We had a jammed packed full year full or milestones, growth, firsts and fun.  We are anxious to see what is in store for us for 2013.  Whatever it is, I can guarantee, it includes feeling so blessed for this wonderful life I live.

The kids have been wishing, hoping and dreaming of snow. This morning they were so happy to see their dreams came true!

We have something to tell you, but it is a secret, so don't tell anyone else, okay? We have a magical elf and snowman that live in our house.  The elf hides in our snowman's pocket and each night they come to life and do silly things in our home, after they report back to Santa on the kids behavior of coarse. …

We celebrated Aliya's fifth birthday on Saturday. She wanted a "penguin, polar bear, snowman, snowflake party".  So we created her very own winter Wonderland.  She thought it was beautiful and had so much fun. The kids made snowman ornaments, paper snowflakes, and played a very silly game of pin the beak…

The kids are filled with thoughts of Christmas lately, and have been very good a dropping hints for presents.  Yesterday, I looked at my grocery list and called Dylan to the kitchen. "Dylan, did you write toys on my list?" "Yes, I just didn't want you to forget my Christmas present!" I love thi…

The only thing needed to make my children happy is attention. But in this socially connected world of Facebook, twitter, pinterest, email, cell phones, and ten thousand other ways, it seems like we are more constantly "connected" to people not with us, then the people in the same room as us. I have been on…

Every day we have the choice to be too busy or the choice to shape our family culture in a positive way. And here’s the best part: we can always make time! There will be lazy Saturdays when our calendar is wide open and we can spend the entire day playing as a family. And there will be days when we are runnin…

The kids were up and staring out their windows first things this morning. All three kids couldn't hold in their cheers and excitement over the wet white stuff covering the ground.  We hustled down the stairs, ate breakfast and ran outside to play.  We loved playing in the first snow of the year and no…

I love making play dough with the kids.  Something about adding the ingredients to make it and then getting to play with it makes it even more fun for the kids.  The kids like choosing the color, adding it in until it gets just the right shade, and stiring, stiring stiring.  Play dough provides hours of fun for all th…