Box Seats

Thanks to Brigham for giving us his box seats for tonight's KSU men's basketball game. The girls thought they were big stuff sitting way up there and watching the game on the tvs. It was such a treat! We all enjoyed the game and the seats!


Chad and the girls in the box seats. Go Wildcats!

Trimming the Tree

I love the fact that Chad requires a REAL Christmas tree. It reminds me of my holidays long ago. The smell of the tree, the pine needles on the floor, the presents all around, and the stockings full of little surprises. That's how we did it in my "family" house many years ago. That is what I love to give to our girls now.

I love that each year we go out as a family to the cold Christmas tree lot and wander through all the trees looking for the right one. Hold one up and look, nope. Let's move on to another one. And do it all over again, until finally, we end up going back to one we looked at first. They tie up our tree and home we go.

Chad is getting better about setting up the tree in the stand (a lesson he learned from my dad I think.) As the girls and I are busy rearranging the family room and vacuuming up the space the tree will go. Champagne, our cat, usually runs upstairs to hide from this giant green thing that appears once a year.

Once the tree is inside and standing straight, it is my job to put the lights and ribbon on. While the girls im-patiently wait to add the ornaments. When it's all done, it truly is our masterpiece. What a fun family activity.


Our tree before.


I'm putting on the lights and ribbon.


Cooper adding ornaments.


Campbell adding ornaments.


The finished product!

Decorating

The girls were excited to help me decorate the house this year for Christmas. As everyone knows it takes a lot of time and hard work to get all the decorations out and set. We were busy putting up Christmas trees all day. We put one tree in the basement, one tree outside on the front porch, one tree at Nespor's, and then our big real tree in the family room. Add those 4 trees to Colgin's tree, which is up all year round, and we have 5 Christmas trees gleaming at us daily. Everything looks great and we are all in the Christmas spirit.


Christmas tree downstairs.


Christmas tree on front porch.


Christmas tree at Nespor's.


Our family tree.

Winter Wonderland

We took a little family outing this afternoon over to Topeka. We took the girls to the movie "Tangled." It was a crowded theater, but the movie was great! Then we ate dinner at Red Lobster. I think we were all tired of turkey leftovers. After dinner we drove through the Topeka Winter Wonderland. There are over a million lights on display in a 2 mile scenic lake view area. The girls were so excited each time they saw something new and we even saw a real moving car covered in lights driving through as well.


Winter Wonderland

Alexander

Last year a special Elf came to live at our house during the Christmas season. We named him Alexander. We were happy for his return this year and he brought a surprise for the girls too. Let the holidays begin!


Can you see Alexander sitting in Colgin's tree?

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year, we invited the Hitchings over for a very relaxed day of food, friends, and fun. We supplied the turkey and they brought a ham. We also had mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, jello, and many other snacks. It was a delicious meal and everyone had a great day.

I spent the morning in my pjs watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and drinking hot chai tea, while Chad was busy prepping things in the kitchen. I had baked the desserts the day before and he had the turkey brining overnight, so that he could fry it up. I love the lazy days of doing exactly what I want to do.


The turkey soaking in the brine.


Chocolate chip toffee bars and brownies.


The 4 girls saying "Cheers" with their kid wine and dessert.

Harry Potter

The girls spent the weekend at Grandma Debe's house, so Chad and I took full advantage of a weekend alone. First thing on the list was to see the new Harry Potter movie. It was a much anticipated movie and I couldn't wait to see the story play out. Knowing this movie would be in two parts, it was still worth waiting for. The movie was great and afterward we met up with friends for apps, dessert, and drinks. What a great date night!

Family Feast

For weeks Campbell had been practicing her Thanksgiving songs for her preschool program. They sang & acted out 3 songs. Funny Bird, Hello Mr. Turkey, and I'm a Little Indian. It was delightful and entertaining to watch. All the kids performed so well. After the songs were complete we enjoyed a family feast of fruit salad and pumpkin bread. The table settings were cute crafts the kids had done in class. Campbell was excited and proud to be a preschooler.


Campbell's table setting.


Campbell singing.


Campbell acting out the song.


Campbell participating in the music.


Campbell getting her Turkey glove ready.

Thanksgiving Lunch

Each year, Cooper's school offers families the opportunity to eat a Thanksgiving Lunch with their students at school. This year we took Campbell along for the fun. It was a cold and SNOWY day and as we sat inside the cafeteria enjoying "school lunch" the air was filled with excitement and holiday spirit as we all watched the snowflakes fall.

