Regan's 17th Bday Party

Regan wanted to have a hot chocolate bar for her birthday. So I started thinking how I could do a cake to that theme. I found a recipe for a marshmallow buttercream icing. It paired perfectly with the chocolate cake. I sprinkled crushed peppermint , mini marshmallows, and chocolate chips on top and tried to make it look like little hot chocolate mugs.

Regan and the girls did all of the decorating.

The hot chocolate bar (Thanks Auntie Em for letting us borrow your Keurig machine)

Jonathan working hard on her pizzas

I think Hudson thinks we should have a hot chocolate machine all the time. He looks like he's just livin' the life :)

The puppies love their Auntie Em!

Love this genuine expression of surprise and hearing her say, "OH! It's soooo cute!" 

This is what it was....a musical snow globe with three puppies inside.

Benjamin had the biggest smile on his face since it was his gift.

Faith over Fear shirt

A Sisters frame from Lauren with a picture of them together in Hong Kong.

Yarn to finish her blanket that she is crocheting

The new Keeper of the Lost Cities Book

I decided the night before her party to try to do these hot chocolate cakes. The inside icing is hot chocolate flavored.

I think Katherine has some hot chocolate with her whipped cream ;)

Ms. Miquela came up from Chattanooga! She was Regan's Sunday School teacher 3 years ago, and they have kept in touch via email throughout our time away.

Auntie Em

Best friend, Kayla

The puppies...where are the people going??

Marvel poster form Kayla

Sweet card from Hudson

The outside of his card

She got these curtain lights which came in handy when we lost power for a few hours at night!

Recreating the birthday photo from her 4th birthday :)

Emily and Hudson
 

Christmas Lights

We decided to go for a drive one night on a search for Christmas lights. It's not too hard to find this time of year, but a part of American culture that our kids haven't experienced in a long time. It was so much fun.

We didn't take pictured of everything and some didn't turn out at all, but the ones that turned out were good.

The Grinch

The Nativity

Wins the award for most lights on one house/yard

Shadow LOVED looking at the lights

The dogs kept wanting our blankets for themselves. I got a text that fleece was 70% off at JoAnn's. We were very close to the store and decided to stop in to see what they had. We bought 4 different patterns to make the dogs their own blankets for the car and their bed. It's was the perfect size and the girls enjoyed making them. Not bad for 2 dollars each :)

Scout would not wait for it to be finished. He wanted to sleep on the blanket before it was finished. Funny dog.

A little gingerbread house decorating 

This girl needed her dogs back. She has been so happy and loving on the dogs all the time.

I think Scout is happy to be home with Benjamin :)

My baby...and he knows it..."I'm allowed in the bedrooms now, right?"

Hudson has enjoyed his piano lessons so much! I'm so happy that Mrs. Kathy was able to teach him.

Kathy Riley and Hudson 

Hudson loves to practice

Making sugar cookies

Regan loves making them look so professional.

The dogs are enjoying getting to go on car rides and to the park. They look so happy.