New Year's Eve - 2011

We don't like to be out on New Year's Eve, other than for dinner! We had the kids this year, so we decided to have a fun dinner at a Hibachi Grill in Plano. Kay, Chance and Taylor came with us, and we all had a great time!

We had a great 2011! We made so many great memories, and I'm thankful for everything God has done for us this year. I know God has many great things in store for us this coming year, and I can't wait to see what He brings for us! Nathan will be starting kindergarten in the fall, which is bittersweet. I can't believe I will have a 5 year old and an 8 year old this year! No matter what daily stresses I have, seeing these sweet smiles is what gets me through it all. I'm thankful for these two kids who brighten our days and fill our hearts with so much love. Happy New Year! I hope 2012 will be just as wonderful!

My new lens!

My sweet husband researched and researched and searched and searched cameras and lenses for my Christmas present. He gave up his Christmas present from his parents just so I could get a new lens...all to just see me happy. I can't even begin to explain how lucky I am to have him! He's the best husband ever.

It's a 35mm lens, and it doesn't zoom - so it'll mainly be used for outside pics. I love it though! I can't wait to take Madison's 8 year pics in a couple of months!

Date night!

The kids got all dressed up for their dates tonight - mommy & Nathan and daddy & Madison! We got home around 7:00 and had a movie night together - Dolphin Tale! I love our sweet family nights like this.

Gatti Town!

I purposely didn't take my camera, so I could have one day just to enjoy! But here are the pictures that we got at Gatti Town today. They had a good time together!

Our new responsiblity chart!

I think I'm in love! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this new chart. It is a chore chart, and it teaches financial responsbility too. There's a "save it", "spend it", and "give it" bag - so they can learn how to manage their money. There's a tear-off paycheck that they fill out each day, showing that they finished their daily chores. It's been several days now, and they are still excited about doing their chores! We'll see how long it lasts, but we are all really enjoying it.

Clover...

We had such a fun month with Clover being here! He was such a goofy elf this year - I had to take pictures of the crazy places he hid and the crazy things he did!

Madison's note to Clover...it's a little hard to read. It says, "Dear Clover, I will miss you very very much. I shir (sure) had fun with you. The funniest place you hid was on Christmas Eve. I thought the candy canes you ate was funny. You looked so cute when you hid with the baby. I really wanted to take a picture of you when you were hiding with the baby but I took a vidio of you. You are a very coratif (creative) Elf. I love you so much. I see that your best friends with our toy woody. I hope you get back home safely. Hope you have a good time at the Northpole. Grace and Katie sure liked you to. They will miss you very much. Merry Christmas! Love, Madison.

And his note back to them!

We will miss him being gone, but can't wait to see him next December!

Christmas 2011

The kids slept in until around 8:00, and were excited to see what presents they got from Santa!

Madison's favorite present of all - her papasan chair...she LOVED the zebra print! And even though Nathan didn't ask Santa for a Razor (he only asked for a Transformer and a Spiderman blanket), he loved his new scooter. He figured out that he can go much faster on these!!

Madison got her pink camera - and as a plus it's an underwater camera too! We'll have tons of fun with this in the summer!

I wish you could hear his excitement in this picture!!! He was beyond thrilled to see this blanket!

My two sweeties exchanged their gifts to each other, and they were very happy! She got him slime, and he got her a candy cane light-up wand. It's amazing how such simple/little gifts can make them so happy.

And I'm thinking this will become a tradition now...their yearly devotionals. Madison was so excited about hers because for some reason, she's been wanting a hard-back book like Nathan's!

Ready for church...

Presents at Nana's!

Madison has been dying for these Bella Ballerina Sketchers shoes...she's one happy girl. And you can't tell here, but Nathan was doing a happy dance over underwear and a Cars 2 DS game. Clothes, shoes and underwear make him super happy! :)

Trying to get a picture of 5 is hard! Especially with three cameras going. Not too bad though - 4 out of 5 kids looking and smiling!

We had a great Christmas! Busy, but really good. We got home and did our Jesus bag during dinner. We write every nice/helpful/kind thing we do during the month of December, and read them Christmas day - as our gift to Jesus. I always want it to be more meaningful, but I guess that will come with time (as the kids get older). The important part is setting this tradition right now! In all the chaos, it is easy to forget the real reason for Christmas....and I never want my kids to forget that Jesus is the reason we celebrate every year.