Christmas pictures

Christmas was good to us this year. I was a bit worried to be in a new town, new church, new house etc.... for Christmas this year. I wanted to make sure we still included our family traditions as well as possibly create new ones in this new place. We did the usual of decorating and baking but we also took time to take a Christmas lights tour in our town and I spread out my baking a bit so it wouldn't be as stressful. On Christmas Eve I was asked to play flute at our new church, which I was really excited about since I haven't played since moving. I played at 2 services and they both went well. In between I came home and we had dinner and opened presents. The rule has ALWAYS been to take pictures 1st BEFORE presents. After that we all went to the final Christmas Eve Service together as a family. It was wonderful.

Here are the pictures we took. Present pictures will be posted later. I see that some pictures turned out well while other ones look exactly like the kids were saying, " Ok, I'm trying so hard to take nice pictures for you because what I really want is to get into those luscious presents sitting behind me. Cheeeese, Cheeese, Is this good???" ha,ha Thanks kids for being so patient with Mommy's never ending need for MORE pictures. Love you

Oh, our beautiful children :}

Opening presents

We had a great time opening presents this year. (as that different than any year??) But it really was a great year. We all surprised each other with fun surprising gifts. Our pastor this year talked about how a gift is not something you ask for but something the giver sees you need or would like. We all kept that in mind while we shopped this year. I also did something different with the kids this year. I gave them a $5 limit and had them find things for each other. It really forced them to think about someone else and think about what THEY would like. (A tried to buy cars for everyone :} This year we talked a lot about giving and being appreciative for the gift no matter what. It was awesome because we heard a lot of, "Sister, you're the best!!" "Brother, how did you know I wanted this car!!!" Lots of hugs and kisses to go around..... and it was awesome!!!!

This is a series, and of course it loaded it in the wrong order but I thought it was just classic :}



My new zoom lens for my camera
I got R a new Chelsea (his favorite soccer team) jersey
From R's sister. He's so proud
Opening a glitter purse
Her "teacher" chalkboard
His new racetrack

Gingerbread houses

One of the fun things I wanted to try with J's friend here is decorate Gingerbread houses. I've only done this a few times in my life but I think that anything that includes lots of frosting and candy.... has got to be good!!! Anyway, the kids paired up and decorated while I took pictures and helped. We did a packaged deal and I think next year I will get my own frosting and candy stuff but they still had fun. The boys started with a PLAN... Imagine that they had the plans of their house all laid and drawn out. F and A, well they just winged it. It was a lot of fun and the boys gave up and got bored quickly but F meticulously kept putting more and more candy on until her house couldn't hold it anymore and was falling apart. Of course there was a lot of finger licking and candy tasting along the way. Enjoy the pictures.

Get ready.... get set.... GO!!!!!
The beginnings of their house
Making a plan.
Final product. It was cute. The writing on the side said JK BF (J & K Best Friends)
I told you there was some finger licking :}
Oh yeah.... this will be awesome
Boys final product

F and A's final product.

Friends make the world go round

J met a friend when he played T-ball at age 4. They were acquaintances then but reconnected when this friend moved into the same neighborhood that we lived in. Since that time, they have become inseparable. They just have the most unique bond and I just love to watch them together. They get along so well, love and support each other and are literally 2 peas in a pod whenever they're together. J really struggled when we made the move and I think it is in large part because he lost his side kick. :} The two of them together made each other better people. J talks about moving back to AZ and some of it is because he wants to be back to the comfort of what he knows and we have family there but he says he wants to move back ONLY to be with his best friend again. J's friends mom and I are very close as well and we've made a commitment to each other and to our boys to keep their friendship close and do everything in our power to give the boys as much time together, when we can. We are so blessed to have this family in our lives and I just hope the boys continue to value each other, though the distance separates them. Friends like this are hard to come by.

K's B-day is in Dec. and he told his MOm that ALL he wanted was a ticket to see J. Imagine that, having an 8 year old boy ask for no toys, video games, jerseys etc... just a ticket to see his best friend. That just melted our hearts and we knew we would do whatever it took to make that happen. And we did. K came out for a week visit last week and it was AWESOME.... well except for the part when J decided to get strep throat the day after his friend came. :{ He was a trooper though and so was K. They laid low, played video games and muddled through the sickness and when J was better.... GAME ON!!! They played basketball, football, video games, board games, PSP, swam, saw Christmas lights, went to movies, ate and played at Chuck E Cheese. We even celebrated his B-day on Sunday with his request Steak and German Chocolate cake. It was just great to watch the boys do their thing and be happy together. J had his old swing his step back and life was good. Unfortunately, since he is a minor he had to fly direct which meant we had to pick him up in El Paso which made for 2 very long days of travel but the boys are troopers and did well in the car, listening to MY music. :} The truth is, they don't care what is going on in the world around them, as long as they are together.... they are happy.

