Christmas Day 2010

Merry Christmas...

Christmas morning we awoke in our house to open presents. This year we were blessed to have house guests that shared the holiday with us... it was nice not having to set the timer on the camera and it was even nicer to have some of our best friends around to share with us.

Here are our family pics.... us in our jammies!







































































































And let the fun begin.....
one of Ella's favorites....new blankies!!!














































Gabe was excited about his little bitty present that daddy wrapped for him...
















Ella's little book lights...























Ella's first pair of panties!!!!!























After opening our gifts at home we enjoyed the afternoon together and then we all headed to the Swartzentruber Christmas. My kids had a blast with all their cousins (second).

















Ella joined in on making crafts but Gabe was to busy kicking a ball with the big boys!
















We had a very enjoyable Christmas day and loved spending time with family and friends!


I have no idea what happened... and why I could not get these pics to move into the right spots!
This is our beloved Ariel that spent a wonderful week with us.... and the pic of her husband with my kids has disappeared!
















And I loved this pic of my boy in his new hat!

Christmas Eve 2010

Sorry all.... pregnancy has taken a toll. I took a little break... and now I feel like I might be back in business. Third time around I thought I knew what I was getting into but that has not been the case! This ol mama is feeling a lot more yucky sick, tired, just plain cannot get off of the couch.

I do not say these things for you to feel sorry for me.... the way I look at these little things is that its the way of the Lord reminding me that "its not all about me". Man he is so good about putting me in my place! Thank you Lord!

So.....
Its been tradition since I can remember to open gifts at my parents house on Christmas Eve. Since Andre and I have been married we plan on spending the day with them..... getting food ready and just relaxing together. Love this time together.... I always look forward to it!
Here are the memories of the evening....

Mom always does an amazing job of decorating our table.







































There was food all over the bar but this end was my fav... the desserts!
















My littles gettin ready to tear into their first gift.























Can you see that my "woody" was super excited about his new boots?
















He was also excited about his leapster!























Ella was super excited about her first doll house!!!!
i love watching her play with this... she sits and plays for long periods of time.

















Silly girl!























I love this last one.... the kids both got some dress up clothes
from my parents too. Here is my little racer and princess playing together!























.... more Christmas festivities to come!!!!!

Caroling....

Last Saturday.... this crew went and sang some pretty songs together at a couple of nursing homes. It always warms my heart to see the kiddos get so excited about it. Love to watch them bless the nursing home folks.

After singing, we enjoyed a wonderful meal together and some great fellowship.

Thanks crew for an enjoyable evening!

christmas candy....

Taryn and I had a couple of hours on our hands with no little fingers and no significant others around and this is what we decided to do with our spare time!

Let me rewind, before we took on the candy makin we enjoyed a meal at Mi Pueblo (filling our tummys with good food, so we did not eat only bad food) and some girl chat time...

Taryn's choice was puppy chow and my choice was white trash!

It was a "sweet" success!
























Yep, we did use a trash bag to mix them up.

Silly girls...

p.s.... do you not love their choice of color for the kitchen??? newly painted...

passing on traditions....

Through the years, while living at home..... my brothers and I always decorated gingerbread houses this time of the year.

Thursday evening we had no plans and a night at home so we broke out the gingerbread houses. I was really impressed with how long this held the attention of a one and three year old. The kids had a blast and they are so proud to show everyone that enters the house.

My heart delights in these family activities.... hopefully this will be a fun tradition that is past on and one the sticks around.

At first Ella had a hard time thinking about candy being in

front of her and her not eating it all!

Gabes finished house....

Ellas finished house.....

Here are some pics of miss Ella cooking and talking on the phone...

I love this little girl.... she makes me smile!

p.s.....I bought the gingerbread house kits at Wal-Mart for $9. I thought that was an amazing deal. It had the icing, candy, house, everything you need. I just know that you can rack up money pretty quickly in candy for the decorating part.... so go get yourself a kit and have yourself some fun!

My sweethearts.....

....are trying to let you in on a little secret!!!!!!!
































p.s. they are showin ya just what their mommy
is going to look like in eight short months!!!


hee hee... we are blessed and thrilled!

Northern Christmas

We headed to Northern Indiana last Thursday afternoon to enjoy some good extended family time. My mom has two brothers that live in Goshen and they are always making the trip to Southern Indiana for the Holidays and so we decided to give them a break this year and we all headed up North.

This time of the year is always so special yet we all hate to see it come... the reason I say this is bc my Grandma Zetta and her husband Joe head to Florida after our celebrations. We are never ready to see them go. So we celebrate thanksgiving and christmas all together. You ask how... we have our big ol turkey dinner and then after stuffing ourselves we exchange gifts.

My cousin Jonique and I always lived five hours apart and when we got together over weekends we were two peas in a pod. Our favorite thing to do was playing barbies together.
So its so fun to grow our families together. They have Jack who will be three in January and Brynlee who will turn one in February.

Here are our kiddos lovin on eachother..
Oh, and they were loving the ring pops the mammas
brought home from some black friday shopping!

Uncle Terry showing Gabe and Braxton some good stuff on his phone.

Grandma cooking away.... what would I do without her noodles!

This is grandma Zetta with three of the four great grand daughters....

This is the couch full of great grand sons.... and there were some missing....

poor girls are definately out numbered!

Ella showing off her AWESOME turkey shirt that my friend

Lauren made for her.... you can find her craftyness at

www.naptimedesign.etsy.com

The boys ready for their yummy pancakes!

Miss Brynlee being her cute smiley self.

My little princess trying to be a little worker!

This is the crew that shared a house for the weekend.

We love this family and have so much fun with them.

Thanks guys for your hospitality!

Looking forward to your visit in February.

I can not believe this is already a week later.

Grandma is half way to Florida... boo!

Its nice to know that she will be making her way home in

February for the wedding... it will make it not seem as long!