Marshmallow Snowball Fight

Let the battle begin!!

 Time out to make a "snowstorm"....

I couldn't quit get a picture of the marshmallows flyin through the air...

And it's back to the battle!

 Brother and Sister teams for this round...

That was SO MUCH FUN!!!  

The kids loved it!

February Scrappin Club

This is our page for February! We are using Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip and one other accent color. I will provide Pacific Point (blue above) OR Mambo Melon (hot pink color). If you want a different accent color, bring it with you! This page is PUNCH MANIA, Ladies!! If you look closely, the entire background is made with border punches and trust me, the picture DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE!! It is really cute! And all the other accents are made with punches including bitty buttons background. This page is one of my favs so far! Keep in mind, if you are doing a boy page, you can you stars, cogs, arrows (and yes, I have all of those!) to accent instead of hearts and flowers. But the owl... DID YOU SEE THE OWL??? CUTE! The owl can be for both boy and girl pages. One other thing----> ONE PICTURE GIRLS!! Mine is a regular old 4x6, but you could do a 5x7 if you had one. So, pick a favorite and bring it with you!

Santa Deliver's

 First, of course, is the stockings! Pure, unfiltered JOY.

 And then, it was on to the goods! Buzz Lightyear (and Woody) from Santa! 

Sydnie got Jessie and Bullseye (which can be seen in pic #9 and #11)

Pinkalicious doll for Sydnie from Cordel...

And Bakugan's for Cordel from Sydnie.

A "newborn" baby for Sydnie from GnG Howell...

(Cordel got a gift card to Gamestop from them. Nice!)

 rip!! tear!! WHAT IS IT??

 Painting supplies for Cordel...

and a pink mini-van for Sydnie! (Both of those gifts specifically requested...)

Oh my GOSH!! Mario VS Bowser Mini-land Mayhem?? Just what I wanted!!

 A Leapster?? No way!! Woohoo!

It was a good Christmas.

 Note: Picture # 4? Ya, that's Shane lounging on the couch. Hmm, maybe I should give him something to do... I know! I will have him take pictures!

Note: Picture's #9 and #13? Ya, that's me with my head cut off. This is exactly why you RARELY see me in pictures. I am the one behind the camera and for good reason, obviously! Perhaps it was my STOMACH FLU induced brain fry that I passed off the camera. Who knows? Hmm, maybe next year I should get Shane photography lessons for Christmas.

BELIEVE

Finally, after much preparation, anticipation, and faith, the big night is here! Let the magic begin!

We started off the night with our traditional Chinese Dinner at The Mandarin House.

 

 Duece, Teagan, Kleis, Sean, Debra, and Leonard.

 Grandma Udene, Cordel, and Storm

 Shane, McKenzie, and Sydnie.

Then, the Howells (Me, Shane, Cordel, and Sydnie) began a new tradition this year by attending the Christmas service with my Dad and Stepmom Kaye. As you perhaps learned from this previous post, Shane and I felt that we needed to do a better job in teaching our children about what Christmas is truly about and thought this was a good way to start. It was such a wonderful experience for us.

When we got home, it was time to open a few presents...

 One present each from mommy and daddy...

 

 and presents from Grandpa Monte and Grandma Kaye

Then, we set out cookies and milk for santa, and carrots for the reindeer...

and said good bye to our "Elf on the Shelf", Bernard...

Good Night, sweet ones!

 

The magic is set...

Will Santa deliver?

With gum drop buttons and everything!

We made gingerbread men this year on our annual cookie making day during the holidays! The dough was a little tricky, but we managed and not only did they bake up well, they were DELISH! Soft, chewy, moist... YUM!

Look at those sweet faces... Couldn't you just eat them up, too?

Grandma Kleis decorates the gingerbread man Cordel saved for her... ya know, the one with the broken leg? Cuz Grandma fell down the stairs? It only seems fitting... 

 

Isabel, Aunt Teagan, and Cordel get their creativity on!

Syndie is Mama's BFF all the way!

  

The end result? One huge mess, super cute Gingerbread Men and lots of sweet smiles!