Visiting home to see family

Since terry just started his new job, he has no vacation leave, so this week the kids and I took a trip home to see some family and my best friend now and from highschool. It was a really quick trip,but worth it so that we could see everyone just a bit. Here are some quick snap shots...that were taken at my grandmas "shop".
My Grandma (we are at her shop) They don't live in town so when the weather gets bad they stay at the extra room at the shop so they are closer to family . 

 Gramps

 My aunt Sandy (who is like a second mom) and uncle Bob.

 My Grandma Hope- Missing my grandpa who went to be with the Lord 2 yrs ago.

LOL, my mom bought me this..cute huh?

 My best friend now and from highschool was at our hometown so we had to get home to see her ...she only gets close maybe once a year or twice..Luv this girl..she is like a sister!

 going out to dinner...off we go

Merry Christmas Everyone

For Christmas we stay home, we use to go visit all our family which I really really miss alot! But years ago we decided to make our own family traditions. I remember transitioning from traveling to see family to decideing to make our own traditions seemed very different at first. We were use to a zillion family memebers being around and a zillion gifts to buy, wrap, and then how to bring all the stuff back home that we recieved. But after a couple years we started to really love just being home.  Now that our kids are older they love being home and never want to go anywhere. We love the Christmas season...Christmas Eve Service at church, Terry's home made potatoe soup, playing with our kids, eating goodies that I bake, pop corn ball night,  Santa coming in the night, waking up xmas morning to see what he brought..(this year Grace was up at 3a.m. to tell us he had been here). Hanging out relaxing on xmas day and enjoying a nice candle light dinner that night. Merry Christmas everyone, we hope that your Christmas was Christ filled and that you have many blessings in the next year!

 Bailey 15, Gracie 3, (dog-Phoebee), Amanda 13

 Above...we were laughing at the dog..shes laying so crazy!!

Pop corn balls night- this is a tradition that we use to do our at my grandma Schmidts while I was growing up, then my aunt Jeanie took over and we did it at her house, now we have done it at our house for the past 13 years. :-) Im sure at least one or two of my kids will continue it and the yummy handed down recipe!! 

 Even though Amanda got many gifts, this was the ONE and only thing she really wanted!!

  Bailey thought it was awesome that Great Grandma Richards sent money in his socks :-)

Whoo hooo Gracie.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

It's her "new" smile..with keeping her mouth closed..cute huh.

My Neice ..

One month old today, my sweet neice Eira Christine

Merry Christmas

Did you know that the chopping down of the Christmas tree represents the death of Christ and putting it back up again represents the resurrection of Christ. Did you know that the wreaths we hang are never ending circles, that represents eternity? Candy canes were made to look like shepherd hooks and the colors red , Jesus' blood, white, purity. The gifts, represents the 3 gifts the wise men brought for Jesus. So when you are running around trying to get the "perfect gift", stop yourself take a deep breath and remember we have been given the perfect gift, Jesus Christ was given to us to remove all of our sins. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Jesus. MERRY CHRISTMAS! ♥ ♥ ♥

run, run, run...

Tonight I realized that Christmas is only days away ..I am suddenly feeling overwhelmed with getting my shopping all done and this week is filling up with things that need to be done. Since I am not working things are also tighter so need to be a little more creative with what I buy all the "extra" people. I am feeling overwhelmed with the balance of keeping our traditions fun for the kids and yet getting everything done this week that I need to. I finally tonight ordered Christmas cards...not even sure I will get a letter out. I did get it wrote up. But on the note of Christmas letters do people really sit and really read through them or does everyone not really have the time right now to sit and read the bla bla bla of what we are all up to!!??   It seems my days are normally pretty easy going, but here in the next two weeks they are completly full and not enough time to get things done,  and also see friends that I don't see too often that will be around.

Ok...Deep breath and a good nights rest will hopefully help me gather myself and get organized this week. I like my ducks in a row that is for sure. What ways do you keep your sanity during the holidays?

beginning to look alot like Christmas..

our tree is all done....now just need to wrap a bunch of gifts...

