Happy Thanksgiving!

Wow!! I have totally been SLACKING on my blog lately! There has been a lot going on, so really it's been the last thing on my mind-sorry 'bout that!

Anyway, we had a GREAT Thanksgiving at my parents house this year! Saw a few movies, put up some Christmas decorations, had some chillin' out time, and ate a lot of yummy food! Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving day.

Cooper's first Thanksgiving dinner!


Helping me make a pecan pie!

The finished cherry and pecan pies!

Pilgrim Ella-for her school Thanksgiving program

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Halloween 2008!

Here are just a few pics from our Halloween! I posted a ton more on Facebook, so request to be my friend and you can see more! we had a great Halloween weekend! After Ella's Halloween parade and party at school, we headed to Nashville to spend some time with Reid's family. Ella and Cooper got to do their trick-or-treating there with some friends that live next door to Reid's sister Ashley and her husband Michael. We had a ton of fun!

Homemade Halloween Decorations!

Look what Ella and I did this afternoon during Cooper's nap! The scarecrow she made at school, but the pumpkins and bats we did today! I found the pages of eyes, noses and mouths online and printed them out. We used construction paper to make the pumpkins,and cut out the faces and glued them on. So fun!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, everyone!

Our Easter celebration began last night, as we did the Resurrection Cookies with Ella. It ended up being a wonderful learning experience for Ella. Basically, they are meringue cookies, so they involve like 15 minutes with the hand mixer. Reid took over the mixing while I was tending to Cooper. While I was gone from the kitchen, Reid said that Ella was recounting all the aspects of the Easter story that we had taught her! So, I think this will be something we make a tradition in our family!

This morning, Ella and Cooper enjoyed their Easter baskets before we left for church, and we got a few pictures. Here are my little Easter cuties :)




After church, we headed over to Papa and Yaya's house for lunch, an egg hunt, some family time, and then dinner! We had a great time spending time with Papa, Yaya, Aunt Kelly, Aunt Leah, Uncle Chris, my Uncle, Aunt and cousins, and a couple of Leah's friends. It was a beautiful day outside, and we had a wonderful Easter!




And can I just take a moment to brag about the Easter Bunny cake that I made today? I am so excited with how it came out, and wanted to share :)

Teaching the Easter Story

I posed the question to Reid the other day, "How do you teach a preschooler about Easter?" As to which his response was "That's why they have the Easter Bunny!" har har....

But seriously, all kidding aside, with Easter coming up, I have been wondering how to effectively teach Ella about the meaning of Easter. I mean, how do you teach a preschooler about Easter, and have it not be scary, and have it make sense. It's hard enough teaching a preschooler about death, let alone rising from the dead!

My friend Cindy posted the following on her blog about Resurrection Cookies. It thought it was such a great idea, and that it would be a perfect way to introduce the "Easter Story" to Ella! What better way to teach a preschooler than with something they can actually touch and relate to! So here it is. Enjoy! I am really looking forward to trying this with her the night before Easter Sunday.

RESURRECTION COOKIES

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need: 1c. whole pecans, 1 tsp. vinegar, 3 egg whites,
pinch salt, 1c. sugar, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, tape, Bible.

Preheat oven to 300 BEFORE BEGINNING.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 c. sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty! Read Matt. 28:1-9

Getting to Know Your Friends: Christmas Edition!

Alright, so read mine then lets see your answers! I tag Kelly, Leah, Anita and Melissa to do it on their blog!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper, but sometimes gift bags. I think it is more fun to unwrap wrapping paper!
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Although eventually I would like to get a real one when we move to a bigger house.
3. When do you put up your tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? New Year’s week
5. Do you like eggnog? Ewwww....no
6. Favorite gift rec'd as a child? One gift that I distinctly remember getting was a little casio keyboard. I loved that!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes-if the Fisher Price one counts ;)
8. Hardest person to buy for? Guys in general. They like expensive stuff!
9. Easiest to buy for? My kiddos
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't really think of anything right now
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail for sure!
12. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas and Elf
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This year I didn't start until the end of October. Usually I like to start earlier.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes-I think a candle or two to take to a gift exchange type thing.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas morning breakfast. Egg/Cheese Casserole, Bacon and my Mom's homemade Christmas bread...YUMMY!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? Definitely NOT Veggie Tales Christmas Album, I can tell you that ;)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay at home, then travel after Christmas.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a star on the top of ours.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning for sure! Santa doesn't come until then...DUH! ;)
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Soooo many people at all the retail stores and all the traffic!
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? It's a kid theme. White and colored lights. Colorful glass balls, and all of the kids ornaments.
24. What did you leave for Santa? We leave cookies and milk, and carrots for the reindeer.This year we are also leaving reindeer food that Ella made at school. It consists of oatmeal and red and green glitter. :)