Thankful December

Hi everyone!

What better way to catch you up on our life, than a "Thankful" post?

December started really mild here in Minnesota.

No snow until almost Christmas.

Our house is down the hill behind the kiddos.

Thankful for a mild December

 Thankful for rolling down big hills

(who needs snow for sledding?)

You know you want to roll too!

See that line of houses? 

 Our home is on the right side of the last house on the right.

Thankful for all these beautiful hills behind our home!

 Thankful for some beautiful winter sunsets.

And our view from the porch.

(it's not quite warm enough to sit and relax on the porch though)

Thankful for annual Christmas cookie baking with our good friends!

This is Melissa.
Isn't she beautiful?
Her personality makes her that much more beautiful!



We used to live next door to Nicki and Melissa

I think we've been Christmas-cookie-baking for like 13 years now

Melissa used to babysit our kiddos
Nicki is on her journey to becoming Catholic!
Exciting isn't it?


This year, we had an extra person, her fiancé, Jacob!

Thankful he came along for the day!
I think I kept the questions under 20.
He passed.

Awwwww......



Yes, there was flour everywhere.

That's OK

The "S" masterpiece!

This cookie has something to do with Dr Who....



Nicki is Simeon's godmother (awwwwww!)

Thankful Guadete Sunday caught us in our pink! 

Thankful for my cutest helpers!



Thankful this little boy turned 4.

Yes.  My baby is 4.

Which technically means he's not really a baby at all anymore.

At least not to you.

He always will be to me.

It was a Christmas tree themed party!

4 year olds come up with the best themes!

Trying to snuggle my baby and there's always someone trying to get in on the fun!

 Thankful for these chocolate Advent calendars
I kind of miss them waking up asking for candy every single morning.
(kidding)
But, it is fun and it is a good memory
(and the candy is tiny)

Thankful for special Christmas visits from friends!
You know these sweet ladies, don't you?
Christine!  When are you going to blog again?
I can't link you!

My sweet goddaughter

Thankful for hot cocoa time with cousins in cute piggy tails!
(my cousin's sweet daughter)

Hi Samantha!  

Thankful for special time with my sister
(we watched one of the old Star Wars movies)
Which reminds me....I've got some reviews coming up!

Thankful for amazing winter sunsets.
Taken from the inside warmth of my home.
Baby, it's cold outside!

Yes, we have snow now.

Thankful, because the kids LOVE it!

If you are still here, that was my December Thankful's
I'll have Christmas ones soon. 

Thankful December is over and we are one month closer to spring!

 



And the Winner is...

 OK, so I decided to do this the "old fashioned" way

and just draw names out of a cute Christmas bowl!

 First we prayed for the children that would get to read this beautiful little book,

then, we drew a name

Jen Vogel!!

Jen, could you please email me your address and Peanut Butter & Grace will

send you out this precious book!

(jamiejo99 @ gmail.com)
(no spaces though)


If you did not win, you can still order this sweet book,
HERE


The price is right and would be a perfect gift for yourself, your children,
godchildren, grandchildren or any child in your life!
 

A Book Review!

My good friend, Becky has written a children's book!

I have pictures of Becky HERE.

 

She asked me if I'd review her book, The Little Flower. 

It's been such an honor to pray for her as she has gone through this long process!

 

 

I was so happy and excited to get my copy yesterday!

My pictures do not do this book justice!

The illustrations bring your imagination to what heaven might look like.

They actually brought me back to my childhood and what I thought of heaven.

It is so beautiful, just a treasure to hold and have.

The story is so sweet and my children loved it last night.

It sparked conversations of how we can do little things and

how much God loves us.

For little children, this is BIG!

It was also a great way to talk about the real life of St Therese,

known as "The Little Flower".

 

You can see the entire book HERE in PDF form.

 

I would like to share some love and do a giveaway!

So, leave me a comment for a chance to win this beautiful treasure.

 

I'll do the giveaway next week.

