New Year's Eve at Bud & Kara's house

We headed over to Bud and Kara's house for New Year's Eve.  Mike, Tina, and Josh were there along with Ryan, Anne, Kylie, Ty.  We had a very good time playing games and watching the ball drop.  Then, at 12:01 we sang Happy Birthday to Clay!

Christmas Morning at our house

Clay and Brittany's Santa's lists were very specific this year.  Clay wanted a psp and Britt wanted a dsi.

Clay with his psp

The Birthday girl opening her stocking

Showing Papa how to play the dsi

Grandma opening some Vera Bradley

Miss Britt in all her fashion loves to wear scarfs

Celebrating Jesus' and Britt's birthdays

Britt and her American Girl doll Kitt with matching pj's

Clay with his new ear buds playing Madden 10

Sandi playing the dsi

No holiday would be complete without a pic of the puppies

Christmas Eve in Rville

Baby Lincoln with Uncle Chris

Madi loving the Clydesdale horse we got her via a friend (thanks Ashley!) from the Anheuser Busch brewery

Britt, Madi, Morgan opening their matching necklaces

Miss Kennedy in her red velvet pants!

Lincoln chillin with Jay in his Christmas outfit

Brayden and Clay opening remote control monster trucks

Jay, Lincoln, and Pam

Clay receiving Super Mario Bros. for the wii.  I am not much of a wii player but this game is quickly changing that!

We made a photo calendar for my Dad, Miss Morgan was looking thru the pics with Dad

Chad and Clay opening gifts

We got my Uncle Roger this Colts duffle bag-who knew it would match his outfit!

Lincoln finding Papa's beard

Mister Lincoln sitting up like a big boy playing with the top we got him

Miss Britt may be turning 9 but Aunt Pam can still turn her upside down!

Miss Britt looks so pretty in this pic and Mister Lincoln looks so unhappy!

Not sure what Mary is doing but Kennedy thinks she is a riot!

December 2009

As you can tell from my lull in blogging, we are in the busy time of year for our family!  Brittany & her fellow 3rd graders had a music program on 12.10.09.  It was very cute-Britt signed up for a speaking part.  Brittany was one of the Lewis' the Explorer.  She memorized her lines & we were so proud of her!

Clay with the help of Mama Sandi built gingerbread houses at school on 12.11.09.  Sandi said he knew he wanted to use gummy bears so his house could be a "Bears" house (as in Chicago Bears-hee, hee!).

The puppies in the snow.  Hester, such a handsome dog, with the snow falling around him!  Too cute!

Miss Coco experiencing her 1st snowfall ever!  She loves to run & play in it!

On 12.11.09 I got to go on a girls' trip to Chicago (let me redefine this trip as KIDFREE!).  Although it was seriously cold, it was such a nice get-away.  I went with Anne, Kara, & Kelly.  We shopped & shopped!  The above photo was from the hotel lobby.  Kelly & Kara sat in the funky built into the wall sofa.

We hit the Hershey's store.  I just have to say as I am not a coffee drinker, thus not a big Star Bucks person, I LOVE my hot chocolate.  I think this place has the best hot chocolate on the planet!  It was a must pit stop for me!

Kara posing with the lego Darth Vadar (did I spell that correctly???)

For dinner we went to a great pizza place complete with a card trick guy.  The Chicago style pizza was good-I'm starting to get used to the sauce being on top.

Kim, my friend from high school, was able to meet us for dinner!  It was so nice to catch up with her & have a good meal at the same time!  I can't believe I have zero pictures of Anne.  I tried to take a picture of her with the Michigan Ave. Christmas lights but she politely said "no".  Next time, I will at least get a group photo!

As you can tell, December has been busy for us.  The kids have been gone since 12.16.09.  They went with Mike & Sandi out to Omaha, NE to visit Chad's sister-Alicia, Jerry, Alayna, & Jared.  The kids have been having a great time with their cousins.  I have missed them dearly!  I am really ready for them to be home!  They will get back on the 23rd, just in time to start celebrating Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!  May Jesus be the reason for this season and the entire year through!

Santa-Madilyn-Brittany 12.6.09

Over the weekend, we literally ran into Santa at Walmart!!!!  Very unexpected visit with Santa considering Clay wasn't with us!!!  Madi & Britt enjoyed telling Santa everything they want for Christmas.  The girls would not go up by themselves but they would go up with each other.  I hope these girls will always remain as close as they are now!

I LOVE that Madi had to explain wanting an IPOD with her hands!

12.5.09 Christmas

We had a Christmas for my Dad's side last Saturday.  Here is Kennedy, Britt, Brayden, & Madilyn

Our family was the hostess' this year-Pam, Susie, & Deanna (who knew we would all wear green!?!?!!)

Baby Lincoln getting so big-holding his own bottle!

Christmas Time!!!!

Christmas time is a very busy time of year for our household.  We are not only preparing for the holidays but we are preparing for the kids' birthdays.  Brittany will be 9 on Christmas Day.  I can't believe that!  Britt is already thinking about 10 though!  Then, she starts talking about how many years it is until she is 16!  My, oh, my that makes my head spin!  I am having enough trouble thinking about that is was really 9 years ago that Chad and I were driving to the hospital on Christmas morning!  I am NOT ready for a 16 year old!  Last night she even counted up how old that would make Chad and I.  Happy, happy, joy, joy-let me just tell you I'm not ready to be that old either!  HA!  Clay will be 7 on New Year's Day and he doesn't seem to care about his advancement of years but he does care about having a birthday wish list!


Much to my delight, my house is decorated, my Christmas cards are almost done, and most of the gifts have been purchased.  This week I want to finish my cards and start wrapping.  I LOVE to wrap and make boxes look pretty!  I love putting them under the tree! 


I hope everyone will get a chance to take time during this crazy season to enjoy all the little things!