HuHot

Cooper loves to eat at HuHot and since we couldn't eat there on her birthday night, due to the KSU basketball game, we honored her request at ate at HuHot tonight. She was excited to bring a friend and her birthday treat was the cook yourselves s'mores. Delish!

International Girls Day

Cooper attended a Girl Scout activity this afternoon called "International Girls Day." It was held at a sorority house on KSU campus. Many girls from her troop attended, so she was happy to go have some fun with the girls. They made crafts, did their makeup, and ate snacks. Cooper was impressed by the sorority house and it's purpose. Guess we know what is in her future?

PTO Carnival

Tonight we attended Cooper's school carnival. It was filled with lots of kid friendly games, prizes, and snacky food. Both girls had a great time and it was fun to see all the supportive parents.

Getting Kaya

Cooper's birthday wish came true. She now owns Kaya the American Girl Doll. In September, the American Girl Store opened in Kansas City! We were very excited about this news. I had taken Cooper to the AG store in Chicago 2 years ago with our friends Michelle & Teagan. It was a great experience, as Cooper had just purchased her Just Like Me doll a few months before our trip. Since then Cooper has had her heart set on getting Kaya. So she finally saved up enough money that she was able to make her wish come true.

I took Cooper to KC to the AG Store on Saturday. It would be a quick trip, but one well worth the time in the car. As soon as she saw the store front she was overjoyed and bouncing out of her seat. She rushed right up to the door and was ready to get Kaya in her grasp. We brought her other doll, Maye, to visit the beauty shop and get her hair done and some pampering while we shopped. We found Kaya and carried her around while we decided what else was going home with us that day. When we had all our decisions made, it was time to checkout. Cooper proudly purchased Kaya and was just beaming. It was a wonderful moment that I will never forget.

After our time in the AG store, we walked around the mall and grabbed some lunch. It was a fantastic mommy & daughter day.



Cooper going into the American Girl Store, Kansas City.


Cooper holding Kaya.


All shopped out!


Cooper with Kaya in the car.

Birthday Festivities with family

We invited family over for lunch for Cooper's birthday. Thanks to dad, Marie, and Chad for following my crazy recipe ideas and prepping the food for lunch. Jeremy & Beth planned their KS visit for this weekend and were able to attend Cooper's party. Cooper is such a sweet girl and enjoys everyone being here to celebrate with her. It was a quick and busy lunch hour, but much fun was had by all. We ate, sang Happy Birthday with cupcakes, and opened gifts. Thanks to everyone for attending.


Cooper opening gifts.


More gifts.


She is so excited.


Oma made Cooper and Campbell each a new quilt.


Jeremy, Beth, & Cooper.


Oma & Cooper.


Papa Mike, Grandma ReRe, & Cooper.


Kelly, Ryland, Bailey, & Cooper.

Birthday Festivities with friends

Cooper decided to celebrate her 8th birthday with her friends with a bowling party. The girls were excited and it allowed them to burn off some of that energy. This was Campbell's first time to bowl. I tried to help her so the ball would actually make it down the lane, but she was stubborn and wanted to do it herself. All the girls did a great job (thank goodness for bumper guards). We enjoyed some cupcakes and ice cream. Then Cooper opened her gifts. Thank you everyone for attending.


Campbell's bowling shoe and my bowling shoe. A classic picture.


The group waiting to bowl.


The girls enjoying the party.


Happy 8th Birthday Cooper Maya!

Happy 8th Birthday Cooper

Today is the day. Today is Cooper's 8th birthday. Wow!

She had requested breakfast in bed (just like mom gets on her birthday and Mother's day) and it had to be chocolate chip pancakes. Daddy obliged and woke up at 7am to start making the pancakes, Cooper was already awake. She has a difficult time containing her excitement.

She managed to stay in her room and get ready for school, despite her impatience creeping up. We all sang Happy Birthday to her as we entered the room.


Then she wanted to open gifts & cards she had received in the mail, that we made her wait until her actual birthday to open. New pj's from Grandma Debe & Papa Butch. And a card from Uncle Jeremy & Aunt Beth.


We all went downstairs to the family room to wait for an important phone call she would receive at 7:45am. And to her surprise, her birthday gift from mom & dad was there waiting for her. A new bike!!!


Cooper also had a super day at school. Chad and I joined her for lunch and then brought Campbell to class to share birthday snacks. This is Cooper standing in front of her class while we sang Happy Birthday to her.

Tonight we are heading to the opening game of KSU Basketball. I think Cooper has had a fantastic 8th birthday.