December 2013

 December.  A sweet time even with all the busy.  Able to read Jotham's Journey for the kids' advent.  It was awesome!  Fiction reading, leaving you on the end of your seat, yet bringing it into the story from the Bible as if they were living in it.  As a seasoned believer it was sweet to see what was coming next.  Kids absolutely loved it!  Will do the next book, Bartholomew's Passage, and next year Tabitha's travels.  There is also a book for Easter/Lent that we did called Amon's Adventure's.  Check these out!

The kids were so proud of their Christmas tree with all their ornaments from each year.

 Santa visit.  Kids keep asking why we go...if we don't believe?  Need to pray about that one this year.

 Lexi got a haircut, at the mall thank you very much, right after.

 The boys and I went to see Frozen in 3D.  Had a blast.  We all cried at the end. 

 Colloquy dinner with the men that Derek reads the Bible with each other .  So fun to celebrate another year of understanding God's Word.

 My parents at the last game at the old Baylor stadium.  Beat Texas!

 Nativity activity for Lexi from school

 Wearing their wedding clothes from a future date for a surprise afternoon.  Went to the Nutcracker for the first time.

Presentation for Levi.  Kinder had to pick a country and talk about it, dress like it, etc.  Many came in with some stellar presentations.  Proud to say that Levi did it all himself!

 My China man

 Justin had a report on a great faith from the Bible.  He chose Joshua.  His verse that spoke to him was concerning when the sun didn't go down for a full day when Joshua asked for the Lord's help.  Love that verse and Joshua's faith!

Joshua 10:14
There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel

 Everyone acting in character.  Even have one praying on the end.  Funny and cute

 Helped head up the teacher's luncheon at school.  Had a faithful friend decorate tables.  I was in charge of signups, food, menu, etc.

 We brought tons of fixings for salads.  Then I had volunteers to chop up every salad.  Providing your own chopped salad.  Had multiple soups, chicken salad, fruit, etc.  Must bless these hardworking people with good food that their body will appreciate!

 Threw in a chocolate fountain with skewers for dessert.

 Gingerbread houses.  So fun.  Kids loved it!

 Thanks, Trader Joes!

 Some personalization

 Smorby Christmas.  Always fun times!  And the gag gifts get funnier every year.  Run=mor has it...that Grandma is behind many of them!!   This was bacon and cheaddar crickets.  Wrong on so many levels.

 Levi LOVES nutcrackers!

 Hilary is due in December with baby Claire.  She will have a very different Christmas this year!

 Lexi loves her guitar

 I couldn't resist to hand these out

 I'm sorry...are you saying something?

 Great grandkids with GiGi and G-pa

Crazy cousins

Whataburger lover.  Can we not have the high fructose corn syrup???

 Lindsay can now boast in owning a Starburst shirt

 Had Christmas with my fam the next day since we were with the in-laws for the actual holiday

 Roxy hiding from the excitement

 Bless Papa Snuf and his sense of humor!

Kids ski helmet covers.  Justin said he was too embarrassed.  And then eventually got one!  Nuts!  It makes seeing the kids SO MUCH EASIER!

 Uncle Shane making bracelets

 Every girl needs a crockpot

 Went to the zoo for zoo lights....were there for 8 hours!!!

 Tried out some face painting while waiting for the lights to come on (or for it to get dark!)

 Millions of strands of lights.  My tired crew loved this.  So fun and so much to see!

The kids' school had a Christmas celebration

 Buddies Jayk and Wes from class

 Where did she go?

 Our head of school, Neil Anderson

We watched the Hughes' kids so their momma could do some last minute shopping

And then the Michaelis' came in.  Lexi was a hairdresser/barber.  She combed Kevin's gotee for an hour

 Loving her old school dolls

Lego version of a baby in a manger.  Babysitter Maddie left this for us!

 Even got Daddy a nutcracker

 Transitioning from Grandma to Grammy, thanks to one of the kids

 We say this all the time.  So we got a photo framed to show how much we love each other!

Got a few pix for a Christmas photo

Our neighbor, Mr. Daze, sent a gift over for the kids.  So sweet!

 Ryan helped put on some color to girlify this bike

 The big surprise gift was the....

...trampoline.  Now has a net and moved to the other side of the yard

Hairdresser back in action

 Hard working helpers!

 New band we have going on

 D cutting into the meat and loving it!

 Lego finished quickly!

 OUt of order again.  Ladies discussing life

 Before the photo

 Mark's family came over.  They loved cousin Joseph

 And cousin Kailey

Boyfriend Dustin came along as well

 Makeshift ping pong table

Playing with neighbors and best buddies Kristopher and Wyatt

Loved by all

December was sweet, worshipful, and full of life.  We got to go to our church's Christmas Eve service...on the day the church moved into the space.  So sweet to be in our new building right in time.  Loved having Christmas at our house.  Thankful for friendships!