Dinner, right after picking K up
Getting some fresh air at the park

Of course, a friendly game of Bball. Imagine how my house smelled with 2 stinky boys after several games of Bball and football. Joy, Joy God's just preparing me for what it's going to be like in several years. JK It really wasn't that bad, I just laugh at how a friendly game can cause one to get so sweaty.
He shoots, he scores!!

K after his Bday dinner
They even dressed like twins one night


Cheers to a great trip.
Last minute goodbyes. They look happy here but about 30 min. later after K boarded the plane, there were tears all around. It was so sad. J said to me, "Mom, now I'm going to be so bored until I see K again." :{ K we Love you and you're welcome to come back anytime!!

Christmas Programs

Well I'm about to start my whirlwind posting sessions. Between all the Christmas festivities and a visitor I've gone a little picture happy. (oh surprise, surprise) :} Anyway, I'm starting off with F and A's Christmas programs. F sang at church. She just recently started in the choir and just LOVES it. I thought maybe she'd play shy when it actually came time to singing in front of the church but no way... my girl did it big. She did all the motions, smiled so cutely and sang her heart out. R and I were just beaming with pride. She did awesome. I did take some video but I still need to figure out how to upload them because for some reason it just doesn't work. Anyway, just imagine a beautiful girl, smiling her heart out and singing so sweetly. That was our girl. ( Sorry it's so far but if you click on the picture it will make it big. She's in the second row with a black top on next to a boy with blonde hair)

Our little sweet pea.
See the boy with the hand in the air??? Yep, that's our boy. He's singing Jingle Bells and he just rang those bells like no other. He swung them and rang them and did the very BEST job!!
A also had a program at school and he did wonderful as well. I thought he would not sing or be shy too but my Musical abilities run deep and he also sang his heart out and did all the motions. He smiled so sweetly and just kept waving at me to make sure I saw him. :} He sang Silent Night, Away in Manger and Jingle Bells. Funny story is that they were supposed to wear light clothes. As a 4 year old boy, he doesn't own many light clothes. So I found a shirt that said "I'm Chillaxin" on it. I told the teacher she could turn it around for the program and she just smiled at me and said, " Oh no, that is just A. We'll put an angel halo on him and the shirt and halo will fit him perfectly". Yep, that's our boy. Our little chill Angel.

Think Happy Stuff

This is sort of a random post because I know from here on out it there will be lots going on with Christmas, visitors, New Years etc... Soo.... there are many things in life that just settle me and give me great peace. Mostly it includes being in or around water and feeling the sun on my skin. I love being warm and feeling warm. So when the weather turns cold...... I"m in for trouble. That is unless I'm right in front of a fire with a cup of coffee. My Dad always used to make fires growing up and when I'm sitting in front of a warm fire with a warm cup of coffee.... the craziness of life goes away and a total peace comes over me. Life is good. Think Happy Stuff.

With all the busyness of the holidays, I hope you to find peace somehow. Whether it's sitting in front of a fire, sipping a cup of coffee or hot chocolate or snuggling up next to your kiddos or loved ones. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Think Happy Stuff :}

X-mas cards to Soldiers

I read an article that said an office in our town was collecting X-mas cards to send to soldiers that would not be home for the holidays. For some reason I just have a soft spot in my heart for soldiers and since we do have a friend who is in the military I thought it would be a great service project the kids could relate to. I told them about it and they were so excited to sign the cards and send them out. I thought we would all just sign our names but it turned into so much more. I was so proud of the kids for what they did and how much effort they put into it. F and J wrote different things on every card and it was just so special. HOpefully this will make some soldiers very happy for Christmas.

Having fun in the leaves

I remember as a child raking all of the leaves in the yard and then JUMPING in them. Unfortunately in AZ there are no leaves so the kids have NEVER been able to experience all the joy I had playing in the leaves. The other day one of our neighbors came over and asked the kids to play in their leaves. The kids looked at each other like "What exactly are we supposed to do???" I thought that was so funny because they didn't even know what to do. After awhile both A and F got the hang of it and had a lot of fun. A's been asking me everyday since if he can rake our leaves and play in them. It made for some really cute pictures.

"Hey Mom, this is fun!"
Just run and jump A. :}