Me-our health this year, yah for no hospital visits!!!
Miranda-Rue(a deceased book character)
Steven-his beautiful wife...no really, his job and employment.
Dad-prosperity, wealth, health...and so on and so on and so on...
Heather-after about 2 minutes of rambling discussing, it was finally said...TEXTING! :) I love it!

This is a fun family tradition that we do every year. I love it and am so thankful for my family. After some of us cooked, while others watched football, ate and cleaned up, we played a family game of Cranium. 3 teams: Mom and Heather, Miranda and I & Steven and Danelle. S&D were whipping butt...until...my mom and Heather, out of no where, WON the game! I have to admit...my mom is great at drawing with her eyes closed...much better than guessing what Heather is acting out! It was one of the best Thanksgivings we've had. Then at 10:30pm, Mom, Heather and I headed out to WalMart to shop ALL.NIGHT.LONG! After 4 stores and out to breakfast we finished at 8am...we all agree, this is the way to Black Friday shop! Again, another "best" was added to the list of my life...I feel so thankful and blessed to have my family. Until next Thanksgiving, may your heart stay full and thankful.

I am thankful for...

my nephews...

This is Steven, he is Steven's sisters(Samantha) last baby. He is the sweetest little guy. He loved on me a lot. He was named after his Grampy and I'd also like to think after his Uncle :)

This is Noah, he is Samantha's middle child. I got to see him come into this world, I helped his mama all through her labor, I cried when he was born, it was an amazing experience I am thankful to have shared with their family. Noah reminds me a lot of Abram,

he's got a special spot in my heart.

Joshua Dane...the nephew I never got a chance to meet. He was my sisters first born son. He would have turned 16 this year...16!!! Every year my sister does a balloon release in his honor...we named our first born son after hers, in his honor...Ethan Joshua.

Nathaniel is my younger brothers new baby. He is a honey and looks like his mama...I haven't got to meet him yet but was on the phone when he was born. I loved that!

And Caleb...my older brothers oldest boy. I was "suppose" to be at his birth, went through every childbirth prep class with them, baby showers, all of it and the little man decided to come 3 weeks early while I was in Minnesota visiting my sister...I was very upset I missed it. He is a handsome, almost 11 year old. He gets to spend part of the summer with us...

My boys love having him around.

I am one blessed Auntie!

I am thankful for...

my nieces...

I am blessed to have lots of little and not so little anymore girls in my life...

This one, the not so little anymore, is the one who made me an Auntie for the very first time...

I got to see her come into this world and announce her gender :)

Miranda

and this one, Julia, is my youngest brothers first born beauty!

I don't get to see her enough.

and this one, Ella Bella blueberry is Steven's sisters first born. She is ALL girl and she loves me :)

She is moving to MN in December and

I can't tell you how excited I am to get to see her more often.

Madison is my sisters 3rd child and my sons very best friend. I am thankful for her!

She LOVES dogs!

Oh this girl, she's almost as tall as me and likes to lick me!

Cassie is my older brothers 2nd born, she gets to spend a few weeks with us every summer...how lucky are we?!

Oh, there she is again and wearing make-up! NO! I am NOT ready for this!

See...she's gonna pass me up, I know it!

Oh Danelle, my sisters 2nd daughter is going to invite me to come stay with her when she goes off to the big city for college. And she prefers to be called Elle these days, which I just love!

Oh the baby, Kami or as I like to call her crazy KZ. She plays the last born all too well.

She is my sisters baby and she's pretty darn cute!

I am thankful for all of these girls in my life.

I am truly blessed.

I am thankful for...

the many beautiful woman in my life.

Mothers, sisters, best friends and special girlfriends...

all who have made an impact in my life.

I am thankful for them all.