Enter by Wednesday, December 9th. (by commenting)

 

If you do not win, no worries!

You can order this beautiful book HERE

This would make a very special gift for your children, grandchildren, godchildren,

or any special child in your life.

 (my goddaughters will be receiving this soon!)

 

Giveaway is done! 

 



Thankful Thanksgiving!

I truly believe this.

Being Thankful every day takes practice.

It takes time to reflect on all the blessings in our lives.

Blessings can be hard things as well as fun things.

Thankful to God for ALL His blessings!

Thankful for yardwork!

Lots and lots of yardwork this November!

I am Thankful we had a pretty mild November and were able to get it all done!

Thankful for the cutest little raker. Ever. 

Thankful for wheelbarrow rides for little kids and older kids to give them!

 



Thankful for awesome November skies

Thankful for little helpers

and pooped out helpers! She was such a hard worker!! 

Thankful for fall campfires

(and sorry to smoke out our neighborhood, with kids that kept throwing in leaves!)



Thankful for new piano students!



And old sweatshirts!

My oldest son wore that when he was little! 

Thankful we still have littles, they are such a blessing to have.

Thankful we found this amazing new veggie mix, it stir fries up so good and tastes amazing!

Even my non veggie lover ate this!

(well one of them)

Thankful for fruit snack snacks!

Want to make a little kid happy?

Give them fruit snacks. 

Thankful for lots and lots of rain this November.

Thankful for a little snow...and deer! 

Thankful we got just enough snow to take out boots, mittens and face masks!

Thankful kids get excited about the smallest of things.

Thankful for beautiful pink sunsets....

Thankful for "Mom dates"!

In a busy family, it's so easy to forget to take time out to be with each child.

They need it so much.

They need to know they are special in their own special way and that I care. 

Thankful for piano competitions

Especially where you get to meet the composer, Dennis Alexander!
(and go out with your talented daughter for much needed time together afterward)

 



Thankful for surprise visits from good friends!
(Minnesota Mom) 

OK, she called me last Sunday morning, met us for Mass and had brunch with us afterward.

Don't worry, I put her to work! 

That's a lot of girls!

Thankful for the time we got to spend together.

 

Thankful for burrito assembly lines and kids learning how to cook!

 





Thankful for fancy "Elsa" dresses and old holey jeans!

(and a girl that will only wear a braid if she is "Elsa" for the day)

Thankful for cute little bull dog hats that instantly turn

little boys into bull dogs!

Thankful for kids that dress themselves....

You wanted a close up of our turkey, didn't you?

Thankful we've been putting this old turkey up for a really really long time! 

Thankful for a great fruit salad! (perfect for Thanksgiving)

Cranberry Fruit Salad

1 pkg fresh cranberries, chopped

(with a chopper)

1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained.

3 Braeburn apples chopped in medium chunks (I left the peeling on)

2 ribs of celery, chopped (with a chopper)

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 pkg dry sugar-free cherry-flavored jello packet

(dry, just sprinkle it in and stir)

 

Mix all the ingredients, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Keeps well for several days

 

 



Thankful for a new favorite Banana Bread recipe!

My friend Susan gave it to me! (it's her mama's recipe)

 The back says:

Make a mixture of cinnamon & sugar to put on top before baking

Bake 350 degrees for about an hour

 

BEST EVER!! 

 Thankful that Advent started today!

It's a time to listen, prepare our hearts for Jesus and to be Thankful always. 

Thankful there's no snow left!

(Don't worry, we're expecting snow tomorrow!)

 Thankful

for my faith,

My wonderful husband

for my beautiful children

for home, food, clothes and all we need.

 

 

 

 Thankful I've always got plenty to do, see this pile of books?

That's my correcting pile.

Usually I correct as I go, but somehow last week, I got behind and

have several days in each subject to correct.

(for each child)

 

Thankful blogging is just the distraction I needed!

Ha!

Happy first week of Advent!