Baking Day

Marilyn reserved the church kitchen and we baked for several hours - poor man's turtles, chocolate chip cookies, butterscotch cookies, and snicker doodles.

New Christmas Tree with LED lights

James and I heard about a tree at Target with LED lights which he really likes. So we made the investment. The tree has been set up for about 2 weeks now and I get to see the lights every night. Finally let the kids decorate it on Friday. Anne kept exclaiming over every ornament she unwrapped: "Oh it's so beautiful" and "It's my favorite"! She made it a special morning.

Thanksgiving feast

Thanksgiving Feast at Marilyn's house

Finally figured out how to add the album again.
Marilyn injects the turkey with a ton of butter. Michelle and I had a good time cooking together. Marilyn taught us how to make pies and cheesecake and all kinds of goodies.

Turkey

Sha gave us her free turkey coupon from HEB this year. We bought a 21.84 lb turkey - couldn't find a really big one. So I went back and bought a Ham and got another 10 lb turkey free. Marilyn and I cooked 2 days straight to prepare food for about 25 people including my family and 2 nieces. She was a military family and always invited friends over.

Annie our cutie

Annie spent the day hanging out at Marilyn's while we cooked. Ms. Katie fixed her hair. She wanted a Disney marathon of movies - like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and Snow White. We watched some of the Macy's Day Parade before we went over.

Annie's Thanksgiving Luncheon

We wrote down a few things Anne and I are thankful for and they posted it on the Thankful Tree. Cupcakes with sprinkles, Ice Cream, family and sister, and her new little pony Pinkie Pie baby. Uncle Charles went to see her for the Thanksgiving luncheon since he is off during the day.

Concert - Francesca Battistelli

I have been going nonstop every weekend. Finally James and I ran away for a concert nearby at Shoreline. Thanks to Natasha for babysitting. Jamie and I really like Francesca Battistelli and she was singing with two other guys - Adam Cappa and Jeremy Camp. We got her cds for Christmas presents. This is the stuff you use . . . "I lost my keys in the great unknown and call me please cause I can't find my phone." "I got a couple dents in my fender, got a couple rips in my jeans, but on your shoulders - I'm free to be me!" Her new one was so pretty - One Hundred Years. I enjoyed it.

Painting nails

Jamie went to an all girls day with church one Saturday and came back with brightly painted fingernails. Every day Anne would say I want my nails painted too. So we finally picked out some nail polish and Jamie painted Anne's nails. Now Anne wants to paint her own nails every day with sparkles and color. Girl!

Olive Garden - sister love

James took us all to Olive Garden after the Family Communion Service. Anne gave her sister some love - kisses.

Family Communion

This do in rememberance of me . . . family communion service at Hyde Park. This was our first time doing it as a family and it allowed us to talk to Anne about the bread and the cup and Jesus dying for our sins. Callie had spent the night and went with us too. Keep praying for our family and friends.

Shaping your family - seashell lesson

There have been several interesting family lessons at Hyde Park - this one was about all the sea creatures and sea shells shaped by God and how we are each shaped by God. There was a crucifix shell.

Chinese cartoon homework

Jamie has homework every weekend in middle school. Some are supposed to be group projects but Jamie always ends up with them. Sha had come over to hang out and ended up helping Jamie color in her panda bear cartoon for Chinese class.

Operation Christmas Child events

We were able to pack Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes at Hyde Park Quarries one Sunday morning as we teach our family about service and again at Grace Covenant Church for the big packing party. And pray for each child. We invited Callie to join us as well. Anne asked what the child's name was and where God was. Opportunities!

Chance's 3rd birthday

Anne was invited to a birthday party for a boy named Chance at the daycare. We got to meet some of the boys. There are 2 sets of twins in her class - boys and girls. Anne loved the slides and bouncy toys at this fun place. I recognized it as a party place we went to for Emily's party when we first moved here and I was pregnant with Anne.

Project Linus Blankets - Girl Scout Service Project

Late on Friday 11-11-11, Jamie tried to teach the girl scouts how to put a crochet edge on blankets for Project Linus. We were all so tired and it was a little complicated but they did it.

Happy Birthday soon to be Happy New Year!