Twas The Night Before Christmas...

And all through the house, were grateful hearts and cheerful smiles and fun with family and friends!

I love Christmas! I love that we celebrate Christ's birth. I love that we have little children so we are constantly sharing with them what Christmas is all about so they don't get wrapped up in the world's way of doing Christmas. And sharing with them over and over again about the true meaning of Christmas helps me so much as well. Many, many times over the last couple of weeks the girls have been asked "So, are you ready for Santa? Have you been a good girl this year?" and those questions have allowed us to have some great conversations, especially with Reagan. And every store we went in last week, Sydney showered everyone around us with many "Merry Christmases!" This Christmas was different for us. Over the last four years, we've started several traditions and this year those all kind of changed, but it was so good, too! Christmas Eve Steve worked until the afternoon and when he came home the girls were still napping, so we opened our gifts to one another. Then, when the girls got up and my mom got here we opened our PJs and stockings and then headed over to the Roberts' for dinner! We had a wonderful time with all the Roberts, my mom, Lael and Stephanie and Laz! Christmas morning we woke up and headed back over to the Roberts to open gifts. It was unbelievable seeing all the gifts and the girls had a blast. We came home early afternoon and spent the rest of the day (and weekend!) playing and resting. It was another wonderful Christmas! Steve is off all but Tuesday next week, so we are looking forward to spending some family time together and also some time with just the two of us! Next week he and I are heading to Atlanta for the weekend! Yay!!!

Christmas Eve Pictures:

Christmas Morning Pictures:

Christmas Lights!

Tuesday night my mom spent the night with us and after dinner we went to look at some Christmas decorations. There is one house in particular that we've gone to look at the past couple of years. It's unbelievable how many decorations these people have and this year it looked like the neighbors are beginning to join in! My little Reagan girl got sick while we were out...it was very strange - all of a sudden her head started hurting and she had a fever. Thankfully she recovered quickly!!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...Florida Style!

Last Sunday we packed up the kids after their naps and headed out on a quest to find snow! Well, Florida snow that is - which is really soap! We met up with the Walleys down at Celebration, took all 6 children into the candy store so they could have a treat while we waited and then let them play in the fountains. It's crazy that they could play in the fountains - in sandals - just a couple of days before Christmas! The weather was beautiful and we had a blast! My husband even treated me to my favorite Peppermint Mocha Frappaccino from Starbucks! Then at 6, the "snow" began to fall. The girls had so much fun playing and jumping around with their friends and Jet and Jordyn enjoyed some stroller time with each other. It's amazing to think that when we went last year we had one child per parent (we went with the Walleys then, too!) and this year we were out numbered!! What wonderful gifts we've been given!!

Danny and Nikki are home for Christmas!

Danny and Nikki and baby Bentley have all been down this week for Christmas. We all met up at the Roberts' house on Saturday night to hang out and have dinner. It's been great getting to spend some time with them and to see Bentley crawling around and growling like little boys should! Last time we saw him was when he was in the NICU and it's amazing to see how the Lord has totally allowed this little guy to be healthy...and very cute, too!!

Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Nancy, AJ, and Alex made it for dinner as well and we always enjoy visiting with them. Reagan was quite disappointed Josh wasn't able to come, but quickly recovered after Steve let her sit by her big cousin AJ!! The girls were given a flashlight to play with while we finished up our dinner and they had a blast chasing each other and the dog with the flashlight!

Jordyn Update!

Our little peanut is getting so big! I can hardly believe she is already 7 months old! She is rolling around all over the place, jabbering, chewing on anything she can get to her mouth - including her toes, eating baby food, and enjoying life! She laughs when I throw her up in the air and laughs when the girls are playing with her. They can make her laugh harder than anyone else can! She enjoys her entertainer and still loves going to bed! She is normally happy for the whole day, except for about an hour to hour and a half a day. Lately she has wanted me when she sees me walk into a room, which can be really sweet until she starts crying!! She is the biggest cuddle-bug out of the three, and I love when I get a few minutes to hold her and snuggle with her!

