December, SNOW, and HO HO HO... Merry Little Christmas Eve

Carissa had her Christmas program at school. She got to dress up and sing with her class.

Can you see her in the 3rd row up? I love the look on he face!! It's so hilarious!

Carissa and I after her program.


We got 6 inches of snow one night. Here is Micah and Josiah outside playing. The two of them have really started to play well together. They are good buddies when the big kids are at school.

Josiah liked laying on the ground and eating snow.

Micah liked throwing it up in the air and having it fall on him. Ha ha!


Josiah and Carissa making snow angels in the dark. The big kids had just gotten home from school.

I just love this boy. His smile just melts my heart.



LITTLE CHRISTMAS EVE

We had hashbrowns, eggs, fish (perch from the our trip to the Lake with my folks and grandparents in Sept), and cinnamon rolls. YUMMMMO.

Later in the morning we took the kids to the Dollar Tree where we let them each pick out something for the other sibs and mommy and daddy. They had so much fun. Later in the afternoon they got to wrap them all up (with help of course). After dinner we let them open those gifts up. They were SO excited to see what they got.

Carissa found a little horsey stick for Josiah. He loves it. Rides it all over - and then uses it to take a swing at you.. YIKES! HA HA


Carissa was getting ready to open her gift from Noah. He got her a yellow headband with fabric and beads on it.

Micah got glow sticks from Noah. He also turned them into a weapon once they were opened. BOYS!!!!


Noah got Josiah an elf hat!!! I can't believe Josiah wore it! TOO cute.


Carissa got the boys robot vest/shields. They needed a little tweaking but we got them to fit and stay put. Can you tell all the boys got Christmas (buzz) Cuts??


Micah got me a coffee cup! So did Noah. He got me one of the insulated ones that you can put your own pictures in the outside part. He said I'll probably put pictures of the kids in it. He's probably right... ;o)

Tomorrow we're doing a Christmas Eve service at 4 pm. Then home for clam chowder and presents. The kids will get to watch a movie and sleep in the living room.

Christmas morning we'll do stockings and have breakfast. Then around 12:30 we'll head to our dear friends, the Riel's and spend the rest of the day there. We're so blessed to have friends that feel like family to us.

So, that's the update on us!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Respect Responsibility and Park pics

For the month of October Carissa earned the respect and responsibility reward for her class. Micah, Josiah, Grandma Bombard, and I came to surprise her and watch her receive her award.


There she is shaking hands with Mr. Pryor, our principal.

So proud!! :)

Awwwww......

After school I picked the kids up and we went to the park. Here's Joey going down the curly slide.


Noah on top of the monkey bars.


Micah's first time down the fireman pole...ever. He was so excited.


Carissa can now do both the monkey bars at school... I think she made it about this far on this set and then dropped to the ground. She dropped, landed, got up and ran off. Goodness! I think the rungs on this set are farther apart. She's become quite fearless.


The 4 little 'Nuttlings.


It had gotten SO chilly by this time - but they still hadn't played much so they endured the chilliness a few more minutes and then headed home. :)

4 Generations on a boat!

At the dunes.
Pretty....

When we first got down to the beach. It was SOOO windy!


What's this you ask? A watermelon seed spitting contest, of course!!!


Fried tators, fish, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. We might be camping, but we don't have to eat like we're camping!! ;)

The 'Nutt's shucking corn.


The ride up from the dock in Grandpa Burgess's truck.


Grandma Burgess and Josiah waiting on the dock.

I love candid pics! :)

Eric and Grandma Hostetler both thought they caught something... which they DID... each other ...ha ha... But Eric's hook had a fish too!! It took his hook, swam off and tied up with Grandma's line!! :)

Noah, the fisherman.


"Once I got a fish THIS big." :)


Fish cleaning....


Micah's trout on the top of the pile.


Carissa and her fishie!

My sweet girl.


Grandpa Hostetler

Grandpa and Noah

Micah, another fisherman :)

Tis the Season for Toothless Smiles!

When I got home Wednesday night from my staff meeting, Carissa met me at the door. "MOM, MOM... I have a LOOSE tooth!!!!" I looked in her mouth to see and sure enough! Not only a loose tooth, but the adult tooth had already popped through the gum *BEHIND* the still present baby tooth. Yes, I see braces in her future....

Dinner produced tears from biting and chewing. As we all sat around that evening watching a short show as a family she triumphantly said, "MOM! I pulled my tooth!"

And she had!

Pumpkin Patch Time

Carissa, showing off her empty space!!!

Take 1.



Take 2.

Hoppin' a ride on dad's shoulders.

The girls.


It was a BIG maze! At each intersection the kids took turns saying which direction they wanted to go.


Goatie, meet Joey! :)


Hellooooo, Mr. Pig.


We each got a pumpkin to take home. They picked out their own. There was a big haystack with a long slide on it. They LOVED that. Also, a hay bale maze they could run around it. They had a good time so we did too ;)