And to all a good night....

Christmas was a wonderful day. The kids woke up around 7:30 and pretty soon paper was flying everywhere. We had a few guests stay with us overnight this year on Christmas Eve. Nik's parents, brother, aunt and cousin all got to stay. After the gift giving was done, we ate a breakfast full of cinnamon rolls and a famous sausage, egg, and toast breakfast by Nik's dad. Yum! The rest of the day was spent playing with toys, video games, taking naps, and eating amazing food. My parents stopped by in the evening, and we ate some of Barb's lasagna and played euchre. Such a good day!

These first two pictures are from a week ago. Nik's mom loves to bring little surprises for the kids and this time she bought a messy one! :) Silly string, which the boys loved! They had quite the battle.

Savannah, Josh (our neighbor), Jordan and Carter

Carter on Christmas Eve at Nik's Aunt Brenda's house. I guess I surprised him with the camera.

Savannah and her cousin Claire on Christmas Eve

Carter on Christmas morning.

This picture made me think of Ralphie. "You'll shoot your eye out kid!"

Grandma and Grandpa Burkhardt surprised Carter and Jordan with a handmade barn that Nik and Nate used to play with as kids from their grandparents.

No explanation needed....

So Sleepy

This tired business is for the birds............................

Teamwork!

Every morning before we leave for work, I always turn the heat down about 5 degrees. Well, when we got home yesterday and turned it back up, I noticed after a couple hours that the house wasn't getting any warmer. Then Nik sat on the couch in the basement and was sitting under a vent that was blowing cold air on him. He immediately started messing with the thermostat, but nothing changed. He looked at the furnace and noticed the pilot light wasn't on. So he grabbed some long matches and tried to light it, but again nothing.

The house was getting colder by the minute and we knew that it was going to get very cold in the house throughout the night and we needed to do something about it now! There was a 24-hour service number on the furnace that we called, only to find out that it was going to cost us $90 just for them to knock on our door. We were both pretty distraught because we have had lots of hardships lately.

So he made the call and they were going to call us back when they contacted someone in our area. In the meantime, I said to Nik, "Do you think maybe we could find how to fix it on the internet?" He looked a little hopeless and didn't really answer me. He was thinking that it was probably something bigger that was wrong with the furnace. Well, I ended up getting on Youtube and seaching under how to relight a pilot light. The first video I clicked on was posted just a month ago. And the guy on there began showing a step by step process of how to turn it back on. Nik glanced over and and said, "Wait! I remember seeing those two things in the furnace!" So we both ran downstairs and we followed this guys instructions. Nik had to hold a certain button on the gas valve for a minute that said pilot and then switch it to on, while I held the match over the pilot assembly (which we never would have figured out without this guy showing an example of one). And within a minute, WALAA!!!! We were both sooooo excited! I gave him a high five. :)

He then called the maintenance number back and cancelled with them, which was fine they said.

Praise God!!!!!!!!!! So always remember to check the internet, because you could save yourself $90. :)

Also, as you probably have noticed already, I placed a baby countdown on the upper right side of my page. I am pregnant once again! I haven't gone to the doctor yet, so I don't have an official due date, but I am pretty sure I am 6 weeks along and feeling great! We are all very excited!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Decorating the Christmas tree....

Highwater Fun

Pasta Roll Ups

Saturday night I was in the mood to cook something I haven't tried before. I get a Kraft cooking magazine 4 times a year in the mail from their website, although it used to be free and this last one notified me they are going to start charging from now on. There were a TON of awesome recipes in it though. And this one was very good! It's called a pasta roll up. It has Italian Seasoning in it though, which made it a little spicy. Savannah wasn't a fan of the spicyness, but Jordan gobbled it up. Carter ate most of it. It's nice when I put a lot of work into something and my kids actually eat it. :) If anyone wants the recipe, you can find it at this link.

The ricotta filling

Lasagna Noodles (This time I didn't buy the no boil kind)

Spread out and rolled up

Covered in sauce and Parmesan and ready for the oven

Ready to eat! And boy did we! ;)

Silly Face with Daddy's Hat (and 2 marshmellows in his mouth)

Mommy and Jordy Time

Toy Story mixed with a dash of Cindy Lou Who

The kids had a very fun Halloween this year. Jordan was Buzz Lightyear for the second year in a row (he wanted to be) and Carter was Sheriff Woody. I only had the hat from Woody, but I was able to piece together a decent costume for him. Although most people thought he was just a sheriff until they saw Jordan tagging along. Jordan was a little whiny after 20 minutes into it and wanted to go home, but Carter was having a great time.

Savannah trick or treated in Ohio this year with her mom. She was Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch. She was excited to make her hair wild and crazy.

Elijah, Carter, Stephen, and Jordan

(Friends of ours)

Five Already!

Carter turned 5 today! It hardly seems possible. The past few days he has been battling croup cough (which Jordan now has as well). He has been a trooper about it though. We headed to Ohio this afternoon for one of Savannah's soccer games. While she was doing her warm up, we headed over to Great Grandma Burkhardts for a quick surprise visit. She was very glad to see us. The boys had a good time on her electronic lazy boy. It was tipping/dumping them out like a dump truck. :)



A quick quote that Carter said at Savannah's game that made me laugh....

Grandma Burkhardt: "Carter, can you make bubbles with that gum?"

Carter: "No, but I can make bubbles with my spit."
(Only a boy would say that. LOL)



After the game we headed to Grandpa and Grandma Burkhardts for some cake and ice cream. It was a good evening to hang out with family.

This morning at 7am getting a breathing treatment for croup.

Spending time with Great Grandma Burkhardt


Having fun in her motorized chair.

The cool birthday cupcake cake from Grandma and Grandpa Burkhardt

Carter finding it hillarious that he just smashed his face in his cupcake.

The kids all had to do it then, of course. :)

The boys playing with Carter's new birthday toys.

Soccer in G&G's back yard.

Jordan being a rough and tough goalie

Nik's Blog

Be sure to check out Nik's blog http://spreading-hope.blogspot.com/

It is on the right side of my page under Spreading Hope.

He is leaving for Trinidad in mid November and will be updating his blog while he is there. We would ask that you all would be in prayer with us in preparation for this trip and that God would move mightily during his visit. Thanks!

SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I haven't updated for a while. I have been a busy woman! Nik turned the big THIRTY on October 15th. I planned a surprise party for him on the 10th that I have been planning for weeks and have wanted to blog about soooooooooo bad!! And finally I can talk about it. :)

The big surprise was that Nik's brother Nate was going to be there from California. Well, word accidently got out from some miscommunication, and Nik did find out about Nate, but everything worked out. He had no idea about the party and was totally surprised (see video). We all had a blast and it couldn't have been more perfect! I didn't have my boys stay at the party, because I didn't want to have to keep after them as well as host. So they had no idea about Uncle Nate being around, which he then was able to surprise them at our house (see video).

Uncle Nate also got to enjoy a couple of Savannah's soccer games while he was home. I posted a video of one of her games where she assisted in a goal. It was a very busy and awesome weekend!

Uncle Nate hanging out with the kiddos after the party.

The amazing turntable cake made by my friend Amber Miller!

People People People!!

Nate trying to be serious.

Cute Silly and Fabulous