"FANTASTIC BROWN HOT CHOCOLATE"

Savannah made "Fantastic Brown Hot Chocolate Mix" in class and gave it to Jer and I for Christmas along with a very important recipe card that she had written.  Last night, Savannah and Mommy sat down for a delicious cup together.

 We measured and added the water and mix as directed.

 She worked really hard on this thoughtful and tasty Christmas gift!

  There were marshmallows in it too!! Yummy!

Thank you for this great gift, Sweet Girl!

NEW YEARS DAY CELEBRATION! (TCU WINS THE ROSE BOWL!!!)

 My Family came over for New Years Day to celebrate and visit! Here's Mom and Daddy!

Kelley (My Sis) and Chris (My brother in law)

 Mom and Auntie Deonn!

The Cousins on their new "Kick 'n' Go" Scooters...a Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa!  Great Gift you guys!!!

 Madison eating some treats!

 ALL OF THE FOOD!! WE FEASTED ALL DAY!

 TCU (My Sis and I's almamator) IS IN THE ROSE BOWL!

 Watching the game and cheering the Frogs on!

My Jerms watching the game!

 Me and my Love, Jerms!!

 THEN WE ATE SOME MORE!!!  Our annual steak dinner with spicy cream spinach and potato casserole.  This year, my mom added creamed corn....a crowd favorite! 

INCH THICK T-BONES MARINATED OVERNIGHT IN OUR SECRET "NEVER FAIL" STEAK MARINADE!

 The kids decided to put on a magic show for the adults...how precious!!  This was the sign on the movie room door.  I'll translate..."Do Not Come In...Only Magicians and Employees!"  love the spelling!

 They DID NOT put on a magic show, that idea got old and so we decided to just dance to loud music instead!!

 Running around uncontrolled was much more fun!

 They just love to dance...we ALL love to dance!

Madison's Super Cool moves! We just all laughed and danced!

ROCKIN NEW YEARS, MADISON!!!

 ROCKIN NEW YEARS, NICHOLAS!!!

 ROCKIN NEW YEARS, SAVANNAH!!!

 Ending the evening with a "Cousins Doggy Pile!!"  Happy 2011!!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

We had a really fun New Year's Eve with our friends!  A few of our families got together at Felix and Lori's house for a fun and "food-filled" New Years celebration.  18 kids in all ran around the house like crazy while us mommies and daddies ate, played games, and visited...What a great night of fun!

Madison and Isabella

"MOST" of the kids at the table eating!  The house was filled with people!!

The 2 "Jeremys"  We have some great friends that are also named Jeremy and Kerry!!  Isn't that crazy! So this is the Jeremy from the other, "Jeremy and Carey" (that is how she spells her name)

Getting the toasting drinks ready for the New Years Count Down! 11:55pm!!!

All the Girls! (Lori, Shelly, Carey, Becky, Michele, and me!)

All the Boys! (Jim, Felix, Tim, Jeremy, and Jeremy!)

"3..2..1..HAPPY NEW YEAR!!"

Nicholas and Savannah with their noise makers!

Outside for some party poppers!

Wouldn't be New Years without explosives!

Jeremy and Carey's New Year's Kiss!

Our New Year's Kiss!

Tim and Michele's New Year's Kiss!

Felix and Lori's New Year's Kiss!

Jim and Becky's New Year's Kiss!

Our Children at 1:00am!! They never run out of energy!  What a great way to bring in the New Year! Thanks Felix and Lori for hosting such a fun evening! Have a blessed 2011!

FORGIVENESS

We had an unfortunate accident with mom and dad's old CD's from College.  The kids were listening to some of our old music and did not put the CD's away carefully and one broke in half.  Madison left a sweet note inside the CD case, feeling really sad that she had broken one.  Just warmed my heart to see it and to get to tell her..."Of course I forgive you!"  What a true gift that forgiveness is.  Our children look to us for the example of how to be truly sorry and also the example of the unconditional love that our Lord has for all of us.  I do not want my children to be afraid to ask for forgiveness from our Lord through the sacrament of Holy Confession.  He already knows our souls and wants His children to come to Him and allow Him to ease their burden and show them His glorious mercy!!  

"God had sent Jesus to forgive sins, but after his resurrection Jesus told the apostles, "‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20:21–23)"

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!

This house in St. George Utah was decorated with a CRAZY amount of lights!  Even the yard was lined with strands of lights. The kids LOVED it! You just had to smile!

CHRISTMAS COFFEE CAKE....ARE THOSE GUM BALLS?

FRUIT SHOULD NEVER BE "CANDIED"

BEST SANTA GIFT (balloon animal how-to book)

This gift from Santa was a entire afternoon of fun!  The fun only stopped because we ran out of balloons.

CHRISTMAS 2010 (OUR HOUSE ADORNED WITH LIGHTS)

I have been gone for awhile and feel called to start blogging again.  I worry about what I am going to say but have decided to just ignore that vice and just write.  I love Christmas.  It is a wonderful time to refocus my life.  In church today, Father talked about the 4th commandment "Honor thy father and mother"  Of course I was looking to see if the kids were listening.  He went on to say that he was more so talking to the adults!  He had beautiful words and summed up with that EVERYTHING we have been given under God comes from our parents!  They gave me everything...and I should thank them and honor them for their entire lives.  Thank you Mom and Dad for raising me in a faith filled Catholic home!  I love you.

 We had a snowman family greeting friends at the front door!

 Each tree was wrapped in red lights!

 The house disappears in this picture of the lights all lit at night!  The kids loved it!

 Our courtyard gate wreath....Christmas is so much fun!  Neighborhoods are transformed into winter wonderlands!