Chasing the Cold Away with Christmas Cookies!

Brrr....is it cold outside! This year has been crazy in terms of weather. This past week it hasn't been above freezing and it isn't even winter yet! All this cold brings on lots of extra chores. Jason's been having to chop ice multiple times a day for the calves, in addition to putting out extra hay for the new baby calves to bed down on. By the end of the day, everyone's worn out from the extra efforts of working in the cold. So this mama decided it was time for a little fun! To help warm us up, I made some hot Wassail for us to sip on while we decorated some Christmas sugar cookies. We all had so much fun decorating the cookies and eating the extra icing! We all voted and agreed that Daddy decorated the most beautiful cookie!

Here some other great photo's of our family fun night. Let's just say, bedtime was interesting after all that frosting!

Mommy Affirmation

Tonight a couple of kids came over to play so that their dad could help Jason with some manual labor stuff. The kids had a blast playing play-doh, having pillow fights, running the circle in the house, and listening to a story I read them called, "Charlie and the Christmas Kitten." The greatest part of the evening for me was just after I had read them the story and Allison came up to me and softly said, "Mom, you were really great tonight!" Then, she gave me a quick hug with a loving smile and proceeded to chase after her friend. Her affirmation felt so good and unexpected! I'm still on cloud 9! Looking in her eyes, I could literally see how proud she was of me and how thankful she was that I was chilled about the messes and into having fun with the kids. I'm so thankful that I get to be Allison and Reid's mommy!

Christmas Card 2013

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

In October, we had some family pictures taken at Cann Garden. You wouldn't believe how hot it was that day! But contrary to all the sweating, I think our pictures turned out beautifully! Reid is so ornery while Allison is so calm. This day also happened to be Allison's 7th Birthday! I can't believe how big both my babies are getting. Everyday, I find myself in awe and somewhat disbelief at just how blessed I am to be married to such an amazing man and having two beautiful, kind children as a result of that. 

This picture really captures the real Allison!

Love the men in my life!

Isn't she absolutely beautiful?!

Yowza! That is one good looking' cowboy! ;)

Fishy kisses by the pond

I love you Jason!

So hot! 

Our sweet little family!

Colorado Vacation Part 1: The drive out!

In October our family took a vacation to Colorado. We took a different route than usual and boy am I glad! This route took us through New Mexico where we stopped and explored a town called Taos. If you've never been, I suggest you check it out! The town itself is very authentic looking, in fact the plaza hasn't changed it's shape in over 300 years! Everywhere you look, evidence of the Spanish Conquistadors are blended with the native Pueblo people.  Jason, who has a keen sense of direction, was struggling in this town because all the business that surround the plaza area look so similar being made from adobe. Even though we only had a few hours to give for this little adventure, we made time to stop at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to buy a caramel apple! We all shared the apple on an outside bench while a local played his harmonica for us. It was so fun to watch Reid get up and dance to the music!

Taos, NM plaza

After leaving Taos, we started to notice some really cool looking structures in the middle of nowhere! Later we found out that they were homes called "Earthships." Basically, these homes were made out of recycled materials, had composting toilets, indoor gardens, and other cool features. Here's a picture of one we happened to see!

The scariest bridge I have ever been on, we crossed: Rio Grande Gorge Bridge! Holy shnikes this sucker was huge! To be exact, it's 650 feet above the Rio Grande and spans 1,280 feet. The wind was so terrible on the bridge that we weren't comfortable taking the kids out, they didn't want to go anyway so no matter! The little bit of distance that I walked, made me so dizzy! I had to look at my feet just so I wouldn't fall down! Jason walked to the middle where the lookout point was. My handsome hubby is so brave!

As I looked over this huge cliff, I couldn't help but think about how Indians would sometimes use the "Buffalo Jump" method to hunt buffalo. Before guns were introduced, it's said that sometimes Indians would herd buffaloes to a cliff where the animal would jump off and another group of the hunt would be waiting down below to kill the crippled animals. Obviously, this gorge would be way to steep but it's a cool thought none the less!

Little Things That Make Me Laugh

Jason and Reid were wrestling this morning in the dining room. Jason was trying to get Reid's shoes and socks on but Reid wanted no part of that. Reid managed to wiggle away from his daddy and I could see the look of triumph on his face as he was running for his room. He had to be thinking, "Ha, I got by you daddy!"But the look quickly was wiped off by Jason when he reached out and grabbed Reid around the waist, effectively sitting Reid between his legs to finish putting his socks and shoes on.  To this Reid said, "Oh man! You sorry dog!" Allison and I burst out laughing and poor Jason just sat there with a "did he really just say that" kind of look!

Summer Adventures 2013

Here's the digital scrapbook that I created using Shutterfly. I tried my best this summer to take lots of pics of all our adventures. Our family really connected this summer and had a fabulous time. The kids are growing up so fast! I can't believe Allison learned how to ride her bicycle without training wheels or that Reid learned how to potty train! I feel very blessed to kiss their sweet faces everyday and listen to their wonderful laughter. Jason, Allison, and Reid are the best family God could ever give me. I'm truly blessed!

Click here to view this photo book larger

A Good (Great, wonderful, awesome...) Marriage

Today I was humbled. And I don't mean this in a bad way but in a "my cup runneth over" kinda way. You see, this morning I was getting out of my car to walk into work all the while talking on the phone to my husband. As I walked to the passenger side of the car to get my things, I realized the door was locked. So, I went to get my keys from my bag but they weren't there. I locked them inside the car. I tell my husband this over the phone and he promptly offers to bring me a set of keys from the house. Here's the catch, he was half way to Stillwater on his way to Tulsa when he offered. He had taken comp time from work this morning so that he could go pick up our new wheat truck there. I was hesitant because he was so far away and I didn't want to ruin his day. However, after calling the only 2 locksmiths in Ark City and being told they couldn't help me out because of the make/model of my car, he was my only hope. With a heavy heart, I called Jason back and broke the news. I don't know why, but I expected him to be at least a little bit annoyed or inconvenienced by this request. Instead though, he was jumping at the chance to help me out. He WANTED to be my hero today! He didn't care at all that Tulsa and the truck would have to wait, that his plans were ruined. No, instead he was loving, supportive, and placed me above all his needs. With this one act, he was able to make me feel completely loved. The kind of love that you don't have to be told, but you just know, it's that good. As I think about this act, I have to hold back tears. They're happy tears and awe tears because truly my cup does runneth over. Jason has filled it so full with love and continues to on a daily basis. This gives me great hope with my relationship with Christ. I've always found it hard to believe that no matter what, God loves me. Because of Jason's love for me, I now can, and do, believe in God's love for me. One day, I pray that my own daughter will love and marry a man like her father. A man that loves the Lord and his family as much as her own daddy does.