weekend wrap-up

We really did have a wonderful weekend here.  Over the past almost 3 years...Geoff and I have been doing a lot of 'single parenting' as we've juggled challenging work schedules....and so now, 3 months in to me working part-time...we are really enjoying our days together.  I think we just appreciate these days and times so much more now since for so long, we did so much without the other.  And for that... I am so thankful.  I know it inevitably happens...but I do not wish to take these precious days for granted.

We started Saturday morning off with Geoff and the girls making a trip to Tom Thumb (where they also have a Starbucks) for coffee, milk, and some of their fresh bagels for breakfast.  This picture makes me smile.  The only one missing is Nolan's bottle.  Ha!  (I know, I'm such a dork.)

The girls and I got ready and headed to a birthday party for Lizzy (my friend, Emily's daughter).  It was a carnival themed party complete with the cutest decorations, cake, and little games that the girls LOVED playing.  They all left with a sack full of 'prizes'.  I kept telling them to leave some and not take all of the prizes...but they assured me that they had to keep getting them if they won.  :)

After the party, we braved Hobby Lobby...something I hope to not ever do again in November or December on a Saturday.  Cra-zy!

We made it home safely and made DIY snow globes.  Parker has been begging and begging and begging for a while now.  This is something I've wanted to do, also, but just haven't had the time or all of the supplies that we needed.  But we finally did on Saturday.

Geoff used to be so good about keeping old jars...like from jellies, pickles, jalapeños, etc.  But in one of my "we have got to get rid of all of this 'stuff' that is cluttering up our home" a few months back....I threw them all away.  ;/

So the jars were actually the one thing we were missing.  But baby food jars came to the rescue and we made a small snow globe, which really worked out just fine.  We used the tutorial from here.

We picked up a 5-pack of these cheap little ornament/figurines while at Hobby Lobby, and Geoff just cut off the top wire thing that is used for hanging.

Wanted to get in a picture with my boy.  :)

That smile.

And my boys...

Ok.  Snow globes.

  So after the figurines were hot glued to the lids....I filled the jars with water and let the girls put however much glitter they wanted.  The tutorial had said that you usually need more than you think.  

Well...not in our case.  We put way too much in...and I ended up dumping that water and glitter out and we had a redo.

They turned out pretty cute.  I don't think the girls are that impressed with them though {of course}.  I wish we would have put more water in them, but we hot glued the lids shut just because I can't trust Grace.  :)

We had a good ole Stauffer's lasagna for dinner...then Geoff and the girls sprawled out on the living room floor and watched the Kung Fu Panda Christmas special/show on Netflix.  I had left the room to get Nolan ready for bed, and when I walked back in, this is exactly what I saw.

We had a slow Sunday morning and did not make it to church.  We went to lunch over at my mom's house for a visit since my mom has been out of town all last week.  We ended up leaving a little early because Nolan needed to go down for a nap, but we let the girls stay for a little while longer.

 I put Nolan down for a nap and ended up having about an hour and a half before the girls got home and was able to finish making this burlap tree skirt.  I'm adding and changing up a few decorations this year, and this is one of them.  I really, really wanted to make one of those beautiful ruffled burlap tree skirts...but this was a quicker alternative.  And I think I'm happy with it.

Nolan ended up sleeping another hour even after the girls got home.  One of Parker's 'assignment's from school this week was for our family to make a blessing tree.  I put this tree on the wall...

Then we all traced our hands and wrote out what we were thankful for.  

 We each only did 2 things.  It was hard for me to pick just 2 things because I/we have so sos so very much to be thankful for.  My thanksgiving just doesn't seem to ever measure up because I know I do not deserve it.

Parker said she was thankful for family and clean water.

Grace said she was thankful for 'candy with people' and for 'people and kissing them on the head.'

I was thankful for family and our health.

Geoff was thankful for family.....and God's grace.  

I know I fall short of His glory every single day.  We are so thankful for God's unfailing grace...that, while we were sinners, Christ dies for us (Romans 5:8).  So that if we believe, we will have everlasting life (John 3:16).

After making our blessing tree....Geoff and the girls made Chex Mix.

So good!

Kristin, Phil, and Payton came over for dinner.  Geoff grilled beef and chicken fajita meat for fajitas and it was so good!  Geoff ended up starting a fire and we roasted marshmallows for s'mores for dessert.  We've roasted marshmallows before, but the girls were really into it this time as they are getting older.

They were so excited and could barely stand waiting until we are ready. So fun seeing their excitement.    Making memories.