Christmas Catch Up-Part 3

 

We had plans to go home to the Wichita area a couple of days after Christmas. 

 

It was debateable, since our world looked like THIS:

 

But, I determinedly set out, and white-knuckled it all the way to the Oklahoma border.  The roads were awful clear up to that point.  Then seriously, right at the border, the roads cleared, the interstate widened, and traffic thin out considerably.  What a relief

Because, THIS is what awaited us---The open arms of our loving family!!

Ice Skating for Teenie's birthday!!!!

 



Happy Birthday, Teenie-beans!!!

 

 



Country fun is always heart-warming!

Built his very own fire-pit.  Such a busy guy!

 

 



Waiting on the avid shoe-shoppers in the group

 

 



These girls know how to have fun! 

 

These next 2 pictures are of some life-long friends.  The first one is the "Moreland girls" and the "McBee girls".  Our parents were friends in high school, so we've literally been friends forever!

One of my sisters planned the surprise reunion, and it was thrilling!

 

 And this next picture is my brood with another dear friend and her brood!  She's been a "kindred spirit" of mine since the 6th grade!  She and her hubby recently bought her grandparents farm, where we had roamed and played together for years.  And, just as we dreamed about in days past, she is getting the chance to gut the entire house and remodel it!  That makes me very, very happy.

 (As does her doggie-of-choice!)

 

 

Then we all got down to the business of Ringing in the New Year!

Food & Games

Dancing!

 Chillin'

 

Pouring the Bubbly-cider

 

This is how we roll at MIDNIGHT! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(The girls made me promise to NOT put this on Facebook....heehee---this is not FB!)

We're sexy---and we know it!

 

 

 Then it was off to Grandma Pat's house! 

Being silly on our mall trip

 

 

 Shopping with Grandma for their own gifts was a huge hit with the kids.

The girls kept setting up little "shrines" with the gifts they received. :)

 

Wrestling, Sword fighting, Nerf gun wars and video games are always on tap with all the boys!

 

 We were excited to see the latest progress on the baby bump(s)!!!  heehee

 

 



Saying good-bye is not a fun thing to do...

 

I know that was picture over-load, but I totally wish I could share even more of the

 pictures I took of all the fun we had.

 

NOTHING beats time spent with the ones you love and miss the most.

Christmas Catch-up Part 2

 Christmas Morning 2012 was a bit unusual for us this year:  Daddy had to go WAKE UP the kids!

He was anxious to help put together the gift Santa had left...a new TRAMPOLINE.

The dristribution of the Christmas gifts yielded plenty of happy squeals and giggles of delight.

Favorites included a CO2 gun, Vera Bradley tote bags for school, and someone's very own chocolate dollar AND cowboy boots.

 

 

And then, to COMPLETELY foil the plan to assemble the trampoline and play on it all day.....it SNOWED...like crazy!

 

But, even in the midst of the storm, later in the afternoon, our friends, the Corbaley's came over for Christmas dinner!  We naturally stuffed ourselves silly on our ham and potatoes dinner, and too much dessert.  Then we enjoyed lots of laughs as we played Minute-to-Win-It Games in our warm, cozy house.

 

The perfect way to celebrate the special day!

 

Christmas Catch-up-Part 1

I'm taking the day off to strictly play "catch up" around here!  Here are some of the highlights from our recent holiday season!

We got to see PLENTY of this little guy in December, so I must include him!

Allen First Ward Christmas Party

Jacob's performance in the brass ensemble was glorious. 

Yes, I'm biased. 

Their performance of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

was the best of the show.

 

 Jacob with some of his new best buds at church...

 

 The girls---hanging out with some more new friends

 

 EMS Winter Concert

 (my trumpeteer is the 2nd from the Texas flag there on the left!)

 

 Katie was invited to go with friends to the Allen HS Championship game

 at Cowboy Stadium.

 

 Wonderful Christmas Carol Surprise!

 

 Receiving Christmas greetings from so many of our loved ones was the best thing ever!

