~* A MoNtH EXACTLY! *~

Here it is, a month exactly to the day that I posted last!  aaaahhhhh!  I have had such high hopes of posting more frequently, but to tell you the truth I have NO IDEA where the month of December went!  We had a great month by far, but it went way too fast!  We started the holiday season out by making ornaments for our tree.......(which at this point I cannot find the camera card that I used for this event ;( )  They turned out so cute! I decided very early on that this year I was not going to worry about all the bulbs on my tree getting broke this year!  IF you remember from last year, between the cat and Ethan, we lost almost every bulb that was on our tree! lol  Ethan thought they were balls....he would take them off one by one and throw them! only for them to shatter on the floor ~ well, not this year!  We made salt dough ornaments and painted them.  The kids loved doing this and they turned out GREAT!

We had a wonderful Christmas!  To go through the whole thing would put you all to sleep, so I will let the pictures speak.......Our Christmas Eve starting at my mom and dad's with eating dinner! 

 Then the fun BEGAN!  Opening presents!

 Ethan opening a singing card from all of my aunts......with gift cards to SPLASH LAGOON!  Our most FAVORITE PRESENT!!! 

 Ethan sporting the naked look!  This boy would live naked if I let him! 

 This is the nativity that my mom started for me and is adding to each year!  I just love it!

 This is the boys's nativity......that sings Away in the Manger.

 Ethan fast asleep for Santa to come.....he passed out in the car on the way home from my mom and dad's!  He didn't even get to put the cookies out ;(  But he DID put his jammies on!  Thank goodness!

 Garrett getting the cookies all ready for Santa....Garrett decided this year that the reindeer liked candy canes?

 Garrett trying so hard to go to sleep saying "Mama I am so excited, I just can't fall asleep!"

 Fast asleep in no time at all!

 OMG, looks like Santa was here!

 A DRUM, A DRUM for Ethan!

 Magic Treehouse books.....Garrett's favorites!

 Christmas dinner at our house! 

 Kurt took Madison and Ethan out to play in the snow! 

 Then, more presents from Kurt's family!  The boys loved opening presents!!!!

Kurt's mom had the cutest hat that danced on her head!  Ethan wasn't sure what to think of it!

We had such a blessed day!  It couldn't have been any more perfect!

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them...'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!'” Luke 2:9-11

~* The Month of NoVeMbEr! *~

November is one of my most favorite months!  There are a lot of good things that happen in November!  This year was no different!  To begin with, my dad got a nice buck....the boys enjoyed going over to see it and play with the dead animal! Poor thing......

 Garrett's birthday is the next thing that happened!  Who can believe that he is 7 already!  We had a little celebration with Grandma and Elaine because they left on the Saturday before his big day!  We not only celebrated Garrett's birthday but my dad's as well!  He turned the big 60 this year!

 Putting puzzles together with Grandma .....

 Garrett was emotional about my Grandma leaving this year.  He is getting old enough to understand that it will be awhile before she comes back!  I am so thankful that my boys got to experience my 2 grandmas!  Garrett vividly remembers Rocky and for that I am forever grateful!

 I love you Grandma! .......

 Next up was our niece Shelby's birthday....she shares a birthday with Garrett.  She turned 18 this year and they had a Mexican themed dinner for her.  It was fun!  She has turned into a beautiful young woman!

Next up was Garrett's birthday party!  We let him invite friends from school to come to the bowling alley!  It was so much fun!  and no mess at the house, which was the best part! wooo-hooo!  His friends that came were Brett, Noah, Allyson and Kaitlyn.  Missy brought Josie and Abby out, which I don't know why I did not get one picture of Josie?!  Hunter and Tailor brought 2 of their friends and of course Madison and Allysa came too!  I think everyone had a great time!

To end his birthday celebration, we found a "7" sparkler at the party store.  Before he went to bed, we went outside and did the firework~!  He thought that was great!  Garrett loves playing with fire these days!

 Do you honestly think we need one more Monster Truck at this house???????

It was a great day!

The rest of November was great as well!  I had to take a few days off with Garrett because they thought he might have Whooping Cough, but as expected the test came back negative ~ thank goodness!  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with lots of things to be thankful for! 

To round out a wonderful month, I spent the day in Erie on Saturday with friends from Oakland celebrating Mary's 50th birthday!  I had so much fun catching up with them!  I miss them dearly, but sure don't miss anything else there (besides the kids, of course!).  We spent the whole time laughing and I didn't even take ONE picture! aaaahhhhhhh 

I think that is our November in a nutshell!  Get ready for lots of posts this month!  We are getting ready for Christmas at our house!  So EXCITING!

The LORD is gracious and righteous;

Our GOD is full of compassion.

What can I give back to GOD

for the blessings HE'S poured out on me?

Psalm 116:5, 12