With out further ado...

It is December which is such a fun month. Celebrating Hanukkah has been so fun so far. The kids are enjoying lighting the candles, trying new foods (latkes), and of course opening presents. I have been holding off putting Christmas stuff out so that the kids could understand a bit more about Hanukkah. But, I can wait no longer. I've got family/guests coming over next Saturday...And it is time to get out "Christmas".

And I am so LUCKY! I asked Matty earlier this weekend if we could get the tree up sometime this weekend. And without any poking, prodding, or additional asking..the tree is UP!!!! THANKS sweetie! I love you!



Now...I've got 7 million other things to get out! Happy decorating!!!

Maui 2010

Maui is a great place to be. We had a GREAT vacation...although we wish it had been a few days longer! Whether we were snorkeling, water sliding, eating shaved ice, or visiting family...it was fun! Here are a few highlights of a GREAT trip! ***More ocean pics to come when I get access to the Thurrell camera.

Lahina with the kiddos!

Rainbow shaved ice in Lahina. We sat the kids against a store front window. It seemed that a cruise ship had just unloaded because there were literally 15 sets of grandparents that took pics of the kids on their cameras. Colin said, "we are like celebrities"!

Largest Banyan Tree!

A favorite souvenir of Kaden's!


Cassidy waiting for the boys to pick out their carved treasures.

We let Kaden use the camera for the first time. He took about 200 pictures (which I thought I would be deleting), however I am loving looking at life from his perspective!




Kaufman Family in Up Country


Cassidy enjoying Auntie Marianne's swing



Kaden realized he does enjoy riding a horse...just not as much as snorkeling!



Cassidy knew she wanted to do this and was thrilled to ride a horse!



Here is a favorite "inside" pic!


Morning time!

Cassidy's Back to School Night

Cassidy with Mrs. Cromka



Cassidy and Piper sure love school...what will they do next year!!!! These girls are going to need to learn to branch out!



"Let's be twins!"



Frosting snacks...yummy!



Nothing like sharing your school with Daddy!

It's Been Raining for a Week....

Missing the sun...the beach...and good old chillin' in the summer fun!

Apricots, Apricots...

I am feeling like a bit of a pioneer woman today. I was so lucky to collect 2 big bags of apricots from Chick and Mona's tree. I let them sit for a couple of days and get nice and ripe and then I got to work.

Somehow I suckered Nanette into doing this with me (just so you know, she has a six week old baby...and is planning a birthday party for her daughter in 3 days). And baby Archer barely made a peep...

Got some canning jam jars and got started on the cooked apricot jam. Now seriously, I know I don't HAVE to answer the phone, but it probably rang 8 times while I was trying to read directions, puree fruit, stir pectin, boil sugar, etc. I guess pioneers didn't have technology to worry about. Once the cooked jam was done, we realized that we had ALOT of fruit left...so....

We made freezer jam (a bit quicker than the cooked stuff) and then I proceded to puree the rest add a bit of geletin and made some fruit rolls in the dyhydrator.

It was a GREAT afternoon of chatting, cooking, and hanging out, all while the kids played and Archer slept. Good times, good friends, and now good jam!

Marriage

"But....mommy...I really want to marry my brother..." Cassidy says as she sits next to me on the couch.

"Oh, honey...that is sweet...why to you want to marry your brother?" mommy responds.

"Cause he's the nicest boy in the whole wide world" she says sweetly.

Now everyone together...AWWWWWWWWWWW!

Matty in Costa Rica

Matty (Josh too) has only been gone for one day...and besides Cass making sad noises last night before bed because she wanted a kiss from Daddy...we are doing great.

Matty will be so pleased that Cass and I spent our morning looking for "curb alerts" aka... dumpster diving for wood pieces to paint and craft with.. I am sure he will be even more pleased that I found a large bookshelf that I squeezed into "mini" just waited for me to "make-over". I mean...for free...I gotta give it a try. And he's gone for almost two weeks (except for Mother's Day :)), so now is the time for crafting!

Kaden is at school and will be picking him up in about an hour. Then it's homework, ballet, park play, and dinner. Followed by a night time routine which may involve watching dancing with the stars with the kids.

Hope the boys are safe and sound in Costa wha- wha... and will be having fun in the water soon! Miss you!