Sweet Girl.

After Benjamin and Allen headed off for school, Georgia-Kate and I opened our Valentines. My mom {aka Mimi} sent her girls some special cards. She is such a blessing and always remembers us. She spoils my kiddos, totally rotten. Georgia-Kate loves to open mail. She was very excited. I love this photo of her sweet profile. She is just a little girl. Very little baby left. I can barely believe that she will be 2 years old, in a few weeks.

Our sweet Valentines. I love to get cards in the mail. I may love the cards more than gifts. There is just something special about knowing that someone took time to look for just the right card. My mom knows me so well. The card was just to sweet and perfect. Georgia-Kate loved this monkey. It is so soft. She just kept patting it.

So funny.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A very merry Christmas...

Christmas Eve afternoon, Allen was home since the stock market closed, at noon. Benjamin was so excited that "Daddy" was coming home. So, we baked sugar cookies. Benjamin was the cookie decorator. While the cookies were in the oven, Benjamin worked on a picture for Santa. Georgia-Kate tried to help with the picture...that didn't go over too well. Before bedtime, he filled a plate for Santa and poured him some orange juice. "I think Santa likes orange juice and not milk"...he stated.

We attended our church's Christmas Eve Service. I really enjoyed it. We observed the Lord's Supper and sang Christmas carols. Bro. Scott and Russell did a really nice job with the candlelight service. After church, we headed over to Allen's parents. We enjoyed dinner and spent time opening gifts. Janet cooked a good ham, dressing, hot rolls, ect...Cecil made the mashed potatoes and Janet was really fussing at him because she thought they were too thin. But, the potatoes were really good. I heard him say, from the kitchen..."the kids are really going to like my potatoes"...and he was right!

Christmas morning, we spent time at home before going over to my parents. Benjamin was so happy that Santa drank the orange juice and left presents. He asked Santa for the Break-Down Train (from Thomas) and a guitar. Last minute, he asked Santa for a doll house for Georgia-Kate...all Santa could find was a castle...but he was pleased that Santa remember them.

We enjoyed dinner and more gifts at my parents, Mimi and Papa's. Mimi out did herself, again, this year. She kept saying "I'm cutting back this year, with my buying"....she didn't. However, we won't complain...because Mimi and Papa got us some really really great gifts. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is: Dad buys each of us, a gift....that he shopped for all on his own. I always look forward to opening it. This year, he bought me a really cute "puffy" black hooded vest. We had a great time. While Allen, Dad and the kids took a nap, Tracy, Amanda, Mom and I played scrabble and spades. I lost at scrabble...but did much better at spades...I always like cards better that spelling! After nap time... Benjamin, Hailey, and Georgia-Kate tried out Hailey's new wagon. Todd, my brother, must have pulled them through the house, a dozen times.

We had a busy and fun day. I hope each of you enjoyed Christmas with your loved ones. Happy New Year.

Christmas

Merry Christmas

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,

for he will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

As we celebrate with our families and loved ones, may we not forget to pause and remember Jesus. Without Him, I have nothing...but because of Him, I have life. I am thankful that I have been saved from my sins, by His grace. If you don't know Jesus...God sent him, as a baby, to save the world. He died on the cross to pay the debt of our sin. Without the birth of Jesus, there would have been no redemption of my sin. By simply believing and asking for forgiveness, we can be cleansed and spend an eternity in heaven. Without Him, there is no hope. Because of Jesus...I have been given life...a Wonderful life.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Santa, a Gingerbread House, and an Elf

Over the weekend, we spent a few days at Big Cedar Lodge. We really enjoy the Christmas season at Big Cedar. Allen and I have been spending time at Big Cedar since right after we were married. I always loved the idea of the Elf coming to tuck my little ones into bed. Perhaps, that is why I had kids. (kidding, really I am) This year...the elf came...."Sugar Plum" read Benjamin a book and left stockings filled with a teddy bear and a yo-yo. I was so excited. Benjamin didn't know what to think and Georgia-Kate just wanted to pull her hair.

We also went to Santa's Party. Big Cedar's Christmas theme was all about trains. So, Benjamin was in train heaven. We visited with the elves, Ms. Claus, a big teddy bear, and a penguin. Benjamin made a Christmas tree with sand art. And we waited and waited, in the freezing wind, to see Santa. Santa came dashing in on his horse drawn carriage, and climbed up into his caboose. Benjamin was brave and asked for the "break-down" train from the Thomas, the Train Collection...and a guitar. Santa gave both of the kiddos a train whistle and a game. It was just as weird and magical as the North Pole might really be.

