100th Post!

I saw I was getting close to the 100th post mark and I decided I wanted to do a favorites post. It's hard to believe I've found 99 topics to write about. I am not a writer, but I try. I asked each member of my family what was their favorite post or posts. It wasn't hard for the rest of them, but it was difficult for me. I work pretty hard on each of my posts and they are special to me. I don't want to waste your time. I want you to get something out of my posts. It might be a smile or you might learn something new. Whatever it is I don't want you to think after you've read a post, "Wow, that was a waste of my time!". 

 I hope you enjoy the favorites we picked. Click on the link(s) to view them.

Pants's Favorites:

Baking With Pants or Without

Pie Pie Makes A Pie

Pie Pie's Favorites:

Soda Pop, Soda Pop!

Pamper Your Pet Party 

Daddy's Favorite:

 

Daddy's Little Sure Shot

My Favorites:

 

My Week In Hometown Nazareth

My First Smiles Post

What To Do To Prepare For A Zombie Attack

I picked these posts because they were extra special to me. I loved my time at Vacation Bible School. I look forward to seeing all the kids again next year. It's so much fun to see them laugh and dance. I love my Smiles Posts. I hope I bring a Smile to your face when you see them. This was the picture that gave me the idea to post pictures that make me smile. The Zombie post is just a funny post. It was a joke we were talking about in my family one night. I just went a little farther and actually wrote the story for you.

I'd love to hear what your favorite post is.

If you don't have a favorite and like them all, you can tell me that too!

 If you like my blog please share it with your friends!

If you don't like my blog, why are you still reading this?!

I know you have at least one friend, so share it on my Wall! 

Just do something!

My Christmas Wish List



This year I decided there was some things I wanted to do! I didn't want gifts under the tree, I wanted to go out and have some of my own kind of fun. These are just normal Christmas things people do every year. I just haven't had the chance and I made sure I had some time to do them this year.

One of the Christmas things I wanted to do was watch some classic Christmas movies. We borrowed them from the library.(freebie) I enjoyed the original Miracle on 34th Street with my girls.

I also watched It's a Wonderful Life with my husband. We enjoyed that movie. It really put us in a good mood! It helped us find our Christmas Spirit.

We had the opportunity to go Christmas Caroling with our church. I've always wanted to go. I had a very good time. I love singing and it was fun visiting people. My girls weren't quite as interested. I felt it was important to go anyway. They need to understand that I have interests too.

The last thing I wanted to do was see a performance of The Nutcracker. We are on a very tight budget so I wasn't sure how I was going to make this one happen. I was very lucky to have a friend who had a son in a performance. We were even luckier that there was a school show. We homeschool so we were allowed to go to these specially priced shows. We got three tickets for less than twenty dollars! It was a beautiful performance. There was stunning costumes and sets. Pie Pie loved the performance and wants to go to another show. Pants liked it as well, but I think she would rather be in it as the Sugar Plum Fairy.



I love spending time doing fun things with my family. I've already got two things on my list for next year. First I need to go see a Live Nativity! I have wanted to do this for years. Second I am finally going to make a Gingerbread House!

What's on Your list?!

Do you make time for yourself  too?!

Merry Christmas!

 We don't write a Christmas Letter at our house. We actually tend to make fun of people who do write one. (Sorry, if you are someone who writes one and are reading this!) I just wanted to thank all of my friends and family who take the time to read my blog! I appreciate the support! Here's a couple of Christmassy or recent pictures of us!

We wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of our hearts!

Love,

Nikki, Daddy, Pie Pie and Pants!

P.S. I really need to get a nice picture of all of us!

Smiles

Waiting for Santa



We recently had the pleasure of watching a play at the church we attend. It was a very meaningful show called Legacy of Love. The kids were wonderful performers! It was all about how you can Make A Mark and Leave A Legacy.
There was a very specific part in the play that I loved. There was a long silence at one point. A boy in the play broke the silence with the line, "What are we waiting for?!". We all had a laugh and the play continued. I felt it was so fitting for me. That morning had been difficult, and I almost waited out in the car, but I felt I needed to stay.  It feels like at this time of year we are always waiting. We are waiting in line, waiting for Santa or waiting for our paychecks so we can buy some last minute gifts!
We don't need to wait to make a difference! We all have a chance to leave something behind!
What are you waiting for?!
Smiles,
Nikki!

P.S. Thank you so much to Janet for the beautiful picture of her daughter!

"R" is for Ready

I found this little selection in the devotional we are reading occasionally during this season of Advent.

It is called A is for Advent

by Steven Molin.

I was late! The guests were due at 6:00 p.m. I got home at five, and began helping Marsha finish the housecleaning. But at about 5:10, the doorbell rang. Apparently, Lauren and Doris thought our staff Christmas party started at 5:00.

