A Slow Sunday

Cookies with Katie

I think it's been about 4 years since Katie and I started baking Christmas cookies together.  It's been a fun tradition and a good excuse for some time together.  We gather ingredients, agree on a list and go to work.  This year happened to fall on a Friday night which ended up being WAY too late :) so next year we need to schedule a Saturday.

Peanut Butter Kiss cookies are one of our favorites.  This year we also baked sugar and spice cookies (gingerbread), butter cookies, fudge, peppermint rice krispie treats, peppermint bark, spritzers, and rolo/pretzel treats.  

It was so much fun spending that time together! 

After baking, we plate everything up and then this year Steve and I decided that we'd start another tradition and let the kids help choose who we'd deliver to.  We packed up in the van and went out as a family.  Braden and Olivia would run up to the doors and deliver with big smiles on their faces.  It's so fun watching them do "GOOD" things for others. 

Can't wait for next year Katie!!!

Tres Leche Gingerbread

Okay so this picture DOES NOT do the recipe justice.  It was kind of a last minute throw together that happened to delight every tastebud in my mouth.  Not planned... not really on purpose... not really like me to be so brave!

I had a box... yes a box... of gingerbread mix in the basement from two years ago.  You read that right - two years ago - so I thought I should probably use it or toss it.  I decided to bake it up and was going to make a flavored whip cream using some heavy whipping cream I have at home.  I just add a little peppermint, coconut, vanilla or almond extract when whipping it up and it's such a treat.

I baked the bread and when I pulled it out I was moving some things around in the fridge and I saw this Tres Leches sauce that I had made for Norah and Braden's joint birthday celebration.  It's a Best Bites Recipe which is pretty much a guarantee to be delicious - and it was.  However... it was EVEN better on the gingerbread.  I warmed the sauce up to thin the consistency and poured it over the warm gingerbread.

It was absolutely mouth watering.  Based on the ingredients I don't really know how you could go wrong. :)  I'm sure it would be even better with homemade gingerbread which perhaps sometime when I find one I'll try.

Norah is TWO!

Birthdays should be such joyous occasions...and they are... but there is a part of me who feels such saddness at each birthday.  It's another year passed by... another year older for my children... another year closer to them being grown up and losing the innocence of being little.

I adore her.

She is my baby.

She is my side-kick.

She is spunky.

She is determined.

She is at times larger than life.

She still loves to snuggle.

She knows all the words to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

She can create such a ruckus if she's not getting what she wants you'd think there was a band of teenagers in my house.

She rubs my cheeks and says, "I'm sorry mama," when she does something naughty.

We celebrated her birthday with a morning donut and then opened presents that night.  She was pleased to be getting all the attention.

We then got into our PJ's, grabbed some candy canes and drove out to Country Springs Christmas.  I think we may have found Norah's Christmas Tradition (Gazing at Christmas Lights)... at least for now until she decides it's something different.  Which at the rate she is going will be by next year. :)

I cannot imagine my life or our family without Norah.  She tests my patience as any good two year old should do but the joy that she provides me throughout the day far outshines the challenge. My heart warms just thinking about all that she adds to my life.

For those of you keeping up with stats...  Norah is 36" tall (95th %), and weighs 26.6 lbs (50th %).  Braden and Olivia were each about the same height but both weighed almost 30 lbs at this age.  

GREAT job growing up Norah Grace.  YOU ARE SO LOVED.

Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary

Last year we trekked out to Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary to go on a wagon ride with Santa.  We were joined by a whole crew of families and had a GREAT time.  We knew instantly that we wanted to make this one of our new December traditions.  

This year due to scheduling conflicts we were only able to meet up with one other family but we still had a blast.  

Norah waited patiently for Santa.  She, thankfully, is great about wearing a hat but this girl will NOT wear mittens. She cries because her poor hands get red and frozen but she just won't put them on.  Any ideas for us??

We snuggled close to stay warm as we waited for everyone to arrive.

Can you see the glimmer in her eye?  Can you guess who she is admiring?  Yes - Santa.  This year is magical at our house.

Olivia and Norah love Nina so it was a treat to spend some time together.

Braden, Konrad and Patrick listened to Christmas music as we bounced along the path.

Daddy and Norah - notice - still NO mittens...

The great thing about this Santa ride is that you stop all throughout the wildlife Sanctuary and Santa introduces you to his animals.  He teaches you about them, tells stories about them and then each animal has a big stocking with a little treat for the kids.  

After the hour long ride we warmed up with hot cocoa, cookies and plenty of giggles...

Thank you Klein's for another great year of Santa at the Sanctuary. :)

Thanksgiving

I know it's almost Christmas but I haven't mentioned Thanksgiving yet.  It continues to be one of my favorite holidays - full of tradition, love, family, laughter and yummy food.

Four years ago we started a new tradition running in the Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning.  The first year we had Braden and Olivia in the jogging stroller, last year it was Olivia and Norah but this year we left Norah and the stroller at home and Braden and Olivia joined us on foot.  

