Christmas 2016

After spending 4 weeks in Illinois, we were able to get Andy away for Christmas. Off to Richmond we drove…it was a looooooong drive, but worth it. Before we left, we made our gingerbread house from Granny. The girls love getting to decorate and get very creative. We are thankful for the tradition Granny started several years ago!

All three hard at work

The finished masterpiece…they wanted to know when they could eat it…ummm, never?!

After a full and long day of traveling, the girls re-united with their friend, Lindley. She's a girl in Mom and Dads neighborhood that the girls always play with when we visit. Its so fun to have a friend the girls love playing with.

cookie decorating

This Christmas was the Christmas of "game playing". I can't tell you how many games of Jenga, Connect Four, and Memory we played. the girls loved it! We also spent a lot of time coloring. 

a little uncertain of her choice in block

We had lots of visits with Caroline…which the girls looooved!

MC liked to play with the trains all by herself…she is our independent player

Annual Christmas Eve family picture…I think we are finally all getting to the age where we can look at the camera and smile at the same time…hooray!

after all the serious pictures, we let the girls go wild...

Mimi and her girls

Christmas morning was a nice and calm event. We opened up some gifts with Mimi and Papa, went to church and ate lots of yummy food. Thats my kind of Christmas!

Mimi and squirrels...

Santa knew the move to Illinois was hard on us "warm weather lovers", so he gave the girls bathrobes and slippers…they were a hit!

Santa sure has some cute little elves;)

Granny came down to visit for a little bit on christmas day. We miss living down the street from her!! It was so wonderful to see her!

Little Miss Caroline and Granny

Me and my girls

MC + coloring books = HAPPY

games, games and more games

"Hello? It's for you Caroline…"

this girl looooves books and especially when people read to her.

the navy triplets

We even got to see Will and family! We are so thankful they were able to make it up to Richmond before we had to leave to go home. The kids played so well with each other and we definitely enjoyed our visit!

the older cousins

the kids kinda paired off after we opened presents. Kendall and CS went off to play a card game...

The cousin twins played legos...

…aaaaand, these two went wild;) Watch out for everything when these two get together...

We had a wonderful Christmas with family! Now if only we could move Illinois a little closer:/

Pictures and Projects

 While the girls and I were in Richmond for Thanksgiving, we decided to get some portraits done. I have never been so pleased with how their pictures turned out until now! JC Penny's did a fabulous job!

 My three blessings

Alley; the empathetic, caring, gentle, inquisitive, tender hearted one

Kendall; the social butterfly, snuggler, music-lover, imaginative one

Mary Cate; the energetic, hilarious, independent, strong-willed one

 Along with a visit to the East coast, the fall and winter were very productive. Andy and I completed several projects and planned out many more. Here are just a few of the ones we took pictures of.

I made a chicken wire picture frame to hold Christmas cards on in the winter, "thanksgiving" notes in the fall, "what love means to me" hearts in the late winter….and I'm still pondering what to use it for in the late spring and summer.

We finally made a farmhouse dining room table. I am in love!!

2 benches were made for either side of the table. That way we can cram more kids and friends at the table:)

Our kitchen needed a bigger work space, so we created a moveable island. It has been a perfect addition to the kitchen.

I decided we needed an ottoman as our coffee table since everyone seems to be running in our house. I tried my hand at tufting…not too shabby, it works:)

Our biggest and longest project was putting up Board and Batten on our walls. It took me awhile to find the right grey for the top part of the walls, but I finally did! We labored hard and are happy with the final product. There are a few things we would do differently if we ever did this again, but all in all, it looks great.

I saw at Hobby Lobby a picture of a deer head on wood (whatever you call it!!)…it was over $50!! What?! Anyway, we had leftover wood from the wall project so I made one of my own. Not too shabby;)

We are having fun making this home more our style. You can never have too many projects;)