On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day.

Grandma and Papa got the boys a kitchen for Christmas.  They both LOVE it!  They were sharing very well.  Michael made us both some fabulous food yesterday!  YUMMY!  The kitchen came a couple days early due to it's size and the lack of room on Christmas day.

Michael was happy to leave Santa some delicious cookies and a refreshing glass of milk.  He also left some carrots for his reindeer.   Now THAT'S a snack!!!

Michael told me what to write and I wrote.  Dear Santa, Please turn on my train but DON'T break the track.  Here are carrots for your reindeer.  For my best buddy reindeer.  I gived you cookies and milk for you!  I think the reindeer like 'em. (the carrots) Please leave my cash register and a race car.  Thank you Santa.  Love, Michael Hassel Winter

Santa has arrived!

Prayer Request

Our neighbors lost their house to a fire last night.  David and Vicky Groves.  There were 3 towns worth of fire departments there and they couldn't stop the fire.  They were running an animal rescue and had roughly 40 dogs in the house at the time of the fire.  We heard they only have 20 left.  One of our church member's family saw the fire start and ran around to the back door to tell Vicky.  She and Vicky ran in and out of the house unlocking as many cages as they could before they couldn't take the heat.  Please pray for them.  If you would like to make a donation please leave me a comment with your email address and I will be happy to forward the information on to you.

Once Upon a Time

So Mom and Dad sent me some 30+ boxes when we were still living in East Palestine.  The other night, 3 or 4 years after receiving said boxes, Brian and I went through them.  We found some FABULOUS old pictures.  It amazes me that Missy and I used to fit on this TEENY TINY bike together.

Does anyone else see Carter in this picture of his Mama?  I couldn't believe it!  Check out that SWEET car seat!  How things have changed. My very first best friend.  I love you Gwenn!  Those WERE the days!!!  Look at that handsome Fajah!  I'm pretty sure the partial heads in the corners are my brother and sister. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!  Ha ha ha ha!  That is so funny!  I remember getting this picture taken.  If anyone couldn't tell, that is my cousin Jake in Missy's arms.  Man.  That was a FAR drop!  And we smiled the whole way down.

We finally got some Christmas yesterday.

The tree has been up for almost a week.  The problem was that most of our lights were burned out.  Since we live in Woodsfield, we have to plan our shopping.  It just doesn't make sense to drive 45 minutes to an hour just for Christmas lights so we had to wait it out till we were making the trip.  Yesterday was a day for decorating.

I just love the ribbons on the tree.  There is just something about them.  Kinda completes it all. "A TRAIN!!!"  That's what Michael said when he opened this box.  He got this last year but we haven't ventured to open it till we had another tree to put it under.  :º)   Daddy and his boys watching the train.  They LOVED it!  

Todays Happenings

Brian found Michael's old Santa hat and put it on Carter.  After the photo shoot I realized that he pushed Carter's ears down.  Michael learned how to make snow angels today.  There are 5 of them in our front yard.  :º)Happy snow munching!  He couldn't get enough.

Thanksgiving weekend

I realize that Thanksgiving was over a week ago.  Here it is... Michael was helping Papa make his famous apple pies.  He was munching on the apple "spaghetti."  He thought it was the greatest!  Papa has one of those apple corer/slicer/skinner deals.  In Michael's eyes, It's a spaghetti maker. We tried something new this year.  We used Splenda and sugar free cinnamon candies. With a family packed full of diabetes and dieters, this was a delicious way to have our pie and eat it too!  Splenda also helped us make a FANTASTIC pumpkin pie.  Yummy!Brianna LOVES babies.  Carter was the lucky dog who got to eat up all that love.  Does anyone else see that they have the same eyes?

Morgan family Thanksgiving ... on Saturday.  I really miss them!

BEANS!!!  To most of the world they are known as olives but Brandon has always called them beans.  Brianna and Michael just followed suit.  Aunt Linda was rationing said beans.  They just love 'em.

We also hit Oglebay park to see the Christmas light display.  They can do some amazing things with a few hundred light bulbs.  We were really impressed.  The pictures didn't turn out so great as I hoped they would.

Snow Day

Michael's conversation with God must have been the reason it snowed yesterday.  :º)  We even had accumulation.  We went out to Wheeling yesterday to get some family pictures taken.  He watched it snow all day long and couldn't help himself.  He touched the snow every minute he could.  He made footprints all over Cabela Drive.  He kept asking for a snowball so he could eat it between stores.  He's totally my boy!

When we got home Michael and Brian got dressed in snow clothes and ventured outside.  I realize that it was already 8:00 and that it was bedtime but Michael hasn't been able to play in the snow yet and wanted to seize the opportunity before it melted again. This is what Carter did the entire 20 minutes that Daddy and Michael were out in the snow.  He didn't move.  He just kinda danced right there holding on to the coffee table.   Every kids' dream.  After playing in the snow he came in and had hot tea and a snowball.  :º)  

I saved a couple snowballs in the freezer for munching.  Last winter we only had one chance to use his snowball making tongs that I won in the Morgan family Christmas exchange.  I might as well have some for safe keeping.

Michael Cried This Morning

Michael was  having a bit of a morning anyway.  He looked outside and saw the 1/2 inch or so of snow on the ground and started to cry.  

Michael ~ It melted!  Why isn't it coming down from the sky? You need to make it snow from the sky Mommy!

Me ~ I can't buddy.  That's up to God.  

Michael ~ Why???

