We're back!!

Finally, after the move and getting settled we are back in business. Blog business that is, post coming soon. Happy Easter!

Goldie

Who is Goldie you ask? He came to live with us last fall, when Emilee tossed a ping pong ball into a cup of water at the Fairview Fall Festival. The grand prize was a gold fish, which she won for Andrew. I really thought it would last a few days, but here we are a year later and he is still swimming around. So, we were at Wal-Mart one day and Andrew declared it was Goldies birthday, so I went along with it, why not? He picked out something new for Goldies bowl and we had a party that evening. Hey any excuss to have ice cream works for me!

Prom

Mason went to the homeschool prom this year with a girl from our church, Jackie Gilreath. The theme was masquarade. He designed their mask.

Updates from 2011

ok, so I have neglected my blog a little or maybe a lot! Here is a quick recap for this year.

Feeding the ducks at a Hotel in Pigeon Forge.

4th of July

Enjoying some Ice cream at the Dairy Barn - which we will miss, mostly the owners.

Briana's 22nd birthday

cake with Toy Story "Woody"- her favorite!

3rd Birthday - Princess Belle cake of course

Andrew our little baseball player, heading for home plate.

T-ball pool party!

Christmas fun

Every year we enjoy the Staley kid's party. The little ones can have their face painted, get ballon animals from a clown and visit with santa and receive a gift. The older ones enjoy some games of BINGO with a chance to win DVD's, Mason and Emilee both won this year. When they played the final game of blackout for a chance at a Walmart $150.00 gift card, Emilee had only 2 spaces left when someone else won. Everyone also brings a toy that is donated to local families.

This year we joined in the homeschool gingerbread house party. Every family gets their own gingerbread house kit and everyone brings something to share for the decorating. I learned my kids are not very good about working together. But all in all we had a fun time.

Andrew had more fun playing with his friend Kyle, but he also had some ideas of his own for decorating. Like the flat round cookie in the picture below, he said was the trampoline in the back yard.

Our finished Gingerbread house!

Christmas wouldn't be complete without us making sugar cookies. I just went with simple this year, white icing and sprinkles. They still tasted good!

Christmas Eve

After attending the candle light service at church we always go home and the kids get to open their gifts to each other. This year they drew names, which took about 4 tries because some kept getting their name or Andrew would tell who he had. We had to rig the drawing because Briana had already bought Emilee's gift. I always like these pictures because everyone is dressed up.

Andrew showing his super hero cape off, plus he received a bank that counts the money as it is deposited.

Emilee opening her 31 bag from Briana.

As Briana was opening her gift she joked about it being a man. It was funny when she realized it was a man of sorts. She loves the Toy Story movies and characters.

We started this tradition last year, they all get a new pair of pajama's to wear for Christmas morning. Emilee and Isabelles are matching.

Mason wasn't to surprized, he was with me at Old Navy on Black Friday when I bought them. It was his first time to go on Black Friday and he said he would never go again.

Emilee's 12th Birthday

Emilee talked me into letting her have a slumber party for her birthday this year. The girls had a great time but I'm not sure if they got any sleep. Note to self: don't let them have slumber parties on a Sat. night. Some of them tried their hand at makeup, where's the Mary Kay lady when you need her?

DQ ice cream cake, yum!! After a couple of weeks Emilee finally decided what she wanted for her birthday. Check out the picture below!