Now here is a bit of irony: the house looked great! The tree was beautifully decorated, the table was absolutely gorgeous, the smell of scented candles filled the rooms, and the sounds of Christmas music echoed throughout our home. And there stood Marsh and I in our sweatsuits! The house was ready, but we were not.

How many of us does this describe at this point in Advent? The house is ready, but we're not! The presents are ready, but we're not! The travel arrangements are ready, but we're not! But the guest comes anyway!

John the Baptist urges people to get ready for the coming of the Savior. Not external preparation, but internal. Not the home.....but the heart! You're about a week away from Christmas. Use the time wisely and prepare for His coming. Because, ready or not, here He comes!

I found this very interesting. I hope you will think about what you've read and prepare your heart. I still have some preparing to do myself!

Even More Advent

Things have been a little crazy at my house lately! We had Pie Pie's Birthday weekend, I was not feeling very good and I have not been able to get to a computer to post. I'm not complaining, just explaining why my posts have been a little scattered lately! I've been wanting to share some of the highlights from the past couple of weeks.

Here's my girls and my nephew hanging out with a snowman!

1.We had the chance to visit a Holiday Light Display. It was a lot of fun for the girls and my nephew. I had fun trying to take the perfect picture. It's not easy with the lighting and a moving car.

2.We made some pomanders. These are very easy to make. You just need some lemons and/or oranges, cloves and some toothpicks. The oranges are easier for littler ones because the skin isn't as tough to poke the toothpick through. All you have to do is poke the toothpick through the skin and put a clove in the hole. We also added a ribbon. They smell really good.

3.We found a wreath in our basement and decorated it. I bought some clearance fake fruit and my mother-in-law gave me the bow. All I had to do was get out the hot glue gun and glue everything on!

4.We visited Santa. We don't actually do the whole Santa thing at our house. We have learned about the real man and believe he represents the spirit of giving. It's also convenient that it is a very short walk to see him. There's a little Santa Shack on the corner near our house. He also gives them a present. My girls will never turn that down!



5. We made some popcorn and cranberry garland. Since nobody told me, I'm going to tell you! This is a very messy craft! Popcorn was everywhere! We did have fun and it does look pretty hung up in various places. Daddy even helped. We also had my niece over, so she got in on the action too.



6. I made some cute little trees. I hot glued some doilies and beads onto cones. I love my hot glue. It does not love me as much. I got a pretty nasty burn this week. I'm okay though, don't worry!

Pants helped me with this one! She picked out the beads.

Now you know some of what we have been doing. I have also been sleeping in and skipping school! We are enjoying a nice break! I needed it! I can only ask Pie Pie to do her Math so many times. We are reading and enjoying spending time together. We will be back to the schoolbooks soon enough!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Pamper Your Pet Party

Webkinz Style!

We had a difficult time deciding what to do for Pie Pie's Birthday Party this year. We knew we wanted to do something with Webkinz, but we weren't sure exactly what.

Ooooooooooo

Aaaaaaaaaaaah!

Then I was at a homeschool planning meeting and a friend had a great idea for Pie Pie's Party. She had a Pamper Your Puppy Party for her daughter. I decided to use Webkinz instead of puppies. Perfect!

Pie Pie loved the idea too!

We went to the Dollar Store to get supplies. The day of the party we set up all the stations and Pie Pie and her cousin made signs. 

First you washed your pet. We had a little tub filled with Styrofoam packing peanuts. The packing peanuts were the bubbles. There was also a loofah to scrub your pet.

When your pets were clean you could brush their teeth.

Do their nails.

Don't forget to give them a makeover.

Last we had a massage area. When the pets were all done being pampered you could give them a bow and a new collar.

Here is one of my bestest friends, Dotsy, with a very pampered pet!

 When your pet is happy, you're happy!

We followed up all of the pampering with Pie Pie's Surprise Pudding!

Yummy!



There was also a small issue with our new upstairs neighbor and a big bucket of mulch! You know what they say about Vegas, the same is true here! What happens at our house stays at our house! I could be persuaded to tell you the story for my own spa day! Actually, I'd tell you for less! Some cookies or candy would probably do the trick!

Have you pampered your Webkinz lately?!

P.S. I just wanted to let you know I am aware there is a lot of P's in this post!

Happy Birthday Pie Pie!

When we had Pie Pie, 8 years ago today, we weren't digital quite yet. We were a little behind the times! So, I didn't get a chance to put her baby pictures in this post. We'll have to make do with what we have! I hope you like them.

She has always been a loving big sister!

She loves to swim.

Such a little cutie!

Pie Pie's 5th Birthday.

She loves animals

and her family!

Just so everyone knows it is not easy to get a good picture of Pie Pie,

but it is worth it when you get one!

Pie Pie has always been a blessing to me. She is also a challenge. I always tell people I know why God gave me girls! She has caused me to grow as a woman! I am very thankful to God for her, through His gift I continue to improve daily!

I love you Pie Pie and always will!