Happy New Year!

We started today off by going to church this morning, in the freezing drizzle!  Our pastor made a neat point....we started 2017 off in church (Sunday the 1st) and ended 2017 in church (Sunday the 31st)!  We headed home and stayed warm by the fire, then left for our dinner reservations around 5:00 for Silverfox.

We came home, got cozy again, and watched our family videos from this year!  It's our tradition every New Year's Eve.  We also watched another year of home videos from 2008 - it's hard to believe these kids were once that little.  My sweet babies!

We all made it to midnight!  Mommy and Daddy were fighting it, but we made it!

This year was full of ups and downs.  We started the year off with Madison getting over pneumonia, and Michael catching it - having to be hospitalized for two days because he was so sick.  That was a nightmare, but I'm so thankful God healed him and brought him home to us!  We had a few more home repair problems, but that's tiny in the grand scheme of things.  We got new carpet in the bedrooms and we also painted our bedroom finally - after 14 years.  Madison turned 13, officially a teenager, and she got baptized this year!  We had a family getaway weekend at a cabin in a small town called Lindale, where it rained almost the whole time we were there!  Michael got a new job in June, which was a huge promotion for him!  We had our family vacation in Pensacola, where it also pretty much rained the whole week we were there.  Nathan started karate, and turned double digits - the big 10!  We had another big family trip to Disney World again this year, and had a great time with perfect weather.  We also made the big decision to switch churches and ended the year with a church search (with an optimistic prospect for us)!  I've had some personal struggles that have brought me to tears more often than I cared for this year, but they have brought me closer to God and I'm thankful for that.  Life is full of joy and also trials, but one thing I've learned is that I'm so blessed.  I'm blessed to have my precious family to laugh with everyday, and to live life with them!  Praying for a wonderful 2018....Happy New Year!

Jumanji

Today, we saw the new Jumanji movie with Chance!  The kids loved it.

Clover...

Oh, how we love seeing what all Clover gets into during the month of December!  Nathan was really excited to see him, and had guessed correctly on the day he'd be back!

He left this note for the kids this morning.  We're sad to see him leave, but we know he'll be back again soon!

Christmas 2017...

Nathan woke us up bright and early today at 7:00...not a minute later!  He even woke Madison up on his way to get us.

He's been waiting for this gift for over six months - a Nintendo Switch!  Madison got a Vera Bradley backpack and a Polaroid camera!

We opened gifts from us next!  One of the gifts we got the kids was a head massager/scratcher - they look funny but they feel AMAZING (when someone else does it to you).  I think I might just steal one for myself!

After presents, we made Olaf pancakes, read our good deeds for Jesus, and then read from Luke 2 about His birth.  We also signed up to sponsor a child from Ethiopia.  Her name is Wudinesh and she's eight years old!  The kids are excited to be able to help her family and also write her back and forth!

We headed over to Nana and Papa's to celebrate Christmas with them.  We ate lunch, and then opened presents since the kids were dying to get started.  But first, a picture of the cousins....we added a new one this year (Kassi's boyfriend)!

Nathan and Chance got Simon Optix - they had fun with these!

Yes, gifts are fun to receive and fun to give.  But I try so hard to not make Christmas all about the gifts!  The greatest gift of all is Jesus, and we are so blessed.  We had a great day and a wonderful Christmas season with lots of family, and that's really what matters most.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve...

After a wonderful Christmas service at our new church (not official yet though), we headed home to warm up and have a relaxing afternoon together.  For dinner, we ate at Southfork Steakhouse, and then the kids got dressed in their pajamas for our GMC Express!  It changes every year....first it was the Minivan Express, then the Passat Express, now the GMC Express!  Whatever it's called, the kids always love this!

Ready with hot chocolate and scavenger lists in hand!

I always love seeing beautiful nativity scenes!  It's my favorite part.  We ended up finding everything on the list except for a couple of things.

We came home and set out cookies and milk for Santa.  We also threw in some carrots for the reindeer!

And, as our tradition, we let the kids open one present before bed.  We used to do this when I was a kid, and I just found out that Michael did too when he was younger!

Both kids are excited for tomorrow!  Nathan said, "In order to sleep, I just act like it's no big deal.  Eh, Santa.  Eh, toys."  We told him not to wake us up until 7:00 in the morning, so we'll see!  Can't believe Christmas is here!

Christmas party!

Today was Nathan's Christmas party at school, and daddy was able to be there too!  They played bingo, decorated yummy Christmas trees, and had lots of fun!

This kid is a mess!

His teacher from last year, Ms. Rios, came to see everyone today!  She moved to be closer to her family and is now teaching in another district.  Nathan was really excited to see her!

He had a great time at the party (his last Christmas party ever)!  He was even more excited about having early release and getting off for two weeks!  I can't believe Christmas is almost here.