Christmas day!

Such a fun morning! The children woke up in phases so it was pretty calm, AnnaBelle was here, then the cousins came by and mom stayed for lunch. We have so much to be thankful for. Happy Birthday Jesus!

   Last night we headed to the Dale's annual Christmas party. We were party poopers and didn't go in tacky attire but still had a great time! Jennifer and I have been friends since Elementary school.

Santa baby!

                                 We are so excited this year for the children! Santa has come!

Christmas Eve dinner with Grammy!

We had a nice lunch today with Grammy! Happy Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve Eve

Yesterday we celebrated the birth of Jesus at Good Shepherd and the annual Christmas Pageant. Thomas was a sword fighting Shepherd, West was a donkey and Hartley was a sheep with a cell phone and her princess little ppl in hand. Busy but precious! Then we headed to moms for Christmas dinner with all of our extended family. After that we headed to the Seacoast Christmas Eve Eve service.  Hartley hadn't had a chance to nap all day and Thomas and I weren't feeling so great. Today will be much less crazy with Christmas Eve dinner here at noon and presents with Grammy. Then church at 430 and home for dinner and bed! Santa comes tonight!

                                These are my most favorite decoration my mom has. She made these 40 years ago when she was about my age. Not sure who will get them because we all love them!      

Dinner with friends and Christmas with Grandaddy!

Last Friday we had our friends the Carters over for dinner. We had such a nice time together. Not too many pictures but a few. Can't wait to do it again!

   We also celebrated Christmas with Grandaddy and Lanie last Saturday. Grandaddy, Laine, Jennifer and the children came over for dinner and presents. It's so special to do it early with them before things get crazy. What a fun night:)

Christmas fun!

I can not believe Christmas is 4 days away. Last Sunday we went caroling with Good Shepherd and had a wonderful time. Everybody loved it and it was so wonderful to bring joy to others. West also had his Christmas program and party at shcool this week. Such a fun time of year!

                                So funny Cate and Hartley wore the same dress and a pink bow!

                                                      Hartley loves to help in the kitchen.

West's fishing trip!

West has been fishing a couple of times and casts his fishing rod in the yard daily. Today our very sweet friend Mr. Wade came to get West right after school. They went to a pond in his mom's neighborhood and caught more fish than some people catch in a lifetime! 15 total! West had the best time and is already asking to go back and do it again. We are so thankful that Wade took the time to spend with West, West thinks Mr.Wade hung the moon!  You may asks what were they using to catch so many fish? A well versed fishermen like Wade only chooses the best, string cheese!

Preparing for CHRISTmas

We're getting ready and it's so much fun! We've been trying to do our Advent wreath daily although I've been away a couple nights since we made it, had some sitters etc. The children saw Santa Saturday and everyone loved it except Hartley. When you asks her is she saw Santa she says "Cy!' Which means cry... I told her today Santa was coming to her house and she said "Cy! Cy!", I told her it was ok she'd be asleep. I tell ya, people get so upset about this Elf deal, Santa is just as bad, telling your kids a big guy is coming down the chimney while they sleep.. Really folks! We love all things Christmas, the Elf is a great opportunity to be intentional with the children through the season, remembering the wonder and excitement that the season brings. When you over think things like the Elf, or Santa you lose the wonder of Christmas from a child's perspective. We are also memorizing Luke 2 again and loving that. Tommy and I  attended his work Christmas dinner down at High Cotton Friday night. We had a lovely time and am so thankful for his job and the folks that he works with.

       Fun Christmas cookie decorating party at the Durkee's house. We pulled up and Thomas said he didn't feel well. As he got out of the car he started throwing up in the street. Tommy took him home and the little kids and I stayed. Hartley was really really into decorating the cookies. Dumping spoon fulls of icing on them and handfuls of sprinkles, painting herself and the table. You can see from the picture how beautiful they turned out. They were yummy though and are all gone already!