Frosty Fest at Black Elementary

Every year Claire's elementary school puts on a winter fest with games that are focused on math and reading skills. Here Claire is working on cracking a code by using math problems to be able to open the three locks on the box and get her prize!

 This was a fun "connect 4" game

 We didn't get to stay very long because of swim practice, but Claire got lots of candy anyway and had a fun time! Sad thinking this is the last year we get to do this activity.

Making Christmas cookies across the miles

My sister and her daughter, Ellie, had the same idea as we did last weekend. We both planned on making the Christmas cookies our Dad always loved to make. So we decided why not make it a family affair and baked and decorated while doing FaceTime! It was a tradition with my Dad to put flour on your nose when you baked, so we find comfort in keeping this tradition alive. He also loved to add some mint extract into the dough to add a slight taste of mint so of course we did that too!

We all had fun spending the afternoon "together". Why let the miles get in the way?!

Claire and I were the first to get a pan into the oven!!! Had to add a little competition to the baking session!

Claire and Ellie had so much fun decorating cookies while visiting on the phone. 

Showing each other our decorated cookies! What a fun afternoon and I am pretty sure this will become a yearly tradition! 

                                       

Claire and I are not quite as detail-oriented as Ellie but they still taste amazing!

                                       

Christmas in the park

We went with some great friends, the Moore family, to Burroughs park for a Christmas event. They had it decorated with fun fixtures. 

 Claire wrote her letter to Santa and mailed it in their special mailbox. This year she has asked for Airpods, a large stuffed animal hamster, markers, a hoverboard, and a new Nerf football. We will have to see what Santa decides to deliver this year!

 Claire, Jackson, and Emily had fun playing some games while the parents waited in line to see Santa.

Looking a little big to be sitting on Santa's lap!!!

 Our family with the Moore family. So thankful to have this wonderful family in our lives! We have so much fun together!

 On to the petting zoo next. Claire enjoyed feeding the animals.

 These crazy kids waited in line for 30 minutes just to play in the snow! I know our family in Minnesota will think that is just insane! Although you don't see people playing in the snow in shorts and a t-shirt very often! Only in Texas!

 Had to add this cute picture! Our church does such great photo spots for Christmas!

Thanksgiving dinner

This year for Thanksgiving we put Claire to work in the kitchen. She wanted to cook the entire meal with minimal help from Mom and Dad. We sat down and made a list of all the items she was going to cook. We listed how much time it would take to make each item and then she figured out what time she would need to start each thing so they would all be done around the same time. After making that list, Claire came up with the "Panic Button". She kicked us out of the kitchen and we were only allowed to enter if she pushed her panic button!

Of course help was needed with getting the turkey ready. Claire almost gagged a few times but was brave and handled it well!

 It took some convincing, but she finally was brave enough to stuff the turkey!

 Her favorite part has always been peeling potatoes. I believe this is because Jeff has a potato peeler so all she has to do is place the potato in and push a button!

 Claire called Dad into the kitchen to aid in the making of the mashed potatoes.

 Our chef hard at work!

 Claire's meal is finished and all ready to eat. She even made us leave while she set up the food! What a wonderful meal she made! It was so fun watching her function in the kitchen and I think the meal tasted better than any I have made!

 She was happy to be able to sit and relax and enjoy the food after all that hard work! Now she knows that making a big meal isn't all fun and games. I am glad she understands the hard work that goes into preparing a meal! Thankful for so many things, especially my amazing family God has blessed me with!

Hanging Christmas lights

We started the weekend before Thanksgiving by going to a playoff high school football game. We had a great time cheering on CyFair Bobcats. It was so fun listening to Claire ask tons of questions about the game and fun watching her enjoy the half-time shows!

 The next morning Jeff put Claire to work on building the arches for our driveway for Christmas. He taught her how to use the drill and she went to work on building.

Claire and Jeff found another great use for the drill. When you have some down time in building, why not put your lollipop into the drill...

and spin it in your mouth?!

 Now, back to work pounding in the stakes.

 Once we got the arches in place, we had to hang the lights on them.

The finished product! Pretty fancy!