Where's Austin

Anytime Austin is sent to his room for a time out, you never know where you are going to find him when you go to get him out. This particular time it was about 7:00pm and he was tired. I walked in and said his name and I didnt get an answer. Upon looking around in his usual hiding places I found him sleeping in his toy box. (which use to be joe's as a young boy, notice it says joey) He put his big fish pillow in there and covered himself up with his john deere blanket. I had a time trying to get him out of there and put him to bed. Funny boy!

"Keller" Christmas 2008

Julie, Kylie, Nate

Gracie

Austin

Gracie

Austin

The kids are always so excited to go the their grandparents on Christmas day. We always have a wonderful time and great food.

Christmas Morning 2008

Gracie and Austin Christmas morning

Gracie and her gift from Santa (Our Generation Girl)

Austin and his gift from Santa (Webkinz)

Gift Austin bought for Gracie

Gift Gracie bought for Austin

Merry Christmas!!

"Campbell" Christmas 2008

Gracie and Haley

Austin

Gracie and Haley

Marissa

Roderick and Owen

Christmas Eve is always at my Grandparents. First the kids exchange gifts, then we have an adult exchange.

10th Annual Cookie Baking

Sugar cookies the kids (annette and myself) decorated

Gracie and Haley

Michelle, Haley, Annette, Marissa, Austin, Angie (Gracie is hiding behind Aunt Michelle)

I cant believe it has been 10 years already. Haley (in the back with black shirt and polka dots) was just 6 months old when we started our cookie baking tradition. I remember sitting at the table holding her and trying to feed her off the table while her mom wasnt looking. This is a day we all look forward to in my family (except the men because we make them leave). We enjoy having our mother , grandmother, sisters, and children all to ourselves. Some of the cookies and candies that we make every year are wedding cakes, peanut butter balls, sugar cookies, Chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge and white chocolate drops with pretzels, m & m's and peanuts. (i dont know what they are called). We had two casualties this year Haley burned her arm on a cookie sheet then not 2 min. later Gracie burned her arm on the same cookie sheet. Picture 2 is of them showing their marks.

We store all the goodies till Christmas Eve then get them out at my Grandparents and enjoy them for the next several days.

We are looking for a couple of recipes if anyone has anything for English Toffee, or any kind of toffee and Turtles please let me know

Family Pictures

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Southern Thanksgiving

Angie, Michelle , Aunt Patsy, John (back), Suzanne, Cindy and Patrick

Gracie, Hannah, Dalton (back), Ethan, Cassidy, Austin

Austin and Cassidy on the teeter totter

Michelle, Aunt Patsy, Angie

We went to Tennessee this year to visit family for Thanksgiving. We had such a great time catching up and laughing. It was so nice outside on Thursday that the kids were able to play outside all day. They were loving it. It has been about 4 years since we have been there to visit. Austin was just 3 months old last time they saw him. We stayed at my Aunt and Uncle's house, and boy do they know how to cook. We had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried corn, cornbread dressing, broccoli rice casserole, chicken and dumplings, sweet potato casserole, cranberry salad, pea salad, deviled eggs, rolls, bread and about 6 different desserts. We were full the whole weekend. Joe's favorite was the biscuits and gravy with eggs, bacon, ham and sausage we had for breakfast both mornings. We were relieved to to see we were not going to have to eat rabbit pie and bbq squirrel. My parents were teasing us before we left that, that is what they eat for thanksgiving in the south.

Starbucks

A Starbucks drinking family. Joe was the first to get hooked on the coffee, then he moved on to flavored coffees, now on to cold coffee drinks. His favorite is an Iced White Mocha with Caramel. I dont like coffee, so I stick to hot chocolate, but my favorite is the Signature Hot Chocolate with double Peppermint. Yummy!

The kids would always drink half of mine so we have been getting them their own the last couple times. They also like the peppermint, or any other flavorings mom has tried. : )

It is a nice family treat before church on cold Sunday mornings.

Date with my Daughter (and her friends)

Emily, Gracie and Laura

The Three Muskateers! These are a couple of Gracie's best friends. Emily is a third grader at Hickory Center and Gracie a forth grader at the same school and Laura a forth grader at Lakewood Park. Emily and Laura only know each other thru Gracie but these girls love to play together. Another love of theirs is High School Musical. So I offered to take the girls to see the movie, wanting also to see it myself. I can't even put in to words how great it was to be with Gracie and her friends. I know one day she will be going to the movie's by herself with her friends. I want to be there as much as possible now. I bought them the biggest tub of popcorn and all of them drinks, plus myself. We go in to find our seats, we watch the previews, the movie is about to start and Gracie leans over and says "Mom, we are going to need more popcorn." I about died laughing. I thought wow, we have only been here for 20min. and the movie hasnt even started. Girls, Girls, Girls gotta love em! Another funny part is when Troy and Gabriella kissed, they only ever kiss one time in each movie so its not so bad for the girls, however I wanted to see my daughters reaction so I looked over with the corner of my eye and they are all huddled together laughing and Emily and Laura have there eyes covered and Gracie just has the biggest smile on her face. Now if we can just keep them that cute at 16.

Halloween Fun 2008

Monkey (Emily) and Hannah Montana (Gracie)

Hannah Montana (Gracie) Jasmine (Lindsey) Superman (Austin) Unicorn (Chloe) Transformer (CJ)

Superman ( Austin) Superman (Connor)

The day started off with a Halloween party at Austin's school. They had a parade around the school , wrapped each other up in toilet paper to be mummies, and then had dirt pudding and worms for a snack.

We then headed to the Franklin's (my bestest friend and her family) to go to CVS, they were taking pics and handing out candy. We then separated for about 30min, while I went home to get hubby off the work, then back down to the Franklin's to go trick or treating in the neighborhood. We then met up with 2 more family's. There turned out to be 4 adults and 7 kids. We even stopped in the neighborhood for hotdogs, chips, cider, and brownies. What a great night.

Making Applesauce

How to peel an apple by Gracie Keller

1. Put the apple on the peeler

2. Turn the crank to peel the apple

3. Give your little brother a turn so he is happy

4. Take the apple off the peeler

5. Look amazed at all the peel that came off your apple

6. Give all the peeled apples to your mom so she can make applesauce

Austin's Field Trip to Kurtz Pumpkin Farm

This was Austin's first field trip since being in school. He was so excited to go to the pumpkin farm. Joe was the lucky one to go with him, he doesnt usually get to do many things with them because of his work schedule and this just happened to work. I really wanted to go but maybe next time. The kids above are some of Austin's friends, Lucy (who has a twin sister Lily, not shown) and on the other side of Austin is Connor. Joe said Lucy followed Austin around carrying her big pumpkin until Austin found is pumpkin then they posed for the pic.

The morning of his field trip he was excited that he would get to go on a hay ride, that may be driven by a John Deere. He was right.

BOO!

Thanks to the wonderful, fall season this is what I am seeing everyday. No, not because it is cold outside and they are coming in but, look again, it is a fake spider ring that Austin has brought home from school. Everytime I turn around he has placed this thing someplace different. I jump everytime. The day I dont jump and go to pick it up it will be REAL. YUCH!!!!

Gracie's Egg Drop

For science Gracie had to construct a cradle for an egg so when dropped at 10ft. the egg would not break. Parents could help by gathering supplies but, we were not to give our opinion on weather or not it would work. Gracie decided to build her cradle from toilet paper rolls, cotton balls, glue, and a few paper clips. So did it work..........

Unfortunately not, Gracie said her egg cracked.

Out of a class of 26 their were 15 that made it and 11 that didn't. Better luck next time Gracie.