Christmas Day.

Christmas morning, Kevin and I were able to sleep in and enjoy each others company. After much debate we finally decided on having pancakes for christmas morning breakfast together. Growing up I was just a tad spoiled when we had pancakes as we never just had plan round ones in our home, so sorry Kevin and Nick we can't just have round ones now!!! Kevin gave it a try and I would say he gave it a fair shot for his first shot. We then went to Dad and Melissa's for the afternoon and had lunch with them and then watched the ISU Men's Basketball pull out a win from behind. I guess you could say it was an all around great day.

  

And then I got a RING....

Christmas Photo 2013

Christmas with Dad 2012

Christmas Eve.

It has been a tradition between Kevin and I to get each other new PJ's and give them to each other on Christmas Eve. This is something that we have always done since our first christmas together, this year was no different. We went and saw Jolly Holiday Lights and got some candy canes and then came home, opened up our new jammies.  We then snuggled down on the couch for some netflix and watched some Christmas movies. Nothing too fancy or crazy but just perfect for both of us.

Gingerbread Home!

Castle

Christmas Tree and Boat

Us in our new Jammies we got each other!

Merry Christmas.

We wanted to wish from our family to yours a very Merry Christmas. We hope that if you are traveling that you get their safe. Happy Holidays!

Love Kevin and Emily

Teaching Wreath

My cousin is a school teacher and I wanted to give her something special that you can not just go out and buy this holiday season. I saw on Pintretst Teacher Wreaths as well I know someone that has one. I knew this would be the prefect gift for her, now I just needed to figure out how to make it. I could not find a How to on this so it was kind of going off photos I saw what I liked. The end product turned out amazing and I hope she will like it for years to come.

What you will Need:

-Box of Crayons ( I got 120 - Now I did not use them all but I wanted to make sure one I had enough and two I got all the colors I wanted - We had 48 left over)

-Hot Glue Gun

-Embroidery Circles (You will need two, one to fit in the other)

-School looking ribbon

Optional:

-Small Chalk Board

-Cut out letters (I went to a local scrapbook store and every Sunday they let you use the die cutters and all you have to pay for is the paper)

-Anything else you want to use to decorate the wreath with 

(For this I went to Michaels and found an Apple, School Bus and some Flowers made of harder wood all ready colored only 0.59 each, I also went back to the local scrap booking store and cut out a school house and books of paper)

How To:

1.) The first thing I did was to open all the Crayons and to put then in order from light to dark by color so when I put it on the wreath it would be in order.

2.) I then started lay everything out to make sure I had enough crayons selected and to see the spacing. I also had to put in small chalk board for placement as well.

Embroidery Circles - waiting for the crayons

3.) The next step would be to start to glue the crayons down after you lay it out with the hot glue. I lined up the back of the crayon with the back on the embroidery circles.

4.) After than you then add any of the optional things you wanted to add on. I have seen some where they put the name in blocks on the crayons - with her not being married I wanted to do a chalk board effect so that she could change it if she needed. I also added the books I cut and the school house.

5.) The final thing was to add the ribbon so she would be able to hang it and then it would be complete!

Happy Holidays!!!

Welcome….

My really good friend that I have known for a while is getting married next year. I wanted to make her something special for Christmas. I finally came up with it the other night after looking on line at a few things and just kind of thinking of a few on my own. The vision I had was something she could hang on her front door of the new house that her and the Mr. just bought with the numbers on it. 

This is what you will need:

-Numbers to the home

-First letter of last name

-Paint (I used Craftsmart - Outdoor Acrylic Paint - due to the fact it was made for out doors)

-Ribbon

-Hot Gule Gun

-Paint Brush

- Brackets to hang it with

How to complete the project:

1. First thing to do would be to paint the letter and the numbers and to let them dry.

(I let them dry overnight to make sure I had them good and dry and ready to go the next day)

2.Next you will want to Hot Glue the number to the letter.

3. You will then want to add to the back the brackets for the ribbon.

4. For the final step add ribbon so it will be able to hang on the front of the door.

All done and ready to be hung on the door for al to enjoy!!

Birthday.

This past Thursday was Kevin's 28th birthday! We of course had bad weather - Mother Nature never fails. We had freezing rain that turned the streets into an ice skating rink. We were still able to have dinner with Tiffany and Josh at Exile Brewery in downtown Des Moines where Kevin has been really wanting to go. The restaurant is really a piece of history in Des Moines and the food was great. If you are looking for a good place to dine I would check this place out! We also went for dinner on Tuesday and Kevin got a birthday surprise as well at Guadalajara's with dad and Melissa. Then tonight we also went to dinner with mom to celebrate.

Kevin at Guadalajara's 

Christmas.

Yesterday Kevin and I traveled to Davenport to spend time with my dad's side of the family for Christmas. We had great time together and enjoyed good family time. We also enjoyed great food that we all were able to contribute to. I was also blessed that my sister was able to drive up with Nick from St. Louis so the whole family was almost present. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing family and able to see them spend time with them.

Kevin and I

4 Musketeers

Lilly, Erin, Nick, Me, Kevin, Melissa, Dad

Cousins
Erin, Me, Jamie, Thomas, Bobbie Jo

The family has now grown!
Erin, Nick, Me, Kevin, Josh, Jamie, Bobbie Jo, Josh, Thomas

All of us with Grandma and Grandpa

How it all started!!! Grandma and Grandpa with their  Kids!!!
Chris, Dad, Kelly

Happy Holidays!!!

John Deere Christmas Party

On Thursday night Kevin and I were invited to join my momma for her Christmas Party at John Deere. We had such a great time with her and were glad we could spend the night with her. We were able to play Bingo (we all won at least once, well let's just say we all got a cupcake).  We also got to see Santa - decided not to sit on his lap this time, due to Erin telling him I was naughty last time - don't want him asking more questions. Able to eat some great food and just spend time together as family. We all hope that you are enjoying the holidays and spending time with your family.

Almond Joy, Candy Cane, Red Velvet - our Bingo prize.

Rice Krispies Orderments

I thought it would be fun to make Rice Krispies but not your normal kind of course. We had to some kind of Christmas ones!!! I started searching Pinterest!

What you will need:

3 Cubs Rice Krispie
2 Tbs. Butter

5oz. Marshmellows (1/2 Bag)

Bag of Rolo's

Toothpicks

Wax Paper

Food Coloring

(This should get you about 6)

How To:

Just like when you make any other Rice Krispies -

You melt the butter with the marshmallow under low heat in a pan until they are well mixed. You then will want to add in the food coloring (whatever color you would like one set of your ornaments to become) next you will then add in the Rice Krispies.  Mix it all together and take off the heat. What we did was then dump it out on wax paper. Take a small portion of butter and lather your hands in this - so they do not stick to you. Then start rolling them into balls. After, place a toothpick in the bottom of a Rolo and place into the ball. You then have an ornament rice krispie treat for the holidays to enjoy!!!

Christmas.

On Saturday morning Kevin and I got up ealry and headed down to my dad and Melissa's home for Christmas number two with my family. We had a great time and some more great food. Melissa spoiled Kevin and I by making him his own pumpkin bread and me my peanut butter balls - YUMMY!!!! We also got to spend time with her brother, Bill, his wife, Jessica and their adorable daughter Ali. After all the food was eatten and the presents were opened we also played a family game that consisted of Erin having to do sit ups, dad guessing the expression date of the Milk, me standing on one foot and stacking 5 dice overall it was fun with great laughts.

Ali and I in her new PJ that Kevin and I got her.

Sisters for our Christmas photo at Dads!

The 4 Musketeers!