A New Year

Welcome to 2012. I am always excited for a new year and all the hopes and dreams it brings. We had a busy December and I didn't blog about it, so here is me playing catch up!

Santa Claus Visit!

Austen

Sarah

Kaelynn

Coleman

Axton

Grandpa

Eli

Tana

Ben

Celeste

Axton doing his talent of Smiling!

Kaelynn playing her piano piece

Jeff and Sarah Telling jokes

Eli busting a move with Popcorn Popping

More to come later!

Thanksgiving Past

Thanksgiving is this week and I was reflecting on all my past Thanksgivings.  I am so thankful for all that I have been blessed with in my life.  My husband, family, home, belief in God and his son Jesus Christ.
As a young girl, we always had fun Thanksgivings with my cousins.  We loved the kids table because we could eat all the food prepared by Grandma and Mom and my Aunt Betty.  We hiked, went swimming, went bowling when our cousins came to town!  I hope that I can pass along that good feeling to my family.

Here are a few memories from our Thanksgiving past:

Last year we had 6 grandchildren and this year we have 8!  So much to be thankful for.
(Eli is missing in this picture)

Last year Ben was in Afghanistan, this year he is safe at home.  We are so grateful for  his safe return.

Here is Eli... last year Eli was the only child in his family... this year he is getting a new brother in April!

We are grateful for our wonderful family

Eating leftovers!  Grateful for food!

Laura with a shotgun... grateful we have boys to teach us how to shoot!

Mama with a gun.... watch out!
Grateful for fun family activities.

Grateful for Family traditions.
 Last year Bryan won the family shoot, beating Dad for the first time in History!

Grateful for a granddaughter!
 We have 7 grandsons, and we are grateful for them too!

I try to keep a grateful journal and it reminds me of how much we truly have to be grateful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!

She's Great and She's 8

Our Granddaughter turns 8 years old today! She has been a delight to us and we are happy to have her in our family! 

Happy Birthday Kaelynn

She likes to climb

She likes candy

She likes to be in charge and boss her brothers around!

She likes animals

She has touched a cow!

She likes to dance

She likes to act and dress up

We think you are Great!

Spooktacular Weekend

We had a fun weekend with our family. Ben and Laura, Jeff and Sarah, and Bryan and Celeste all made it home for our "Spooktacular Weekend."   Here are some highlights of the weekend.

Jeff and Eli taking a nap

Caleb Showing off his Ghost Shirt

Grandpa and Eli enjoying some bonding time!

Sweet Kaelynn!

Sarah and Laura and Coleman ( Sarah and Laura look like sisters in this picture)

Jeff and Laura and children: Eli and Coleman.   Ben is smiling in the background!

Laura and Mom being silly

Girls with attitude!

Girls just wanna have fun!  

Every year, we like to have a family Halloween Party. We had it a bit early this year to accommodate everyone.  You must wear a costume to come to the party!  I think we have some pretty good costumes this year. 

Nurse Mary and Dr. David

Ready to Operate?

Let me check your heart Nurse!   

Newlywed Lumberjacks!  ( You can't see their boots, but they both had on real lumberjack boots!)

Construction Worker, a Caution Cone, and a Road with a Bump! Very cute idea.

Skeleton Family!  (Caleb did put on his costume later that evening!)

Skeleton Kaelynn with her painted face.... good face painting.

I am so glad that we can get together and have such fun times. Everyone have a Spooky Halloween and eat lots of Treats!

Boys and MORE Boys

What would the world be without BOYS!
We love boys at our house...  

We love the:

Happy Ones

New Ones

Cute Ones

Busy-boy Ones

Outdoor Ones

Smart Ones

Army-Strong Ones

Handsome Ones

Handy-Man ones

Cool ones

Sport-minded ones

Hungry ones

I am so thankful for all the boys in our lives!  
Live up to your Potential BOYS.