Close your eyes and listen....I really needed this....

Come to Jesus by Chris Rice

Makes My Monday--The Great Christmas Book Switch-a-roo

The First Sunday of Advent brings an exciting change.....the Christmas books are brought up from their tote in the basement and are displayed for all to enjoy!!!

The beginning of the Christmas magic Makes My Monday!!

Macro Monday-Let Your Light Shine

The First Sunday of Advent

I flicker of hope for the coming of our Savior on Christmas

L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge---Your Best Shot

This week's challenge over at Home Is Where Your Start From is "Your best shot".

I don't know if this is my best shot but it is definitely one of my all time favorites.

Gracie on the shore of Oneida Lake.

...and let the glittering begin....

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soulemama for all to find and see

Thanksgiving 2010

I am truly blessed!!!!

Every once in a while I am reminded of that in a big way.

Thanksgiving was that recent "big way".

All ten kids and hubby just happened to be in chronological order from youngest to oldest as they delivered the Thanksgiving dinner to Grandma C. and Aunt Mary.
(OK---the chronological order may not have "just happened")
Pat Jr, Becky, Matt, Dan and Amy---the first five

Laura, Mark, Grace, Luke and Kim--the last five.

You may notice the Native American 3 youngest children.

They are all very proud of their Native American blood from their Grandpa H, but these three were the only partly Native American children who would wear the proper attire for Thankgiving.

Aunt Mary doing one of her many great deeds---making rye bread dip

A definite tradition---Dad and his 5 boys, playing cards.

A very cute little Indian.

Pat asked Laura for some Orange Crush---she obliged--just like any normal sister would.

It was a time to give thanks for cousins and having fun together.

feasting

and more feasting

and more, and more feasting

Amy, Luke and Maggie

Daddy and Grandma C

Danny and Aunt Mary

Wishing everyone blessed memories of a wonderful day---and plenty of leftovers.....

A Norman Rockwell-Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!!!

(Guess whom our artist of the month is?)

We, at the "little house" wish every one a wonderful day!!

Wordless Wednesday

What came off the needles this week....

I love this gift giving season!!

Eggyolk "painted" Thanksgiving Cookies

I love having the kids decorate cookies with this eggyolk and foodcolor "paint".
It is as simple as an eggyolk mixed with foodcoloring.
As a sidenote , the yellow of the yolk makes red turn orange.

The colors are wonderful.....and then all the fun is in the painting...which my kids love to do!!

We have a secret sugar cookie recipe that is so easy to work with and so delicious....I'm not sharing because it is not my "secret"---it is a dear friend's mother's recipe that I begged for it and promised NOT to share. (But it is the absolute best!!)

Gracie hard at work.

A little spinkle of sugar makes for a pretty sparkle.

Kimmy waiting patiently for her turn??
Each child painted their cookies by themselves to cut down on chaos.

The colors are wonderfully bright.

Luke patiently waiting for his turn??

Luke was very surprised to find a train with his leaves....very excitied!!

The final product.

I love the colors!!

Kimmy looks a little suspicious, like she was caught nibbling on a cookie!!

Mark's Indians and Pilgrim Hats

Mark made this very cute centerpiece for our Thanksgiving table.

He found the directions at Ramblings of a Crazy Woman, one of our favorite quick and easy craft sites!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at Soulemama for all to find and see

Festive Apple Turkeys---a picture tutorial

A picture tutorial, because I am too tired to write words.

I found this idea here....I Can Teach My Child!....She wrote of the directions! :-)

Sunflowers of Thankfulness

Today we made "sunflowers of thankfulness".

They were very simple and turned out very cute!

All you need to do is to paint one side of a paperplate brown.

While the paint dries, cut out sunflower "petals".

I folded a sheet of paper in thirds like a letter and then cut out three petals at a time.

About 12 petals fit on a regular sized paperplate.
On each petal, write things that you are thankful for.

The three youngest kids made the sunflowers, but everyone took part in naming things they were thankful for.

Glue the petals to the paperplate.

Gracie added a happy face to her flower.

Our "thankfulness sunflowers" are now displayed on the kitchen cupboards to remind everyone what is most important during this special time of year.