Thanksgiving and Christmas is here!!!

Thanksgiving was Wonderful!!!

I ate way too much pie, and had the best time visiting with our family. 

We are truly blessed.

Here's the coconut cream pie I made- it was super yummy.  I'll post the recipe later.  At Christmas I'm going to try it again and tweek it a little- we'll see how that goes:


We always spend Thanksgiving at the hubby's grandmother's home.  They always invite my parents who would otherwise be alone since my brother and sister spend the holiday with their in-laws.  It's so nice having both sides of the family represented there and not having to choose.

Look at that spread- There was ribs, turkey, 8 pies, 5 or 6 salads, rolls, different types of potatoes, stuffing, 2 kinds of cranberry sauce, and on and on!  It's wild isn't it?  It goes all the way to the back wall:



I love this guy so much:


He's so handsome and fun!  I think I'll keep him.


Little Miss Sassy Pants got to take a bubble bath in her grandma's whirlpool tub.



On  Friday we took the kids to the mall to see Santa Claus and to pick out their yearly ornaments.  Little Miss got, you guessed it- a Princess!  Little Man got one that looks like Hycee- the Smelly Beast.  They're both pretty cute (the ornaments- but the kiddos are pretty cute too aren't they?):


Little Man asked Santa for Legos and a Wrestling Buddy.

Maybe he'll get it and he'll be happy wrestling with it and he'll stop testing out these moves on his poor sister:




Little Miss asked for a Rudolf the Reindeer that walks and has a light up nose.  Good Luck with that one Santa!

What are you asking Santa for?  I'm hoping to get one of these super cute rainbow colored granny square blankets:


How completely wonderful is this blanket!  It's so happy and cozy looking!!! 

I can already see myself curled up in my rocking chair with our sweet new baby in my lap nursing, all curled up, cozy and warm, while everyone else is sleeping away during the night feedings.  It will be super special bonding time!!!  Yay!

Friday night we watched our first Christmas movie of the year, Frosty the Snowman.  Our favorite is Rudolf- can't wait for that one.


I've had Christmas music going since we got home Friday.  I love it!

I spent most of Saturday in front of the computer christmas shopping.  I am over half done!!! 

Amazon.com is truly amazing.  I did all my shopping in my sweats and socks, and they will all show up at my door, and I never had to leave the comfort of my own home!  Rock on!

Today I plan to do the following:

Bible Study
Workout
Clean house- vacuum, sweep, wash sheets, make beds, fold clothes, dust, and put up Christmas tree and santas.

I Better Get Started!

Merry- Almost- Christmas!!!

Shout Out: Kiki and LeLe Jewelry...

For Christmas I bought the cutest handcrafted jewelry from this little business that I came across while surfing blogs called Kiki and LeLe. I loved their jewelry so much that I had a bracelet made for my mom, a bracelet and necklace made for Holly, and a necklace made for myself. Here is my necklace...

Isn't it cute! I love it so much! They did so great that I wanted to write this post to give them a shout out. I think it is a mompreneur business (mom with own small business) so I feel great knowing that I supported a fellow mom business! Click on the button below if you want to check out their site. You'll be glad you did!

Hot Chocolate made like Mom...

This Hot Chocolate Mix recipe is my moms. It has been a family tradition in the Selph house (my parent's house)for as long as I can remember. I have now made it a part of my own family's Christmas season, and love it!

It is also great for giving as gifts. Teachers, friends, family, they all love it!


Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe:

It makes a whole lot so you will need a huge bowl to mix it in.

1 1 lb. box powdered sugar
1 1 lb. jar coffee mate
8 qt. box non-fat dry milk
1 cup cocoa
2 cups granulated sugar

Mix well. Store in a large covered canister. When ready to drink fill mug 1/3 full with mix and top off with hot water. Add marshmallows (optional), stir and enjoy. (For my young children I usually add a little cold milk so it is not too hot)

When giving as a gift I always put it in a small mason jar topped with ribbon and a tag telling how to mix it when ready to drink. But I am sure there are lots of beautiful ways to package it.

I hope that this can find a way into your homes for all to enjoy this Christmas Season! Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Tradition...

Every year at Christmas Nolan and I take Kane (this year Kane and Ruthie) shopping for Christmas tree ornaments. We always let him pick out one, the only catch is that it has to be this one certain brand called "Old World Christmas." Kane picks out one, Ruthie gets one, and then Nolan and I share one. I plan on us doing this every year and then when the kids grow up and move off and have their own trees I will give them their ornaments. Nolan's Aunt Kelly got us started on this by getting Kane his very first one which is this one...

...it is my favorite I think because it is the one that got it all started!

To me they represent our little family, our tradition, and time spent doing something together. Every year when we get out the ornaments I tell Kane, and now Ruthie too, all about each one of them and why we got that particular ornament that year.

Here are this years...Kane helped us pick out Ruthie's first ever (I wanted a hippo in a tutu, but I was out voted).

Kane picked out an airplane for himself. He said he loves airplanes this year.

And Nolan and I got a basketball because with Nolan being a coach it is a great big part of our lives.

And finally I leave you with a picture of our Christmas tree! We had so much fun decorating it together as a family. I love this time of year!

What special Christmas traditions does your family have?

More Than Meets The Eye...

This is our wrapping paper this year. Transformers: Kane is pumped!

Decorativie Ornaments...

I got the idea for making these ornaments from an ornament that I was given from Nolan's Aunt Kelly last year. I love the colors and they look great on a tree (they reflect and throw the light great!). I am making them for my friends this year. Sorry to ruin the surprise girls, but Merry Christmas!!!

Pretty Porch...(I think)...

Here is my porch decorated for Christmas. I'm a little upset because my trees keep getting knocked over by the wind, but I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.



I also bought the kids these cute little Christmas trees to have in their rooms. A pink one for Ruthie Anne, and a blue one for Kane Thomas. I put them up without telling Kane that I got them, and then surprised him with it. He was excited. It was fun!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

We took the kids to see Santa, below are some pictures. It was great! Kane was so brave. He climbed right up into the big guys lap, immediately held up 3 fingers about 1 in from Santa's nose and said, "I want 3 Big transformers." It was so funny and sweet. We then put Ruthie in his lap also and she just looked at him like he was very strange, but she never cried. It was fun and another great yearly tradition enjoyed together as a family!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Well, we got our Christmas tree up!!! Every year I like for us to do it as a family, it is always fun and Kane really enjoys it. It is so special to open up our Christmas tree ornaments and remember back to where we got them and why (especially the ones we have gotten since we started our yearly ornament purchase). All of the ornaments that we have gotten since we started that tradition represent something to us. For instance we got a basketball for Nolan coaching basketball, a tractor the year that Kane was obsessed with tractors, a baby's first Christmas for Ruthie this year, and you get the idea. It's a great time and I am so thankful that I get to do it with my great family. Kane and Ruthie had fun and that is what really matters the most! (Ruthie was into everything! We will have to watch her like a hawk this year, especially since she has started walking!!!)