Baking Day!

Last Saturday my mom, Sissy and I had our annual baking day! We spent hours baking 13 different kinds of cookies, fudge, toffees and mini pies. We all made several batches early so we could try to finish up and go out to dinner and shopping. Well, we ended up wrapping up around 7 PM, made it to the restaurant to eat and did a little shopping! It was a fun day and I was able to hand out almost all my goodies on Sunday! Reagan and Sydney helped me with the fudge and Christmas cookies the day before my mom and Sissy came over. They are getting so big and love when they get to be in the kitchen with me! Reagan wants to marry a farmer so they can grow their own food to cook!!

Steve's Work Party

Last Thursday evening we had a very enjoyable dinner with Steve's boss and coworkers at Ruth's Chris. It was delicious! We had steak and lobster and so many appetizers and side dishes. I tried the apple pie tart, too. It was fun getting all dressed up and going out with Steve for the night! And I figure that may be the only time we ever get to go there, so we enjoyed every bite!!

To Lowe's with Daddy!

Steve took the girls to Lowe's to build Gingerbread Houses! The girls had a blast and came home in their super cute Lowe's apron. They each got a patch to put on the apron, too. They offer these little classes for free twice a month, so hopefully this will become a regular event for Daddy and his little girls! He told Brian, one of the guys he works with, about the class and so he brought his two kids, too!

Gingerbread Trains!

Today we had our annual Gingerbread decorating day with the Walley's! It is a day we look forward to every year! This year we added two new little ones to the mix and they did great! Dena picked up Gingerbread trains for us to decorate this year, which I think was a lot easier than the houses. I think the girls may have eaten more candy than what made it on the trains! The girls all played for a while and then they exchanged gifts. Reagan and Sydney got a cool little aquarium - and I like it because the fish aren't real!! Then we decorated our trains and Dena made pizza for lunch! Oh, and of course then there was more playing and pictures! Our train even made it home without falling apart!

Quote on Giving

Steve sent me this excellent quote earlier this week...

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusement, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own,we are probably giving away too little. If our giving does not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say it is too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our commitment to giving excludes them."

- C.S. Lewis

Thanksgiving Weekend!

We had a full Thanksgiving weekend! Thursday we spent the day at Sissy and Mark's and had a wonderful dinner. On Friday Sissy and I went out shopping early and then that afternoon Rodney made us two big pots of Gumbo for dinner and then we headed to the garage for a foosball tournament. Let's just say the young ones in the bunch didn't do so hot. (So, that means Mama, Mark, Rodney and Sissy won!!) I really think Sissy had been practicing up when no one else was around!! Saturday all 15 of us went to get a family picture made and then had Christmas together. Mama made a great steak dinner after we opened up our gifts from one another. Saturday night Telle, Rod, Curt and Harley headed home. We were so glad we were able to celebrate with everyone. What a memorable weekend!

For Daddy...

From Reagan:

I love you, Daddy. I hope you have a great day! I love that you take care of us. I love that you play with us. I love how you make us laugh. I like that you let us watch Jordyn's Einsteins. I like that you squirt me with your water gun. I like when you take us to 7-11 for Slurpees. I love when you play guitar so we can sing and dance and worship! I like when you hold me at church.

From Sydney:
I like talking to you on the phone and when you make dinner. (Hmmm...that means she really likes Pizza and Sonny's!!)

From Me:
I love you! Thank you for taking such good care of us. Thank you for providing for us, for leading us, for being responsible and for being goofy! You make us laugh! Thank you for pursuing growth. Thank you for being so patient with me and for planning some really meaningful date nights the last several months! I love you more than words can express! Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Disney

Tuesday night my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece came into town! On Wednesday Telle, Rodney, Harley, Reagan, Sydney and I went to Disney World. We had so much fun hanging out and even though there were more people than I've ever seen out there we did get to ride quite a few rides! Here are some pictures!