december 10

 We woke up to more snow than expected and it was the good sticky kind. So there was snowman making, snowball fighting, even with mama, and sledding this morning. Everyone came in and had some hot cocoa and lunch. Then we spent a good hour listening to Christmas songs and coloring all around the table together. I do so love these quiet moments when all of us are just being together. 

The rest of the afternoon people spent doing their own things while I made cookies. Of course once they were done everyone emerged from their rooms to enjoy a tasty treat. Will said it was an unexpected cookie from me but was really delicious. 

Family dinner, books, a game for the big boys and off to dreamland......

pumpkin cookies

Issabelle spent  a Sunday afternoon making cookies with mama. She had such a great time frosting them and they were a big hit around here.  Little moments that I love.

lunch by izzy

Issabelle made lunch from her cookbook. Tiny tacos and a fruit and veggie man. She had tons of fun and was super excited that everyone ate her meal. Everyone loves helping in the kitchen.

cookie # 3

It was Izzy's turn. Giant gingerbread cookies. We had fun making them together. She loved rolling them in the sugar. I think they are the best looking. I am not a fan, since I don't like ginger, but the kids loved them.

cookie # 1

William had made the first cookies. A caramel chocolate thumbprint. It was a rather intricate cookie to make but tasted pretty good. He wasn't sure if it was worth all the hard work however.

daddy's favorite cookies

We have started a cookie challenge. I have this magazine filled with the 100 best cookies and one day casually said I would love to make all the cookies in there. My eldest son liked the idea the most and then all joined in. So far we have only made two. But the deal is that each child gets to make a cookie either with mommy or by themselves, since the two oldest don't really need my help. There are a few cookies that everyone wants to help with since they would be fun decorating. This was cookie number 2. Harkin had fun making them and rolling the dough in the sugar. He loved that it was one of Eric's favorites. Of course everyone had fun eating them.

in the kitchen

As always we are busy in the kitchen. Harkin is loving helping to bake these days, while Izzy is having fun making smoothies with her big brother and licking the spoons. Landon has been wanting to try out sushi making for a long time now. He got the extra push when we were completing one of our subscription boxes earlier this month. It was harder than he thought but he had fun and everyone had some. It was quite tasty.

new year's eve

We did our usual spread of fondue but this year we moved it to the table. It was fun but a little hard trying to reach all the different pots. Everyone's sticks would get tangle now and again. It was neat we could share this tradition with G & G. Harkin ate a ton and said this was his favorite dinner ever!
After a bit of clean up, we celebrated the new year with the littles at 7:00. It was 12:00 somewhere, right? Thanks Grammy for the fun party hats and lovely horns. Then they were off to bed and we spent the night playing games trying to keep G &G awake(mommy and daddy also). By 12:00 we were all ready for bed. The big boys wanted to prove they were up till twelve. Thanks Grampy for the clock. Welcome 2017!!!!

a day of making

Harkin, Issabelle and I had fun making yarn trees. I like the way theirs came out much better than mine. More character. I had said I thought this might not have been such a great idea and Harkin kept saying how appropriate it was for him and Izzy. He's a funny guy. They both did a great job. How wrong mommy was.

Landon joined in on the merry making in the afternoon with painting his own ornaments, while Issabelle painted her own creations.

Then Issabelle and I made chocolate goodness. I needed to use outside as our cooler. No room in the fridge.

It was a fun day of creating around here.

thanksgiving day

We had such a relaxing day at home. The two little ones and I crafted turkeys in the early hours, then we played in the snow all morning only to come into a delightful lunch - made by Eric. Then we had a quiet afternoon of naps and games. The kids went back outside in the late afternoon and built a huge snowman together. Eric pretty much made all of dinner. I only contributed the bread. He made ham, potatoes, and onions. William made cranberry sauce. And then for desert we had an awesome cheesecake made by Will. It was peaceful and all was calm. Just the way we like it. Thankful to be together.