Two Princesses

There were two princesses that wanted to celebrate a birthday.  So they were treated to having their nails painted and a hot chocolate/dessert bar at a local five star hotel.  They ate the most scrumptious desserts and drank rich thick hot chocolate, acted like princess and goofy five year olds from the first hug to the last. These two princess were happy and love being the best of friends!

*it is a true bummer that some of these photos are blurry!*

Happy Birthday dear Catie Beth Muse! We are so thankful for your first five years of life.  We pray you have many many more!

Lunch Outside in January

What a treat these last few days have been! Highs in the 60's & 70's are beautiful, unusual (but not unheard of) and great for January.

What the Kids (and we) Were Thankful For Over New Years

We had the blessing of dog/house sitting for a family over New Years.  It was wonderful to play with the kids for four straight days and be a family without the stress of errands, housework, MI work and other things.  

And these two photos show what the kiddos did for those days.  They played with the stuffed animals every. single. moment.

Thankful for this blessing and glad to serve this family!

And then sparklers to celebrate the new year!

Owen quote

"I love my apple cideger (cider) momma!"

I love that he says it this way.  :)

Katie and Owen quotes

K and I
- I was explaining to katie about wasting things like unrolling a whole roll of tp just to get enough to blow her nose is wasteful.  And then I asked her to repeat what I just told her.  Her response?  "You should know mommy, can't you hear yourself talk?"

Owen came running out of Katie's room.
"How many times I keep telling you I want to come in your room!  And she keeps telling me to please go out I need a few minutes.  Waaaaahhhhaaaaaa, I want to play in Katie's room." Total meltdown.  :)

A Katie Quote

"daddy, we can't give a gift that can change the world, only Jesus can.  It drives me crazy that people in the news always get Jesus wrong.  They get North Carolina right, but Jesus wrong.

John 3:16, God gave the gift that saved the world, not us."

The above quote was Katie talking to Daddy while they were out shopping.  The local radio station came on to say if one gives a gift to the station it would help change people.  Katie corrected their theology, only God changes people.  :)

Our Secret Elf Gifts

Another tradition we are trying to begin is the Secret Elf Gift Surprise.  Basically we get up on Christmas Eve and head out shopping with $5 in our pockets to use for another person in our family.  This year we headed to Target and Owen surprised Katie and vice versa.  It was really cute helping them find the right gift (one they would use, wouldn't be completely broken in one hour...) and one that cost the correct amount.  Then we snuck out of the store and each at different times hid our gifts in the car.  After we got home we hid them again and went on a hunt to find where they were hidden.  The kids LOVED this and it gave them something to play on Christmas Eve.  

After the kiddos found their Elf Gift we headed outside to play and it was bunches of fun!  We'd definitely do it again!

Katie gave O a new bat and ball and we played baseball for quite a while!

 I love these photos of our All American.  I couldn't just pick one. :)

 And O surprised Pips with a hula hoop!

She was outside practicing her skills to hula and found out she could use the hoop to also dance around learning some new moves.  And even today she has gotten out her hula hoop and used it for some creative play time.  Horses jump through hoops right?  :)

Love you creative bug!

Owen at his three year check up

is 32 lbs (50%) and 38 inches tall (50%).

Choo Choo-All Aboard!

What a fun new tradition to add to our holidays.  Thanks to pinterest and other friends for posting their Polar Express Christmas Light ideas we joined in on the fun!  

I have to admit that I didn't print or make any cute tickets...that we decided to do this last minute...but it didn't matter, the kids loved it!

 All Aboard!  The conductor will now punch your tickets, please!

 I love this photo!

 Love

 This outfit rocks!  Let's go!

 I also love these two of our sweet five year old!

 Isn't it great to see the tree and the twinkling of the lights with a handsome three year old?!

 Finishing up our treat with mugs of Christmas Hot Chocolate!

 Yummmmmmmmy!

While I took a shower...

The kids were feeding 20 kids that they had just adopted and were hungry. :) "It takes a lot to feed 20 children!". It does Katie and Owen!
But I am proud of you to serve your pretend kids and love them in this way!

Daddy's Secret Shopper

Daddy and Katie had some much needed time together over the Christmas holiday.  One of their favorite things was to shop for a Christmas present.  :)  Katie insisted that I needed purple running shoes and Justin was happy to buy them after listening to Katie's reasoning.  "Of course Mommy needs these, they are so colorful!"  So glad these Katie loves her Daddy! (and I do love my new running shoes :)

Chocolate Cookie Cheerio Peanut Butter Jam Cake

It's a Katie creation... Made all on her own for our dessert. The name of the dessert-all depends upon the taste (or the list of ingredients) :) It is made of 3 pancakes with jam in between, iced with peanut butter and topped with Cheerios. Then for the tower it is Moravian sugar cookies with Nutella between the cookies. Wow, we are in for such a treat tonight-thanks Pips!
And for the record she was allowed to make her dessert with whatever she could reach in the refrigerator or pantry. :)