Braden and I ran most of it with some walking interspersed, Steve and Dick took turns with Olivia on their shoulders and I do think she walked a little bit.  It was COLD but it always feels so good to start Thanksgiving being active outside.

We've spent just about every Thanksgiving I can remember with our "Thanksgiving Family," the Bruesehoffs.  This tradition started when Sam, Peter, Nathan and I were very young and so it's quite fun to now watch Braden, Olivia, Norah and Lincoln join the crew.

This was Lincoln's first Thanksgiving with us - isn't he just precious?  I LOVE watching my children interact with him.  He is not going to be short on love that's for sure.

We all geared up and watched The Packers!  Even Norah did some cheering.

Norah LOVES her Papa.

The kids, Emily and I made turkey place card holders this year.  

My precious boys.

Peter and Nana!

On Friday we bundled up and went for a wonderful walk down to the river and then circled back and played at a playground for a bit.  Norah and Daddy did some sliding.

Emily and Lincoln did too!

We're not too old to enjoy a little healthy rivalry trying to obstacle course from one side to the other side of the equipment.  Nathan was quick but I think Steve took home the gold.

I sat in the spinner for a little lounging but my son (who you can see lying on the ground) decided to spin me as fast as he could!  DIZZY....

It was yet again a wonderful few days at my parents. I love that we are all comfortable enough to spread out, enjoy conversations, step over mounds of toys, share pictures, reminisce, laugh about jokes year after year after year and just relax knowing that we are surrounded by people who love and support each other.

I am so THANKFUL for THANKSGIVING.

Norah's Bench...

On a visit to the Women's Pavillion a few weeks ago, Norah and I had to pause in the entry way for a picture.  For those of you who know the story of her birth you will appreciate that this is "HER" bench. :)

Illusions

For Christmas of 1999 my brother, Sam, gave me a book.  It's called, "Illusions - The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah."  I love books and like most people who love books have a stack half way up my nightstand of books I want to read.

When I recently went through the basement bookshelf I decided that enough was enough and I had to keep the books I WAS ACTUALLY GOING to read or reread and get rid of the ones that I'd, in all likely hood, not get to.

The first I picked up to work through was this book from my brother.  I hope I don't embarrass him by sharing the inscription he wrote on the inside front cover but it is precisely the reason I chose to read it right away.

"Sarah, You have given the gateway to so many life-changing things for me, I thought it would be a nice turnabout it I shared this with you! This is the most incredible book. You can read it a hundred times over and still discover new things. I hope you find joy and inspiration within these pages! Your world is your choice! Eternal love, Sam"  Who wouldn't want to read it after a note like that from your brother? :)

I wasn't sure if I could do it justice so here is part of a summary I borrowed from amazon :)

In Illusions, Richard Bach takes to the air to discover the ageless truths that give our souls wings: that people don't need airplanes to soar...that even the darkest clouds have meaning once we lift ourselves above them... and that messiahs can be found in the unlikeliest places--like hay fields, one-traffic-light midwestern towns, and most of all, deep within ourselves.


It's a quick read, a really thought provoking read, and I am so thankful Sam gave it to me.  I have always been a true believer in fate, in the fact that things happen for a reason and that life isn't really full of coincidences - situations, people, and experiences are purposeful and brought to us for a reason.  


This book is here with me now because it needs to be.  I was reminded that the people around me are my teachers, my rocks when I need them to be, and that my happiness is a choice.  I love life, I love my family and will continue to do all that I can to rise above the moments where I feel like I am sinking, to start over when I lose my temper, and to wake up each morning looking for joy in the day.  


NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO ME IN LIFE... I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DETERMINE MY HAPPINESS.  I CHOOSE TO FIND THE JOY AND HAPPINESS IN TODAY.....

A Hot Chocolate Maker... Who Would Have Thought?

This little machine (which my mom found us at a garage sale) has provided us with so much JOY!  

It makes hot cocoa that can rival a good coffee shop.  The frother is hit or miss but when it works adds a delicious foam and makes us all feel fancy.   

We can often be found after walking home from school with rosy cheeks and a warm mug in hand.

Thanks Mom!! We love warming up with hot cocoa on chilly days. :)  

Braden's Birthday Bash

Braden's BIRTH day was on a Saturday this year.

He woke up early ...

I got up REALLY early...

So we could start his new tradition of having popovers IN bed!  

I love that this is what he asked for.  My grandma made great popovers so while I make them I sift through all of the wonderful memories I have of her.  

After basketball and a soccer game it was time for the party...

And what better place to take 10 seven year old boys?  LASER TAG!

The first group

The second group with one adorable four year old girl in the middle :)

They also dug for dinosaurs as archeologists, played air hockey and ping pong.  A few did arts and crafts and they ran and ran through this big climbing structure. 

Everyone had a great time but I still cannot believe Braden is 7.