I graduated Nursing School!!!

My Pinning Ceremony was fantastic! It was so fun of tradition from wearing white, to being pinned, to saying the Florence Nightingale pledge under candlelight... it was very nicely done and I enjoy it!

And the after party at Auntie Laura's was of course the highlight of the week! Aunt Marylou and Uncle Al came down from Phoenix, Becky and Eli came down from Gilbert, Ernie and Crystal came to dinner as well and it was just delightful!

My open house the following Friday was super fun as well!

Cookie Love--Nicole

We've been enjoying our fair share of cookies around here. From parties, friends, living at Grandma's house and the small amount of baking I've done, my girls are becoming quite used to asking, "Can I have a cookie?" And really, how can I resist those cute faces? Especially since their mommy seems to have developed quite the sweet tooth this pregnancy. Stay tuned for how we're doing in the January "cookie detox" program!

Making gingerbread houses

So glad to be a part of carrying on fun Christmas traditions!

Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas--Nicole

Christmas time!

T and Jon finally got their wish with a real tree this year thanks to Jon's enterprising spirit to sell trees. It's cloudy today and I am baking chocolate chip pumpkin bread and listening to Christmas music and looking forward to being all together over the holidays. I read a great devotion in "Come Thou Long -Expected Jesus "

Luke 2:10-12 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased"

I have read this verse so many times but never thought about the order of the words in this verse. God has made our peace with us through Christ His son. Our job as His children is to give Him glory and this is how we are most satisfied and this is where we find our true peace. The world wants peace without God and I am am tempted at times to want this never lasting peace amidst trials and chaos and forget why I am on this earth to give Him glory! May you bring HIm must glory during this season of your busy lives. Love you MOM

A few changes--Nicole

Living at Lynn and Terri's home has brought many changes to our family...a couple of our favorites being reading the paper and hot cocoa by the fire!

Christmastime!

Its so hard to narrow down all of the fun things to do/memories to make at Christmas, here are a few I'm looking forward to....





Looking forward to making these:

White Chocolate Cherry Granola Munch

Brie and Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Dark Chocolate Espresso Shortbread

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls


Some crafts I can't wait to try:

These cute bird ornaments with the kids.

Adorable kids craft idea with buttons

And of course, homemade gifts for friends which as Nicole says "is such a dying art" - remember when mom made quilts for all her friends? The painted ducks? Mr. Luckow and the piggy banks?

And since my kids are really into dress up I'm currently trying to beg my husband to build and manger while I finish their "Mary and Joseph" costumes out of pillowcases - more to come :)

Well I am off to decorate - and of course, since we are decorating the tree tonight - clam chowder for dinner!

becky*

Thankgiving

As we prepare to celebrate another thanksgiving I wanted to take a moment and thank my Savior for all of you and your examples to me each day of how you love your Savior, your husbands ,children and your church. You are so inspiring and encouraging to me and I am extremely thankful for my girls. Love you with all of my heart MOM

My Wonderful Husband-Nicole

Jonathan and I just had the privilege of going away for the weekend to attend a marriage conference. It was such a treat to have extensive time of talking, resting, and communicating specifically about our marriage. We came away so much in awe of how good we have it, how God has blessed us so much in our marriage and spared us so much. Ironically, we had a fight when we first got there, but I'm so grateful for the great teaching both from our parents and church so that fights (which happen) don't ruin weekends. Thanks honey for working so hard so we could go away, thanks for marrying me and staying married to me. Love you!

P.S. We found this picture when cleaning out the attic, what a hottie!

The Advent Calendar.....

There's just something magical about the countdown to Christmas...and while I have great aspirations of the calendar my family will know as tradition.....the reality for my AMAZING mommy-ness (haha) is the $1 Trader Joe's ones with chocolate for each day but hey, its cool if you're 3 and 5 (actually, I'm kinda thinken' I should go back and get one for me!)..

I do have the felt one from when we were kids and am excited to do the devotions with Drew this year - I used to love being the one to stick the symbol on when it ways my day! :) Now, 27 years later, I kinda actually get what the symbols are and why they are so cool....

Can't wait!

My Preggo Pic--Nicole

I never actually announced I was pregnant on this blog, I know, I'm such a loser. But in case you didn't know...baby girl #3 is on the way. I'm about 24 weeks along (due March 6)!

Preceptorship begins tomorrow ~Timarie

So I start my internship thing tomorrow!!! I'm getting excited! I was a little nervous, but I'm more excited tonight :) I hope I learn a lot and maybe even get a job offer... either way I think it will be a good experience and I feel like a real nurse! 3, 12 hour shifts a week... here I come!

Been Sewing....

I only get the sewing bug a couple of times a year so I have to take advantage of it. Turned this dress tutorial that a friend pointed out into a shirt, so cute. I feel like "Ma" from Little House on the Prairie. I just need to go kill a chicken for dinner, plow a field, and make some butter after I'm done :)

becky*

Crazy on top of crazy--Nicole

That's what I say about our new favorite pastime: fingerpainting. Why would I willingly let two messy toddlers dip their hands (let's face it its not just fingers!) into paint and go to town? Cause it's fun! I already have tons of messes to clean up, what's one more? There's always dirty laundry, what's one more? Plus how can you resist these cuties?

Love Saturdays......

....Produce pick-up, AJ's, garage sales, projects, kids and the hose, neighbors, movies, homemade pizza, family time, crafts, backyard, baby in swing, mud everywhere.....

Success!

I really had to beg and plead with Bella to be my model :) haha

Holiday Clothing--Nicole

I'm determined to have cute matching shirts for my girls this holiday. Is this such a hard thing to ask? It seems so. I've almost given up on fall shirts, but Christmas is a must. So...are these cute enough? Have any other locations I can search? Remember that Kathy Lambros is my mother and I am cheap. And I will NOT be sewing any shirts. Please advise.

It is really fall here!

It's beautiful here cool and crisp great conference and good to see old friends

I love Crystal ~Timarie

So amongst studying like a mad woman, I thought I'd have Crystal over tonight for a little girls night. Mom and Dad are gone and Jon isn't home tonight, so why not! I haven't watched a movie since the semester started!!!

So I decided to make us a nice dinner... it turned out to be GREEN Spaghetti! I know... ridiculous, but actually tasted delightful!

It started with me thinking it'd be a good idea to add some spinach to the sauce:

But then the sauce looked like Pesto, not spaghetti! :) So I added a little more tomatoes and mixed in some cream cheese... and it was delightful!

Of course I was throwing this together after work so I hadn't defrosted any bread... so I used an asiago cheese bagel as toast... put a little salt and garlic on it and toasted it... seriously genius:

All in all it turned out well and Crystal and I enjoyed a nice green spaghetti, bagel toast, salad, and red wine dinner :)

Now we are going to watch "Letter's to Juliet" and paint our nails and eat junk food :)

chow! ~Timarie