Beat Bama

On Jan 9th we got ready for the game of the century....again.  Our worship minister & family are from Bama and love Bama.  So, it only makes sense to have a National Championship party and include them, right?  Most Tiger fans would never dream of it, but let's face it.  We don't live in Louisiana anymore and coming across LSU fans are few & far between.  So we will take any fans that we can get that will come over and that gives me an excuse to have another party :)

We won't talk about the outcome.  We all know it was bad, real bad.  But I know something that wasn't..the food!  I made a TON of food.  I made jambalaya, gumbo, king cake and then a bunch of other things to go with it. 

All in all it was fun to have new friends over!

David & Matt....their rival face

LSU fans no matter what

All the kiddos

Christmas 2011

I know, I know....Christmas has been over for a while now.  But, I have yet to blog about it.  I actually was trying to not blog about it.  I have been avoiding it for a couple of main reasons. One, I feel like stuff drives me too often.  I felt like writing about all the "stuff" for Christmas was another way to focus on that.  I truly believe that Christmas is an amazing time of year and love the fact that we focus so much on Christ's birth.  That is actually the part I love.  I love thinking about that amazing, beautiful sacrifice for my sinful self.  Second, Christmas plans this year changed at the last minute and let's just say I have feelings.  After all this though I kept coming back to the fact that I am doing this blog so that down the road I will be able to look back at all our memories written down.  So I decided that yes, there should be a Christmas entry. 

Here it goes : I guess I will start with this.  I didn't get my Christmas card done...again.  I don't really know what is wrong with me, but this is the second year in a row that I did not do a card.  Now, last year I had an excuse.  We had just moved to Colorado Springs and felt like I was "too busy".  This year, absolutely no.excuse.  I just didn't get it done.  I did get a picture taken, just never got the card made and the letter typed up.  Please forgive me for not getting it done this year.  Guess there is always next year .......

We did make a fun present for the boys teacher, Mrs. Graham.  It was an idea I got from Pinterest.  I had to make a few changes, but it turned out cute and she really loved it!

We made the annual trip to see Santa as well. The boys loved him!  It kinda made me sad that we aren't going to have those screaming pictures again.  You know, the ones where the child is literally terrified of him?  I only have one year that the boys were like that and it was just one baby screaming.....

We also made our little gingerbread house.  Well, David made it with the boys.  It may, or may not have been on Dec 23rd.  But, hey it got done :)

Don't mind the tape....it was just a little "brace" until the icing dried....

Like I mentioned earlier, our Christmas plans changed at the last minute.  We were going to make the trip to Louisiana, but ended up staying here in Colorado instead.  Even though it was last minute my mom decided to come up and spend the week with us.  It was nice to have family around.  The boys sure loved doing different things with her and David & I even got to go on a date or two :)

Mom came in on Christmas Eve.  She got here early in the day so we were able to make our cookies for Santa before we headed to the candle light service at church. 

We want to make sure the boys know how to give to others, even when there is nothing in return.  We made goodies for all our neighbors and delivered them on Christmas eve.  Some were home, but most were not.  It was a good thing for the boys to experience.  Actually it was a good thing for all of us.  Helped us all to remember that we should always be sharing with others, especially the love of Christ. 

Before bed time the boys laid out their cookies for Santa and they left their manger scene.  We did this daily devotional with the boys called "What does God want for Christmas".  It was a great !  We opened a new box each evening and the last night the box had a mirror.  Because ultimatley what God wants for Christmas is you.  It was such a great reminder. 

David read the bible story and then we read the Night Before Christmas. 

Finally.....Christmas morning arrived!  I am just going to put in some pics.  Jackson asked Santa for a pogo stick & Jonathan asked Santa for a Spider man skateboard.  I have no idea how they came up with these!  Thankfully Santa delivered!  He had a few extra presents in there too :)

Mom & Dad got the boy bikes

We headed to church right after presents and then came home to a full Christmas lunch made by your one & only :)  After lunch the boys got to go outside and try out there new toys.  It had snowed 2 days before Christmas so we still had lots of snow on the ground.  It was beautiful!

I think that pretty much wraps up Christmas.  We had several days of fun things that we did with my mom while she was here.  The boys got presents in the mail for about 2 weeks after Christmas, so in a way it felt like it would never end.

We are thankful most of all for Jesus being born in a manger.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Program

The boys had a Christmas program at their school.  I know I am just a crazy parent, but it was awesome.  I just love seeing the kids as they are just pouring their hearts out.  I am so thankful for PPCS and glad that we are part of the family now :)

Warning:  lots of pictures/videos.  It might be overload for anyone that is not an immediate family member.

Jackson LOVED singing! 

   

How adorable are they???  (I know I'm a little biased..)

They were so excited David was there!  David had to fly out that day, but made sure his flight was late enough so he could be there for the performance.  He's a good daddy!

I know it's been a while since I have updated....oops.  It's been a little busy :)

So, in the middle of December I got a call from a good friend and she asked me if her & her 2 boys could make a stop in Colorado Springs.  Of course!!! was my answer. 

Lacey and I became friends when her husband got orders to be stationed at Vandenberg.  But I knew her before that.  Actually several years before that.  It seems like the Lord keeps crossing our paths!  David & I were stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT from 02 - 06.  Great Falls is where Lacey is from.  Lacey was gone to college most of the time we were stationed there, but we had the privilege of getting to know her parents pretty well.  Amazing people!   Her husband, Andrew, worked with David a little bit in MT.  After we had been at Vandenberg for about 3 years that's when Lacey sent me a message about them getting orders to VAFB.  I was able to help them with information about the local area and we were excited to get a new couple at church and a playing buddy for the boys. Now their family is being stationed at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, LA which is less than an hour from Ruston so we know we will continue to see each other!


 We were able to see Lacey & fam when we were in California in April/May last year but haven't seen them since.  The boys were so excited that their friends were coming to visit & I was excited my friend was coming, too :) Even though I was pretty busy while they were here we made the most of it.  We enjoyed laughing, talking, eating, playing with boys and relaxing a little bit.  So thankful for the Lord's body that I know I will always have these friends no matter where in the world we all live!


Brotherly love - Robert & Andrew "Q"




Lacey & Robert - beautiful friend





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Book time - they always love it when Lacey reads!  She has lots of expressions :)



Q & Jackson - lots of love here, not intentional poking of the eye :)

Q & Jonathan - they really do like each other :)