We have been very busy.  School is going full force and we are on schedule for my goal at the end of the year. 

Princess and I went to an Above Rubies ladies retreat in Arkansas last month.  One of Nancy's daughters offered to braid Princess's hair.  It was so cute.  But when she walked outside she decide it was cold on her head.

We had a nice Thanksgiving with Shane's parents grandparents and a family that has no family nearby, so they joined us.  Shane smoked turkey.  Princess made 2 pumpkin pies, Bubba made Grandma Rose's Sweetheart Salad and Little Bit made the Green Bean Casserole.  I also made Sweet Potato casserole, cheesy corn casserole and Stove Top stuffing.  We had Nadine's noodles, and butterhorn rolls, and mashed potatoes, and Janet's Pecan pie.  Since we had a mid-afternon meal, we also made "twirlies" cream cheese chopped black olives, and green onions rolled in tortillas and sliced.  And had a relish tray, and friendship bread to hold us over. I forgot to take a picture of the dessert table-- drats.

A few weeks ago we painted the great room.  The back wall is a deep red, and the other walls are kind of a chocolate milk color.  We also ordered a Scripture verse for our walls from Fruitful Vine Creations  It is a version of Deut. 4:6 Shane and I hung it today.  Well, mainly Shane because I was gasping too much when the vinyl was coming off too soon.  It is too big for a picture.  But it says

"Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might" on the first line, under that it continues:

"you shall teach your children you sit, walk, lie down and when you rise." 

It is over the doorway into the dining room.  And we LOVE it! 

We are having a 4-H cookie exchange Wednesday.  So we made cookies today.  My Grandma's Peanut Butter cookies and Spritz cookies.  AND I'm so excited... I remembered the press in the cabinet and we used it. 

 So we made star, diamonds, butterflies, doggies, and camels among other things.  Tomorrow or Monday we will make my other's Grandma's Easy Toffee Bars.  YUM!  I think I'll make a double batch... they go fast at our house.   

Here's sweet cheeks helping... Okay, she's really just sitting cute in her high chair --it's the only place that we know she'll stay confined :)  And yes, she helped us eat cookie dough and cookies too...  She has new glasses too-- her prescription is 1/2 of what it was nearly 2 years ago, but she still doesn't like to keep them on for very long, so we're working our way up... I'll post a pic soon of her new glasses.

Sorry about the sideways pictures... remember I'm on dial up and have been trying off and on for several hours to get these to upload at all :)