december festivities

we have been busy this december!

selling  a house, juggling 5 kids and school programs, heading up an angel tree for our church, buying a car and having a delightful christmas

the kids made up a new game of spin the b.

no harm done.

one of our favorite traditions is cutting down our christmas tree. 

we had a great time. i think this was the first year we have had snow while hunting for the tree

 lots of happy kids!

 we found the perfect tree!

we also carried on the tradition that grandma sherry does.

gingerbread houses.

i think the kids loved the candy more than the decorations.

we tried our hand at homemade corn dogs (missionary request)

 turned out pretty tasty.

we also deep fried mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers. it was a carnival dinner

we also made a trip to a candy store where they showed how they make candy canes.

each of the kids also got to make their own. 

sad days! daddy's car died. we have had this car for 9 years. it served us well.

we got to go to a birthday party with friends

j got to have a frozen party at school.

here she is decorating olaf

sunday before christmas. 

looking pretty dapper

i got to go to b's preschool.

they had a fun birthday party for jesus

we got in some christmas eve breakfast at cracker barrel and bowling with friends.

it has been a busy december and have loved feeling the christmas spirit, seeing all the twinkling lights and enjoying the holiday!

NYC!!!!

the day before thanksgiving, corey got off work unexpectedly, 

despite horrible weather conditions, we decided to drive to NYC for the day!

road conditions on our drive up. it was slow going, except we were in the subaru and  didn't even phase it. 

we got into the city and went right to radio city music hall.

we gambled and hoped that we could get tickets for the rockettes christmas spectacular. yeah! we did! 

radio city music hall is one of the most amazing theaters ever. 

this is the chandelier that hangs from the ceiling 

 inside the theater

 ready for 3-d

it is a spectacular show.

words can't even describe. i'm so glad the kids got to see it.

we passed this fountain, the kids thought it was neat

 we also got to see the rockefeller plaza tree. straight from our little town. it was amazing!

 we finished the night at Ellen's stardust diner. complete with singing wait staff.

it was so fun

There are some amazing singers there.

such a fun day trip, despite the torrential rain, soggy boots and wet socks.

it was a great day with the older kids (minus G who didn't want to come)

i love NYC. never get tired of it. we were hoping to see the macy's floats being inflated, but it was so cold and rainy we decided against it.

we made it home safe, without having to use the emergency sleeping bags we stuffed in the trunk just in case.

i love christmas time!

thanksgiving

i got to visit b's school for thanksgiving. it was a fun little party. 

 love this cute little turkey

we had a great thanksgiving this year. 

somehow i managed to take not ONE picture. not one. total slacker

we had

appetizers-

little smokies in BBQ sauce, summer sausage and cheese with tons of crackers, cheese ball with crackers, relish tray, fresh fruit, yummy fiesta cheese dip with tortilla chips, peanut m&m's, and 

cheese puffs (kids request)

dinner-

turkey and cranberry sauce, potatoes &gravy, nana's stuffing, apples and pomegranate salad, raspberry pretzel jello salad, green beans and rolls.

dessert- super simple

pecan pie, berry pie and coconut cream pie

we had our friends, the fullers come over and 2 sets of elders. it was such a fun and relaxing night. perfect.

chocolate!!

a few weeks ago we had a rare free saturday. we headed to amish country. so beautiful!

we stopped at shady maple smorgasbord. yes my friends, a real smorgasbord. K was in heaven with his carbs. all the other kiddos were loving their slurpee machine.

 and of course, whip cream...dabbed with a bit of ice cream underneath 

 we then headed to this tiny, yet beautifully quaint town, called lititz. 

there was amazing architecture.

 It has one of the oldest chocolate companies there. It's called wilbur's. They make tiny little chocolates called buds (like a smaller version of hershey kiss)

 inside the store, they had these frozen sculptures all made from chocolate.

 we also made a stop by hershey. 

we loved their tree

 and of course took a spin on their free ride

 their fully edible gingerbread house is always amazing

 we will take one of each. amazing!

it was a great adventurous day!