Gingerbread Men

Last week we had our annual cousin gingerbread decorating party.

I had a few rough weeks being sick in December so my sister Heather, my brother Ben, and SIL Kristy kept offering to host the party this year, but I kept thinking I would feel better.  The night before I finally agreed, and I was so thankful that Kristy hosted!  It is always so nice to get together, and it was extra nice to have a load of stress taken off!!  Thanks a MILLION Ben and Kristy!!  (And thank Heather for all your offers too).

Bethlehem Dinner

Last night we continued our "Bethlehem Dinner" tradition.

It was a little more simplified this year.
(Mainly because I hadn't been feeling well, and I knew I wouldn't be able to handle fish).

Darin made us an awesome dinner and I made the bread.

We said the things we were thankful for and watched the Nativity.
It was a wonderfully, perfect, and simple night.

Sinterklaas

Jim Gaffigan and CPK

This weekend my parents took our family to Jim Gaffigan and California Pizza Kitchen.

We had SO MUCH FUN!

Dinner was delicious, the company was the best, and Jim was SOOO funny!

I lost my breath a couple of times from laughing so hard!  He cracks me up!

We joked with my brother-in-law that he should have charged people to take pictures with him, because we all think he looks so much like Jim Gaffigan!

Now simple things--even one word will set me off laughing from his show!

Some of my favorites:

Donuts, Geneology, Russions, Car seat warmers, Fish, Hot Pockets, Telathletes, Hiking, Snowballs at Santa, and so much more!  SOOOOO FUNNY!!!

Oh Christmas Tree

Last week went out to find the perfect Christmas tree!!

We went to THREE lots before we found the one for us, but we LOVE the one we got!

It smells amazing and we are so excited to start the Christmas season!

Thanksgiving!

I was HORRIBLE about taking pictures this Thanksgiving, but I did get 5.

This year we had a Gunnerson Thanksgiving!

Darin's mom is a WONDERFUL cook! 

(How did I get lucky enough to have amazing cooks on BOTH sides!?)

I feel bad I didn't get a picture of the "Main Table" with mom, dad, Nate, Janie, and more.

Mom and dad made cute little name place settings, Andrew LOVED his!

Thanks mom and dad for hosting a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!

Matthew's Halloween Party

Matthew planned a little Halloween Party for a few of his friends.

I COULD NOT believe how clever Matt was! 
I really didn't help him AT ALL!!

Here were the activities he planned:

#1 Eating donuts on a string
#2 Wrapping the kids up like mummies

#3 Haunted house (that he made himself in our backyard--as he pulled each kid in a wagon ha!)

#4 Hide and GHOST seek!  (I thought that was EXTRA clever)
#5 Bat, bat, Vampire
#6 He had everyone draw names and then they made Halloween cards for each other. :)

Family Costumes 2016 -- Monster's Inc

I am a HUGE lover of Halloween and dressing up! 

Let's be honest, all these costumes were pretty much finished by June! 

I made Andrew's costume with paper mache, a balloon, some paint, and tights for his arms and legs. 

We bought Darin's costume for $7 with a gift card online.

 

 Mine is just a dress from the DI and my mom sewed a little more on to make it long enough, she made my wig with purple fabric, stuffing, felt, and wire hangers. (Thanks mama!!)

Matt's is a hazmat suit we got online, and I just had him wear it backwards, then I put a box where the "hood" is, and I cut out holes for the kerr jar lids and some red Christmas ribbon I had.  I cut off the feet to make it shorter, and used the extra fabric to cover a box for the backpack.  I just used some black vinyl to do the "CDA" on the bag, and the "2319" on the front.

Lindsay's was the easiest, I got the shirt as a hand-me down, the leggings are from DI, and her hair ties are just pompoms glued on a bread tie! (Thanks for that idea, Heather).

Happy Halloween from Mike Wazowski, Sully, Celia, the CDA, and Boo!