black friday...seriously?

Shopping on black Friday ha never appealed to me. In fact I'm not a big shopper, really! We had a good snow storm today. Isn't this better than shopping on black Friday?

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dying to craft

Today since the girls aren't in school, we are dying noodles to use as beads for necklaces. I plan on having them make necklaces or fun pictures with the noodles. Love me a good craft,especially when it keeps the girls occupied.

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Loss

Recently I have had a few friends that have lost loved ones. Although I was not close to those that passed away, I cannot help but think how I will someday inevitably lose a loved one. I played the piano for a funeral a few weeks ago and inside the written program was a poem. I have heard it before but it hit me harder this time for some reason. I hope the friends I am close to will be comforted now at their time of need. It is such times that I am grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and that families really are forever!

A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says

She is gone.

Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as large now as when I last saw her.Her diminished size and total loss from my sight is in me, not in her.

And just at that moment, when someone at my side says she is gone, there are others who are watching her coming over their horizon and other voices take up a glad shout -There she comes!

That is what dying is.
A horizon and just the limit of our sight.

Lift us up O Lord, that we may see further.

just for fun

Just uploading from my phone to see how this all works.

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Kenna's 6th

Mckenna just had her 6th birthday a week or so ago. I can't believe she is 6. I have learned a lot in the last 6 years about being a mother, but also about life and what it's really about. Every time one of my kids has a birthday it stings a little. They grow up so fast and I know that in no time at all the innocence of childhood will be gone. But I realized something in the last week or so. I have Halle who is only 8 months. She can't do much for herself yet. She is hitting all her special little milestones and is as cute as a baby can be. Mckenna is a kindergartner that is also hitting all her special little milestones. For some reason I use to think that once they were in school they wouldn't be as fun to watch. I was wrong. Watching Mckenna is just as genuinely entertaining as watching my sweet little baby Halle. I watch as Mckenna and Kayla go to school and all they do that doesn't involve me and it hurts to let them go, but I realized that I still get to be here and watch them blossom and THAT eases the sting of birthday time. So, to my grown up girl, Happy Birthday Mckenna!

Mckenna had an Art party. Anyone who knows Mckenna knows she loves her art! This was a great birthday party theme. Here are some pictures to show how we pulled it together:

I strung up clothesline around the whole party area for art to be hung as the guests finished their masterpieces. I did this so we could see all the fun art, but also it made it so I wouldn't have to use a surface to dry paintings or crafts.

I set up different stations. I covered each table with butcher paper so the kids could color on the table, to protect the table, and just to go with the theme of art. This is the play dough station which was a hit for the younger guests. (We had many different aged guests.) I also had the color wonder markers and paper and the aqua-doodle mat. All great things for younger guests!

This is the bag station. Each guest was given a blank canvas bag to decorate. This was more for the older guests. I also did a painting station and a water color station.

Yummy food. I did a small candy bar (an assortment of candy in jars) as a party favor thing. This was awesome. I put out small zip bags and guests could take a bag and fill with candy to take.

I made an artists pallet cake. Not my most wonderful creation ever, but it turned out pretty cute and went with the theme.

I also made these little marshmallow pops as a thank you favor. They filled their canvas bags they had created with the paintings they had done and I gave each guest a frame so they could frame their art at home.

Usually there is snow on the ground by Mckenna's birthday, but this year it was quite warm and we had just finished raking a huge pile of leaves. The kids all went outside to enjoy the leaves. FUN!

It was such a fun birthday party. It's a great theme for a party!

Update

Hello. I'm back. We are done with family visits now which is a let down considering that the holidays are right around the corner. We had a blast with Grandma and Grandpa Mathie last week. We have also celebrated Halloween, Jason's birthday and Mckenna's birthday. Of course I have included pictures of all the fun.

Highlights of Grandma and Grandpa Mathie's visit!

Halloween

My next post will be all about Kenna's B-day!