Happy Halloween!

Since Mackenna was one, we have taken her (and now Caleb) to our favorite apple orchard and pumpkin patch for photos in her Halloween costume.  I am so glad we do this early in October because it means we don't have to worry about settling down excited trick-or-treaters for photos before we hit the streets tonight!  Anyway...this year we have Rapunzel and a monkey...the monkey was supposed to be Curious George but we had a hard time finding a CG costume that would fit.  Happy Halloween...from our house to yours! 

Happy Valentines Day!

We've been talking about Valentines Day lately with Mackenna who is three.  To put it simply, I've told her that it's a day for us to celebrate the people we love.  We call those people our valentines.  Want to know who Mackenna's valentine is this year?  If you ask her, she says her "piggers"...her bedtime lovey.  :)  I know that some day (which will no doubt come too soon) she'll have a "real" valentine...some boy who has captured her heart...so for now, I love that her valentine is her piggers.  :)  Happy Valentines Day! 

Christmas Cookes

Christmas cookies are definitely a tradition on my husband's side of the family.  It's his grandma's recipe...simple not-too-sugary sugar cookies with sprinkles and some red hots.  Everyone fights for the ones with the redhots.  :)  This year, Mackenna got to help her grandma make these famous Christmas cookies and here are some photos I took while the two of them were working together in the kitchen. 

Gingerbread House--A Christmas Tradition

It's alright to blog about Christmas things in January, right?  I hope so because I've got a bunch of fun images to share!  Last year we made a gingerbread house with Mackenna.  She was two and mostly enjoyed sneaking candies and frosting into her mouth rather than actually helping to decorate.  This year was different...she really enjoyed decorating the gingerbread house, and rather than sneaking candy she used her very best manners to ask if she could sample some.  :)  I'm sure this will be an annual tradition for our family.  Here's a sampling of the gingerbread fun we had:

Santa Baby--Caleb @ 7 months

We're at seven months now with Caleb.  He's still got just one little tooth.  He's doing pretty well sleeping through the night although he still likes to call a 4am meeting every once in a while.  He isn't really a great eater (although you can't tell by looking at him), but we're working on that.  His latest trick is bouncing with a smile and a hum when we say, "dance, dance Caleb."  Love this little guy!  Isn't Christmas a little more magical when you celebrate with a baby?  :)  Merry Christmas!

Apple Pie

I have lots of fun pictures to share from Thanksgiving, but thought I'd start with these fun ones of Mackenna helping to make our apple pie.  My mom brought up this cute apron and hat which totally makes these pictures as cute as they are! 

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

We're hosting Thanksgiving this year...for those of you who know me, you're probably a little worried about what my poor guests will be eating.  No need to worry...I did the grocery shopping, but am not all responsible for the cooking!  Whew!  :)  Anyway, since we're hosting, and since Mackenna is in the information-sponging age of 3, we've been talking about it and preparing for Thanksgiving for a while now.  Thought I'd share a few of the things up around our house today!  Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

I got the inspiration for this wreath from Pinterest...here is the website if you're interested in doing this super easy, quick, inexpensive project: http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/tricks-treats-autumn-fabric-wreath-by-elise-blaha.html

I used the leftover fabric scraps to make this garland for our mantle.

We're using this calendar at home to help Mackenna with her numbers and days of the week.

Isn't this cute?!  MJ painted a small paper plate brown, we glued feathers to the back, made feet with pipe cleaners and added the finishing touches (hat sticker & googly eyes).

Mackenna knows all of her uppercase letters, so I made up this activity to help her match the letters she already knows with their lowercase versions.  (She calls them baby letters.)  Painters tape, index cards, plastic baggies, a sharpie and a pair of scissors...will have to do another word after Thursday!

Love this one too...I painted MJ's hand, then she stamped it down on the paper.  We made Thanksgiving cards with this handprint turkey for relatives that we won't see for Thanksgiving this year.

I found this idea on Pinterest as well...it's our Thankful Tree.  Each night after dinner we talk about something(s) we are thankful for, write them down, and then hang them on the tree.  This will probably become an annual tradition.

Found these printables on Pinterest.  You can find them here: http://adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com/search/label/Printable

Another use for some of the leftover fabric strips from the wreath.

This turkey we found in the dollar spot at Target!  A fun, sticker activity for a buck!  :)

And of all the things I'm thankful for this year...this one takes the cake.  In the midst of trying to juggle life and all the amazing things God has blessed me with (kids, marriage, photography, family, friends, home, etc., etc.) it is His grace that amazes me the most.  I am not perfect in anyway, and although I sometimes think I ought to be, I am very often reminded that I am not.  :)  And that's ok.  God's grace covers a multitude of sins...I am thankful for that.  If you don't know about the grace that God offers to all (including you), please ask me about it.  I'd love to tell you how grace has changed my life.  :) 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Stacey

Super Kids--Halloween Preview

Mackenna wanted to be a pink dinosaur for halloween.  I scoured the internet and found zero pink dinosaur costumes...and I wasn't about to try and make one.  As I was looking for other ideas on etsy, I came across this personalized super hero cape and knew it would be a hit.  Super Mackenna's cape and mask came from a lovely vendor on etsy, her shirt, outfit, and Caleb's "costume" were created at about midnight the evening before we went to the pumpkin patch!  They turned out pretty cute, didn't they?  Here they are...Super Mackenna and her sidekick, Super Caleb!  :)