Christmas 14

We had a quite, low key Christmas this year.  We had breakfast, read the Christmas story, opened gifts, had lunch, went to the movies to see Annie, and just enjoyed each other.  This was our first Christmas to spend with just us.  It was nice!  Thankful to have a sweet family to spend it with:)

 

When they came down the stairs..

 

Listening to Daddy read the Bible!

All their presents

Our yummy breakfast!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Little Family!

Ornament making

The girls did some ornament making on Saturday after doing the gingerbread house.  We had some sand ornaments that we were going to do on Wednesday at church, but didn't have time.

Abby and Kyndal painted an ornament in their art class and the teacher made one for Anna Claire to add the star to and put her picture on the back.  She was thrilled.  She had already noticed that there were not any ornaments on the tree with her picture.  Now she has 2:)

Gingerbread House

The girls made their annual gingerbread house Saturday.  They love doing this every year.  Their plan was to make it look just like the picture on the box, but that proved to be harder than they thought, so they ended up just doing whatever.  I never took a picture of the final product, but it's cute and they had fun!

Here's last years.

Here's 2012.

Here's 2011.

It's so fun to go back and look at these other years.  It's crazy how much they've changed and grown.

He's home

Last week, we got a call that Craig's dad was very sick, in ICU and on a ventilator.  Craig got on a plane and headed home to be with his dad and family.  There were, and are lots of people praying and through the week, his dad got better.  He is now in a regular room and making progress.  God is so good, and we are so thankful to see His hand at work in Ricky's life.  Craig was gone for 7 days.  Needless to say, there were 4 Very happy girls there to greet him at the airport.  We are so happy he is home.

Thank you to those who have been praying for his dad, the prayers are being heard, and they are so appreciated!

13 years

Craig and I have been married for 13 years today.  While we still hit speed bumps here and there, I have to say we have grown so much over the last 13 years.  I'm very grateful for how the Lord has grown and matured us over the years.  I hope and pray He continues to mature us in every way and we will become closer to Him and closer to one another.  Love you Craigy, and hope and pray we have at least another 50 together:)

He loves the snow and...

I love running, outside, in the nice summer weather:)

Weekend Recap

Friday night, we had some friends over for dinner!  They have 4 kiddos, so it was loud and fun:)

Saturday, we went to the church for a little bit, to take care of some things.  That afternoon, the girls had a dance thing to do at a church close by for Christmas.  They had a good time.  Then we went caroling and to a church fellowship at a friend's house.  We had a fun evening.

Today, we had church, and choir rehearsal.  Then the girls went to some friends house and made Christmas cookies and played!  We had beef stew simmering in the crock pot all day, so we enjoyed that while watching the Grinch!!  Well the girls are watching it, I don't get into the Grinch:)

I didn't get any pics of them today, and Anna Claire was wearing a very cute hand me down dress too!

Tomorrow is a special day and we are ready for it:)

Around here

I just don't get my camera out near enough anymore.  It's so easy to take pics with my phone and they turn out good too.  So no pics for this post!!

Last Friday I got the day off (thanks hubby) and went shopping with a friend.  It was a fun day.  That night, Craig and I went to a Pastor/wives Christmas Party which is always a good time.  Hard to believe this was our 3rd one here.  Time goes by so fast!

Saturday, we helped decorate the church (which looks SO good) all day just about.  That night we were suppose to have caroling, but it was raining, so we just fellow shipped at a friend's house.  Only I went because the friends have a dog and my kids aren't dog friendly and the championship game was on too:)  Oh and AL won.  Roll Tide!!!

Sunday, after church and choir, the girls had a Christmas Party.  While they were there, Craig and I ran an errand and just rode around:)

We only have 9 more school days before Christmas break.  Yahoo

Our Wednesday night kids class is having a Christmas Party next week, so that will be fun.

We are going to some friend's house for dinner tomorrow night, so that will be fun too.

Friday night we are having friends over for dinner:)

Saturday, the girls have a dance show at 4 and then we have another caroling and fellowship that night!

Monday is mine and Craig's 13th Anniversary.  Each year gets better and better:)

Craig's dad is very sick right now.  He is in the hospital and it's serious, so please be praying for healing and for all of the family during this time.

It's way cold here and my skin is so dry (just thought I would throw that in there)!!!

Oh, and I will NOT be doing online shopping next year (just thought I would throw that in there too)!!!

It's happening

My first baby girl is growing up...

I've never been one to be too sentimental about different ages, like o my goodness my baby is turning 1, or 3, or 5, etc.  However, Abby will be entering the youth group next year, in just a little over 8 months.  This is a "wow" moment for me.  She's still just a little girl, right?!?! 

We just continue to teach her and seek to lead by example how you are suppose to live and make decisions.  I pray the Lord will have mercy on her and that she will truly seek Him each and everyday of her life. 

O my goodness, our first baby, that seems like we just brought her home from the hospital last week is growing up SO fast.  So thankful to be her mom:)

Christmas Tree Sunday

We always put our Christmas tree up the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  The girls always look forward to it.  Craig got everything out and put the tree together while I was in choir since that's my least favorite part of decorating:)  So, when I got home they were finishing up fluffing the tree and we started doing our thing!!!

This was before church:)

All finished and ready for bed:)

Our favorite guy:)

Little cuties:)

I just love our tree:)

I love this time of year leading up to Christmas.  The girls are so excited and love turning on the Christmas tree lights and counting down the days.  They love to go shopping and buy for each other and for me and Craig.  My mom took them to shop for me while she was here, and I took them both separately the other day to shop for Craig and their sisters.  They were so excited to wrap their gifts and put them under the tree.  We do keep our focus on the real reason why we celebrate this time of year and I'm so thankful to have a sweet family to celebrate with:)

Holiday Parade

Our city has a Holiday Parade every year about this time and this is the church's 2nd year to participate.  We try to present what Christmas is really all about.  Abby and Kyndal got to participate again this year and of course loved it.  They went to the church early with Craig to help set up.  It was a nice distraction for them Saturday as Grandmother left early that morning.  Anna Claire and I just go and watch, which is fun too.  We all just bundle up.  The high was 28 that day!

Dancers

Love the bands

Here comes our crew...

The rest of Grandmother's visit

Friday, we went to take some pictures in the snow (for Christmas cards), and to lunch.  When we got back home, after mom's food settled (lol), her and the girls went and played in the snow.  Then we had pizza and brownies and ice cream while relaxing on the couch together.  Mom said her goodbye's that night when the girls went to bed since she had to leave so early for the airport. (I only got pictures of mom playing in the snow on my phone, and a good video too, they are on FB)!

This sweet girl was Grandmother's shadow all week and loved every minute of it!

We had a wonderful week and were sad to see her leave.  I thought the "see you later's" would get easier with time, but that's proving to be wrong in every way.  God is good even when your hearts feel a bit heavy:)  So grateful to have a personal relationship with Him!

Check up

Abby and Kyndal had their 9 and 11 year old well check ups last Tuesday.  Kyndal was less than thrilled about going.  Abby didn't seem to really care.  They are both healthy and doing well.  Very, very thankful.  Again, God is so good!

First snow of the season

It started snowing Wednesday for several hours, and the girls were more than ready to get out in it!  That night, Craig and I went for a walk, and it was so fun and pretty!