Christmas, Christmas and Christmas 1 More time...

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!  This year we had Christmas morning with Reese, rushed to the airport and flew to my parent's home in FL.

I grew up in Sebring, Florida....I loved it!

Jason (my bro in law), Olivia (my younger sis), me, Nick, Brian (my older bro) and Abby (the youngest).  We opened presents Christmas night after we flew in that day.

All of my siblings....

My mama..."Mimi"

Dad and Mom

This is Granddaddy Clyde, my mom's dad.  He is holding up his "ugly jug".  Abby made it for him for Christmas in art class....my grandparents love art!

As soon as we arrived at home...Reese was on the go!  Here she is on the airboat...covered in black smudge stuff from the trampoline.

Abby's tree swing she made.

Nick caught a frog on the trampoline and let Reese touch it.

Reese has never been so dirty in her life...seriously...a little dirt never hurt anyone!

Granddaddy and Reese on the back porch swing.  I want one of these one day.  I have done a lot of swinging on that swing.  My Dad's parent's owned this home before we did....that swing has been there along time!

Jason and Nick went turkey hunting....they went on several hunting escapades...my Dad has bought them each their own camo oufit for when they visit! ha.

ok, so one of the many highlights of the trip was Reese and her new kitty!  Someone gave it to Abby several weeks earlier.  Reese woke up each day wanting to go outside and check on the kitty...she fed the kitty her food one by one...and dumped out her water many times in attempt to carry it around for the kitty to different spots. ha!

One of Reese's current hobbies is putting on bandaids.

Aunt Abby (AWEBEE to be correct...Reese learned how to say it and has not stopped saying it and today is jan 10!!!) put braided pigtails in her hair.  

Me and Dad after church

Dad and all of his girls!  

Reese fell asleep with Aunt "O" and Uncle Jason on the hammock.  Good life!

Aunt Abby with Reese and Anna Sjoblom on the Gator.  Reese wanted to go on the "beep beep" ALLLLL of the time.  

My aunt and uncle and cousin and her family came to visit while we were down.  They are from Plant City, FL.

Jamie's little girl...Aubrey

Ok, so when we were younger we would put on shows for our parents or for whoever would watch or for no one...you know you all did that!!! ( i think)  So...the only difference about us is that we have not stopped!! ha!  Abby and I enjoy our yearly performances...Olivia not so much.  She would not perform with us!!!  Abby and I danced to "Sisters" from  "White Christmas".  It was fun!  Anytime Abby...hopefully I will never outgrow dancing with you!!!

Happy 25th Birthday Nick, my love!  We celebrated Nick's B-day while we were there.  He likes choc chip cookies..not cake FYI>

Did some baking for everyone too!

We took Reese up to the barn to feed the horses...here she has her carrots ready to go!

My Dad has a hardware store...with lots of John Deere tractor stuff...Reese literally sat on probably 75% of them~

We celebrated Christmas early with Nick's Fam....We were given Cowboy tickets to the Ravens game...we took Josh and Kate with us.  (Josh is Nick's older brother)

We had so much fun...but it was so cold...and we lost!!!!  as you know

Josh and Kate have Peyton and Parker.  They went to church with us on that Sunday.

Gigi and Poppi (Nick's parents) gave Reese a table and chairs for Christmas!!! It is precious~

enough said...

Gloria!/St. Football Championship/Shoemaker Visits~

Saturday night we went to "Gloria" at Prestonwood...the annual Christmas show.  It was awesome!

We had to take pictures of Reese in her Christmas dress....she looked so precious!

Us with our sweet friends Ben and Jen Hangartner!  

and...Kennedy Hangartner...arriving Jan. 21.

Picture in Gloria of John Tesh on the piano...John Tesh used to do celebrity birthday's on ET, but now he travels and sings...he is a strong believer.  It was awesome...sings and plays piano.

