Merry Christmas from our family to yours

We enjoyed a delightful day here celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the first time in our 9.5 years of marriage that we have spent Christmas here in Waco as our little family. I didn't quite know how it would feel not being with grandparents and extended family, but it was actually really nice. We got up, read a Christmas book (How God Got The World Ready for Jesus) which I highly recommend, and then did stockings and gifts as a family. It was a true blessing. I am so thankful for days like this that remind me of the gift of Jesus.
Our "just woke up" picture this morning.

Hannah got her first bike this year and she officially loves it. We got out briefly in the 39 degree weather to ride it, and we plan to take it to Papaw and Granny's house tomorrow so she can ride it even more.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. May you know the peace that comes with celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The joy of family

We got back on Tuesday from a wonderful trip to Colorado. We chose to drive out there and we quite enjoyed our family time on the way there and back. We had 10 adults and 5 children meet us there and it was great! We had a wonderful time at my brother and sister-in-laws house playing, laughing, and enjoying God's beautiful creation in Colorado.
This is the view from the backyard looking over to Pikes Peak. Maybe next time we go out there we can venture over to the Peak.

We had (almost) enough snow to sled. Thankfully, the kids (and us adults) didn't know any different and we just gave a good hard push to get down the hill. It was a blast!
My brother pulled out his toys, which included an atv and a bow and arrow, and we all had a good time with them. I love that adults still can get giddy over the joy and fun of these things. I have to admit that riding an atv and successfully shooting an arrow into the target will never get old. Oh the joys of adulthood!

My brother and Jason decided to light up the fire pit and everyone quickly gravitated to it, especially the kids.

There is something so intriguing about watching fire. These 4 huddled together to watch the fire in awe.

All the kids got plenty of time with and love from their great-grandmother. It was a joy to have her join us in Colorado.

I am so thankful for family! God is so faithful in providing us times of joy and refreshment with those we love so much!

Motorcycle fun

Every year, a local motorcycle club comes thundering up to our church to pick up toys for our city's low income and homeless kids. While picking up the toys all of our kids get to sit on the motorcycles and meet all the leather clad drivers...it's pretty cool! This year, Hannah was more interested in sitting on one than last year.

While I love this sweet boy that is on the front of this motorcycle, I have to say that seeing my Hannah flirting from the back of the motorcycle driven by a boy who looks all too comfortable at the wheel makes me just a bit nervous. Let's just say that I should not see this scene for at least another 25 years!!! Moving right along...

Thanksgiving recap

I am a bit behind on putting my pictures up from Thanksgiving, but we had a great time with family. Hannah and I had a roadtrip to Alabama with a fun stop at a hotel on the way. Hannah was super excited to stay at a hotel and just curled right up in her own bed when we got there. We ended up having a picnic on the bed for dinner and enjoyed a girls night out!
Hannah was super excited to get to Mimi and Pop's house and she got to have breakfast out one day with Pop which is something she always looks forward to.

I got to go to Atlanta and spend the night at one of my favorite nephew's house. This was the joyful face I got to play with!

Once all the cousins were together, they had a blast (minus the poor scratch on Bryce's face which was given to him by my sweet child...AHEM!). I can't believe how much these kids have grown up lately. It was really sweet to see how much they loved playing with each other. But, I have to admit that 5 kids under the age of 3.5 is a bit chaotic at times!

All the parents. We got a special night out one night with babysitting from Mimi and Pop. It was really great. I love the laughs that we can all share together.

We took the kids to Chick-fil-a one day and Bryce and Hannah loved seeing the cow.

Aunt Laura and sweet baby Whit.

Sweet Dawson. This little one steals my heart everytime I am around him! Besides the fact that he looks a LOT like my Jason.

Uncle Jason and sweet Kate.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I truly am thankful for this sweet family that I have been blessed to be apart of!