July 4th

We got to spend July 4th in Independence, Iowa. They had some amazing fireworks. We are in town for a wedding the next day. It was great to see how they do the fire
works up big. It was a great show. We hope you all had a great 4th with your family and friends!!!

Christmas.

Kevin and I

Everyone playing games.

We traveled north this weekend for our fifth and final christmas of the year with Kevin's Mom. I have been feeling very under the weather since christmas day so this was going to be a large test for me. Friday we loaded up the car and Kevin drove north. We had good weather so that was nice and we got lucky.  We spent saturday enjoying time with all of his siblings and their other halfs as well as his mom. We also enjoyed playing games. We ducked out kind on early so I could get some rest. Overall it was a great day and fun spending time with family.

Kevin and I with all of his Siblings and significant others.

A small clip of a game we were playing - Todd and Heather arm Wrestling.

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!

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!!

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!!!

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!

Festival of Trees!

I love the Festival of Trees. I think that it is a great cause - Blank Children's Hospital.   I also think it is so much fun walking around and getting to see how people decorate the trees. We normally go to waterloo over the thanksgiving weekend so I have not been able to attend however we are in town this weekend so I knew this was something we would be doing. We had so much fun, it was also nice that Nick, Erin and Mom were able to join us as well.

Erin and I with Santa

Whoville!

Me with the Nationwide Tree

This was Kevin and I's favorite tree of the day!

Candy Land Tree! 

Cupcake Tree

Kevin and I

The four of us at the Festival.

Mom with her girls!

Christmas.

On Thursday night we celebrated Christmas with mom. We did this due to the fact that my sister lives in St. Louis now and we are not sure what the weather will be in December nor with Christmas being in the middle of the week us having much time off. We chose to have it our house. We made lots of different things I found off Pintrest and it was a big hit with the family. It was so much fun to hang out with family and spend time with them. 

I am also very proud to say that I had requested that each person bring either 5.00 or 5 canned items so I can take it to the food pantry and that everyone brought their share. It really makes you thankful for what all you have and it also makes you feel good helping others. I would encourage you all to start this in your family.

Family. - Kevin, Me, Erin and Nick - Christmas 2013

Mom and her girls!

Look at all the gifts! Christmas 2013

Sisters.