Holiday Photo Essay

 Kamarie wanted to go look at Christmas lights, so we borrowed a friends van and piled the gang in! Spencer wasn't feeling well so he and Savannah followed in their car. He ended up spilling coffee on himself and they headed home.

Masyn was not having a good time in the car.

Crazy car ride.

Bundled up at Peacock Lane.

Samantha and Jordan

Silly family

Samantha pushing Emilia in Masyn's stroller!

Toilet Paper Christmas Trees

Cleo and Koen, so adorable!

Jordan, Nikki, Parker

Chial, Tyler & Calli

Chandler, Koen, Cleo

Kelli & Drea

Savannah, Emilia, Spencer

Lisa likes her eye pillow I made her.

Jordan, Parker & Spencer snuggled in their blankets from Aunt Lisa

Savannah's handpainted shoes from Spencer.

Amos and uncle Kirk taking a Christmas eve nap.

The stocking were hung by the chimney with care.

Mmmm, Candy cane for breakfast.

I didn't take one New Year's Eve picture, so I'm hoping that Cindy will send me some.  We had a great time with friends, Tayler and Aaron came into town to celebrate with us, Savannah and Spencer showed up late in the evening. We missed Emilia who like a proper teenager chose to spend the evening with her friends instead of family. Lisa and papa Don joined us for awhile and Kamarie and Jensen were the last to leave after a post midnight game of Bananagrams. I felt like a true grandma babysitting Masyn all night long. He woke up New Year's morning at 6:30 am! After a long snuggle and some breakfast we both went down for a long nap!

Oh wait.....I did take one picture before our NYE festivities!

Taking a pre-party nap on New Year's eve.

New Year's morning, Masyn saying "Cheese"

Happy New Year!

May 2012 be a year of  blessings!

She has her driver's license.

She passed her driving test with a 95%, but had to take the written test 2x. She is a good driver but I still don't like the fact that she can now take my car all by herself and go anywhere she wants.

I have a new man in my life......

Maysn

With that smile how could you not give this little guy anything he wants?

Thanksgiving 2011

Images from a Celebration of Life

Some days I just can't believe that he's really gone.

There are no other words to describe the feeling.

Chris Kent and his bible

The best friend of Kamarie's late grandma Kent, she read the poem that Kamarie wrote about her daddy.

140 purple balloons

Blowing up balloons

Kamarie and Kelli

Jensen, Emilia & Kamarie

Kamarie & Jensen with Pastor and Mrs. Trent, they came all the way from Nashville to support the kids

Savannah & Spencer

Savannah, Parker, Emilia & Jordan

My family.

MamaBaby Haiti Fundraising Walk

Savannah & Kamarie volunteering at the event.

Funniest picture EVER.

Savannah trying to imitate Korina (the cutest pregnant mama!)

Kelli & Korina

Volunteers

MamaBaby Haiti held it's 1st walk a thon fundraiser. It was a dry and cool morning, Savannah and Kamarie volunteered and me and Mario walked. It was a fun and successful event.

Holiday Giving

We try to find a project to do every year that will include the kids that involves giving to the community or needy children/families.  This year I was introduced to Operation Christmas Child. It seemed like a fun activity that me and Emilia could do together.  You fill a shoe box with toys, school supplies and personal items for a child. You wrap the box and include a small donation to cover the cost of mailing the box. The box will travel to another country and be given to a needy child.  I was able to register my boxes online, pay the mailing fee and print a bar code that will track my box and let me know the country that my boxes end up in.

Because older children have the fewest donation we decided to do an older boy and an older girl and we also did a younger boy. We found several toys and crafts for each box, as well as candy, socks, hair ties and hygiene kits for each child.  You are also asked to pray for the child who will receive your box as well as include a picture of yourself with a note.

It is too late to do it this year but I highly recommend it for next year.  Please visit this website for more information.


Another resource I found for Christmas giving : Willamette Weeks Give!Guide 2011
Many worthy organizations to donate to.

Halloween

Here is a fun idea I found online. 

Candy Corn nail polish.

1. Paint entire nail orange. Let dry at least two hours, but over night is best. 

2.  When nails are completely dry place thin strips of scotch tape over middle of nail.

3. Paint base of nail yellow.

4. Paint tip of nail white.

5. When paint is dry carefully peel off tape.

 I forgot to take pictures as I went along, so I only have this one of just before taking the tape off.
I didn't follow the directions completely because I did not let the orange paint dry two hours. I had intended to do the orange the night before but it ended up that I was at a birth. My advice: don't rush the process. When I peeled the tape off of my nail it pulled some of the orange paint with it and I think this was because the paint was not completely dry.

 Finished nails!

We took Koen to "Trunk or Treat" at church. He was quite shy at trick or treating but made an adorable Luigi. Mario took him around and there were lots of Mario & Luigi jokes.

 This was a particularly scary trunk. It was a mini van decorated in the back. There was a man in a mask hiding in the back seat that jumped out when the kids went for the bowl of candy. I was surprised that Koen still went after the candy.

Silly faces.