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I downloaded a new blogger app on my iPhone...trying my first blog post from my phone!

Winterset Christmas Parade

Winterset does a great little Christmas celebration every year. They have singing at the courthouse, snack vendors, pictures with Santa, and a lighted parade (the parade is SO short, it goes around the square TWICE...EVERY year). We have gone for four years in a row. I bundled the kids up, as we always do, and then realized it really wasn't that cold out, so they didn't even wear their coats :)

Had a hard time getting a good picture of them both...hmmm, wonder who they get that from?
:)
(Keep reading, down to the Zac Brown Band post, you'll know what I'm referring to)

This is the best I could get.

Yay, for Daddy being home for the Christmas Parade this year!!!
I think Papa was happy too, he opted to stay at our house and read his book this year...we couldn't even convince him by reminding him that they go around TWICE!!!

Seriously, upside down again!?!?!?! DUMB.

Randoms...to catch up November

Brynn wanted to be held the other day, but eventually I had to put her down so I could make lunch. I asked if she wanted Grant to hold her, she said yes :) Wish they got along this well ALL the time!!!

"Blessing Mix" I made for Grant's teachers at Thanksgiving.
I got the idea from Pinterest. If you haven't been to that website yet...go!! When you have about 100 hours of free time...it sucks you in with all kinds of cute things from recipes, to crafts, to fun kid ideas, to fashion and hairstyles, to funny quotes, etc.

The birthday cake I made for Lee.
Chocolate cake with peanut butter/chocolate frosting. PB and chocolate chips pressed into the side and Reece's Peanut Butter Cups chopped up on top!
It was good, but you need a BIG glass of milk on the side.

Thanksgiving at Wade and Steph's!
I'm annoyed bc I don't know WHY this picture is upside down????
I'm also annoyed because this is the ONLY picture I took!
Anyway, we had a wonderful time with great food. It's fun to see all the kids playing together...and the weather was so nice, we were able to be outside, without coats!!!

Homemade ice cream cake!
I made this for Tiffany's birthday because Matt had to work and she and Owen didn't have plans. Besides, I always love an excuse to try a new cake recipe. Another idea from Pinterest!

Zac Brown Band!!!

Zac Brown Band was in Des Moines on November 19, and we.were.there!
I thought it was a GREAT concert (Lee has to compare everything to his beloved U2, so he thought it was okay) and we had fun being out with our neighbors, Kevin and Liz. We've known them for 5 years and this was the first time we'd gone out with NO kids!!!! We ate at Dos Rios before the concert (Lee doesn't like Mexican food or Dos Rios, oops!) and then walked to Wells Fargo Arena, it was COLD and WINDY.

TRYING to take a cute picture...not so cute with my lazy eye and Lee's, well, face.

This take isn't cute either...and Lee is making the same face.

Definitely, NOT cute.
(Maybe Mexican and country concerts just aren't his thing???)

Well, I look a little cuter :)

It was a sold out show and I'd see them again...and I'd pick them over U2 any day!
Sorry Lee (and Jon)!
:)

We tried...

We TRIED something fun....FISH!

This is Bayou (Brynna's - she couldn't decide between "Buy Me" and "Buy You" so we made the decision for her) and Fish Stick (Grant's). I got them from WalMart and brought them home as a surprise for the kids. They were GREAT and a big hit, until the next morning when they were found still "sleeping" when the kids got up!

I went back to WalMart, they told me I needed to put some drops of "Start Right" into the water to get rid of the chlorine. So I bought 4 more small, $0.38 goldfish, and we tried again. Those 4 lasted about eight days...until I changed the water. YES, I remembered the drops in the new water, I don't know what happened, but we put the fish bowl away. I was starting to feel guilty for killing all the fish.

Hope Riley is safe :)

First Snow

The first snow of the season and we ended up with about 8 inches and lost power for a day and a half. I'm glad Lee is home, I'm thankful we have a generator, AND I hope this was not indicative of the weather we'll be dealing with all winter!!!!

They didn't seem to mind!

It was pretty, from INSIDE the house.

Missions Fundraiser

Alabaster Ministries (a women's ministry I'm involved with) held our annual missions fundraiser the first Saturday in November. We served appetizers and desserts, heard missions updates from the four families we support, had our Pastor from FBC as the guest speaker, and held a live auction. It's always lots of fun and we raised almost $1000 for each family!!!!

It's always inspiring to hear from people who have left the comfort and safety of the USA to follow God's call to spread the Gospel to all nations! I'm amazed at their strength and God's faithful provision.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written,
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:13-15

YES, I had to speak in front of people, yikes!

The auction.

Toffee I made for the auction.

Halloween

Our little hunter.

Our pretty little ballerina (in camo leg warmers).

I guess I'm the family cheerleader :)

Grant's friend, Spiderman (Sam).

The neighbor twins :)

We had a great time trick or treating in Winterset. Brynna loved the candy but made Lee carry her from house to house. Grant walked all around town blowing on his deer grunt call :)

School Picture

Some days I still can't believe my little 4lb 6oz baby boy is in KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is his first school picture.

Grant William

Kindergarten
age 5
2011

Ryan and Cassie's wedding

The last weekend in October we headed to Nebraska for Ryan (Lee's college roomate) and Cassie's wedding. Lee went over on Friday for the rehearsal dinner, the kids and I drove over on Saturday.

I was sick of eating fast food, so I packed these "home made" lunchables and squeeze applesauce.

In the hotel getting ready for the wedding.

All dressed up.

Love how my iphone makes even non-artistic people (me) take fun pictures.

They were pretty happy to see Dad.
He had been in Germany the 10 days prior.

Her first love :)

More Randoms

Waiting for gymnastics.

Freedom.

The road home.

Gourds and Pumpkins

Picking gourds at Uncle Matt and Aunt Tiff's house.

Our harvest.

Cousins.

Owen :)

Thanks for the help, Papa!

Jack O' Lanterns

In the dark.

Randoms

I saw THIS on our gravel road.
Turns out it is a neighbor's outdoor pet.

My sweet husband brought these home one day.

The pretty tree in our front yard.

My new fall hair color.

I let the kids play with a box of band-aids :)

Thirty-Five

Birthdays aren't QUITE as exciting as they once were. However, I decided that I needed a day away this year. So, Mom (Grandma Cathy) and Grandma (Grandma Audrey) came to stay with the kids while we spent the day/night in Des Moines. We went to Wellman's Pub in West Glen for lunch and watched some of the ISU game, went to Jordan Creek Mall and Trader Joe's. Next we headed downtown and tried to go to West End Architectural Salvage, but they were already closed. So, we checked into the downtown Marriott and relaxed. Yes, just sitting in a hotel room with NO kids is SO relaxing these days. Next we headed to Dos Rios for guacamole and margaritas. I think we were asleep by 11:00, so it wasn't a crazy night out, but it was much needed and a great time!

Love him :)

LOVE Dos Rios Margaritas!

I came home to THIS!
I picked cherry cheesecake as my "bday cake" for many years when I was younger. Grandma Audrey remembered, and brought the ingredients to make this.

A night away is great, but who wouldn't want to come home to these two?

They had been playing "dress up" while we were gone :)

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And this little gem is my birthday present!!!! I got the new iphone 4s and it's worth every penny. It's more of a mini computer with a phone, than a phone. I LOVE it.
(It take better pictures than our Canon camera)