Neighbor Gifts

We took around wrapping paper and butter-toffee popcorn to our neighbors this year. The kids were excellent helpers with the deliveries. We used an old popcorn popper that Bryan's parents gave us to help with the popcorn recipe. It was hilarious watching the kids' reaction to it!

The link for the recipe.   https://www.melskitchencafe.com/butter-toffee-popcorn-sugar-rush-3/

Deck the Halls

I love that the kids get so excited to set up the Christmas decorations. They love to don their Santa hats and get to work. Myles preferred doing the work in his diaper. At one point, he must have thought the tree gathered too much dust over the last year and helped make it shine. :)

I bought an early Christmas gift for myself/the family. I remember growing up and my mom would place an empty manger somewhere in our home with a small bundle of straw for us to fill the manger. We could only place a piece of straw in the manger by doing a kind deed(s). I decided I wanted to try something like this in our home. I finally found a manger that I loved and told the kids about the purpose of preparing the manger before Jesus is born on Christmas Day. I explained that only by secret, kind deeds could we fill the manger for Jesus. They loved it and are so excited to add straw to the manger. We're only a few days in, but so far, I would call it a success due to simply helping us focus a little more on the true reason for the season.

Thanksgiving with Cramers

We joined the Cramers at Elizabeth's family cabin in Pagosa Springs for Thanksgiving . We felt so lucky to be able to join them again. We love the Cramers and appreciate the invite! It was a fort-making, game playing, turkey trotting followed by turkey feasting, hot springing, park exploring, toy zip-ling, secret divulging perfect Thanksgiving get-away!

We ended up hitting the road a few hours sooner due to some very unexpected news regarding a family member. Through countless miracles, he is home from the hospital and recovering. What a scary reminder it was for me to always strive to have gratitude in my heart and let my loved ones know how much I care. It's something we hear so often that each day is a gift, but it hit so close to home that particular morning.