Me ~ He's the one who decides when it snows.

Michael ~ Where is God?

Me ~ He's in Heaven.

Michael ~ He's in Kevin?

Me ~ No, He's in Heaven.

Michael ~ Where is Kevin?

Me ~ It's Heaven.  That's where God lives.

Michael ~ I need to see him!!!

Me ~ Why? 

Michael ~ Because snow needs to come down from the sky!!!

All of this conversation was either whined or cried.  It's a hard lesson to learn.  I think we all wish we could make the weather obey us.  God bless that Michael.  He thinks he can talk to the man and make it snow.  :º)  

Michael just told me that God makes the snow come down.  He turns on his pipe and makes the snow come down.  It comes down to the ground!  

8 Months

Oh my Carter!  You are getting SO big!!!  You are doing so much for yourself but still let me know when you need something.  I can't believe you are 8 months old already!!!  Like your brother, you said Mama first but Dada is what you say the most because that's what is easy.  We can't stop you now that you've decided to crawl.  We now live in a gated community.  You are very affectionate.  You are happy to share an open mouthed kiss with anyone who dares get close enough.  Happy 8 months my littlest Mama's boy!!!  I love you Little Man!

Gordo's Bridesmaid Dresses

Here it is.  Angela chose the color and each girl is choosing her own style.  This is my style!  The color is actually going to be a light blue.  What do you think???

Ten on .... well, it's almost Tuesday

1. I woke up to this this morning!!!  Welcome winter!  Oh how I've missed thee.  

2. Michael bugged me all morning to put his snow pants on him so he could play in the beautiful snow.  

3. He stayed home from school today so he isn't aloud to go play in the snow.  :º)

4. This guy was holding up residence on our front door for about 3 days.  

5. New game.  I'm working under here!  I always loved playing in laundry baskets when I was small enough to fit in them.  Glad he has followed suit.  He also tries to catch warehouse mouse with said laundry basket!  (He's from Imagination Movers.)6. I saw this on the way to Streetsboro.  Aaaahhhh.  7. Missy and Kevin had a party to find out what they are having.  The ultrasound tech. wrote it on a piece of paper and sealed it in an envelope.  They invited all their family and friends over to open it and share the good news.  Jenk~Baby is... bddddddddddd(that's a drum roll for those of you who can't read my mind)                      ... A BOY!!!!! 8. Michael was going to bed and said, "Mommy, do you hear that beautiful sound?", so I said,  "What is it?"  He said, "I think it's Missy Jenkins!!!"  I love how he thinks.  Missy asked me if I could just start recording everything he says. 

9. Carter is babbling in his crib.  I imagine it's in protest of nap time.  

10.  Carter still won't eat baby food so I tried something new today.  He was yelling at me while I was eating lunch, (and he was abstaining from eating his sweet potatoes) so I took out the food grinder and threw some of my green beans in it.  HE LOVED THEM.  I'm not sure if it's the difference in texture or if he just hates canned veggies as much as I do.  

Shower Conversation

Michael was playing with the water after his shower and this is what he said...

Michael ~ "I'm making an invention!"

Me ~ "You are?"

Michael ~ "Yeah!  I'm making an invention!"

Me ~ "What is it?"

Michael ~ "It's right here!"

Me ~ "But what is it?"

Michael ~ "It's my invention!!!  It's a pie!  It's APPLE pie!"

My genius makes apple pies as inventions.  YES!  I guess I win.  

Be Thankful

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I have a dishwasher!!!!!  And it works!

10 on Tuesday

1. Carter crawled today!!!  Yay!!!

2. I voted today.

3. Michael doesn't sing.  Tonight he was playing and he was saying a song.  "Do the smash.  Do the Monster Smash."  

Awesome!

4. Carter said Mama on Sunday!!!!  That's two kids to say Mama first!  :)

5. Brian says he doesn't like politics but he won't stop talking about it.  

6. I have to make 2 dozen cookies before Friday.  What should I make???

7. Obama just won Ohio.

8. One of our churches has a pew FULL of stuff to go to Jake and his Bn!!!!  

9. I LOVE to read up on the Willis girls' blogs.  1, 2 and 3.  I feel like I am in the middle of their lives and actually know their children (whom I've never met).  

10. The time change is kicking my kids butts.  They are exhausted by the time bed time actually rolls around. 

By Golly, I've Done it!

Well... almost.  For the month of October, I made a valiant effort to wear only Halloween socks.  I had to wear fill ins twice.  I'm still not sure just how many Halloween socks I own but it was enough that I could rotate through them all month long.  

I know it's a small accomplishment but I thought it would be fun to share.  :º)  

Trick or Treating

Carter the Giraffe and everything on my living room floor.

Michael Incredible and Regan the Wizard/Alien. Mr. Incredible.  He was really good about keeping his mask on. Regan is his girl.  She grabbed his hand when we started walking.  Cute. My giraffe was happy as a clam.  He was a great little trick or treater!!! Miss Tiffany, Michael's teacher, walked the parade with us.  Her nephew Kade is in Michael's class and wanted to walk with he and Regan.  

Daddy joined the ranks about half way through trick or treating.  Carter did awesome on his shoulders.

Wesley, Michael and Regan.  Preschool buddies.

All my boys!

Undecided

So, I got my hair cut yesterday and I am still undecided about it.  I love the color it's just the incredibly short layer on top I'm not sure of.  I just don't know what to do with it.  It's just short enough that I can't tuck it behind my ears.  

What do you think?