Cookies

While Grandma was here the kids decorated Christmas sugar cookies.  I have never made or decorated sugar cookies before.  After helping and observing, I now know why.  They are tons of work, messy and don't taste that great.  If I'm going to put forth the effort to make cookies they are going to be a cookie I or someone in my family enjoys eating.

If you look closely you'll notice the bite missing from Kellyn's cookie.  Several cookies were harmed in a similar manner during the process of decorating

Aric had the most fun decorating cookies and stuck it out with Grandma until all of the cookies were decorated.

Nothing says Christmas like neon food coloring.

Definitely not magazine quality decorating, but the kids had fun.  Hopefully they realize that mommy won't be doing this again and they will have to wait on Grandma to return before they'll get to decorate cookies again.

An Early Christmas Gift

Ryan's parents came to visit last week to celebrate Thanksgiving with us.  While they were here they gave the kids an early Christmas present.  It was a huge hit and I have a feeling we will be bundled up outside playing on it as much as possible.

Creative Play

It makes me smile sometimes when I see the toys left out after play was disrupted.  Where else would you find a housewife hanging out with a horse and a fireman...

...or an elephant driving the baby in a minivan...

...than in the mind of a child overflowing with creativity?

Change

...is coming.

Thankful

Today I am thankful for:

A loving God who never gives me more than I can handle.

A supportive and loving husband who is committed to share the good and the bad with me.

Two wonderful children who have truly blessed and filled our lives.

Family and friends who are always there for us.

To not have to work on Thanksgiving for the first year in quite a long time.

Wishing you a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving day!

Kinect

For his birthday this year Ryan received an upgraded Xbox that came with a Kinect.  Ryan uses the Xbox quite frequently, but the Kinect would go unused if it weren't for one member of our family.

We bought the game Kinectimals for the kids and Aric loves it.  He asks us to "play the tiger game" anytime he thinks about it.  Since he's quite active while playing the game, I don't feel like a terrible mother for allowing my three year old to play video games.

Things Heard Around Here

Kellyn: I want be a cowboy.

Me: No, you can't be a cowboy.

Aric: I want to be dressed as a biker again.

Me: No, you can't be a biker at church.

I do not want to squash my children's dreams or abilities to make decisions for themselves.  I want them to grow up and be able to choose things on their own.  In small ways we allow them to pick out their own clothes.  Some times Most times they don't match and look a bit silly, but they are always quite proud of choosing what to wear.  That being said I draw the line at wearing costumes out of the house, especially to church.  For the record I do not have any problem with bikers going to church or cowboys, either, for that matter.