O Christmas Tree

Well we did it early this year. We put up the tree before Thanksgiving. It was just the only weekend that we were going to have free time. So don't judge me...I respect the turkey and all ok!!! Anyways, I'm pretty sure we should only decorate the top 3 inches of the tree because Luci keeps pulling off all of the ornaments. I'm not going to worry about it though. We put the important/breakable ones at the top so that is all that matters. I'm not going to spend the next 5-6 weeks telling her NO NO NO...that is annoying for her...me...and anyone else around!



Last year Luci needed help putting on the ornaments...

This year Luci could pretty much do it on her own!

This is Mitch topping the tree with Luci last year...


This is Mitch topping the tree with Luci this year!!!


The Minnick Family Christmas Tree :-)


Oh...and I know that the ornaments aren't exactly placed the best...but I let Brendon and Luci do most of the work!!! They did a great job!!! Let the countdown to Christmas begin!!!

Gluten Free Fun!!

Last night the Minnick family hosted our great friend Kerri over for dinner!! Now, we've had Kerri over at our house for dinner many, many, many times, but this time was definitely a first for us...this was the first time that I was preparing a completely Gluten and Lactose free meal for my friend since her recent intolerance diagnosis...but I was up for the challenge...and it really wasn't a challenge at all...Kerri can still eat most of the same food that we had eaten before...sometimes with a different twist or a substitution. I made Italian chicken, red skin potatoes, baby carrots, white rice, and for dessert, I picked up some chewy chocolate chunk gluten-free cookies from the Great American Cookie Company!

After dinner, Luci entertained us with her hand motions to Skinamarinky dinky dink, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, This Little Light of Mine, Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes, and The Chicken Dance...she also did quite a bit of sliding...which required hand clapping...and "yay!!!" on our part!!


We had a great visit with our great friend and look forward to some more Gluten Free Fun soon!!!

Not a Wordless Wednesday

-We have converted Luci's crib into a toddler bed. I know it is a little early...but let's face it...she hasn't spent a full night in there since she was like 6 months old, so what's the harm?!?! She has done pretty well so far...we have actually got her to go to sleep in there fairly well. She hasn't stayed all night yet...but baby steps, right?!!!

-I have been doing a little lifestyle changing with my eating habits and have successfully lost 12 lbs so far!! I'm hoping to lose a little more, but I'm not worried about it...just trying to change bad habits.

-I go back to see the neurologist next week...pretty sure I am going to need an adjustment with my meds...my head has been bothering me pretty bad the last two weeks...although today has been great!!

-We are thinking about putting up our Christmas tree a little early this year...don't get me wrong, I respect the turkey and all, but our weekends are pretty jam packed lately and it looks like this weekend may be the perfect time to do it! I am pretty nervous about how Luci will do with the Christmas tree...she is VERY curious...and I can see us finding ornaments in random places for months to come!

-We are gearing up for Branson over Thanksgiving weekend!!! We are excited...although I'm not sure I will get much accomplished with Branson traffic on Black Friday, but oh well!! We will still have fun!!

-We have already started ordering Christmas presents!! Luci is getting this kitchen from Santa!! I am really excited! I think she will love it!!!

Happy Wednesday All!!!

Lots of Shopping, Family, and Fun!

This weekend we went to visit Mitch's family in Oklahoma. We went up early Saturday and returned Sunday evening! The weekend was spent shopping, catching up, and celebrating our niece's 10th birthday!!! I scored Luci lots of winter clothes at Gymboree and Babies R Us, and after searching for Miss K her birthday present, vowed to never go in Justice again until Luci reaches her tween stage...let me just add that this was after Luci decided to pull miscellaneous clothing and jewelry onto the floor...and chew up and eat a price tag...so, yes...no more Justice for us. I'm pretty sure if we would have been in there 10 minutes longer, we may have been asked to leave! lol!

Saturday night we all went out to dinner and shared lots of laughs! We are a large, humorous group when we get together, and I'm sure our waiter was begging for us to leave! ...Ok, this seems like a pattern here...uh oh!! haha!!

Sunday, we celebrated Miss K's 10th birthday with strawberry cake and cupcakes!!! The girl cousins had fun playing with all the guests and running around!...quite chaotic...but quite fun!!

We made lots of memories to keep us until next time...I wish we lived closer!!!!

I'm only going to post pictures of Luci below...check out my fb page for the birthday party pics!

Luci is trying on her new winter pea coat and hat!!!


Luci is helping her Grammy mix up a cake!

A Yummy New Recipe and a New Pic!

My friend Kristal over at Krackin' Up With Kristal shared this great recipe with me! Mitch and I tried it out last night and we loved it! It is super easy and full of so much flavor!! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!!

Hawaiian Crock-Pot Chicken

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 bottle of Lawry's Hawaiian Marinade (you can find it next to the BBQ sauces)
1/2 can of chicken broth
carrots (I used half of a package of baby carrots)

Directions:
Layer chicken and carrots in crock-pot.
Pour marinade and chicken broth over them.
Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4.

Serve over rice!!

Sooo delicious!! Thanks Kristal!!

And...because I'm always posting pics of Luci, but never of Mitch and I...I thought it was time to throw one in of us!

Here we are heading off to lunch at Rolando's!

Almost Wordless Wednesday!!!!

Our sweet, little, 17 month old Luci posing for a few pics before school today!! We just love her soo much!! We thank God daily for our little Diva!!!!

Halloween Festivities and Fun-Part Two

Tonight we took Luci and Brendon Trick or Treating in our neighborhood and then headed back to our house to hand out candy for the other Trick or Treaters. Luci wasn't very impressed and Brendon didn't understand why one house might give him 2 handfuls of candy and the next would only give him 1 piece...so after hitting up the block, we turned back home to just hand out candy! Brendon seemed to like that more than Trick or Treating! So glad we had such a fun Halloween!!!!

Getting ready to go Trick or Treating...she is a little unsure!

Trick or Treat!

Trick or Treating with Mommy

Happy Halloween from the Minnick's!