 I think Gracie will sit by this little ice rink all month and watch it go...:-) She is so adorable. Notice she has a bagel in her hands too....she eats alll the time 24/7. :-)

the temp today was in the single digits...Brrrrrrr

cute tiny toes...but growing up so very fast. What a fun age...she is sooo excited for Christmas!!

Even my puppy needs christmas bows..she just got all pretty today!!

In love with my neice..

 I am so in love with my little neice..she makes my heart pitter patter...

 I got to bond with her for a while  while my sister did some laundry downstairs. See her little hand holding my thumb..how cute is that?? Oh my goshhh..

This is my favorite....I could have fallen asleep with her..My little Eira!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

aunt Paige with Gracie

this year thanksgiving was very different from past years. Usually we are around between 20-30 family members at my Grandmothers house in my home town. But this year with my sister having her baby we spent thanksgiving here at the cabin with a very small amount of family. Turned out we did not see my sister and baby this day as they were with her hubby's family all day. Oh well, we got to see them the next day. Either way the cabin is a peaceful place to be, but missed seeing my grandparents big time this year. Now not sure when we will make a trip home to see them, but sometime very soon, hopefully before Christmas. So for us this year Thanksgiving was pretty quiet!

Amanda and I on cabin deck..

 My mom and Mark...

 some of the little crowd at table

 my two teenagers....

Happy 13!!!

 
 to my beautiful daughter Amanda- I love you more than you will ever know. My sweet little girl. I remember the day that I gave birth you like it was yesterday and the sweet sound of "It's a Girl" was like music to my ears! You slept in my arms all night long, I did not sleep at all because I was so excited. Then of course the next day I was exhausted. It is amazing to me now to see what an absolutly wonderful young girl you have become. You love the Lord, your an amazing friend, always think of others around you, and you adore your little sister like no other. Oh and the fact that you still really acually think I am the cooolest mom around totally warms my heart!!  I am proud of who you have become. Happy 13th Birthday !! I love you!!

 Pool party with friends the night before..and big brother behind putting her face into her cake..ughh

the next day we all went out to eat to celebrate on her acual bday, and then I surprised her and took her shopping and let her pierce her ears a second time. :-) Fun girl day!!

 We also have the complete joy of seeing my little neice born today. So it is sooo cool that little Eira and Amanda will share the same birthday...(more baby pics to come). What an amazing day!!

can you tell I am a proud auntee or what!!??

Being a Mother is a treasure..

My kids mean the world to me!

sweet, loving, incredibly well mannered, talks all the time, playful, imaginative, and always wants to do things herself.

A leader and looked up to, a great friend to others, sweet, caring, lovable, honest and truthful, smart yet witty, full of talent and ambition for life, always strives for the best.

caring for others around him, loveable, smart, learns from mistakes, affectionate and always has a hug and an I love you for everything!

"The profit is in the albums"

Today I was talking to an old friend about my studio and I said I always envisioned selling the business and making a profit after 12 yrs instead of just closing my doors. My friend said "The profit is in all of your photo albums, and all the girls lives you touched over the years and the memories they have".  This statement really hit me and the more I think about it I realize just how true that really is. I think just hearing that today has helped me hit a new level of acceptance for moving on with my life in another direction.  It's like a band aid for my heart! :-)  The profit really is in all of my photo albums, and boy do I have many of them! I have great memories that can never be replaced by money, but only to be treasured in my heart!

Playing in the fall leaves

What a beautiful, sweet, and playful little daughter I have!!

I got my ears pierced!!!

Yes it was her idea! She said when Im 3 I want to get my ears pierced. Oh and she said on a friday!! Not sure where that came from but one day I was going to take her and it was not on a friday, and she was sure to tell me "no mommy it's not friday yet".  Little smart girl ! So we rehearsed this over and over, how there will be a poke that may hurt a little but only for a short while, you may cry a little , but not for long . You know the whole deal. So the day came and she was excited. The girl did one ear then the other. She sat there not crying at all. She waiting a bit , then I swear there was a look on her face that said " hmm when mommy rehearsed this with me I think I was suppose to cry".."Yeah I think I'll cry now".  She did not cry long..and soon we were off to getting ice cream and she was asking me to text daddy a picture of her new earrings!! LOL. Funny sweet girl !!