Home Again

This Christmas was so enjoyable..being with family..opening gifts..eating WAY too much delicious food..I had a great time this blessed season ! We had Christmas Eve Day with one set of Grandparents and Christmas Day with the other. Both days were filled with fun and excitement in watching the kids open their gifts and the smiles on their faces as they were playing with new toys. I am so glad that we are able to visit with each of our families without having to travel to very far. It is so important to us as a family to be with everyone around the holidays. Family is very important to us, and as we were missing 1 of ours this year, it was a reminder of how much we love each other and miss them when they are not with us. How precious each member of this family is to me..I love each one ! (photos will be coming of the festivities)
Now that we are back home, I am thinking about the coming year and what the Lord will have in store for our family. I am excited about trips we may take, the boys playing sports, me working on my sewing machine & scraping, being together as a family. It is so nice to have these next few days to reflect before the New Years excitement is upon us. I am so blessed by my family, the love of my husband, my kids, friends and by the Lord's grace and mercy that cover us each day ! I can't wait for 2009 !

Christmas Eve

Our family tradition on Christmas Eve is to open our stockings when wake ! The boys were up and ready at 7:30 am and all set to open gifts. They were helpful with each other this year, lending a hand to open the treats.


Daddy is happy with his beef sticks (an annual treat in his stocking)


Mommy got her butterfingers ! (the one candy bar she truly loves)

Bear is enjoying his candy cane treat.

An extra surprise this morning was an early delivery from Santa! Look at all the fun we'll be having with this one..thank you SANTA !


In just a few hours we'll be going to Debbie Grandma & Papa's house for round 2 of opening gifts..we can't wait !
Merry Christmas Eve !

Ryan's Christmas Party

Friday was Ryan's preschool Christmas party and both Mike and I were able to go and enjoy. The kids came out to sing us 3 songs they had been practicing..Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Jingle Bells and Once There Was A Snowman. He did such a good job..we could hear him loud and clear..all of them were so cute. You could tell that he was so proud to be singing for us and doing the motions..he just loves to sing. I should have caught on that they were learning songs in school..we have been singing Rudolph for the past 2 weeks non-stop !
After their performance, we had a potluck with all the other parents and kids..the kids had homemade ornaments for us, which are on display on the tree, they did a book exchange and then a gift from the teachers. It was a fun filled morning that we won't soon forget !

Early Christmas Celebration

Last Tuesday night was our first Christmas celebration of the season..to date there will be 4 total this year, wow I know..we had such a great time. The reason for our early get together was to have a night with Darren. He was only home for the night, returning from his first semeseter away at UNR..he & Amy had just returned home that afternoon and we were all so excited to see them. There was a lot of wrestling before dinner just to show how much they were missed !
Dinner was a green salad, manicoti, french bread and lemon bars & chocolate cake cookies for dessert ! We all enjoyed every last bite. There wasn't one single crumb for leftovers! After dinner it was time for presents..YEAH ! It fun to catch a glimpse of what Christmas Day will be like.. To end our evening we all snuggled together to watch Batman the Dark Night. Before it was over, half of us watching were catching some zzzzz...what a fun night to be all together.

All Done Shopping

Well it has been a few days since I have had the time to sit and write..and so many fun things have happened. I will be adding more this weekend with photos to fill you all in on our exciting week.
I am happy to say that I am done Christmas Shopping! And some of the deals I got are AMAZING!! All I can say to that is "Thank you Lord"..I was blessed this year by so many wonderful sales and online coupons that I am now even more thankful that I have my name on a few lists..it was also convenient that the coupons matched the stores I was going to..that doesn't always work out. It was a long day of shopping and dragging the boys in and out of so many stores to get gift cards and small things today..but it all paid off and now I am so excited of the deals and the fact that I am all done..I have this extra energy that is just wanting to be used.I will probably stay up way too late tonight and wrap most of them while the boys are sleeping. It is a much easier task to do when they are not trying to be big helpers all the time. It is precious that they are so eager to help me out..but sometimes it just isn't the right time for help.
We did receive an early Christmas present from our oldest son..he got us tickets to the UNR/UNC basketball game in Reno for New Year's Eve!! UNC is my hubby's favorite college basketball team and this was an opportunity not to be passed up. We are so excited to be doing something so fun on New Year's Eve..what a fun time we'll have. I can't wait to post photos and show off our night. Well I am off to wrap those presents and play some Christmas music quietly while the house sleeps..Merry Christmas !

Winter Hats...pkt 14

Pocket 14 brings something homemade from Mom..winter hats !! The boys have been in need of new beanies that cover thier ears to keep them warm on these cold winter days. I found a great deal on some "boy" helicopter fabric and coordinating fabric as well. I was up until almost 1am last night watcing Narnia and finishing up their hats..for I had waited til the last minute..but as you can see their smiles made it all worth it !

Christmas Runner

As many of you will find out..I love to sew !! It is something that I taught myself to do almost 4 years ago now, and I really enjoy it. ( a friend told me once I am going to make a great old lady with this skill ) For the past few years I have been making Christmas treats for friends and family, but never anything for us..I just don't seem to find the time to include myself in the making of things. But this year FINALLY..we have a Christmas Runner! I just love this fabric..it has a bit of plaid, which I love, and Christmas Holly. I think it looks just beautiful on our table with our red Sleigh. I am so excited to sit to dinner and have something I made to complete the table.