Before all of the action with Santa and his penguins...and the elves...we spent time making a gingerbread house. Benjamin really had a great time. We let him choose all the candy for the decor. Really he just liked the m&ms. Georgia-Kate slept through the entire gingerbread event. It was lots of fun! Our gingerbread house didn't look quite as good as the giant house in the lobby. It is a replica of the Worman House resturant(see picture above). The replica was made with 2 gallons of molasses, 20lbs of shorting, 5lbs of cinnamon, 1lb of cloves, 1lb of nutmeg, 3lbs of ginger, 1 gallon of Karo syrup, and 6lbs of dark chocolate.

Enjoy the pictures...there are lots!

Merry Christmas!

The "Worman House" gingerbread house.

Working on our house.

Still working...

Our Gingerbread house

Gerogia-Kate missed all the decorating

Allen and Benjamin playing...I think Allen liked building lincoln logs as much as Benjamin.

Benjamin hugging the penguin

Santa's Caboose

And Finally...Visiting with Santa.


Waiting for the elf!


Georgia-Kate with "Sugar Plum"

Benjamin with "Sugar Plum"

Reading "A Very Marley Christmas"....Benjamin loves Marley.

Christmas Pajamams!

A Girly Christmas

Lydia's Annual Girly Christmas Gathering was last night. Lydia is a dear friend. She is very giving and much fun. She always has a great party. We had dinner and a fabulous dessert. Erica made a pumpkin cheese cake and a turtle cheesecake...I took a picture so you could see it. After dinner, we exchanged Christmas stockings. Last year, we exchanged empty stockings...and this year, we got to fill them. We played "dirty Santa" --and nobody took my stocking. I was so happy because I opened Kim's stocking! I got an awesome chocolate brown cross (I love it!), a notepad, lotion, and a little nativity ornament. Thanks Kim! And...Leah made all the girls a beautiful pair of earrings. Yes, she made them by hand.

We had a great time. Thank you--Lydia for another fun party!

Sandra and me.

A group picture

(My camera didn't do well in this photo)

Jennifer, Brenda and Lydia

My Stocking from Kim.

I love it!

Leah's Beautiful earrings.

The Cheesecakes by Erica.

Go over and visit her blog....she has a super cute family.

A Christmas Tour....

Welcome!

Come on in for a visit. Here are just a few more of my favorite Christmas things.

I love the Holiday Season.

Our Front door.

Some of our Christmas Cards. We put them in this red Christmas dish, in the kitchen.

Our Traditional Tree.

I love our tradional tree. To see more...Check it our HERE.

The "Santa" Tree
To see more...Check it out HERE

A wreath on the coat closet door.
This Toile Ribbon is my favorite.

My favorite new Santa.
(Thank you, Mom!)
If you are looking for a candle,
the Woodwicks are great.

I adore this sweet nativity. Each piece has scripture.
And.....I picked it up at Wal-Mart. How great is that?!

Allen and I received this for a wedding gift.
We have decorated with it every Christmas.
I love it.

Benjamin's Tree.
We had a great time working on Benjamin's Tree.
He was so excited to open the ornaments.
I have included a few pictures of his favorite ornaments:

We tied this funny monkey on the top.
He makes Benjamin laugh!

Benjamin made this jingle bell ornament in Sunday School, last week.

Of course, Benjamin favorites are
Lightening McQueen and
Thomas, the Tank Engine.

Benjamin picked this train as his 2008 ornament.
My mom began this tradition with my sister, brother and I when we were kids. She took us, each year, to choose an ornament to add to the collection. She always dated each one. It is fun to look at them, now. And I have passed on the tradition to my kids. We bring home whatever ornament that they choose. Georgia-Kate picked a funny stuffed moose with a santa hat.

Georgia-Kate's Tree.

I choose this pink tree for Georgia-Kate's room. I added pink, purple, and gold glittered balls with the pretty bows. I have been adding pink ornaments as I find them. Of course, Mimi (my mom) is also shopping for pink ornaments. It is so girly! Check out the pictures....I hope you love it as much as I do.

A pink cupcake with a cherry on top

Don't all little girls need a pink cupcake?!

"Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament.

Perfect!

Pink, Beads, Glitter!

Merry Christmas! May we all remember to slow down and appreciate the wonderful things in our lives. Most importantly, may we not forget to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Go over to Boomama and Hooked on Houses and check out all of the wonderful holiday tours. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!