Christmas Misc

Just wanted to share my Christmas trees this year and a few other news things.

"MY" Christmas tree. I decorated it in all black and gold...with fluer de lis, crowns, and crosses that I got at Red Door and Ellis Pottery during our Thanksgiving trip back home. I ended up taking the gold, beaded garland off and it looked so much better...didn't get a picture of it though after I did that.

Christmas cookies...I made them from scratch with REAL royal icing! That is the first time I made royal icing and it was actually pretty good.

This year we got a Lego Advent calendar. The boys took turns building something each day. It was a huge hit! Of course anything Lego usually is!

I usually get one "kinda major" Christmas decoration each year. This year I got new "fancy" stockings with what else, fluer de lis stocking holders.

I don't know why, but I loved these little candy canes. We had gone to Cracker Barrel to eat and I spotted them. I waited for them to go half price and then I bought some.

I loved this Santa I got at Ross.

And just about forever, I have wanted this wreath! It's got little pomegranetes all over it. I loved the burlapy looking ribbon too. It went half off at Target so I snagged it...I think it was $19.99.

Just a random Christmas post I know!

Happy Birthday Jon Boy!

Ha! That's what Dr. Lind (My OB-GYN in Cheyenne who delivered Jonathan) said when he was born. OMG seems just like yesterday. Where does the time go? My boys are growing so fast.
On Friday, December 10th, Jonathan had a bunch of boys (and his girlfriend :) ) over for a birthday party.

Jonathan and his "girlfriend" Addison.

This is one of Jonathan's best buddies at church, Titus. Titus is SO sweet!

Jonathan NEVER misses prayer before a meal (or bed). Even at school, at home...even if he's eating by himself, out, around other people. It doesn't matter who he's with or where he is, he's going to pray and I love that.

Pinata time.

Happy 10th birthday Jonathan. I love you so much!

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, we went home to TX/AR to celebrate with our families.
First: Thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family at her home.

My aunt makes fabulous cakes! Inside and out!

Seth and his cousin, Taylor. Seth's just 4 months older.

The "big" table.

Boy cousins. It's so fun when they get together and get to hang out and play. Dawson, my cousin to the left is just a couple months younger than Seth and then there's Taylor again who was born two months after that.

The "kid" table...although we aren't really the kids anymore...now we are having and have had for a while actually kids of our own.

My cousin Brian starting a football game after dinner.

My mom has four brothers and one sister...all her brothers are older and then her sister is younger. Everyone was there except my aunt. These two brothers are right above her in age.

My sweet Papaw Walker with his great-grandbabies...as he still calls them. And my mom is in the picture too. My Papaw is very sick. He was diagonosed with esophageal cancer two years ago...his oncologist gave him a great health report after surgery, radiation, and chemo, but then just a year later, it came "back" and has spread to his bones. My grandfather is in great spirits and he is an amazing Christian man. He knows his eternal home awaits him in Heaven and he says he's ready. But it's hard for us to think about life here on earth without him...he's the partriach of our family and my biggest Christian influence. I love him so much.

De-De and her grandsons.

My cousins, Emily and Jack, brother and sister acting silly, but actually getting along at this very moment!

Jonathan showing Papaw Walker how to work his tranformer. Look at my poor, sweet Papaw acting so interested. :)

My grandfather and his wife, Irma. My grandmother, Papaw Walker's wife, my mom's mother died when I was 2 so I don't have any memories of her. But after my Mamaw (love our southern terms of endearment!), passed away, my Papaw met this wonderful woman and started dating her. They dated forever, like 22 years, and then finally in 1998, they got married. So Irma is like a grandma to me and she certainly is to my boys. She takes such great care of my grandfather and I'm so grateful he has her.

Me with my cousin Mark and his son Jack. Mark and I were very close growing up...more like brother and sister instead of cousins.

My cousin Elizabeth and her daughter, Reese. I love Reese so much! She is such a cutie!

Seth with his grandpa Tim.

Next: Just a couple, and I mean only a couple...of photos I got while we were with Nathan's family. What has happened?! I used to be a picture taking fanatic!

This is funny...it's Nathan's family minus Nathan. Ha! We kept waiting for a time to get a family photo for my in-law's Christmas card and Nate was never there! He was taking a motorcycle safety course (ugh) and it lasted all weekend.

While we were there, we celebrated my mother in law's 69th birthday...and yes, I did put 69 candles on it!

Meet Max

In August, we rescued a Siberian Husky...actually from a military couple that was PCSing. We immediately fell in love with Max and felt sorry for him. He was skiddish and you could see his ribs. :( We fattened him up pretty quick and gave him lots of love. He's been a great fit into our family. We told the boys we could only take him on a trial basis (we had a back up family willing to take him if it didn't work) because we didn't know how he would do with Seth's asthma. Well Seth didn't (and hasn't) have one problem so Max could stay! We love Max!

Apple Bars

I made these yesterday. They are almost gone. I did share with neighbors in my defense!

This is my favorite fall treat! I LOVE Megan's blog...in fact, it's probably my most favorite blog ever and if I had to read just one a day, her's this would be the one. Click on her name for this awesome recipe!

More Upward Action

The boys are still enjoying Upward Football. Here are some more recent photos.

Before their games begin, each player, cheerleader, and coach is announced over a (really) loud speaker...with music and all. It's so cute and makes each child feel so special!

Seth giving a little "instruction"...he's not bossy or anything. ;)

Jonathan going for a flag...and he got it! Jonathan's normally not agressive in anything including sports, but he's stepped it up a bit for football. Maybe it's his sport???

Getting his "Most Christlike" star and that sure made momma proud!

Seth going for the flag and he got it too!

And another one... I do have to add, when he gets a flag, you should see the look on his face! It's his angry face...gotta try and get a photo of it!

Jonathan rushing the other team's QB...that kid is huge too...meaning tall. Jonathan caused him to throw an interception and got his flag!

Both boys are so fortunate to have wonderful, Christian coaches. And it sure doesn't hurt that Jonathan's coach, Mr. Steve is a Cowboys fan. :)

Jonathan got his braces!

Just another reminder that my boy is growing up! I think he looks great in his braces!

Upward Football

I was so glad when we noticed the sign that a church very close to our home was hosting Upward Football. The boys prefer soccer, but wanted to try something different. They love it! Upward is such a neat program...incorporating opportunities to talk about Christ and for furthering children's walk with him. It's flag football so it's nice to start this way since Jonathan and Seth have never played football before. We had our first game last Saturday. My camera big zoom lense was acting wierd (ugh) so I didn't get any action photos, but I plan to at this week's game.