Our family tradition is to decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving.   This year we will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Michigan, so the decorating will start this Sat. morning.

Brad and I have spent the last couple months thinking about what we want our Christmas to look like.   This Christmas is going to be a little different.  We have decided to join the ADVENT CONSPIRACY.

As a family we have decided to drastically cut back on our Christmas present spending.   Brad and I have will not be buying for each other (although I did buy him one gift before we made this agreement.)

We will still buy Chloe and Emily a couple small gifts and take the rest of the money to send oversees to starving children. What does this look like?  For our family, we will:

• mostly make/bake gifts instead of buying them
• spend family time making memories baking
• spend time picking out life giving animals for others from www.worldvision.org
• find ways to give back to our local community
• give money we would normally spend to www.compassion.org to help provide water to those in need

I love that World Vision has a gift catalog with pictures of what you can purchase.  It really helps the girls get excited about giving.

As you are shopping this year consider adding one more child to your list.  It is hard for us to comprehend but the gift of 5 ducks can change a whole families life.

I can’t think of a better present.

5 Ducks Anyone?

I did, I bought a cow yesterday.  A full grown heifer, this one will be grass fed and free from all the hormones and antibotics used in the meat industry.

Over the last three or four years I have been gradually moving toward purchasing organic food.  I try to buy my beef, chicken breasts, milk and eggs organic.

The least expensive way to purchase beef is to buy a side.  It actually works out to be cheaper than buying the “regular” meat at the store.While it cost more all at once, over time we end up saving quite a bit of money compared to buying the meat (full of antibiotics and hormones) at the grocery.

My parents are taking half and I will have the other half.

For those of you thinking, will she take the front half or the back half.  Neither, I will take a side of beef.  I can’t wait for my freezer to be full of good meat!  I call and let the butcher know how I want it cut up.  Steaks, roasts, hamburger, swiss steaks, stew meat, Yummy!

If you are in the Indiana area and are interested in purchasing beef let me know.

The novelty soon wore off.
Over a month ago I decided to add incentive to keeping the lights off.

Here is how it works:

• Each of the girls have dimes
• Each time they turn off the light that someone else left on, they get 10 cents
• Each time I find it on, they pay me 10 cents
• They can use the money they “earn” to purchase something small
• It was fun and Emily really got into it

Often they forget to ask me for the money, but a good habit has been formed and the bathroom light is usually off when not in use.

With my stealth like moves I managed to push the container to the side and for the most part avoid being frozen.   Not only did the water end up all over the bathroom but it also started an all out war in the house.

The girls were quick to come to my rescue.  For the rest of the evening we were chasing each other.  Girls against the one boy.  Emily and Chloe were so cute.  At one point we (the girls) were locked in my bedroom and they were using skype to try and negotiate with the enemy (their dad)  in the office.  He looked pretty scary on there.    :)   I should have taken a screen shot so I could put it up on this post.  

We all had a fun filled evening with lots of laughing, screaming and tickling.  Although it took the girls about an hour to settle down and fall asleep at bedtime.  Oh well.

So, are you a prankster and if so, what are your favorite pranks?

Growing up, we had a outdoor dog and barn cats.  I grew up spending the summers chasing them around and loving my animals.  My brother and I would pull all the blood engorged ticks off of our dog Shotzie.  I remember doing it but it never bothered me a bit.  I had stronger stomach as a kid.

We moved from the farm and I begged my parents for a sweet little indoor dog.  Finally my wish came true.  A beautiful white American Eskimo.  We named her Sammy.  She was a lot of fun in the beginning.  We soon found out that she had really STRONG hunter instincts.  Every time we would let her out of the house she came pouncing back so proud of herself.  She would find either manure or a dead animal and roll in it to cover her scent.  I remember many baths until I finally decided I didn’t want her anymore.  My brother volunteered to take over her care.
I think Sammy cured me.  I would be happy never owning another animal in my life.  I don’t like cleaning them, picking up thier bodily functions or anything else.  In fact just writing this makes me want to go sit in the corner and suck my thumb.  :)  Maybe I need counseling.  Just kidding.

Anyways, God gave me a daughter that is in love with animals.  She has a built in dog radar.  If there is one within 50 feet she’s asking to pet it.

Last week we babysat our neighbors guinea pig Tiny.  The girls fell in love with her and I have to say it melted my heart to watch them love on her.

This little fella would chirp back to the girls as the cuddled her.

It did something special for my girls and has me thinking.  Hmmm……

If anyone knows of a animal that is warm and fuzzy but doesn’t go to the bathroom, please let me know.  That would be my first choice.

Since Brad’s work is our primary source of income and his computer pretty much died, I didn’t mind giving it up during the day.  BUT he seemed to dominate it any time that I could  be online. 

I think Mac (my computer) is having some self esteem issues ever since Brad used her.  He was constantly frustrated at how slow she was and that she just couldn’t keep up with his “graphics.”   Poor thing, now I have her back and will take great care of her!

So that being said, I pretty much gave up trying to get online.  Brad has his computer back and is up and running again.    Mac and I are reunited!  Yeah!

VOTE!

Honey, I am so proud of you.  Each year you are just becoming more and more amazing.

I am blessed to have you as my friend and husband.

Each year that goes by you just get better, I love you so very much!  I would keep going but it may nauseate our friends.  So the rest will be in your card.  You Rock!

I believe in you!  Keep dreaming big!

I love you with all my heart!

Happy Birthday!

On my own, I would never try a fish pedicure, but if a close friend really encouraged or dared me, maybe.

But this massage, NO WAY! This would be pure torture, I think I would resume the fetal postion for an extended amount of time. Did I mention that I hate snakes?

If you are near me and I see a snake, watch out. I just might push you towards the snake. That would put a barrier between myself and the snake. This is my natural response I don’t think. I just do whatever is necessary to get further away from the snake. I know it is awful, I’m just trying to be real here.

So for those of you who like snakes, here is the Israel Massage.

Would you do it?

SWEET PEA EMILY!

MAKES ME ALL WARM AND FUZZY SEEING MY BABE TAKING CARE OF OUR GIRL

EMILY SHOWING DADDY HER FIND

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES, CHLOE HAD THE SERIOUS FACE NAILED

THATS MY GIRL

DAD PUT DOWN THE CAMERA AND HELP ME OUT!

DADDY AND HIS GIRLS

I LOVE MY CHLOBUG

BRAD PICKED THE PUMPKIN AND I BORROWED IT FOR THE PIC

IT WAS AN AMAZING DAY, MY HEART WAS FULL OF LOVE FOR MY FAMILY

AND THE MOST AWESOME MAN ALIVE

MMMM…. NOW IT’S TIME TO GO HOME AND SNUGGLE!

I have an extremely weak stomach, I run the opposite direction at the site of blood. If the girls are hurt and Brad is around, he is the one to tend the wound. I know, it isn’t good motherly instincts.

Last year Chloe stepped on glass and I thought I was going to pass out. I wrapped up her bleeding foot and called in Uncle Jay for emergency assistance and to decide if we needed stitches. I’m a wimp and I know it.

So it very much surprises me that both my girls do well with blood, cuts, needles and such. Last year my close friend had a c-section and Chloe wanted to look! I looked because I had to, that is what a friend does. But not Chloe she was all into it.

Grandpa is a diabetic and offered to give Emily a lesson in administering his shot. She quickly jumped at the chance.

Do you have a weak or strong stomach?