Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas 2011....

Celebrating with The Buckners
all the yummy fixings
opening gifts
Trent got a portable DVD player (when we take a car ride...that's a gift for Dad & Mom too) 
Maddie got Camo coveralls
Tyler got a Camo jacket

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On Christmas Morning we hosted brunch at our house...

praying before the meal
enjoying the meal
Presents... 

The boys in front of our tree 


The necklace & earrings Steve got me..LOVE!! 
Tyler & Troy  
G-ma, Troy & Tyler 
Tyler's Gift
Marlin 270 rifle
Troy
finally got a phone..finally!!
I think he was the only kid at the HS to not have a phone!!!
Steve & Troy comparing toys
The mess

my Earrings & Necklace 

In the afternoon of Christmas Day, we headed over to Dad & Linda's.
We enjoyed a ham dinner
I don't have a picture of us around the table..so you will have to imagine that in your mind!
Tyler & Andrew 
Steve opening a gift 
Dad and his "tote" of Menard's goodies!
Every guy got a number and they took turns picking 'guy stuff' out of the tote till all the stuff was gone!
Looking in their stockings! 
Linda got a necklace from Dad..I think she likes it! 
Trent and his Starbursts 
Steve & I
The Buckners
Tyler, Joanne, Trent, Steve & Troy 
The Griffioens
Janice, John, Andrew & Arie
(and Gracie) 
Grandkids 
and the Lovely Dad & Linda!
Don't they look nice?!?!? 
It was a wonderful year!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

December Stuff

A recap of the second week of December....
Trent & I made Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms with Snickers..hahaha!  
Here is my assistant....
the unbaked look 
after they bake we put a snickers in the hot cookie..I thought they turned out pretty yummy!!! 

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Trent had his classroom CHRISTMAS party on Thursday.  
Here he is with a couple of his buddies!
they are playing Christmas Bingo...not to be confused with Holiday Bingo!!! 
Here he is with his new glasses...he got them a couple weeks back, I just never posted a picture of him with them on.  With a bad vision gene like my family has...he was destine to wear glasses..it was not 'if'  it was 'when'??  Next on the agenda..braces!! 
Santa payed a visit to Trent's class room.... 
  
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This deserves a post all of it's own...but because of time....I wanted to post it before April...so I will include it in this one!!

This is a new recipe I tried and let me just say...A W E S O M E!!!!
It's for Peanut Butter Fudge  I found it on Allrecipes (love that website!!!) 
If you have ever attempted fudge and have made delicious Ice Cream topping you are right with me! 
If you have ever tried to figure out soft ball stage, hard ball stage or crackle stage..I'm with ya!
If you have ever had a fudge fail....that's me!  Some work better than others..but trust me, I'm not applying to work of Mackinac Island.  
This is the starting of it....
after I finished I put in a 8x8 pan and put in the fridge 
This is what it looks like already to give away!!!...=)))) 
I gave the recipe to Linda and we are comparing notes on how great we are!!!! 
Lets just say you NEED to try this...if I can make it, anyone can!!!!
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Our 2011 Tree

It's a Fraser Fir cut fresh from the famous Kahler Tree Farm!
It appears to be a little crooked...but it seems straight in real life???
Here she is in all her glory! 
a close up of JOY 
a mini snowflake bulb
An ornament my Dad & Mom got us.  
She would get us an ornament every year..I have quite a collection.
On the backside it says 'Steve & Joanne'...
Mom & I were together at a craft show when she got them....fond memories!

Awww....I love snowmen, we are snowman heavy on our tree 
and one of my very favorites!! 
It's a picture of Troy when he was 2..isn't he about the most adorable kid!?!?!
I love that little picture of him!!!
Back when I got it, I never realized how precious that little paper JOY would be.
As a towering 16 year old...the realization of how little he was makes he tear up.  
I would not put myself in the sentimental category..but somethings choke me up..and this is one of them!! 
I do believe, I will keep this one to always hang on MY tree!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

TECHNOLOGY!

So I have no idea how to get those words in that box..so just imagine that they are in that cute box! Thanks..that is all!

What's Going On?

A little of everything....
Tyler ordered a desktop computer....in pieces...on purpose!
Tyler and Troy assembling the pieces and parts!
Good News is it works!!!!!

::Getting the tree for 2011::

Here she is.... 
Trent started the cutting 
Troy took over... 
then Tyler cut for awhile 
Steve finished her up! 
Tyler & Alisha 
putting it on the Lincoln.
This was a new challenge for us, as we have always had a truck to throw it in the back of! 
She's up and is nicely decorated in our living room.