Catching up

I'm playing catch up so I have picture overload! My job is especially busy in November, December and January so I'm just trying to keep my head above water right now. 

Dawn made these really cute dresses for Ryleigh that  I LOVE!!!!!!! They look really cute on her! 

 We went to the Christmas Jubilee and had a lot of fun getting to spend time with sweet Blakeley!

 We went bowling twice in one weekend! Once with friends and once for a birthday party.

 We got down Christmas decorations in shorts and tshirts-that's the Stokley's kind of Christmas!!

 We took the kids to volunteer at the Ronald Mcdonald house. We think it's important for them to give back.

 Please check out Tan Man's skinny jeans! Bay (our new church) is a much "cooler" crowd than we are used to and most of the younger guys wear skinny jeans so now Tanner is into them too!

 Ryleigh and her best friend Chloe.

 Cuddled up by the fire at MiMi's!

Manicure with my favorite girl. 

 Tanner added a swing to his bed.

 Love this sweet girl!

 Playing outside with cousins.

 Taking a quick nap to recharge on black Friday!

 Taking a nap to recharge from a crazy few days.

 We decided to have dinner outside by the fire. Hotdogs and Smores!

Thanksgiving

What Ryleigh is thankful for this Thanksgiving:

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for many things.

Forst, I am thankful for my family because they make me hapee.

Nets, I am thnkful my toys because they helpp me sleep at nite.

Then, I am thankful my friends because they are nise. (nice)

Last, I am thankful the holdase (holidays) because I get to see efrone! (everyone)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Give, Save, Spend

We've tried a few times to implement some type of allowance system for the kids but haven't really stuck with anything. We recently decided to implement one and stick to it. We all sat down and talked about what chores they wanted to be responsible for and what we thought they could do. Once we came up with a list we put a monetary value on them and decided payday would be on Friday. Well now they they are getting paid we had to have a way to separate their money. As a family we follow the rule that the first 10% goes to the church, 20% goes to savings and the rest goes to spending. 

We bought a shelf and some jars and put it into action. This was the only way we could think to track it. I really like how we made it part of the decor of the house so it's right where we see it all the time.

10% of any kind of money they get goes into the give jar. It could be from chores, report card money or whatever.

20% goes into the save jar. We haven't really discussed what they are saving for but we will probably use this for like when we go on vacation, for souvenirs or whatever. Something long term that they can save to spend their money on. Or maybe they'll get ambitious and start saving for a car :)

And lastly the jar that will probably stay empty most of the time, the spend jar. Tanner had me paint those letters green since money is green! This can be used for whatever they want it to be used on. 

 

If nothing else it looks really pretty in our kitchen :) Seriously though, I think this is a great way to start teaching them about money. 

Veteran's Day

Today was Veteran's Day so we had a day off from work and school! Thank you to everyone in the military who fights and makes sacrifices we can't even imagine, for our freedom. 

Since we were off, Ryan took off as well and we headed to Fairhope. There are 2 things that our family hates, RAIN and COLD!!! Unfortunately it was both today. I'm serious I HATE the rain and the cold, HATE THEM, HATE THEM, HATE THEM!! Ok, I feel better :) We didn't let it stop us though. We put on our rain jackets and headed out. 

We pretty much just walked around and went in and out of all the little shops and spent way to much money. We may or may not have bought Blakeley some new Toms! :)

We had lunch at Buck's Diner on the main strip in Fairhope and it was really good. 

 When we left Fairhope we were headed home but stopped at my 2nd most hated store, Bass Pro Shop. I hate it as much as  I hate cold and rain! Lol!

 The kids did have fun playing in the Santa Village. I can't believe it's already almost Christmas time!

 Ryleigh Claire was asleep 5 minutes into the drive home!

 When we got home we worked on a craft that we had bought the stuff to do today. You can kinda see it in the background of this pic but I'm going to do a separate post on it.

It's back to work and school tomorrow! Luckily I'm LOVING my new job!

Fair

I love the fair! I don't love the fair food like most people but I just love the atmosphere of it. This is mostly just pictures. Here is Ry and Tan riding a ride I knew Tanner would hate, He knew it to, that's why he looks so nervous.

I love how Ry is holding on to him and trying to comfort him. He was VERY upset!! When it started going backwards he started sobbing! The guy in front of them actually turned around and was holding his hand and trying to comfort him. It wasn't one of my proudest parenting moments because honestly I was standing on the side laughing. I know, I'm terrible.

We rode some rides with Tanner's teacher (who we absolutely LOVE) and her daughter who is in the same grade as Ry.

Kris and Tina met us there and Madi loved getting to ride all the rides. She has never been to the fair.

No one would ride this ride with Ry but Tina. I don't do things that go round and round.

Our sweet friend Amber went with us too and she was such a good sport and rode a lot of the kiddie rides. She's in college at Mobile (she's in our youth group and for some reason thinks we are fun to hang out with!)

It was a really fun night! We didn't get home until like 10:45 and the kids were not fun to wake up the next day for school!

If I were president...

Ryleigh had to do a project at school today around the election. It was called If I were president.
Mrs. Squires didn't help them at all so they had to sound all the words out themselves. Here is what she wrote...

If I were President I would do many things.

First I wood ceep the crunchtreey safe. (First, I would keep the country safe)

Next I wood mace shr everee one has a house. (Next, I would make sure everyone has a house)

Then I wood give peeple icecreem. (Then I would give people icecream)

Last I wood tacke a nap. (Last, I would take a nap)

I think she's make a great President! Ryleigh 2012!! :)

Seriously though, I hope everyone got out and voted today. I'm watching the coverage right now and just praying that Florida and Ohio swing red. I mean seriously guys, another 4 years of Obama??

Halloween

This year Halloween fell on the same day as the book parade at the kids school. I'm sure they planned this and I like most parents weren't that happy about it. Because you either had to chance it and let them wear their Halloween costume all day with the hopes they wouldn't mess it up or buy 2 costumes. We went with the first option and I was happy that they actually didn't mess them up to much. 

Here is Miss Priss with her 2 best friends, Chloe and Alea (I know that's spelled wrong but I just spelled it like it sounds.) Mrs. Touchstone photo bombed them!

Here is tan man marching in the parade. His teacher is the blue crayon.

I got them out of school early after the parade to go home and take naps before we went trick or treating. We had just gone to the fair the night before so I knew they would be worn out!

Our friends Kris and Tina are youth pastors and they had church that night so we offered to take their crew with us. They were so good and the kids had such a great time.

Fisher was the cutest M&M!

3 of my favorite guys!

This picture makes me laugh! We called it Beast Mode. What's funny about it is that other than being ahead to take the picture, I was just walking alongside them as Ryan was doing all the work. I was kinda wondering why everyone was looking at me funny, now I know, lol!

After trick or treating we went to the Fall Festival at Haven Woods. We had a great time there. The pastor and his wife dressed up as Willie and Mrs. Kay from Duck Dynasty! Our family LOVES this show and records it every Wednesday night and we pile on the couch and watch it on Thursdays so we got a kick out if it!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!!