Merry Christmas to us

We bought some faux leather couches a few years ago and they have served us well but they recently started cracking and peeling at the headrests and now recently in the arm rests. They were starting to look really bad. The chairs were still really comfortable but they looked horrible. Ben asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I promptly told him COUCHES! hah! So we took advantage of some Black Friday sales at a local furniture store and went from this....

To this....

Daddy's Home

There are many pros and cons to owning your own business. One of the biggest cons for us has been the time that is required if you are truly dedicated to your business being successful. It is not uncommon for Ben to go into work by 8 or 9 and not get home until 6 or 7. He also goes into work on Saturdays and Sundays to make sure the crews don't need anything. He is always on call and quite often gets called in after hours to help run calls. These are good things to the extent that we are getting the calls but the downside falls mostly on the children. They love their daddy and miss that time to play with him. So when he does come home, they run screaming down the hall "Daddy's Home" and then beg to play with him. I'm sure one day they will appreciate and understand the sacrifices he is making for them, but until then, we are glad when daddy comes home.

Halloween

I forgot to post these after Halloween. Our branch had a Halloween party out at the farm. Aside from when the kids were playing a few relay games and eating, we hardly saw them. They spent most of their time in the huge jump house that was rented.

Getting their faces painted. Ethan wanted fire and Alli got a pattern on her face to match her Anna dress.

We spent our Halloween night at the local Trunk or Treat in Estill Springs. A&E had been invited to attend so we tagged along with Ben instead of trick or treating without him. It was a nice night out in the community and the kids had a good time. They spent a good portion of the night with one of our employees. Our employees really are like a 2nd family to us and the kids love them.

They spent most their time with Rhonda waiting in line to jump in the jump house or get treats.

We saw a lot of great costumes but this little girl took the prize for us. Her parents didn't mind us taking a picture. Her grandma costume was absolutely precious!

So cute!

Caps for Sale

Last week we attended reading time and they read the book "Caps for Sale". Afterwards everyone made a cap and then reenacted the book. Alli was chosen to be the peddler who was selling his caps. My sometimes shy little girl has no fear when it comes to acting and pretend. Here is some of her flare for the dramatic.

Wearing all the caps on her head heading to town to sell them.

Bad sales day and no one wants her caps so she is headed out to the country.

Once in the country, she decides she is tired from all the walking and leans up against a tree to take a nap.

While napping, something very strange occurs.

The peddler wakes to find that all the caps but one are missing. She looks left and she looks right.

Then she looks up in the tree to see all her caps on a tree full of MONKEYS.

Angry and frustrated, she shakes her fingers at the monkeys and demands they give her caps back.

Instead the monkey's just mimic her actions.

The peddler stomps her feet in frustration and is once again mimicked by the monkeys. In complete frustration the peddler throws her cap on the ground. The monkeys once again mimic the peddler and throw all the caps on the ground.

The peddler is able to gather all her caps up and head back to town.

The end :)