Merry Christmas 2012!

Just wanting to wish everyone a Blessed Christmas Day!

We all have so many blessings as a family for which to be thankful for, including the gift of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Wishing you all God's blessing as we are reminded again of the greatest gift of all.

Our Family picture:

 

Our extended Family Picture:

Spending American Thanksgiving in Canada

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything.  There is just so much that has happened in the last month that it is hard to keep up on it all.  I am just now spending some time trying to catch up on some posts of a few things that we did over the last month.

We spent American Thanksgiving in Canada with Andrew's parents.  It was Avery's first trip to Canada!  The drive there went well as we were able to break up the 6 hour drive a bit, but on the way back, it was a really, really loooong 6 hours and we ended up having to stop a couple times so I could nurse Avery and try to get her to sleep.

While we were in Canada, we were able to visit a few relatives.

Here are some pictures that we took of Avery's first time seeing Great Grandpa Bergsma...

and cousin Ariahna...

she even got some snuggle time in with Auntie Jen...

and then, of course, the fun at Grandpa & Grandma Bergsma's house!

 In Grandpa's study looking at pictures 

Lazy Daze

Sometimes you just have to have one of those lazy days, especially when you have had a busy week.  Avery and I get our chance every so often, while Roxy gets them.... well.... lets just say every night when we sit down to eat dinner.

Easy Crock Pot Chicken

Seriously, this is the easiest dinner to make and tastes really good!  Actually, for us it turns into 2 very easy dinners!

Easy Crock Pot Chicken

what you will need:
 4-5 Chicken breasts
1 can of black beans
1 can of corn
1 can of mild (regular) diced tomatoes and green chillies
1 block of cream cheese

Put everything into the crock pot as listed and turn on low for 7-8 hours.  Mix everything together.

Serve over white rice.  If you want more of a zest to it, you can get the spicier can of diced tomatoes and green chillies.

If you have leftovers of both the chicken and rice, you can eat it the next day as a burrito on tortilla shells, topped with tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, and what ever else floats your boat.

Another meal you can make with the leftovers is an Enchilada Casserole.  It requires the same ingredients, so it becomes another super easy meal.  You can find that recipe [HERE].

Linked to: Growing Home

Baking with Mommy

I made pumpkin bars on Saturday and Avery was very intent on watching everything I was doing.  She wanted so bad to get her little fingers at the batter and frosting.

I finally allowed her to relish the moment that every kid (or grown-up 'kids') enjoys at the end of every baking session.  Licking the beaters!

Mmmm.....

What is that you say?

 I have a messy face?

 Oh, but it is sooooo good!

 You should really try it next time!

 I bet you will enjoy it too!

Visiting Dad at Work

Last week Friday, Andrew's work had a time in the afternoon where the family can come and visit.  So, we took that opportunity as well to visit dad and see what this desk looks like and play with his "toys" a bit as well.  It was nice to see everything.  Andrew took us around and showed us the different departments that work on various parts of a car.  We walked through rows and rows and rows of cubicles!  As much as Andrew would tell me how many people worked there and that there are so many cubicles that they have to give "street names" to each aisle or row so that people will know where you are sitting.  Andrew's desk is near the intersection of Infinite Loop and Main Street. ;)

Well, here you have the pictures to prove we were there!

6 Months Old!!

Avery is now 6 months old!!  She is a ball of energy and simply doesn't like to sit still, even though she can't crawl around yet.  I can only imagine what she will be like once she does become mobile.  I am not sure if I am quite ready for that.... but sooner or later it happens, right?  She does not have any teeth yet, though she does like to chomp on my fingers or anything else that she can get her hands on.  She is fairly stable with sitting up by herself and at times will still lose her balance and fall over.

On a beautiful 70 degree day last week, I took the opportunity to take her 6 month pictures.  She had so much fun!  She had just woke up from her afternoon nap and was as happy as can be.  I have one problem, though.... I can not decide which picture(s) I like the best!  So, I have numbered them and hope you can help me decide. :)

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