Kids at Play

 

***Those of you that read this blog regularly, will know that I am NOT a photographer, so I know you will be able to see past the poor quality here and see the REAL reason I took these pictures.***

 

  I love to see kids use their own imaginations without a smidgin' of prompting or motivation from me---even if they are supposed to be doing something else instead of playing! 

They are so creative...

 

Healthsource- Maddie, Manager 

Motivational Poster:

 "What I think about, I bring about."

As you might see, "Claire's" Sales Rates are definitely on the rise!

 "Check-In"

 Executives at work

 

Now, here is an officer that is ready for action...

Locked AND Loaded!

 

~I remember doing THIS as a child~

 

 We have a couple of empty rooms...SO.....what do a couple of girls come up with on a Saturday morning after the house is freshly cleaned and tidied?!  Turn it into something fun!
Presenting~M & K's Bakery

 And here is last Saturday's find....Why use the TOY ROOM with a big DOLL HOUSE when you've got SUCH a great space in mom's bathroom?!

Christmas Prepping

 WELCOME TO OUR HOUSE!

The most wonderful time of year!

We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ!

SHrtly after we were married, Joe implemented one of our favorite family traditions:

Christmas Decorating on Black Friday.

We spend the day with our Christmas music turned up, and we clean and decorate the house for the special holiday. 

Then, in the evening, we prepare a meal of crackers, cheeses, Hickory Farms sausages, fruit/veggie trays, and various sweet treats and Wassail. And then while we eat, we decorate the family tree.

This year, RED Christmas decorations were finally phased out of my holiday decor (they were put to good use at the office!)  And I'm proud to say that after some dilligent bargain shopping, I put a only a few dollars towards some new Christmas flair! 

 

I have become enamored with the color APPLE GREEN! 

 So fresh and cheerful. 

 

RIBBON and a few baubles were ALL at our favorite discount stores!  It was fun to have a little challenge in the hunt, and I already look forward to adding to the collection next year.

 



Do you remember all the years we had this 3 ft beauty in our little living room? It has been heavy-laden for YEARS with our family ornaments.

I want to keep it now forever. What happy memories from that tiny living space...

But this year...it got a make over!  

Couldn't resist these knick-knacks to go along with my

"apple green/pinecone/sparkle/reindeer" theme,

 now could I?!?!

And here is the Forred Family Ornament Tree. 

 

 (Last year, daddy FINALLY agreed to a larger tree ONLY if it was a narrow one to fit in our tight quarters. NOW it looks underfed, lost and lonely in this larger space!)

 

This tree is LOVED by the kids.  I can't tell you how often the ornaments are re-arranged by their busy hands as they recall the meaning and ownership of each piece!

In years past each child received an ornament marking their year, but recently, we've simply chosen just one to represent the family as a whole.

In lieu of our big move AND the fact that this was a big year for Allen Stadium,

here is this year's pick:

2012 Forred Family Tree Ornament

Allen Eagles, Allen, TX

 

Although we miss our previous home and life, and we long for it often, we know this is where we were sent for this time in our family history.  We love our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and we sure are grateful for the foundation His teachings bring to our family. 

As this is the first Christmas the children remember being in a different home,

I am grateful for the comfort

family traditions

bring as we celebrate and honor Him during this season in a new place.

 

!!!Happy Christmas Prepping!!!!

Giving Thanks

  "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Psalms 136:1

 

 

Dad passes on the turkey-carving tradition

When you get to spend the day with friends who are like your family, it's a THANKFUL day indeed!

Later in the day, we all wnet outside to "work off" the feast

 when this breathtaking rainbow appeared.  I'm glad we did not stay inside or we would have missed it!

So, a little reminder to me: 

WHEN we are looking, it's not hard to find beautiful blessings from a loving God all around us. 

 I am especially grateful to know that He is ever-present, and watchful and mindful of us, even when we are not submissive, obedient or mindful of Him.

Every good and perfect gift certainly comes from above.