Day after Thanksgiving.....

The day after Thanksgiving Jason and I took the girls and a friend (Emma brought Alexa and Lauren brought Hannah) to Polar Express at the IMAX Theatre in the Science Center in Des Moines. It was awesome!

After the movie we drove thru Starbucks and got hot cocoa to take with us as we drove through Jolly Holiday Lights.

Great event for a great cause! We are so blessed to have the opportunity to do these fun things with the girls!

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Colossians 1:15

Thankful

Thanksgiving always reminds us to be thankful. I am happy to say I have many things to be thankful for!!

While we were celebrating Thanksgiving with family we gathered in the living room before we ate and Emma and Madison said a prayer, then we all went around the room and said what we were thankful for! There were a lot who said family, my nephew Mason said food and water..and later while we were eating lunch he said "shelter, I should have said shelter too"! Love it!

As I looked around the room I realized I was most thankful that, for as long as I can remember we have always celebrated Holidays together. Lunch at noon. No invitations. Anyone is welcome. I am also very fortunate to have all of my grandparents. And my girls have all of their grandparents. My Grandma and Grandpa Lingren are the staple of all our Holidays. I am very grateful for them! I am very BLESSED!

If you asked each grandchild who was there favorite, each one guaranteed would tell you they are! They have a way of making each grandchild feel special. There door is always open. There is always an open invitation to their house! And of course grandma's chocolate chip cookies! I hope my grandchildren think of me that way someday!

Here are a few more pictures from Thanksgiving.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

We picked out our Christmas Tree a few Sunday's ago-a big 9ft Fraser Fir tree and it is beautiful! We absolutely LOVE Christmas ~I get my Christmas decorations out right after Halloween! "The earlier the better " is our motto for getting our Christmas tree,! As soon as we see them out we make our plans to go get one! After we got it set up, the girls and I did a Gingerbread House. This year was extra fun as the girls were able to decorate by themselves!

Here are some pictures of the girls decorating the tree and putting the star on top.... Happy Holidays!!

One last thing. Emma finished her memory work for the entire year!! It is such an accomplishment and we are so very proud of her!!

God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. John 3:16

Emma's School Conference

Jason and I had Emma's school conference Tuesday night. WOW!! Words cannot express how proud we were as we left her classroom! Here are a few things her teacher had to say....

1. Dependable- she knows that if she asks her to do something she can be counted on


2. Emma works to her own expectations (which are usually higher than the teachers)


3. She strives to understand something & asks questions until she does


4. Loves to read!


5. Wonderful concept of prayer-loves to pray for others!


6. Very good friend, helpful to other classmates!


7. Comes into classroom in the morning eager to learn!


8. Great attitude!


9. Strives to do her best


10. Great Leadership ability!

Great Job Emma Grace! Mom and Dad are so proud of you!!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Trick or Treat

Fall is such a fun time of year! I love all the activities that go along with it! We have traditions we do every year: Deals Fall Festival, Decorating cupcakes at my sisters house, jumping in the leaves and carving pumpkins(previous post) and of course Trick or Treating! We have always done Night Eyes at the Blank Park Zoo, Spirits in the Gardens at Riemen Gardens, and Family Halloween at Living History Farms, but this year sadly between our schedules and the weather we did not make it to any of those.

The girls had a fun time Trick or Treating! Last Thursday night Emma had gymnastics but I took Lauren downtown and did "Shop with a cop" , we went with her cousins Hannah and Noah and they had so much fun. Jason and Chris took Lauren and Hannah through the Haunted House (they tamed it down for them) and they did pretty good! Friday night Emma had gymnastics and her own Halloween Party there so I took Lauren up to the YMCA. They had a circus themed party with a cake walk, games, and activities! Cousins Hannah and Noah were there as well! Saturday was actually Halloween, we started off in Ogden at Grampa Ted and Grama Donna's, Aunt Kerry's, Grampa and Grama Lingren, Grampa Tex and Ellies, Tom & Elaines, and Darrell & Georgia's! We headed back to Boone to finish up, stopping at Mrs. Sprengeler's house (Emma's teacher) and ended at Steve & Becky's to see Grampa Rich and Grama Billie!

We had a Papa Murphy's Jack O Lantern Pizza for supper. YUM!

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. Psalm 121:7

Dolly And Me Tea

The girls and I went to Ankeny last Saturday to Dolly And Me Tea! Wasn't exactly what we had expected but overall the girls had a great time. It was held at an Elementary School in Ankeny, they had different stations set up:

Have your hair and your doll's hair done/Make up

Crafts

Tea and Goodies

Decorate Cupcakes

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28