Christmas Celebrations In A Day...

Not with this family....it's more like a week long celebration!!!

This was such a fun Christmas... It seems as the kids get older the traditions become even more special...and they actually begin to get the whole concept of Christmas and all the warm fuzzy meanings behind it! And, yes, the present police did have to step in a few times and remind them it's not about the presents, but instead ALL about praising the real REASON for the Season...

Christmas at Home

A~boy was just excited that he can keep up with his sister now;p

Chatting about their exciting gifts over a cup of hot chocolate and cookies!!!

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Nina and Papa Harley's Christmas and Family

Common gift theme of 2009...

Tinker Bell,

Dinosaurs,

and a horse, of course;)

The Boys;p

Us Girls!!!

The kids having too much fun!!!

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Poppy and Meme's Christmas and Family

They both got their very own "movie chair", as they like to call it!

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Nana and Papa B's Christmas and Family

This bird was major hit with K~girl. She even sleeps with him at night;p

As A~boy would say..."They will get to meet more of their (dinosaur) family when they get home!"

Chef Daddy showing off a new cook book!

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and celebrated with the Love of Jesus filling your heart, and the love of your family encompassing you!

May you all have a safe , joyful, and blessed New Year!!!

Date with My Daddy!!!

My fondest memories from my childhood through high school was the nightly beat of The Beatles, blaring through the walls, and the many dances shared with my Daddy!

For my Mom and Dad's Christmas present we gave these Beatles Fanatics(my Dad especially)tickets to go see American English(a Beatles tribute band). With Mom still recovering from surgery I was so excited to fill in for her and be my dad's date~reviving old memories, making new ones, and planning future ones:p

They were amazing! They played many of my favorites...Yellow Submarine, Imagine, Hey Jude...okay I have way more than I thought, so I'll save the time and not list them ALL:)

Dad, Thank you for all those dances we've shared...AND for not naming me Prudence!!!

So Far Before Christmas...

1)My Mom Gave Us another Scare:

Over a week ago my Momma ended up in the hospital.......again for her heart:( Which is such a beautiful heart, but apparently the arteries around it missed that message:) In August she had a stint put in and when it didn't do it's job it was time for a double bypass. She's just now out and beginning a long road to recovery, but is glad to be home. Thank you to everyone for prayers over these past 10 days~ they have been felt and we have seen HIS hand at work!

Thank you Lord...for keeping her in your protective hands before and during this major procedure...for being with the surgeon, guiding his hands. I ask you to shower her with your amazing grace, constant comfort and healing touch, and to lift her and Dad up and over this enormous hill as they face many changes. I think you for all your blessings, seen and unseen. My love to you this day, tomorrow and eternity! Amen

2) A Look Back at a Cowtown Christmas

While I was up at the hospital with Mom, our good friends offered to take the kids and Daddy back in time to experience what Christmas celebrations were like in the late 1800's.

Daddy was especially interested in the woodcarving...imagine that:p

The kids were especially interested in this guy!

~The kid's Christmas list for Santa~

K~girl: swimming Babie/mermaid, make-up, and a painted horse?
A~boy: 2 triceratops and a "flying creature, Troadon"

It looks like they had a very cold, but exciting evening!!!

3) We Made Christmas Cookies...

This year we started a new tradition at Nina and Papa Harley's!

Each of us chose a favorite cookie recipe.

Papa~1963 recipe of a Brown sugar cookie

Nina and the kids~ Sugar cookies with icing

Daddy~ Nanny's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip

Aunt Corie~ Peanut Butter Kiss Cookie

Me~ Well I thought me and CAB would be doing ours, but he made it clear from the beginning that he was just fine without my help. Luckily, my sweet sis-in-law sought after my expertise in baking:p

Here's Nina and the kids working on their cookies.

This picture is priceless, with all their hands on the roller.

Here, Daddy didn't realize he was part of an inside joke. He actually thought he could help us girls with our batch of cookies, while Papa was out sneaking bites off of his cookie dough;)

The mad looks from kids was because Granddad kept eating their cookies before they "colored" them.

Time to color them!

Guess who sat here?

And here?

Once the kids finished, it was time for us older kids to get serious...

Yeah, none of mine made the cut for this Christmas scene below, and Nina made an effort to clearly point that out too. My thinking is, who wants to eat pretty cookies anyway...

At least I know mine will be eaten:p

What a blast we had! If this year is a glimpse of what the years to follow will be like, it will be a much anticipated tradition!!!