Christmas In January

Lauren, Gracie, Sydney and Molly in their new aprons.


The cousins! My three plus Lauren and Aiden



My mom, sister and me!

We have been celebrating Christmas at my mom's in St. Louis in January the past few years. It seems to alleviate some stress in schedule Christmas celebrations with all the families. We did that this last weekend and had a really nice time. I thought I would post a few pictures from the weekend.

New Year Resolutions

It is that time of year for New Year's Resolutions, so what better place to make it official than on my blog. I guess, as Candice said, these are more personal goals but being that it is January 1st I will make them my Resolutions!

1. To spend more time with JESUS. See previous blog posting if you need more clarification than that, but I think that is pretty clear.

2. To not always put myself last: In other words, I am going to exercise, join the gym and work on the outside of me:)

3. I have a hobby... I am going to spend some time this year enjoying that hobby. I like to scrapbook and I have not done it in way, way too long. I am going to get out my stuff and leave it out and I am going to work on the girls' scrapbooks.

4. My Family: This includes, doing something nice for Barry more often. Enjoying the girls even more, they are growing up before my eyes... I don't want to miss a thing!

5. Not waiting for special occasions to use things. I am not going to save my "special" shampoo/conditioner/shower gel for "another day" I am going to use it up and enjoy it, even if I am just staying home. I am going to use the "special dishes" just for us! No need to wait for special company, we should enjoy it now.

6. Try not to talk so much. This includes unsolicited advice, opinions etc, etc. I don't think I need to elaborate.

So the above six things ought to keep me busy this year. I look forward to what 2009 will bring our family and I do hope to be able to say that I was successful with these "resolutions" not for the sake of accomplishment but that they will make me a better wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter for those I love most!

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Here I Come!

I am at my favorite part of the holiday season now... the final week before Christmas. I am done with my shopping and now I get to spend the next week baking and wrapping presents and watching my all time favorite movie, White Christmas! I still have plenty to do and my house still needs to be cleaned up but it will happen in time. I look forward to the different dinners and outings and the continual celebration of Christmas!

I did just spent the last hour addressing Christmas card envelopes to which I don't have the Christmas cards for yet. I promise next year I am getting an earlier start on my cards so I am not mailing them the week of Christmas! I am waiting for my cards to arrive so I gathered the envelopes from past extra Christmas cards as well as from extra baby announcements and got a jump on my "addressing"! Nothing like working ahead!

I hope you can enjoy these final days of the Christmas season and I hope that all the lights, wrapping, baking, dinners and presents will also be a reminder of WHY we get to celebrate CHRISTmas! In all the hussle and bussle let's not leave CHRIST out of our CHRISTmas! May they be a wonderful reminder to us all!

Christmas Time Fun!

A few pics of the girls today, and yes we have Christmas decorations in our lawn!

Christmas Tree Hunting

We went and got our Christmas tree today and we like to go someplace we can "hunt" for the perfect tree and cut it down. Barry and I started this tradition before the girls even came along and it is always a fun way to involve the whole family. This is our picture from our Christmas Tree Hunt today. It will take me several days... I mean nights to get it decorated finally but it is fun!

By the way, can you tell I married a "farm boy" he has on Carharts from head to toe!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

It is easy at Thanksgiving to think of many things to be thankful for and now that I am done with my dinner responsibilites for tomorrow, I was thinking about Thanksgiving and what I am thankful for so I thought I would list a few.
My Hope in Jesus Christ
My Wonderful Husband who always wants to make sure I am happy
My THREE beautiful, sweet, loving girls who are my constant joy!
My family who I love to spend time with and I am so glad we are close.
My church family, a constant support in many ways.
My FRIENDS. Every girl needs some good friends and I've got them!

Obviously a small list but if I continued on this could be the longest blog ever. The point of this, however, is that the Lord has blessed me and continues to do so and for that I am very Thankful. I hope during this season of Thankfulness you feel truly blessed as well!