Annual Gingerbread House Party

Hansel and Gretel would love to nibble on these fine houses.


We always have the time of our lives at Aunt Whitney's and Uncle Ben's house.

Love the Head Bobbles!


























The plan was successfully executed! Learning from last year we needed to built the frame and let dry. Then after dinner was time for the masterpieces to be built.




My boy is so Kissable!



It's wonderful to have family close by and develop the great love we have for one another.


























I cant have enough pictures of me and my Man.

"Dance Party"

It felt like we were really rockin out with Pink, Jonas Brothers and Corbin Blue himself!

My girls are spoiled with Whitney's yummy Christmas lollipop cookies.

Being LIke my Mommy

As far back as I can remember, my Mom has made homemade candy for the holidays. Her and her closest friends, like Karen Ferguson, Eileen Wilkinson would all get together and make an assortment of candy of the highest quality! Love and laughter were shared by all and as time went on families moved away; but those fabulous memories stayed.

Now this year my mom and I had fabulous memories for our own.

Candy is the ultimate indulgence. This pure homemade candy satisfaction is for candy lovers everywhere. Below is just a small sample of the mouth-watering old-fashioned homemade candy that became our family favorites.

Almond Rocha, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Chocolate covered Almond Joys and Chocolate covered Caramels) — the very thought makes my mouth water. I’m a big fan of candy, and I’m not ashamed to admit it

Polar Express Day

A conductor stood at the open door of one of the cars. With my pajamas I ran up to him. "All aboard," the conductor cried out. "Well," he said, "are you coming?" "Where?" I asked "Why, to the North Pole of course,"was his answer.

"This is the Polar Express." Sarah took his outstretched hand and he pulled here aboard.

The train was filled with other children, all in their pajamas and nightgowns. They sang Christmas carols and ate candies and drank hot cocoa.

As the Polar Express raced northward, you can imagine what the children saw. Lights of nearby towns and villages flickering in the distances.

As the children's tummies were filled with the warmth of hot cocoa, the conductor read them a little known story called the "Polar Express."

Porter too was happy to have a ticket and ride the Polar Express.

"Look," shouted on of the children, "the elves." Outside we saw tons of elves. Silver bells were ringing. It was a magical sound. Across the circle, the elves moved apart and one picked up Porter.


And Santa Claus appeared! The elves cheered wildly. He marched over to us. Taking us all one by one, we sat on his knee as he asked, "Now , what would you like for Christmas?"

Lydia knew she could have just one gift it would be a baking set.




What she wanted more than anything would be sidewalk roller skates.
A clock struck midnight as the elves roared their approval, Santa disappeared in the cold dark sky.

As Lydia and Sarah ended their adventure on the Polar Express, the conductor wanted to capture this moment with a photo.

Far in the distance you may see the sign of the North Pole.

This is as close to Santa as Porter will get.

Polar Express Day is nothing without making a Pajama Girl. Half the children are making Pajama Girls/Boys.

And the other half are listening to stories and eating candy canes.

Porter loves going to Rainbow School with me. Everything is his size. While I am doing the dishes, he is happily munching on a bagel with cream cheese.

I turning around and Miss Monica gave him his first orange. You cant tell by his face at this moment, but he ate both and loved it.

Spectacular School Week

Rainbow School week began with "Gingerbread Day!" Monday was centered around dividing the kids into tow groups and building gingerbread houses. Which Lydia and Sarah loved. The girls are ready to show of their MAD SKILLS to Aunt Whitney; when she hosts the gingerbread party. "The Gingerbread Man" was read while they decorated their own with thick starchy paint. And as you would think, gingerbread cookies with oranges were served for snack.

"Snowman Shop"

Every year at Rainbow School, the teachers turn the Kindergarten room into a Snowman Shop where all the children gather together their Christmas lists and go shopping. The morning of, all the girls were eating breakfast and talking about the fun they were going to have shopping for each other. And McKenzie joined in the fun and told them about the fun memories she had when she went there.

McKenzie had a great idea for gifts for her fellow classmates. A pencil/blue pen wrapped together and the tag saying "It's a great day to be a Lakewood Lion." As you can see her school colors are blue/white and whenever her principal calls he ends the call by saying the same catchy phrase that was connected to the pencils/pens. McKenzie is very creative!

With all the hustle and bustle that comes with this holiday season; it was great to take time out and cherish what is really important in life.....children. As the whole school gathered in the cafeteria, each grade awaited their turn to show off their talent. The best part for me was when McKenzie saw that I made it to see her.

Right after McKenzie's program I made a dash to Rainbow School to see Lydia and Sarah's Christmas sing-a-long. This is Miss Jana with Sarah and Lydia. Miss Jana is the 4 year old teacher and she is definitely the favorite with all the children. She is goofy and fun and just gets down to the children's level; which they cant get enough of.

You can imagine the screaming in my house as Scott pulls up. Even Porter put down his cookie to run up to Scott with open arms.

Dad treated us all to A&W drive-in! It's great to have Dad home and the whole family together. As we where leaving the drive-in Sarah said, "Now I have two parents!"

Coming home

McKenzie has her own e-mail address and whenever she gets mail, it the highlight of her day. Being the best dad ever that Scott is, he e-mailed her this plane photo. All she could saw was WOW, WOW!

Scott was in Portland, Oregon for 4 days on business. What a view he had from his hotel room.

Being the Man of the House

It hasn't even been 24 hours since Dad left for Portland and this GIRLS are driving me BONKERS!!!! I need more testosterone in this house! Well, I guess a break will do.

**I couldn't help but think of that as I took this picture**

Family Fort

Our family LOVES forts. Daddy is the KING of making Super Spectacular forts in our house. Scott went to Portland on Sunday; so this is my version for a fort.

McKenzie is following in her Daddy's foot steps and making forts at an early age.

Kids at Work

Talk to the Butt cause the Face ain't listen!

Every day Porter and I go out side and throw rocks. And today we decided to put them in a pail this time. Hours of fun! Boys are so simple.

I had to take this photo. You tell me...doesn't every year start out the same way....Lights that DON'T WORK!!! I have memories, and I don't mean good ones of my dad and mom loving each other loudly about those darn Christmas lights. I think its a conspiracy that the Christmas light companies do to all of us each year. Scott was determined not to let the Christmas light company get our money this year. 20 minutes later they all work! TAKE THAT!

Having the kids decorate the Christmas tree the way they wanted is the best way to go. They are so proud of all of their hard work.

McKenzie was a big help untangling those icicle lights for Daddy.

What did doesn't like to climb ladders.

The finish product.