Future Deer Hunters

Braden and his little buddy Joshua built a deer blind (ok...it;s really a fort but Dad can hope!) and they hunted Andrew who was wearing Rudolph's antler's. This was too funny not to post.

Madrigal

Cara, Bj, Braden and L are in the Madrigal at church this year. Tonight was the first night and Ben had a great time trying to keep three rowdy kids dressed in costume from tearing them up before they went out in front of the stage and sang Away In A Manger. It all worked out well and the kids sang great! Cara had her first solo as the other girls forgot to continue singing and she went right along. Wish I didn't rush the kids out so I could have seen her face when she realized she was the only one singing!

Church Madrigal

Here are the kids' costumes for our church madrigal. They have a part in it singing Away in a Manger. A very gifted friend made the boys' costumes and we borrowed L's from my niece Madison.

Lunch with Santa

Preschool Program

Braden had his preschool program this weekend. Grandma Mohler has been down visiting and was able to go with us (don't know what I would have done without her this week/weekend). In one video you can see him. He is in the second row wearing a black and red checkered shirt. In the second video you can sometimes see him peeking from behind the boy in the red shirt with a huge snowflake because Braden decided to sit down at that point! At least he didn't hit anyone or yell out. It's the little things in life!

Babies, babies, babies!

I am happy to announce that I am an Aunt again! While I patiently awake the birth of Elicia's little one, I get to play with the new foster daughter of Matt and Kande (Ben's middle brother). They were recently certified to do foster care and this is their first placement. Jasmine is one month old and sooooooooooooooooooo adorable!! The goal is for her to return to her parents and I know she will be spoiled crazy with love while Matt and Kande have her.

Black Friday

My mom and I went shopping on Black Friday. Unlike the more serious shoppers we slept in until 4am. We hit Kmart, Menards, Kohls and Walmart. Got lots of great deals. Later that afternoon my Mom's side of the family came over to visit. There were 9 little children, the oldest being 6. They were all very well behaved and played wonderfully together. We all had a great time especially when my sneaky s-i-l put an ultrasound picture on the family website but no name! Had a good time watching the Great aunts try to figure out who was pregnant!
I can't believe that I forgot to take my camera )-: So am waiting for my cousins to share them!

More Babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sister-in-law (David's wife) just announced they are expecting a little one in June. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Dress Up

I got permission to post this clever disguise!

We LOVE Dress Up!

All dressed up and no place to go! In the background is the costume organizers that Papaw hung for us.

Dear Santa..... I have a GREAT Christmas Idea

If anyone needs an idea for the kids, just look at this picture! Santa, can you hear me??? B&L have equally pitiful pictures but can't be posted yet... Ben P.S. They make these in 4x4 and camo for Dad.

Bass Pro Shop

Ben took all four kids to the Santa's Village at the Bass Pro Shop for a little hillbilly Christmas time. We met Uncle Matt at his house. The kids (and Dad/Uncle Matt) got to shoot crossbows with foam darts, rifles with lasers and see Santa. Bj is a natural rifle shot, can't wait till Mom cuts the apron strings and lets the boy shoot a real gun! B and L loved playing with the remote control HUMVEE's and making pine cone decorations to bring home to Mom. Mom got to stay home and take a well deserved nap.

Bus Stop

Bj's bus stop friend.

Bj is enjoying his Mixed Martial Arts classes. It is mostly just self defense training - not the cage fighting, though they do that there too. He works hard when he is there and loves the 1:1 that he gets there.

Sorry, will try to remember to either proof read or use spell check next time before posting!

Ok, so I spent almost a year looking for just the right pillows for the living room. I wanted something with specific colors and at a reasonable price. Even looked at material to make my own. FINALLY found four pillows at Kohl's that were perfect and at 60% off about 4 1/2 months ago. Was still just a bit more than I had hoped to pay, but thought since it was Kohls that they would last a while. WRONG! Last month I started noticing the string unraveling and ends opening up creating large gaps in the seams of all the pillows. I was sooooooo annoyed! I had been very careful not to let the kids be rough with them since it took so long to find them! Decided to take a chance yesterday and took them back to the store. Keep in mind, they no longer have the tags on and I did not keep the reciept! I did not have high hopes when I got there, but was upset enough over the money I spent to try. Suprise! They gave me my money back ! They still have the same pillows there and were able to swipe my credit/debit card and see that I did purchase them there. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The clerk had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to exchange the pillows (she did have a smile on her face when she asked me). So, back to looking! I think I will focus on making my own this time. At least that way I know they will last more than 4 months! Now I just have to learn to use this new sewing machine (thanks, Grandma)!

Bj is in mixed martial arts. He had been going one day a week for about 3 months and recently started two days. His Dad took him to practice and took his eyes off of him to play with Braden. Bj decided to come show him his great 'upper cut' form and caught him right in the jaw (but did not have his boxing gloves on). Dad did not appreciate his good form...

My First Blog!

Well, I decided everyone else was getting a blog so I would too! I can not post pictures of L&B since we are still considered their foster family but will post pictures where you can't see their faces. Doesn't seem like a family site without them. Things seem to be headed towards adoption, but they have to look for family placements first. We are keeping our fingers crossed...

Yesterday was a rough day. Big B was cranky when he got home from school, Lil B would not stay in his room at naptime and at some point, while I was dealing with the baby that I watch, got a hold of some kleenexes. Tore them all into little bitty pieces and spread them over his floor. Then later L decided to pour applejuice (had a sports bottle) all over my bedroom carpet because she was mad she that had to stay in there since she had strep. UGH! L is on an all water diet as far as liquids go. I wouldn't even let her have milk in her cereal this morning. I will NOT go nuts, I will NOT go nuts, I will NOT go nuts!