New traditions for Christmas

We started these last year and enjoyed them again this year:

1. Eat at Cracker Barrel right before Christmas and let the kids pick out a new ornament. (they are 50% off) I'm getting a late start on this tradition, but when the kids leave home they will have a cute assortment of ornaments of their own to take with them.

2. Go see a movie on Christmas! : ) Fun and relaxing way to end a wonderful day!

New this year:

3. Visit the After Hours Urgent Care off on Christmas Day. -Not to be repeated! LOL

~Becky

Christmas wrap up

We had a JOYFUL Christmas as you can see here:

11 year old boys and remote control helicopters are just MADE for each other!

~And 2 year replacement warranties are MADE for mommies! (especially when they brake after 30 minutes!)

We enjoyed the Christmas Eve candle light service last night and then Carlos spent the night with us which always multiplies the fun!

After lots of present opening fun and breakfast, we worked on the new web cam. We are planning to Skype with all the California family we can 2011.

Then it was off to see Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Not as good as the book but what movies are? Still very enjoyable.

Yesterday Joy showed us a spider bite or a bug bite of some kind that looked like it might be infected. We were going to see a doctor on Monday, but then realized it couldn't wait. The area around it was hot, red, hard and spreading (softball size)and after the movie she had a high fever! : (

So, then it was off to After Hours Urgent Care where there were lots of sick, crying babies on Christmas. We had quite a wait and she fell asleep on the table watching UP. Then they stuck the bite and squeezed it!!!!! Which equaled AGONY for poor Joy, otherwise known as "taking a culture sample." We asked our brave girl what we could do her for her after having to endure this on Christmas and she said a new stuffed animal would help. : )

When it was all over, Daddy and Carlos made sure she had the biggest teddy bear that they could find.

And not just one,

but two!

She fell asleep shortly after while she and I were listening to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, on tape. A family favorite! (boy, do those "Herdmanns" stress me out) lol

In the mean time, this sweet guy

cooked our Christmas dinner for us and saved the day! Thanks Zac! You're my Christmas hero!

We had a chocolate cheesecake for dessert which was a first for me and it turned out rather flat but yummy. Now that I own my first spring form pan, I can't wait to try making lots more recipes!

Joy is sleeping and all my guys are watching some violent xmen-wolverine thing! lol

-Not my idea of a Christmas movie! ; ) I think I'm going to call it a day.

Good night and I hope yours was merry too!

~Becky

Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

(I'm the short one!) lol : )

~Becky

Gingerbread houses yet again!

A family tradition:

enjoyed with friends.

~Becky

Honey, I'm home!

This is my favorite part of every day!

I love this guy!

~Becky

Surprise!

Nathan turned 16 on Saturday! : )

One of his best friends threw a surprise party for him at Steak and Shake.

Here is his cute, surprised face

as he walked into the restaurant

and saw 20 friends, 5 family members and two grandparents! : )

It was a great big party with a gazillion milk shakes and tons of fun!

I was a nervous wreck getting him to the restaurant and trying to act natural. lol

Glad it was a huge success!!!

~Becky

Wednesdays in the Word

Oh, if there's anything that drives our kids crazy, it is when they think someone is copying them!

I've told them this Anne of Green Gables quote many times:
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," but to no avail.

Today, while reading my Bible, I was reminded that we are actually called to be copycats! : )

"Be imitators of God as dearly loved children." Eph. 5:1
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." 1 Cor. 11:1
"Beloved do not imitate what is evil but what is good." 3 John 6:11

Christ following copy cats! : )
~Becky