mini photo shoot {Nevaeh}

Today was a very quiet day.  The big kids went on the school, Jordan to preschool, Nine ended up not coming, so I just had Nevaeh. 

She brought with her an adorable hat and pair of shoes she was very excited about showing me so we took some pictures for her mom! 

She was so cute and kept giving me big eyes which then make her laugh and smile!

This helped for some very cute pictures and made me laugh along with her!

Advent Calendar Countdown Activity Ideas

Advent Calendar ideas 2011

Some ideas made by repeated a few times like watching a Christmas movie and reading Christmas books.  

Q: What do you call a cat on the beach at Christmas time?

A: Sandy Claus!

Enjoy a candy too!

Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast?

A: snowflakes

Enjoy a candy too!

hotchocolate with dipping spoons 

{pinterest find}

 Watch a Christmas movie

Lighted Christmas parade 

{an annual event in our town}

Take turns taking pictures of each other with Santa beard

Make a giant picture together

Build a gingerbread house and Christmas train

 Pizza and Christmas movie

 Play games 

{each child chooses one}

 Write a Christmas story together

{every one takes a line, repeat til done}

 Watch a Christmas movie with ice cream sundaes

 Picnic dinner by the tree with candles

 Sleep over by the tree and watch movies

{with cousins}

 Make red and green clear flubber

Glowing mountain Dew experiment

 Read the Christmas story

 pick and read Christmas books

 Christmas books with candy cane ice cream

 New Christmas book

{going to wrap each of them a new Christmas  book}

 Play would you rather  card game

 Make Christmas tree crayons

 Sugar Cone trees

Sit down together and wrote 2 things we love about each person in our family on cut out stars

Write someone a letter telling them how special they are to you

2009 ideas here

2010 ideas here

Stuff the Stockings

I know I don't post much of my personal daily life on here but this I feel is worth sharing.  

In June my sister had to delivery her twin boys via c-section at 25 weeks.  I was able to get there along with my shortly after they arrived.  Upon arrival at the hospital we learned that one of the twins, Carter, didn't make it.  His twin brother Cohen was in the NICU fighting for his life.  You can read all about his fight at my sister's blog Keeping up with the Kimmels.  She has an amazing way of sharing her heart through her blog. Fast forward 5 months later Cohen has recently returned home and my sister would like to do something for all the families that will be spending time in the NICU this Christmas.

She would like to put together care packages for the families and deliver them before Christmas.  As a parent that had to spend 130 days in the NICU she knows how much the little gestures mean.  She received and still receives so much love and support and she would like to pass that along to other families. 

We have set up a blog, facebook page, and e-mail account to share information.  

The blog is called NICU Care packages and there is a list of items we would like to collect to put in these care packages.  All the contact information is there too.  

I just put it together tonight so it isn't perfect and will probably be tweaked and have things added over the next few days.

Mini photo shoot {Nine}

Today it was just me and Nine hanging out and we had a great time.  We went outside to play and I decided since he was having such a good time with the leaves that I would take advantage and take some pictures!  I love this little guy and his heart melting smile!

I took a TON and it was hard to narrow down so be ready for lots of cute pics!

Thanksgiving Crafts

In the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought I would gather a few past fall/Thanks giving crafts we have done and put them all in one post!  

Enjoy!

Paper Chain Turkey

If you would like to make an easier, smaller version of the paper chain turkey check out these cute little turkeys below here.

Pumpkin Pie Play dough

Marble painted pumpkins