why i am out of mascara

when it gets way too quiet for two little boys, I know they are up to something no good.

I caught them with three mascara wands(one taken out of my purse) in their tiny little hands. I couldn't get mad, I just had to laugh and take a few pictures. Which to them, is punishment.

I imediately gave them a lesson on why we do not play with mommy's makeup and why we must stay out of mommy and daddy's bathroom and purse. This lesson was imediately followed by a long bath.

Fisher got off easy, he only put it in the back of his hair. Thankfully with a few dozen makeup remover wipes and some baby shampoo, the mascara came out and we now have some pretty clean boys. I did have to drain the water because it was completely black, but they enjoyed their time in the bath.

The one plus side to this all is mommy gets to go shopping for some new mascara! Can't complain on that! ;)

a very crowder christmas

Christmas morning both Wayne and I woke up with a terrible illness. It literally took all of my strength to get out of bed, sit on the couch and take as many pictures as I could before I wanted to lay my head down and never lift it up again. I hated being sick on Christmas, but the kids enjoyed staying in pj's as long as they could and my lovely Christmas dinner was put on hold till last night, they loved having peanut butter sandwiches, yogurt and cheese for dinner. I think to them, it was the perfect Christmas day!

It was fun to watch the kids discover what Santa brought them. I am looking forward to the years ahead when they really understand Christmas and Santa and all the fun things that go along with it.


All of the kids were extremely spoiled this year!! Santa brought the boys a t-ball set, a basketball hoop and a soccer net. Sabrina got a shopping cart full of goodies and her very own cell phone. The only thing she cared about.

The boys just had a blast opening presents. They loved everything they got and were just so happy and funny.



The boys got their own microphones. I love listening to them sing. It's so so cute!

Sabrina got three princess dolls and a stroller to push them around. She loves her new cabbage patch doll, but you can't beat that cell phone!



Fisher has always been really into music. Lately he has become obsessed with guitars and will play and play with it no matter how big or how small. Even if it's not a real guitar but a puzzle piece, he will still play like it is a guitar. So we really wanted to get him one for Christmas. He also loves Perry the platypus from Phineas and Ferb so he was super excited when he unwrapped his new guitar!

The guitar goes everywhere with him. I love watching him play and trying to figure it out. Who knows... maybe we have ourselves a musician on our hands?

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!! We are looking forward to celebrating the new year! Here's to 2012 being an excellent one!!

christmas eve at our house

This was our first time celebrating Christmas with just us five Crowders. It was also our first Christmas in our new home and that meant it was time to start some traditions of our own.

We had a busy day of finishing up some last minute shopping and tasks, so we had a pretty low key dinner and quiet night.

When I was a little kid, I always remembered my Grandpa reading from the bible about the birth of Jesus every Christmas Eve. I thought this would be a great tradition to start with our kids so Wayne read Luke:2 from the bible and we told the story to the kids as best as we could.

Then the kids each got to unwrap one present from the tree. Wayne's family always did pajamas on Christmas Eve as a kid and he wanted to start that tradition with our kids too. The kids just loved their new pajamas!

This is how Chase will show you anything. Always covering his face and always so close to your face. He was pretty excited over his new Cars pajamas!

Trying my hardest to get a family shot in front of the tree, but with a always going one year old, this is as good as I could get!

Then right before we were getting ready to put the kids to bed, Wayne had a special gift for me to open. An autism ornament and cookie cutter that I just love! It was such a sweet, sweet gift!

Our first Christmas Eve in our new home was just as perfect as I could imagine it. We all just had a wonderful time!

secret santa

we have a secret santa!

For the past eleven nights our doorbell has rung at exactly 8:15 every night. And every night we hurry to open the door to catch our secret santa but we are always just a little too late, but there is always a small little package surrounded by yummy candy.

Each night has been a little wiseman, or a little cow or a little Shepard. But last night we got a little baby Jesus. He made our little nativity complete.

We are pretty sure it's our adorable neighbors to the right of us. They are such a cute family and well, isn't this just the cutest thing??

We are so blessed for all of the amazing people in our lives.

And I just wanted to share the ornaments Fisher and I made for his teacher and all of his aids. They turned out cute and I love this picture of him just admiring his work.

Hope you all have a very wonderful Christmas!

half way

One of the things I just love about Kansas, I can meet my Brother halfway and enjoy ice cream with my neices and nephew.

We decided to meet halfway in Emporia and my brother picked Braums as a place to hang out and catch up.

My kids were so excited to see their cousins again. Add ice cream and they were just in heaven!

Emily and Fisher, such good buds!

Chase just loves playing around with his uncle "Greg the Grape"

Sabrina and her cousin Paul. She just adores her cousins.



Miss Payton is always a great help when we get together!

It was a quick visit, but a fun one for sure. I love being able to do this and spend more time with my family. It's so hard living far away, but it's been so nice having my brother and his family close by.

Love these days!

our visit with santa

Everytime I look at this picture I just smile and laugh.

I don't know what I love about it more.

Is it the dear in the headlights expression Fisher is giving? Or the fact that two of the kids aren't even looking at the camera? Or Chase's very confused look? Sabrina pointing something out?

No. I think it's the look Santa is giving. I know how you feel Santa!

just some holiday pics

We are almost ready for Christmas! We finished up all the holiday parties. Started baking and delivering goodies to friends and neighbors, and I may have one or two gifts already wrapped.

It's fun to see the kids getting excited for Christmas this year.

And I have to apologize, because I have our Christmas cards printed and ready to go, we just can't seem to find the box with all of the envelopes in it. I promise you will get one soon though!

Hope your holidays are very Merry and very Wonderful!