Best Friends for Life

So I haven't written on my posts on here for a while, and today is not going to be much of an exception because i would never be able to do justice in words to what i am feeling as i write this one. Tomorrow, on new years day, our family will have to say goodbye for now to some friends of ours that over the last couple of years have become like family. Our friendship with the lichtenberger family really started when rich and i joined their small group, about three years ago. Then we have had the priviledge of serving with them on the student ministries team at church, and jeanna and i have been in various bible studies together. And through all of that, our children have grown so close too. As parents you want nothing more for your children than to grow up having such strong friendships with other kids that totally love jesus, and shelby and jesse have so been that for my kids. And precious lucy has allowed me to love on a baby when she would actually let me hold her (she is quite the mama's girl). But all in all this family has been everything that you look for in a friendship, and as so many of you know it is so hard after you are married to find those couple friends that both you and your husband become so close with. So even though i know that our friendship with the lichtenberger family is far from over, which is why i titled this post best friends for life, it is still so hard to say goodbye to them. We are totally grateful to God for intersecting our lives for these few years, and for all of the things that they taught us along the way.

Christmas Cookie Baking and snow...

Hands down one of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to make sugar cookies and decorate them. I love it. Usually we do it over at my mom's house, but this year we couldn't make that happen, so I decided to just do it at my house, and deal with the mess. We had to break it up into two phases over two days-baking one day, and decorating the next-but it was fun as always, and now we have these yummy cookies tempting us every day!

We had our second snow so far this winter this week. It was soooo beautiful. It only really lasted one day, and it ended up to only be like 2 inches, but you take what you can get right??

Here are some pics that i took out the front door.

FINALLY-An Update

I know, I know, I am the worst blogger ever. All my friends in the blogging world have totally written me off as worthless. But if there is anyone still out there reading this, well, here is an update of the last couple of weeks and some pics to go along with them.

First are some pics of a trip we took to Union Station recently with one of my best and dear friends, Jenn and her children to see the sights there. There is the most amazing model train exhibit there that they were all totally enthralled with, and then, of course, the trip was not complete until they themselves got to ride the little train. It was a fun little trip, and I thought I might dress them cute so maybe, just maybe i could capture some good shots, but then i remembered, oh yeah, i am a horrible picture taker, and i have three little children who are going to have no interest whatsoever in taking pictures. Thus, this is what i got out of it.

Look at Kenna's face-is she having a good time or not??


Precious, i know...but horrible lighting.

Again, camryn and mya, not at all interested in the camera, and the crazy woman saying "look over here......say cheese.....over here"

So next set of pics are just some fun pics that i took of the kiddos playing in the leaves over at my friend Julie's house. It was freezing, by the way, so it was a short photo session.

The two older ones are totally precious, but of course, my precious 3 year old just can't quite get the idea of looking at the camera for the full ten minutes that you have to with our camera till the picture actually takes.

ALL RIGHT!! there we go......this one is totally going in the Christmas card!!

And then these last couple pics are at this house that we drove by and had to stop at because we I had heard about it from some friends of ours that these people have, like every blow up Christmas yard thingy that you could possibly have. It is not even arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way, they are just like on top of one another it is so crowded. They even have them all over their roof. I cannot even begin to do it justice in the photos, this is totally one of those things you just have to see to believe. But here are some pics

Halloween

Happenings as of late....

Yesterday i went on a field trip with Grace's first grade class to The Red Barn in Weston, MO. It was a chilly day, but very sunny and the fall leaves were gorgeous out there in the country. I love getting to go on field trips with her. It is so special to spend one on one time with Grace and really give her my undivided attention. Thanks to my amazing mother, who watched the other two children i got to have a great day and meet some of her cute friends who she talks about all the time. Here are a few pics from the day.

look at her in her precious hat, she is soooo beautiful!

looking at all the bees in the beehive


Grace and Isa, my friend Keri's daughter, she is the sweetest!

Some of Grace's friends from her class

After I got done with Grace's field trip i decided that while my mom was watching the other two kiddos that it would be a really good time to go vote. I wanted to make sure that i got it done, and i didn't want to have to deal with any lines or anything. Their was a line, but it moved really quickly and it felt so good to have done it. I know so many people are, but i am so passionate about voting. It is just so stinkin important for people to speak up and use their voice. So many people have sacrificed their very lives for us to have this freedom. So, also while we are on the subject i have a real pet peeve with the whole thing about being secretive about who you're voting for. I understand we shouldn't be up in people's faces like asking them to tell you, but if you are voting for someone to be the next President of the United States, why would you need to be secretive about it? If you believe in this person enough to vote for them, you should be able to tell others who and why you are voting. So here we go- I VOTED FOR JOHN MCAIN!!! I have so many reasons as to why i am voting for him, and if you want to talk to me about it, i would LOVE to tell you why I think he is the right choice.

And one last thing to leave you with-this is the book that i am reading right now....and it is AWESOME! Ask me about it!

One of the Best Nights Ever.......For Real!

So my night out at the SYTYCD tour was truly aaahhhhmazing (sung, of course). It really ranked up there with one of the top shows that i have ever seen. I had been looking forward to this night for so long, and i was so glad that not only did it live up to my expectations, it exceeded them! One big reason for this was the company that i had for the night. My friend Jenn and I don't get to hang out near as often as i would like, and it was so fun to be able to share this unforgettable night with her. And then Lisa and Emeri, they are like my second mom and sister, i truly love these two. And then the dancing.......oh, what i would give to be able to dance like these people! I absolutely love watching people dance, and i like to think i have some semblance of rhythm, but it has always been my dream to be able to bust a move out on the dance floor. So here are a couple of the photos from the night, so enjoy!

about to pee our pants before the show we were so excited!!

Emeri got some awesome leg warmers!

We were so not ready for the night to end!