The choir

I have to give a shout out to my former high school cheerleading coach...Carolyn Shoemaker.  She came to Dallas for a meeting...and we grabbed dinner before taking her back to the airport.  Thanks Shoemaker for calling me up!  

Congratulations to Uncle Josh!  Josh is Nick's older brother...a high school football coach in AR.  They won the 4A state championship game this past Saturday in Little Rock.  Go Shiloh!

Due to the graciousness of the Lord, Reese and Peyton both fell asleep and took a nap for quite awhile during the game...I am so thankful for that.  We actually got to watch some of the game.  OH...and one last thing about this picture...notice my glasses.  I have had to wear them for almost 2  weeks b/c I have eye infections in both eyes....Dr. said no contacts until I get cleared....so hopefully the drops are working and I can get back to normal contact life on Tuesday...just in time for our visit to FL>  keeping my fingers crossed.  

Christmas is right around the corner....Everyone needs to see "The Nativity Story" movie if you have not already...and if you already have seen it..you should see it again to get your heart ready to celebrate Christmas....the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

THANKFUL.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!  There is so much to be thankful for...especially for the things we take for granted the most....one thing on my mind...eye sight.  My eyes have been irritated for several days now so I had to take my contacts out and just go with my glasses for the last several days.....sooo this experience has made me so thankful for contacts and glasses that help us see!  I am thankful for you Nick....for you Reese.....for my sweet parents who brought me up in a Godly and loving home....for Nick's sweet parents who brought him up in a loving and Godly home...for all of our brothers and sisters...and brother in laws...sister in laws.....and aunts and uncles...cousins...and friends....and our home....and hot water.....and vehicles to drive...and a job...and food....and for healthy legs to walk with....eyes to see with...ears to hear with....for CHRIST, offering me forgiveness and salvation...enabling me to live this life for Him.  

Here are some pictures from our Arkansas Thanksgiving trip.

The 3 amigos.

  Reese, Peyton (back) and Parker.

Cousin Parker and Reese are only 3 months apart.

Gigi has started a Christmas PJ's tradition.  Here are the cousins in their new pjs.

                                                      I assisted Poppi with his Grandchildren Golf cart ride around the golf course....We were attempting to get a good picture of all 3 with him, but it didn't work out.                                           

I love this picture, Reese is looking so intently.

Giving Poppi a kiss.

Ha, her big brown eyes look just like her daddy!

Go Shiloh!  Nick's brother Josh, is the coach for the Shiloh Christian football team.  They won their game Friday night and play the semi-final game next Friday!  

Peyton (choc chip cookie on his face), Aunt Kate and Reese

I Cut My Hair and Reese is the Cutest Cheerleader EVER!

SO....as you can see...I chopped my hair off!  I think it was like 9 inches.  I am not sure why I cut it other than I like change and new exciting things!!!  so chopping your hair off definitely falls into the new and exciting category in my book!  good thing i ended up liking it...this urge for change, new and exciting when it relates to my hair has sometimes ended up in disaster....ha...

Sunday we had a Cowboy watching party at church....this is Reese with her little friend Kingston Hangartner.  Kingston's mommy and daddy are our really good friends...so Kingston and Reese get lots of quality time together! ha.

This is Reese with her little babysitter sisters....these are the Boykin sisters...Allie, Madison and Kaylee Boykin.  They are a family at our church that have been so kind to us by babysitting several weeks ago for us.

Our little cheerleader in her Cowboys cheer outfit.  Poppy and Gigi got this for her last month.  

We cleared out the worhip center and everyone brought lawn chairs and blankets as we watched the Cowboy game.  It was fun...basically the men watched football, the women talked and the children ran around.  Sounds good to me.

Nick's mom and dad came to visit yesterday for a quick trip.  We introduced them to Babe's Chicken House.  UMMM UMMM good is all I have to say about that.  SOOO good.

Gigi also got to assist Reese in riding "Jade" at the mall today.  Thanks Gigi!

Come back soon Poppi and Gigi!