more stuffing please

cause who doesn't LOVE stuffing.

and stuffing our faces ha.

such a great day celebrating Thanksgiving with our families

I am so Thankful this year for...

being blessed with J

being blessed with wonderful family/families

being blessed with dear friends

a healthy year for me, J, friend, family, loved ones

for a house project

and the list could go on and on

Do not always see snow on Thanksgiving, but it sure was pretty!

Thankful for these men :)

and this food

and this lady..happy birthday 

and these guys

thanks

thankful

thankfulness

bring on the Christmas music!

two is better

than ONE..especially when it comes to deliciousness!!!!

Hello and thank you to Trader Joes

My love for cookie butter and chocolate has now collided!!

now if only Trader Joes would try to collided with Grand Rapids

Now that would be even better

or maybe it best it stays FAR FAR away with it goodness [since I will most likely eat the whole jar] :) 

you decide!

11 plus hours

of shopping galore
we went to Oakbrook and Downtown Chicago
we shopped, walked, talked [a lot] and goofed

we were successful on the Christmas lists

On Friday night Oakbrook was having a Christmas celebration
There were Reindeer and lights and music

always having fun with the mom
love her!

Saturday it was FREEZING...I mean so cold the my forehead hurt hahah
But we did not let it stop us from going all day long!

Even had to make a stop at Garrets!

sooo good!

and the tree on State Street Macys

Such a fun weekend!!

oh a happy

happy day of celebrating a fabulous man

my dad the douger dougie

my work buddy, friend, and much more

truly blessed to have him as my dad 

thankful for all he does for me and many others

and so happy to be celebrating 61 years of him

and planning to celebrate MANY more of him

happy happy day

Its singing and cake time

The whole fam

grandpas BIG buddy!  they are so cute together

help from little boy reading the card he picked out

and his other buddy. uncle jason

He is always talking about going to Uncle Jason house

hmm Auntie lives there too ;-)

such a fun dinner and night!

love these guys

classic time

joking time

Classic joking time!

Why did the bicycle fall asleep??
It was two tired.

Which runs faster hot or cold??
Hot, everyone can catch cold

What kind of flower do you have on your face???

Tulips 

LAUGH on Laugh ON!  

Happy happy Day!

the power went out

at the house, but I can show you the progress up to that point

hope it will come on soon

granted there is wire hanging over our road...ekkk

anyway here is the latest progress

The kitchen cabinets are in

this has been the thing that has made it feel the most 'real' to me

the sun porch ceiling is getting there

the basement has its first coat of base paint!

J and douger checking out the deck progress

our room is ready for its next step...paint!

bathroom and headed into the closet

more of the bathroom

one of the basement bedrooms

next up

more paint

more trim

more time :) 

we "traveled" to

The dutch dinner

may have had to eat in the hall

which in all reality was good, bc it was a well attended function :) 

Just missed our friends!

Then we traveled to Dino land on a Safari

Really a great themed event

even were told to dress the part

so we did and ate the part

Fun night!

I need a good laugh

So classic joking time it is. 

What kind of car does Mickey's wife drive????

A Minnie van 

Two blondes were driving to Disneyland. The sign said: Disneyland left. So they started to cry and headed home. 

Why was the broom late to class?? 

Because it overswept. 

Hope you are laughing :) 

Busy B's Baking

Bachelorette Bash!

Traverse city style

Eight friends head up north to celebrate B

Thanks to Lindsay for a TON of help with including setting up before we arrived

Time to dress the bride

and then it was off to Simply Cupcakes to learn how to decorate cupcakes

Hello Bride!

A little lesson

How about frosting shots?  Guess the flavor..yummm!

Time to use the skills we just learned

Finished product!

Then Spa Time

nails, hand scrubs, foot spa

Homemade again thanks to Lindsay

Dinner out at the Jolly Pumpkin

Back for gifts and dessert

Then up for Breakfast

Back in the HUGE black expo and back to GR!

So fun to be with friends all weekend and to be able to celebrate B!

raining and pouring

and showering the BRIDE

Betsy the Bride!

Celebrating at her church shower!

Less than two months to go!!

excuse me, but what aisle

can I find dates in?

Yes had to ask that this week at the grocery store.

It was time to create Bacon wrapped dates 

compliments of the book Bread and Wine

and bring them to our cooking club

also compliments of the book Bread and Wine

Not going to lie, I was a but skeptical of it all 

I mean dates [aka fruit] weird looking

goat cheese 

and bacon in one!?

Glad I tried something new

they were good [not to toot my own horn]

other people said the same

anyway

this shall have to be made again 

your words are inspiring

Shauna Niequest

They are real, raw, open, truth, meaningful

and inspiring.

and I am so glad that I got to hear them LIVE this weekend 

Thanks to my sister in law for the invitation to Mars Hill event

She spoke about her book Bread and Wine

Then she did a Q&A

Then we were able to share a meal like her book talks about

and then bought her book that she signed haha

and Bonus she was preaching at Mars the next morning, so I got to hear her all over again

Fun to able to hear some you admire live