Gingerbread Decorating in Madison's Classroom

The Thursday before Christmas, Madison's Kindergarten decorated Gingerbread houses. It was a messy and delicious project! 

Class Gift baskets I made for Teacher & Assistant Teacher

It is such a gift that I can be M's class mom this year.. it has been so much fun!

I think the kids ate more candy than what went on their houses...

Here's Madison's class with their teacher, Mrs. Pacuta. Mrs. P was an answer to my prayers for Maddie this year. During last spring when we were going through the Celiac testing, I began to wonder what it would be like for her going through school with this disease. I was sad about the experiences she would miss... buying her lunch, all the birthdays they celebrate and even cooking in class. It gave me anxiety about the type of teacher who she would get, would she be understanding of her Celiac, or at least know what it was? I began praying to the Lord during the summer for her class, teacher and Madison's adjustment to the social aspects of being different.

God answered my prayers in the amazing teacher Mrs. P is.. get this: Her sister has Celiac, so she knew exactly what we were dealing with and was so helpful. She makes every effort to accommodate Maddie during lessons, and they do a lot of cooking in class (which M loves!); they made gluten-free banana bread and she got g/f graham crackers for the gingerbread houses ;) I would have totally provide these things if she asked, but she just went ahead and did it on her own. Madison's classmates has been super supportive of her, and have got a special g/f cupcake for her when they brought in the cupcakes for birthdays. All this to say, I have been overwhelmed at the goodness of the Lord in providing all of this for Madison's first school experience, and answering this Mama's prayers!

Christmas Festivities

We've been enjoying the Christmas Season with parties, plays and fun family traditions!

Madison's Sunday school retold the story of Jesus's birth by acting out the scenes... LOL.

We watched Charlie Brown Christmas in our yearly tradition with Daddy...

SNOW! It has felt so cozy with some snow days in December! We continued our traditions of  visiting the Shadybrook Farm Christmas Light display, and the Living Nativity in Hamilton.

At the beginning of the month I hosted my 2nd annual Cookie Exchange...

Oh boy, were there tons of delicious cookies!!

So very thankful for friendship of these ladies!

Andrew at the Christmas CBS... as soon as he saw me in the audience he ran and sat on my lap and would not do any singing. Shooting for a video next year!! Haha! 

Cutie Christmas Fella

Santa!

We went to see Princeton's acapella groups sing carols at Palmer Square and ran into... SANTA!

He was kind enough to take a picture with the kids...

And insisted on a family picture as well....

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

Snow Days

It is beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas!! We have been lucky to have a few snow days this December, which almost never happens since we've lived in NJ.  

Let it snow!

 When it snowed on Saturday, I took Madison to a birthday party and guess what Daddy, Lindsay and Andrew did? Ordered Chinese food!!

Thanks Dad!

This is a big deal for the gluten eaters in our family, since they almost never get to each Chinese because of Madison and I!

I love Chinese food!! 

Daddy took Lindsay outside to play in the snow during Andrew's nap.

 We did had a Karaoke party...

 And got started on some baking: Sugar Cookies!!

The Christmas Season is in full swing!!

Thanksgiving 2017

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours! We had a lovely, quiet holiday filled with rest, fun family memories and of course, delicious food! 

After school the Wednesday before Turkey Day the girls helped me do some baking...

My first gluten-free pie crust in a pumpkin pie...

I think they were eating pie dough faster than I could get it in the pan...

Our little Turkey in his PJ's..

The Bird... I brined him in a Williams Sonoma Turkey Brine kit and it was fabulous...

Maddie told me she wanted to get dressed up for our meal... Doesn't she look like such a big girl here? Sniff Sniff.

Lindsay made some "Thankful" art for us after our lunch...

Feasting! This year everything I made was gluten free... gravy, pie, stuffing... etc. and a whopper of a dessert: Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. The girls picked it out off of Pinterest, and they did a great job choosing if I don't say so myself ;)

Thanksgiving 2017

J's first plate. *Wink*

We are counting our blessings this year, and are so grateful for the gifts of family, friends and most of all, our salvation through Jesus Christ. If we enjoy this annual feast on earth, oh my, can you imagine the feasts we'll share with our Lord in the age to come?! Happy Thanksgiving, Love the Fishers

Fall Going Ons

It's been awhile since I've posted on the blog, but we have been a busy bunch! Here are a few pics of fun times we've had the last few weeks...

This is the BEST tree for climbing.

Tree Climbing in the backyard... enjoying the warmer fall weather the past few weeks before winter sets in!

Such a big girl.. can't believe in a couple months she'll be 8!

Andrew and his bestie, Jude, playing in the leaves outside. These boys have so much fun on Thursdays when I babysit!

We have seen some wildlife lately.. we caught a red fox running through our yard, and we've seen lots of deer pass through too!

What does the fox say? LOL.

At parent teacher conferences Maddie's teacher praised her for her great reading skills. She's has been reading nonstop the past few weeks, and she is doing such a good job. Andrew is reaping the benefits too!

Making our Christmas Lists... before Thanksgiving we took the kids to Toys R Us to make their lists for Santa. Andrew had a blast just hanging out in the store...

Look out speed racer!

Race Car

Thomas the train

A couple weeks before Thanksgiving the I hosted a Lego Themed Teacher Appreciation breakfast from the PTO. We had a yogurt parfait bar and the smoothies were a big hit!

On to Thanksgiving!

Halloween 2017

Happy Halloween!! Love, Lindsay (Candy Queen), Madison (50's Waitress) and Andrew (Marshall Paw Patrol)

We began our very busy Halloween day by heading over to kids school for a Halloween Costume Parade. Madison was super excited because this was the first year she was in it, and not watching from the sidelines! Andrew watched the kids and waved... he was pretty excited when he saw some Paw Patrol Costumes! He said, "Me too! Andrew Marshall!"

Lindsay as a Candy Queen

 Madison as a 50's waitress, perfect for the Diner State ;)

Andrew waving at Sissy

 Here's the gang before we headed out to trick or treat in the neighborhood...

Madison, 5.5 years

Andrew, 2 years

Lindsay, 7.5 years

We visited a few houses, but it was really cold and the kids candy was getting heavy, so we headed home to sort and negotiate their favorite candies. I think there might have even been a few candies they decided to share with Mama and Daddy too for taking them out...LOL.