Christmas card 2011

I just had to show off the Christmas card we are doing this year! Such a fun idea!! Just click on the picture to see it...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Pirate Treasure Hunt 3

I had their treasure in lunch sacks hidden behind the door with the X. Daniel was sooo excited to finally find the X and the treasure! The treasures consisted of light-up balls, candy, little spades for gardening plus the pirate stuff. After the treasure hunt we watched The Muppets Treasure Island. Fun evening!

Pirate Treasure Hunt 2

Daniel had to check his map quite a few times throughout the hunt (he didn't quite get the clues). :) But about halfway through, he finally caught on.

Pirate Treasure Hunt

Tonight I decided to do a special activity with the family--a treasure hunt! I designed 8 little clue cards that had cute rhymes I got from an Easter egg hunt that Susan sent us moms. I just changed the clues up a bit to fit my plans. I set up the table with pirate hats and maps for both boys and the first clue. Daniel had to have quite a bit of help figuring out the clues since he has never done one of these before. He had a blast though!

Park

Today we went to the Elkins park. It was beautiful at a sunny 65! The boys had a great time. Me too! Can't wait until it's like this all the time...Spring! I'm starting to look at my flower beds and dream....

Park

Vday pt4

After a full day, I was exhausted. But I still wanted to make a special dinner. Got the idea to make a fancy dinner menu from Lauren, so I designed and printed one at mom's after we left the party. We had spaghetti and meatballs, salad, heart-shaped breadsticks (I got that idea out of a magazine), and sparkling cider, which Phillip and I both really enjoyed. For dessert--vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, pecans, and heart-shaped strawberries. Yum! Then I set the table with candles, the roses Phillip got me, and pretty dishware/goblets. It was sooo nice. And the best thing was that Gid actually slept through dinner and Daniel watched a movie, so Phillip and I got to enjoy a quiet dinner by ourselves. Very special and much better then going out! We had a great day although it was exhausting. After dinner, I went to sewing class (which was shopping at JoAnn's for fabric and then going to Jason's Deli after for a treat and to chat with mom and the girls), while Phil took the boys (along with roses for the womenfolk) up to his parents. All in all, a LOVEly day! :)

Vday pt3

More pics of the party. Also, a pic of the valentine 6 yr old Trey Osbon gave me. He didn't know how to spell my name, so Krystal told him to do his best and sound it out. Ogree is what he came up with! Too funny!!!

VDay Part 2

Once I finally got us out the door, I realized I didn't have my keys and the house was locked! So I called mom and thankfully she had them, and she drove them out to me. While we waited the boys played outside in the melting snow. The weather was in the low 60s so it was really nice! Then we drove out to the party at Lianna's. There were 16 kids and 5 moms! Me, Lianna, Krys, Saralin, and Tammi Lea (in town for a while). The kids had a blast!! Lots to explore and get into. Everyone ate lunch together and then the kids exchanged valentines. Daniel got a lot of candy! It was fun. :)

Valentines Day Part 1

The boys woke up to special treats at their table and heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast! Then they got to take a bath in red/pink water. We also made little thumb print valentines for a party. So fun!

A walk down memory lane...

Today me, the boys, Mom, and Catalina took an afternoon outing to Siloam Springs. We played at the local park for about an hour and the weather was just perfect--60s! Then we walked toward Main Street and I just had to take pics of some very special places for me! The first one is of what used to be Vintage Inn restaurant. This is where my dear husband and I ate dinner on the night he asked me to marry him (about 11 years ago)! Then we walked across the street and onto the bridge where Phillip promptly knelt down on one knee, produced a ring, and asked me to marry him. I remember it all so clearly! :) The third pic is a shot from the bridge. Anyway, we had a good time this afternoon even though the kids were unusually whiney. :-/ We also stopped by the old Hico cemetery and found the grave of my great, great, great grandfather on my mom's mother's side--John William Daniels (need to recheck that). Fun afternoon!

Amy comes home with 2 boys in tow!

After 4 years in Uganda, Africa volunteering at Amani Baby Cottage, Amy has made it home with her 2 newly adopted boys, Emmitt (5) and Isaiah (3)! We met them along with Bruce at XNA last night. Jan was with Amy to help her fly home. She had gone 3 weeks earlier to help Amy with all the moving preparations. They made it in at 8:10 pm with all 12 of their bags! Boys were exhausted, but Emmitt hit it off with Daniel right away! :) Today we are snowed in or we would go up to the house to visit. And today is Emmitt's 5th birthday!

My little one

Just enjoying my Gideon today!

Snow day!

Daddy got off work early (he actually got a ride home, cause his car couldn't handle the roads). Daniel got to go out and play in the first snow of the new year!