FINE! I GIVE IN! And Catching Up!

UGH!  Fine!  I give in to Blogspot and their new storage space pricing policy. I ain't too happy 'bout it, but since I've used up all my free space, I will pay the $2.something a month to get my blog back.  Makes me irritated, but whatever.

On a happier, less frustrated note, time to play catch up with what I've missed posting about while going through my stubborn streak.

First, Operation Christmas Child:

Operation Christmas Child is an organization that promotes people packing shoeboxes full of treats to be shipped to countries where children are less fortunate.  Along with the shoe box gift, the children are presented with the Gospel.  The presentation of the gift and the Gospel may be the only time the children who receive both will be blessed by either.  Can you tell my kids are having a good time sorting out the boys stuff from the girls stuff in preparation of packing?

All packed up and ready to go.  We did four boxes, one gift from each of us.  We chose the younger age group (the age of my kids) to pack for and included fun stuff (stickers, toys, balls, games,etc.) as well as useful things (pencils, erasers, paper, socks, soap/washcloth, toothbrushes/toothpaste, etc.).  The kids had fun and I think they understood what we were doing and why we were doing it.

Next, Helpful Husband:  I love my husband so very much!  He has many, many great qualities, among them being the joy of laughing at oneself.  I'm sure he'll find humor in my next jest...

One week (apparently the week of the 10th of November judging by the picture), I had a terrible kink in my arm, so much so that simple tasks, like changing the garbage, were pretty painful.  One day when he was in during noon hour for lunch, I asked  Josh to take the garbage out for me, you know... to help me out because of my arm and everything.  And this is what I got.  Actually, if I remember correctly, I set the garbage can out for him and then tied the bag after he took it out.  He took the bag out of the can and just left it sitting there.  Well, he DID do what I asked, right?! ... next time, I'll be more specific and follow through with more directions.  It gave me a good chuckle and gave me something to tease him about... with much love, of course!

On to birthday cake!

 

My sister in law's daughter Ellie turned one in November.  I got to make her cake.  This is the second time I've ever covered a cake in fondant. I think it turned out pretty cute.  Well, the front side did anyway.  The backside was were all the seams met and wasn't so pretty.  With a little more practice, I think I might just get it!

 New Sunday Tradition:

 

With the onset of the cold weather and short days, our Sunday afternoons outside until sunset have ceased.  In its place, the kids have discovered (thanks to Daddy) America's Funniest Home Videos.  To hear them laugh until their little faces are beet red and they lose their breath is priceless!  And its an extra special treat to have supper while watching the show!  Caleb often will see something funny happen and comment that we should send it to the "funny shows show"! 

 

Big boys and their toys:

 

When we purchased our outdoor furnace, we planned it so that we would get one big enough to heat not only our home, but Josh's shop (someday) as well as our future garage (a very future someday!).  Well, the "someday" for Josh's shop has finally arrived with this year's cold weather... sort of.  The whole shop won't be heated thoroughly, but we can blow enough hot air in it to make the zero degree weather outside a little more tolerable inside the building when he has to work in there, heating it up twenty or thirty degrees for now.  Eventually, when we finish the inside of the shop, we'll make preparations to heat it throughout.  Anyway... heating it even a little bit required a trench for the water line to be dug, a trench wider and deeper than a regular trencher could do.  Bring in the little back hoe!  Or excavator!  Or...whatever this cute little gizmo thingy is...where's Caleb when I need him for this kind of information?  (FYI, he's out fencing with Daddy and Papa this afternoon.)  I think the three Van Zante men had fun with this little job!  Its not everyday they have to play with their big boy toys to get a job done!  Notice Caleb (in his bright neon hat, you can't miss him!) on his tractor, doing what he can to help right along!

 

Picture Project:

 

I've always wanted a family picture wall with a "family" decal on it, but I refuse to pay the ridiculous price the stores ask for their decals.  But then, I happened upon a Facebook offer, a coupon so to speak, for a vinyl decal store.  A little click here, a little click there and voila... I gots me my picture wall!

 

Now to update the rather outdated family pictures....

 

Thankful Turkeys:

 

A look-see at our Thankful Turkeys we did leading up to Thanksgiving, completed with their fifteen feathers.

 

Well, I guess that's it for catching up for now.  I think I got most of my random pictures for the last month caught up.  Now on to current pictures.... soon.