What's Down with the Dues?: December 2009

December went by so fast this month. We were busy trying to get windows in before the weather got too cold. I think Jeff officially has 19 completed. The important ones are in. We got our Christmas decorations up and it only took me 2 days and then I just gave up. I didn't get out half of it this year. It just wasn't worth the stress starting and stopping to take care of my 9 mo. old. It was officially "good enough". Jeff got some outside lights on the house but swears he is throwing them in the trash as soon as he takes them down. He is tired of messing with lights that "work" until you put them up. I will be curious what really happens. We all know Jeff is a little "tight" and none of us can picture him throwing anything away! We decided to cut way back on presents this year and just really focus on what Christmas is all about. We helped out some special people in our lives and focused a little more on God. I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful that was. We started Christmas off with Jeff's family at our house. We had a wonderful time eating plenty of food and seeing family we only see a couple of times a year. Jeff's brother Jimmy even came this year. I don't think we had seen him in about 2 years. It was a nice treat. After Jeff's family we had Christmas with our good friend Princess. Man oh man does her family know how to celebrate Jesus. We got to meet some of her family and do a little praise and worship. I wish I had taken my camera but I totally forgot. We had a little devotion, listened to some amazing singing, prayed, cried and then a little more singing. It was precious! Grace was even singing and dancing and clapping off beat, but you knew she was loving every minute of it. On Christmas Eve we were supposed to head to Newkirk but the blizzard of 2009 hit. We ended up going across the street to the Ellis family and once again, I forgot my camera. We had wonderful food and a lot of laughs. It was sad not getting to Newkirk but we are so grateful for our precious friends who seem like family! Christmas day we headed to Newkirk and the day after Christmas we were able to have our "family Christmas". My sister wasn't able to make it because of the roads so once again, it just wasn't the same. After all of the weirdness from the weather and plans not going as we thought they should, things turned out perfect. God has given us so many blessings, Princess who has blessed our lives, The Ellis family who is "our family", just the pleasure of being snowed in together and having quality time and just the peace that comes with all of that. Jeff and I have been so blessed with so many things and it ALL comes from God. We are not responsible for anything that we have. God gives us everything we need and then way more. Wheeewww.... I got a little windy, I just needed to get my praises in, I guess.

Uncle Paul, Cousin Teresa, Christopher, Jennifer, Aunt Pati, Shauna, Jeff, Jimmy, Kerri, Lonnie, Jeretta, Caroline, Lydia and Grace

Uncle Jimmy and Caroline, neither one looking too sure about the other.

Grace in "Blizzard 2009". She insisted on going outside! It lasted about 2 seconds.

Lydia opening presents and looking surprised.

Goofy Papa and Caroline playing with the nativity seen. We had to put baby Jesus up, he was a choking hazard.

Uncle Brandon and Caroline sharing some "sweet lovings".

My sweet 3 girls standing in front of our Christmas tree on Christmas morning!

I just want everyone to know that when I started this blog I had every intention of keeping up with it better. I know, I know....my intentions are always good but there is a time when I need to admit, I might be a flake! I can't blame it on the 3 children or my OCD house cleaning. I'm pretty sure I have always been this way. Soooooo, let's see......November.......hmmmm.....not really sure where that month went. I know we had Thanksgiving. It was a very different Thanksgiving this year and I LOVED IT!!!! Mother decided we were no longer going to do the massage thing. I won't go into details why but what mother says, we do! As some of you may already know. Mom doesn't much care for Thanksgiving. She doesn't like all of the stress of cooking when she knows she will have to do it again in December. I think about 9 years ago she decided we would do Thanksgiving the day after and the women would go for massages and the men could go play golf. Most of us loved the idea and so for many years that is what we did. Well, you can't please everyone so things have changed again. This year we went to Newkirk's Junior class turkey dinner fundraiser. Mom did no cooking and we all brought dessert. We had a lovely time at the school eating out of cafeteria trays. It was really pretty good. That was the weekend before Thanksgiving so on the actual Thanksgiving day my family got to stay home. We had the nicest time. God gave us the most beautiful weather that day and so we just enjoyed it. Jeff and I promised each other we would do no work. We had a day filled with games, wii tournaments, a trip to the park, Oscar Meyer turkey sandwiches for lunch and cooked out hot dogs and smores for dinner. We ended the day with a family movie and then off to bed. I hope every Thanksgiving will go just like that!!!