Birthday Party

While we were at Disney World, some of our family was able to join us to celebrate Brian's uncle's birthday. The kids had so much fun with their extended family. Here are some of the pictures from our celebration.

Disney World Pictures

Pictures from Saratoga Springs and Downtown Disney.

Pictures from Epcot.

Pictures from Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Pictures of us at Animal Kingdom.

Pictures from The Magic Kingdom.

Back from Vacation

We got back from our vacation to Disney World about a week ago. We were gone during the ice storm. Let me just say that Florida is a great place to be when there is ice in Oklahoma :) I have actually downloaded the pictures from my camera to the computer so I am one step closer to getting them posted. We had a wonderful time and E. keeps telling me she wishes our home was at Disney!

Project: Next Generation

Mexico Missions is a missions organization that Brian and I have worked with for the last 12 years. They are based in Cancun and they do and facilitate a lot of ministry throughout the Yucatan Penisula and Mexico. Project: Next Generation is one of their newest projects. It is a backpack distribution project. They provide backpacks to churches and other organizations in the US. People fill them with items for children of a specific gender and age. They then pick them up and take them back to Cancun where they are distributed on April 30 - Children's Day in Mexico. It is a wonderful way to bless a child in an area of the world where poverty is rampant and there are tons of children in need.

E handing out stickers at one of the outreaches we did last summer.

There is more information and pictures of the backpack programs at http://www.mexicomissions.org/.

Christmas Day

We spent Christmas Day with my side of the family at my sister's house. My sister's kids are the same age as mine so we have lots of excitement when we all get together (5 kids ages 5 and under on Christmas). It may be more like insanity than excitement, but it is fun for all of us!



E, N, and D at our house Christmas morning!





My dad laughing at one of his "Bill" gifts.

My aunt holding D. He had a stomach virus and was not quite himself for his 1st Christmas. I didn't think he was contagious since neither of my other kids, Brian, or I had gotten it. Apparently he was since most of our extended family came down with it within a few days after Christmas! Sorry guys!

E and her cousins being so patient while we were opening presents!

Christmas dinner for the kids was Fruity Cheerios! The rest of us had leftovers from the food everyone brought for lunch, but kids will be kids and they have their own ideas about what food is good:)

Girls Night Out

E and I went to see The Nutcracker performed by the South Tulsa Children's Ballet before Christmas. We had a great time. During intermission E tells me this is the best girl time we have ever had.

This is us before we left. We went to the 7pm performance, so it was late for her. Halfway through the 2nd act she leans over and asks me why it is lasting so long. I guess she was tired.

She fell asleep on the way home. This is the picture of her afterwards. She was worn out! It was a great girls night and definitely worth being tired.

Catching up after Christmas!

I am trying to update after all the craziness of Christmas. I was planning on adding a few more posts with pictures, but I am going crazy after trying to edit the last one! I keep deleting pictures when I don't want to and I can't seem to move them once they are in the post. Ahhh! I am taking a break for now and will try again later! If you know what I am doing wrong please let me know.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve with Brian's Mom and sister at his Mom's house! We started with breakfast and ended with a Birthday Party for Jesus after our Christmas Eve service at church. We had a great day!



After our Christmas Eve service at church we have a Birthday Party for Jesus. This year some of our friends were able to join us!

Blowing out the candles!






Watching the kids blow out the candles!











Three kids looking at the camera at the same time! It is a miracle!








2 of 3 kids looking at the camera!





Here is D opening gifts with Grandma.

Living Nativity

We went to see a Living Nativity at Shepherd's Cross north of Claremore(they have a website, but I haven't figured out how to do links yet). It was very nice and indoors - so we didn't freeze! They had several people in costume and it was set up so the kids could pet the animals.

The wise men and angels were resting on a bale of hay while we were petting the animals!


Mary, Joseph, and something wrapped up to look like Baby Jesus!

It was a great way to help us remember why we celebrate Christmas!

Bedlam

WE LOVE OUR COWBOYS!

Go Pokes!

BEAT OU!

Give Thanks

I am thankful for a God who loves me even with all my shortcomings and failures. I am thankful for my husband, who chooses to help me instead of complain when I am overwhelmed by the laundry, dishes, and toys that seem to take over our house regularly. I am thankful that God loves my kids more than I do, knows them better than I do, and is so willing to help and teach me how to understand, love, teach, and appreciate my kids. I am thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice so that I could have a friendship with God. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for laughter that fills our home. I am thankful that most of our extended family lives near us. I am thankful for friends; both old friends that we only see every few years, but seems as if no time has passed and new friends that we see often and share life with on a daily basis. I am thankful that I live in the US, a country of great freedom, opportunity, and resources. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to travel outside of our country so I can appreciate it even more. I am thankful that we have been able to take our kids with us when we travel. I am thankful that they know that not everyone lives the same way we do. I am thankful for our church family that loves us. I am thankful for our parents who delight in their grandkids and make our children feel so special. I am thankful for my kids preschool. I am thankful for the incredible teachers and their hard work so my kids have a great experience and love going to school. I am thankful for the holiday season that makes me stop and remember all the reasons I have to be thankful.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for today?

Branson

We went to Branson for a few days the first week of November. We had great time. The weather was incredible. It was a great 3 day get away for us before the busy holiday season gets in full swing. We went to Silver Dollar City one afternoon. There were no lines or waits for anything and all the Christmas shows had started. We only got to see Frosty, because E. and N. were having so much fun on the kiddy rides. E loved the little roller coaster and she could ride by herself (great news for me-I am not a huge roller coaster fan). N loved the flying elephants (he could not ride by himself - I hope he grows before we go back). The best part was getting to see the lighting of the big tree. The kids loved it! Here are a few of our pictures.

Hi!

Hi! I'm new to blogging, but have really enjoyed reading some of my friends blogs and keeping up with them so I'm going to try one of my own. It took me forever to figure out how to put some of the basics together, I hope it doesn't take that long for each post :) I need to leave for church in less than an hour and E. and N. are ready for dinner, D. is sleeping, and I still have to change clothes before we leave. Life is always busy for us.