Thursday, December 31, 2015

It's A Wrap.......

It is over....
In the blink of an eye we are finished with Christmas (though decorations are still totally intact over here) and getting ready to say goodbye to another year.  
It has been a great year.  One of the best in memory.  I have loved everything about 2015.  
Our family is growing, retirement is awesome, and I cannot think of a day that I have not found many things to be grateful when I get in bed at night.  
 We closed out this year with one of my favorite events...a sleepover with my little "specials".
 We played at the duck pond...


 and ate most of the bread ourselves!
Sorry ducks!!!



 We hung out at the Arboretum....

Played in tree trunks,
 And slid down the asparagus!
And we had fun and laughed.
That is all that matters to me these days. 
It is the memories because it is really all you leave behind of value.
I have so many great memories of 2015.
A trip to the Holy Land that changed my vision of my faith forever, a new grandbaby, and another almost here, good health, good friends, and a husband that tolerates the craziness he lives with every single day.
For whatever reason I have been lucky enough to have enough and blessed enough to enjoy it I do thank God.  What more can anyone ask.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Round Three.....

We had a bit of a segmented Christmas this year but as most moms will tell you...and time together is a great time.  We are so lucky to have everyone so close.  Thinking back to the year that Tim was in Africa when finding merriment was so hard, I am thankful for every moment we have in the same place.
No Christmas would be complete without matching pajamas.  My kids used to dread this tradition, but now it is a much anticipated event.  It is my November mission.  I admit to returning multiple styles to multiple stores before I make a final decision.  We have had some bad years!  Footy monkey pajamas come to mind as a total fail.




I love watching the excitement of the girls taring paper off all the packages, including our packages! I think of the hours spent wrapping and the minutes spent destroying that laborious task....maybe next years just boxes with a bow.
My favorite present?  A Hello kitty sewing machine!  Not for me...well, maybe not for me!  I am determined to make little sewers out of my granddaughters.  Sewing is such therapy.  I hope they can find the same joy in stitching fabric together that I do.  



Tim's favorite present...a chain saw!
My favorite present?  My family.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Christmas Part 2......

It is a Christmas Eve tradition at our house to have lunch and then begin our serious decorating contest before church.Finley and I paired up for this big event...by choice!  I had done my pre contest research on Pinterest wand was sure I could convince this little one to go with the 
prize winning design I had selected.  Little did I know she had ideas of her own!



 We were ready...supplies opened and game faces on we set to work for the honor of being called the champ!
 I want you to know we take this seriously people!  This is not a kids game.
Drew and Heather research weeks ahead and careful hide their design as it is being constructed. 

It appears that Brooklynn has some concerns over her project.  Her face says anything but I like what I see.

 After my careful research and what I thought was the prize winning design, Finley took matters into her won hands and decided the best plan was to use EVERY kind of candy on the table to complete this gingerbread woman.  

 Finished projects!!!
And the winner is......
 GRAMMA AND FINLEY!!!!
For unique use of all materials!


 Love the spirit of competition!
And the things that can be done with a simple gingerbread man!
Just wait until next year Matthew and you can play too....and I get to be your partner!!!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Shubzda Christmas.....

Twas the week before Christmas and gather we did, 
To share festivities together, the adults and the kid(s)!
 I will admit that at this time of year I feel very blessed to be able to be part of a family that enjoys Christmas together so much.  We number 29 3/4 ( another baby due in February) and it is nothing but fun!

 Sometimes we very closely resemble the Griswalds...and my youngest sister in law Judy always manages to confirm this fact in some way...but it is a happy chaos and it always makes me smile when I think back over the day.

 It is hard to believe we have grown by three babies this year...
The stars must have lined up right this year!
Bailey Claire made her first visit to Dallas to join us....
 Matthew only cared if he had meals on time...
 And Luke loved Uncle Bergy's rendition of THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS!



 Stocking were full and the kids were happy...who does not want a 3 foot stocking full of toys?


 And the guys.....just keep filling my wine glass please!
 I think I can go back about 25 years and find family pictures to show how we have grown and it makes me smile to see the kids having kids.
 And if you go home with blue all over your tongue it simply means you have a day full of sugar and nothing but fun!
 Steffan and Brooklyn share the same birthday, 21 years apart.  They are special buddies!
 New mona and a mom to be sharing baby experiences and advice...
what fun these cousins will have together!
Ring around the rosie with Gramps and another year comes to an end.  
It was a good day, no, it was a great day and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for I am blessed and the year as been the best!