Another hard day at "work"

Merry Christmas!

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Charlie, Hope, Me, Zach, Nathan, Autumn, Scott and June

Christmas Eve

We were so excite to have long time friends over for dinner and games.  I love seeing the children we have watched grow up through the military, listen to what they are enjoying and laugh while we play games!  
I hate to admit it but the boys killed the girls on the account of some amazingly lucky rolls and easy questions!

After the long day of baking, cleaning, wrapping and cooking I was exhausted, but Hope and Charlie were so wide awake and anxious they stayed up until 3 in the morning.  On several occasions they contemplated waking me up to go open presents.  They decided against it, later I found out because Charlie didn't want to deal with a tired/cold me!  (I guess I get grouchy when I am tired and cold!  I need to work on that!)  So instead they snuck down stairs to open one of Hope's gifts.  She opened a gift she was dying to open from her 3 year old friend, Madison.   Charlie said she giggled with delight when she unwrapped the beautiful hand-made bead necklace!

Christmas Morning

Needless to say I was the first one up and waited over an hour for my two favorite people to wake up!  

Once they finally woke up, we enjoyed breakfast together, then gathered around the tree to open the thoughtful gifts from family and friends.  Thank you all very much!  Seeing the face on the person you have given a gift to is one of my favorite feelings.

 Hope was so grateful for all the gifts she received!

 The only thing Hope had asked for for her birthday AND Christmas was an iPod Touch.  We tried to make her think that we weren't going to get her one so she made up her mind to save up for one.  Well we did get it for her and wrapped it 7 times so she wouldn't know what it was.  She was cracking up!

 When she finally had it unwrapped!  I couldn't wait to see that face!  Priceless!

 Thank you all for all the special gifts!

 I'm dreaming of a White Christmas!  

I am not a big fan of the cold, but I LOVE when it snows!  Watching the snowflake drift to the ground covering it in a sparkling white blanket is so magical!  It also gives us excuses to go out and brave the cold!

I can't remember the last time we all stayed home all day and relaxed.  What an amazing day to remember the most important gift the Lord has giving us, the birth of our savior, along with the next best gift, family!  

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Officially 11

Two days ago, on the 23rd, Hope officially turned 11.  (I am still asking myself, "are we old enough to be parents of an 11 year old"?)  I am so proud of what a beautiful young lady she is becoming!  Her quick wit makes us laugh every day, she has a huge heart and cares so much about those around her.  I love her willingness to help.  We are so thankful for her, she was our best Christmas present ever!

We started the day with chocolate chip pancakes, a family birthday tradition.  Then we raced each other on Mario Cart for the Wii, one of our favorite games.  

Every year people ask Hope if she gets ripped off having her birthday so close to Christmas, but our grateful girl shakes her head.  She always has a birthday party mid December and a special princess day on her actual birthday.  On years we go to Florida for Christmas she usually gets two more birthdays parties from each side of the family.  I think she makes out!

Opening presents

Glory was very interested in what was going on

For lunch we had jambalaya and Hope only wanted shrimp in it.  I asked several times if she wanted any other meat, but she was adamant.  It actually turned out really good with only shrimp.

After lunch we played Stare.  No not that kind of stare!  It is a board game we have where you have to stare/study a popular piece of art and memorize as many detail as you can in a minute.  Then you are asked questions about the picture.  You move according to the answers you get right!  Fun game!

Hope always gets to pick were we eat dinner on her birthday.  When she was younger she never wanted us to tell them it was her birthday, but we always did.  This year she chose the local Mexican restaurant where she knew what was coming!  Out they came singing Happy Birthday in Spanish, plopped a sombrero on her head and feed her whip cream.

Then they smashed it in her face!  We were cracking up!  

Happy Birthday to our amazing young lady!

A New Home for Patches

Yesterday we moved Patches from her home of 12 years to a new farm.  A farm with Missouri rolling hills, lush green grass, a pond, miles of trails and a beautiful old barn.  (I have a thing for old barns, especially when they are painted red!)  I was worried and a little sad to move her from the home she has known all her life, but with prayers the transition went as smooth as could be.  

Today, Hope and I went to check on how Patches was settling in.  As we drove up the country road we saw our beautiful buckskin Paint grazing peacefully in her new pasture with her new companion and the red barn nestled in the background.  What a sight!

As we pulled into the large fenced in farm we were greeted by the other four legged residents.

 Aria was so excited to have company she stuck her head in our van and curiously licked anything she could.

Patches is as fuzzy as a bear with her soft winter coat.

Her chubby companion Doc. 

Half the time I was taking pictures Doc was checking my jacket for carrots and the other half I was bumping into him as I backed up not realizing that he was there.

Beautiful Aria is a Morgan filly

 Cricket is the proud paint in the foreground and the grey in the back is Shortie, a twenty year old pony.  He is enjoying his retirement!

The "best" Birthday Ever...

 Our Beautiful Girl is turning 11 this year.  She was excited to have her first ever girls only sleep over party.  I was busy at a gift wrapping fund raiser the day of the party and I came home to her party already decorated.  (Thanks Charlie! You are amazing!)

 Happy Birthday to you my Hopers!

 Big hugs after opening amazing gifts from her friends!  Her friends know her well!  (Thank you girls for your thoughtfulness!)

 The girls played the Penny Game, that with inflation has now become the Dime Game.  The girls learned a lot about each other through this game.  One of the interesting facts we figured out is that not only were all four girls in Germany, but they were all born there at the same duty station! 

 One of the presents was Jenga.  The girls had a blast playing with it as well as using it for building blocks.

 It got really intense. 

 Oh No!

 The rest of the night the girls painted nails, played with a hula hoop, watched a movie and giggled!  I actually fell asleep watching Toy Story 3 with them.  They said it was good.  I still want to watch it!

What a great night, but the icing on the cake was that we woke up to a snow covered ground.  God wanted to make sure that Hope's wish came true.  Her only wish was that everyone had a great time and that it was the Best Birthday Ever.

 Glory loved the snow!

 It was such a light powdery snow, but that didn't stop the girls and even some adults in the neighborhood from enjoying sledding!

 Storm in much need of a hair cut, but my mom loves her that way!

 A jump on a snow covered trampoline!

Hope we love you and are so proud of the amazing kind heart you have!  We are thankful for the "tween" you are turning into!  Happy Birthday!