Fabulous Christmas!

Wow, we've been busy around this house! 2 weeks off with the kids at home, never a dull moment.

Let me share some of our activities. The kids together at my parents house on Christmas evening. It was pick your own pose.

Our annual tradition of mass on Christmas Eve.

We visited Six Flags and had a great time!

We put together a huge puzzle in 4 days! The kids did a great job and had a ton of fun.

An Early Merry Christmas

I've been MIA in the blog world a bit. We've had a lot going on.

I wanted to share our Christmas Card family photo. My good friend Adrien at APM Design Photography took our photos. I've known her since we were in 9th grade!

Here's my oldest daughter Kate, she's the baker of the family.

The holidays are busy times for our family of 6. So I'm slacking a bit in the blogging area. I've enjoyed reading so many holiday posts and home tours. Where's mine? Well this year we are doing things a bit different. We waited until last night 2 weeks before Christmas to put the tree and decorations up.

Why? We decided to truly experience the advent season, the preparation for Jesus birthday. We started some new family traditions. Last night we had a blast putting up the tree, jamming to music, and making Christmas cookies.


If I don't get back to my blog until after Christmas.

I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!

What Time Is Your Thanksgiving Meal?

Thanksgiving is less than week away! Yippee!

I love, love, love to eat all the yummy comfort foods.
I need your input. We've had much debate around our home about what time the Thanksgiving meal should occur.



Growing up we had it mid-afternoon around 3ish. We pig out. The men would then watch the Dallas Cowboys game then hit some leftovers for later. Us women would head to Garden Ridge for their big 72 sale (back in the 90's).



So tell me what is your family tradition for the Thanksgiving meal. What time do you eat?

Christmas Fun

First of all, THANK YOU so much for your pregnancy prayers and wishes. It mean's so very much!

Your probably wondering how the kids took the "new baby news". Let me share how it went....

We were at my husband's family's house (about 20 people). Josh tells his Grandma in front of Will we are having another baby.

Will says "Well it better be a boy, because I've been praying for one for 3 years. He is now separating his toys for his baby brother.

God I hope it's a boy because I don't think he will believe in prayers anymore!

Little Miss however has NO idea what is going to happen. We said Mommy's having a baby and she makes the "Whaaaa.... Whhhaaaaa sound" pretending she's a baby.

On Christmas Eve we made cupcakes to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Then we got this unexpected incredible surprise....

SNOW!! REAL SNOW! About 6 inches of it.

We braved the snow and cold to celebrate mass on Christmas Eve. The kids were all dressed in their festive attire.

I realized in this picture Kate (12) my oldest looks so grown up! She's such a beautiful girl. Can you see her new bangs? She got a hair cut too.
Christmas morning after presents we enjoyed a couple hours playing in the snow.

My husband as always does a great job for Christmas. He blew me away when he purchased a Nikon Coolpix camera for me. I am still learning but hoping to do some great blog photos with my new clear camera!

Easy Holiday Pretzel Rod's

Last week I hosted our neighborhood women's annual cookie exchange. Well this year I kinda cheated I made chocolate pretzel rods instead of cookies but they were still a hit.

Here are my pretzels on the table before the other guests and sweets arrived.

Notice another chalkboard paint creation? I spray painted a plan plate so I could display it for occasions with a personalized message. Let me share how I make the pretzels..... Here is what you need.

I melt the candy melts in the microwave in a tall plastic cup then I dip and lay out on foil.
I put sprinkles on when they first come out. See I had a little helper.

Then I melt another color candy melt in a plastic bag in the microwave and snip off an end and drizzle.

This is my easy signature dessert or treat when I have parties or need to bring a dessert. You can change the color for different occasions. Think baby shower pink or blue with white dots.

Gifty Games

My friend Jenny found a great Christmas gift for well.... cheap.

Let me share what she did.

Toys R Us Hasbro Games

• Buy 7 for $3.99 each
• Use the Hasbro Rebate form and get $14 back
• Also qualify for a $10 Toys R Us gift card
• Total Cost 56 cents a game!

Way to be frugal Jenny! Thank you for sharing.

Tuesdays Tip - 4th of July Burgers

Check with your chamber of commerce for 4th of July events. If you live in a small town chances are you already know. If you are like me and live in a big metroplex with lots of suburb towns we have many options.

I am currently checking out firework show schedules, parades, and special festivals. Best of all the are FREE! Gotta love that :)

My favorite is grilling out on the 4th. Nothing says I'm Proud to be an American than a big juicy burger and ice cold lemonade.

Wanna make a great juicy burger? Add a packet of Lipton French Onion Soup Mix to ground beef and make patties. They are SOOOO good.

Happy Easter

I hope you all have a Happy Easter with your family today! For those of you who read my family blog I was a little worried Dude Man would be sick for Easter. We have a tradition (3 years running) of the stomach bug. Dude Man made a quick recovery so we are all heading to Easter church today! Whoo! We've broken the bad tradition. On to a normal one like going to church and hunting eggs.

Happy Easter from me and Little Miss! We got this free 5 X 7 at Wallyworld when we were grocery shopping. Sorry it was too late for me to post the freebie :( This Easter Bunny was super creepy. His eye was falling off and he sat really close to me. What can I expect it was free and it was Wallyworld.... right?

Our Frugal Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day! Our family is planning an evening at home. We are splurging tonight by ordering pizza. Normally we make our own but I have declared it a cooking break day for myself. Sometimes mom needs a break from the kitchen

We pre-ordered 2 heart shaped take a bake pizza's from Papa Murphy's they were $6 each! So for $12 minus the $2 off coupon I have = $10 pizza take out! So splurging and eating out is still FRUGAL FABULOUS!

For dessert my husband and son bought this lovely yummy cookie cake for me, but we will all share:

Hope you and your family have a great Valentine's Day! Give your loved one's some extra hugs and kisses today :)

Thrifty Thursday- Valentines Day

Valentines day is around the corner... here are some great frugal ideas for your loved one.

Couple's Special Valentine:

1. Custom Music CD- burn a CD with songs that remind you of him. My husband did this for me several years ago and put it in my car so when I started it our first dance song played from our wedding.
2. Plan a Special Date- at home or your favorite restaurant. My favorite is at home after the kids go to sleep or they are away. Pull out your china and candles. Spaghetti and Meathearts, instead of rolling meatballs into a ball use small heart cookie cutters to make hearts. Here is a great meatball recipe. Chocolate Cheesecake for dessert.
3. Love Bar- Write love note and wrap around a chocolate candy bar and seal with a sticker.
4. Valentine's Coupons- find some great printables here.

For the Family on Valentine's Day

1. Special Placemats with that Special Dinner- We decorate construction paper and get it laminated at the local teachers store for about 50 cents. The kids pull out the placemats each year and get so excited. (we do this for all the holidays)
2. Heart Cookies and Sweets- there is something very comforting about having cookies in the cookie jar we make cookies at least once a month. Let the kids decorate one for each member of the family then put the special cookies in personalized paper lunch bag for each person.
3. Coupons- make coupons for the kids: one free bed making, laundry pass, park pass. They can also make some for mommy and daddy: dish duty, hugs, and cleaning chores.
4. Handmade cards- get out the craft supplies and let your kids design their own special card for mommy and daddy. I keep all my kids special creations in a big box with their names labeled so that one day they can . Here is a great site for printable cards for your kids to color and decorate.

Still want more ideas.... this is my favorite site for family fun!

Today is the last day to enter the bow contest! Don't forget to enter!