Traditions!

Everyone was kind of grumpy this afternoon, so I decided to keep an old tradition going.

 Making paper snowflakes!

I love Jack's eyes in this picture!

The boys had more fun making the snowflakes than Kate and I.

The sunset was GORGEOUS tonight! I couldn't resist taking a picture.

Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

 Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience

 God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will

 guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Chore Time!

You're probably wondering how we can possibly keep our house somewhat clean.

Well...here's how we do it!

Mom pulls the kids off the computers at 4:00 every

 afternoon to start their chores.

Every month Mom prints out a new chore list,

and she hangs it on the chalkboard door. Mom has made the

 chore lists for as long as I can remember.

Since Glynne is in college now, she has the basement and the girls'

 bathroom because they don't have to be cleaned every day.

 They end up getting done, maybe, once every other week. Still love you, Glynne!

Landon and Kate finally started helping Ally and me on the kitchen rotation a couple 

months ago. We older girls started cleaning the kitchen when we were eight.

 Landon is now 13, and Kate is 10. It's about time!

Ally gets paid to do all the laundry, and when the baskets get

 full we all put our own clothes away.

Kate also gets paid ($1 each) to iron Dad's dress shirts.

And the boys get 10 bucks every time they help Dad chop

 firewood and load it onto the rack.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 

when it is in your power to do it.

Proverbs 3:27

Ice Skating and Christmas Baking

A couple years ago our pond froze over, and since then we have

 acquired a collection of ice skates from different Goodwills and garage

 sales. We were all so excited when it froze again this year

 and couldn't wait to get the ice skates out. 

Landon says he doesn't like to ice skate because he would be

 too embarrassed if he fell, which he did twice. 

Dirt bikes are more manly anyway...

Isaac was surprisingly good at ice skating!

 I think Kate was a little envious.

After awhile we all came inside to warm up by the fire. 

While we were skating, Ally went to the store to get stuff to make cookies.

 Then Isaac, Jackson, Jonah, Ally, and I turned

 Christmas music on and got to work. 

Ally was in charge of the Double-Chocolate cookies.

I made the Rocky Road cookies.

And I put Isaac in charge of the four ingredient Peanut Butter cookies.

I got the recipe off of Pinterest and everybody loves them, and they are so easy.

 They have,

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg, lightly beaten

They go in the oven at 350 for 10-12 min.

I make these with the kids all the time; they love them.

Thanks for reading!

 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as over seers-not
 because you must,but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy
 for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you,
 but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2-3