Over the River and Thru The Woods

We had a wonderful Christmas with both of our family's this year. We spent Christmas Eve at my Aunt Donna's and Uncle John's and enjoyed a Mexican feast! My wildflowers had lots of fun playing with the other wildflowers that were there and we had lots of fun watching the Broncos embarrass themselves and enjoyed each others company in the meantime.

Here are some pis of our Christmas Eve:

My mom and aunt Donna:

We spent the night with my mom, and of course nobody slept....... but if was fun anyway. This was the second Christmas without my Grandma Reen, as she passed away last Dec 23rd and she was truly missed. She would always come over to our house on Christmas morning and watch us open presents when we were young. It just wasn't the same without her.

My dad set up two toy trains and the wildflowers loved them!! They wanted to play "Thomas" all evening and when Parker woke up at 2 am, he just kept saying "toot, toot".

This kids received a red wagon each, a doodlebop microphone, doll carriage, lawn mower, hammer set, princess dress up set all from Santa. They also received lots of things from both Grandparents and auntie's. But, I think the thing Parker liked most was the box of packing popcorn that one of my gifts came in! He had the best time playing and making a horrible mess!! What fun it was to watch!

We had a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls and cherry pastries. Sometime during the morning, we received truly a white Christmas. It was wonderful! A blizzard indeed and luckily we only had about 15 miles to drive. After packing up the van to the brim, we headed to the ranch were Matthew's family was celebrating Christmas. Luckily the kids crashed in the van for at least a little nap.

Here are some pics of our morning together at my parents:

Parker fighting to get Madison's new stroller:

Mom, Dad and my sis Christel:

Parker and his new wood bench:
Madison in her dress up clothes and her new Dora slippers and new outfit from Grammy:

We celebrated Christmas dinner together at the home of Matthew's aunt and uncle, Jimmy and Sydney. If you remember from my Thanksgiving post, Sydney was killed earlier this summer in an automobile accident. It was wonderful to be in her house amongst her cowboy Santa's and darling Willow Creek nativity that she always had out during previous Christmas celebrations. Her spirit was there and she was on all our minds all day long. In the evening we exchanged gifts and afterwords her youngest, Chris held a toast in her honor and spoke of just how much she was missed and how it just wasn't the same. He read the below poem and seemed so fitting and left us all in tears:

My First Christmas In Heaven

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below,with tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,for it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me. I see the pain inside your heart,but I am not so far away. We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones. You know I hold you dear,and be glad I'm spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.I send you each a memory of, my undying love.

After all "LOVE" is the gift, more precious than pure gold.It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,for I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,Remember, I'm spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

Here are some pics from our day at the ranch:

All the kids:

Happy Birthday baby Jesus:

The lady in the blue jeans is Matthew's great aunt Evelyn who will celebrate her 100th birthday tomorrow!

We had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed our families very much. We missed seeing everyone who could not be there for one reason or another and they were all remember and and were in our hearts. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas where you were and are looking forward to a brand new year to start fresh and anew!

Christmas Sunday

This is last Sunday before Christmas so we got all dolled up in our Christmas attire and attended our church this morning. Auntee Christel even came with us today. I love singing the Christmas carols at church....just seems so much more appropriate than singing them in my kitchen for some reason. The sermon touched on how we so much look forward to coming home for Christmas, and I am very excited to be spending the night at my parents on Christmas eve. Thanks to Amy Rene for the Christmas clothes for Parker....I can't believe Carson was little enough to have worn them!!

Little Miss Christmas

Good luck trying to get a descent pic with these two....

The fam around the tree...

Auntee and Madison....

Chrsitmas Tour of Homes

I have joined the Christmas Tour of Homes so below you will find some of the things that are making our home a festive place to be this year.


Here is our home with a few docorations. We don't go all out like some, but just enough. It's pretty at night time.





This is my new snowman quilt that my sister got me...I love it!!

This is my lit snowman that I made a few years ago for all of the women in our family. I stole the idea from Christina. I also put out past Christmas pics of our family including our past Christmas cards. It's fun to see the changes in our family, from 2 to 3 to 4!! The family of snowman was given by my girlfriend Sara and it says "My family is my treasure.....LOVE THAT!

Here is our mantel complete with our stockings that I have made and some of my favorite snowman. My mom and dad got us the beautiful wreath...

Here is our tree that is sparsly decorated due to the small children running around...

This is my dining room where I put all of the cards that we receive on the window so I can enjoy them everytime we eat...

This is my Willow Creek nativity that I love. I put this past pics of the kids with Santa around it.

Well, that about wraps it up!! I hope you are enjoying this holiday season.....it's almost over : (

Here is a little poem I found on Dawn's site:

Christmas version of 1 Cor. 13

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,but do not show love to my family,I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen,baking dozens of Christmas cookies,preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:but do not show love to my family,I'm just another cook.
If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity; but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angelsand crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ,I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another's homethat has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, andendures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust; but giving the gift of love will endure.
Author: Sharon JaynesTaken from Celebrating a Christ Centered Christmas

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

So we spent Sunday out at the ranch where Matthew's family lives. We attended a fun Christmas party at the restaurant where I work once a week in the summers and then before sundown we went and cut down our Christmas tree. That is always such a fun thing.

The wildflowers playing in the snow in front of our tree.....

Matthew with our freshly cut tree......

The finished product.....and boy does it smell good in our house!!

Sidenote: I didn't put any of our normal ornaments on our tree this year due to the smallest wildflower and his need for dismantling everything!!

The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care

In hopes that Saint Nick soon would be there....

Are We Having Fun Yet???

This isn't a very clear pic because I just took a picture of a picture, but you get the jist.......

The Christmas Fun Begins

December 1st......YEAH!!!

We started out December doing something very festive....The Festival of Lights Parade. My sister, Madison and myself bundled up and headed out to the Parade. Matthew and Parker stayed home and watched football, which was best because Parker would not have been able to sit thru the whole parade.

We started out first at Judge Baldwins down town for some fish and chips for supper.....yum yum! Here is Madison with Auntie and Mommy eating supper......

Hot chocolate was a must at the parade, though the weather was perfect and not even to cold. We got a great curbside seat and Madison was so cute waving at all the kids on the floats.

All in all it was a fun evening! To top it off, I wore my new Christmas pajamas that I have been saving for Dec 1st. COZY!!