What Christmas looked like this year {2013}

I didn't take many pictures this Christmas and I'm regretting it

Our boys are growing up so fast 

Spencer opening his cell phone

Parker opening bb's

I LOVE the facial expressions

I was worried the boys had been snooping and knew what they were getting for Christmas

{I know that I snooped as a kids and totally regret it today}

After seeing them open gifts, I know they were surprised

This girl LOVED all the Christmas action

I'm pretty sure every child got a rubberband loom this year

 Our Christmas goodies

My Dad opened a gift from my niece Metadel

 I think we have an artist in the family

She made a canvas picture of my dad's Mustang convertible

All of our Christmas cards

Every year I buy the boys an ornament 

I give it to them the day we go pick out our tree

 This year Parker got a hamburger and Spencer got a hot dog

Mental note for next year: Charge the camera and take lots of pictures

Christmas 2013

Our Christmas 2013 schedule

Monday the 21st: Supper with my mom's side of the family
{delayed from Saturday the 19th due to bad whether}

Wednesday the 25th: Lunch at mom and dad's

Thursday the 26th: Appetizers with my mother in-law

Sunday the 29th: Celebrating all day at my mom and dad's with the whole family

I don't even know where to begin other than to say - we are BLESSED

We have everything we could possibly need

A WARM HOME, BEAUTIFUL FAMILY and JOBS

I saw this quote that I absolutely love on Pinterest last week:

I think as you grow older, your Christmas list becomes shorter

because the things you want can't be bought

On Christmas day, my best friend from high school lost her mom

Sara was at her mom's house and was trying to persuade her mom to go to the ER

Minutes later, she and her brother were performing CPR and she slipped away

My heart aches for her and her family
Christmas will never be the same for them

Making a Christmas list has become a struggle 

My lists over the years get more practical

{Crock pot, a rug for my very cold laundry room, sheets}

I would be content getting nothing, I have EVERYTHING I need

But I LOVE giving and watching people open gifts

The boys LOVED what they got and know they are truly blessed

Here's a list of just a few of the gifts they received:

Spencer :

                cell phone and camo case

     rubber band loom

fuzzy pj pants

             Under Armour clothes

    i-tunes gift card

                      Xploderz gun {from Santa}

Parker:

wii games

fuzzy pj pants

Under Armour clothes

i-tunes gift card

Xploderz gun {Santa}


We also gave them a certificate for Snow Star Ski Resort
{We're hoping to go next week}
and
a family pass for the Aquatic Center for the summer of 2014
{Chip and I are thrilled that we won't be setting up a  pool this summer}


We had a great Christmas and enjoyed spending time with family


We're Blessed!

Ba Humbug

I've been a bit ba humbug lately

I just can't seem to get in the Christmas spirit and I'm not sure why

Christmas is usually my favorite time of year but this year, I could take it or leave it

I'm trying to come up with reasons for my ba humbug mood:

We missed out on the Festival of Trees Parade

Spencer was at a youth conference, Parker had been sick and with temps in the teens we didn't brave it

We didn't go to the Holiday Stroll down town
 Iowa's bitter temps kept us home

Our Christmas tree experience was a flop

My Aunt's funeral was the day we go and Chip signed up for a bowling tournament that evening

We flew to Morning Sun and ended up with a tree that had already been cut

The kids were beyond mad that we didn't get to hunt for the perfect tree and cut down ourselves

And $57.00 for a tree- Yikes!

The boys Christmas programs were a bit ridiculous this year

Old ladies singing blue grass music in between the different grades

and 

why does the middle school insist on having the orchestra and choir concert together?

This made for some long drawn out concerts

I've let some family members get to me this holiday season

$700 car repairs the week before Christmas stink

 Christmas with my Mom's side of the family was postponed until Monday
due to the snow and freezing rain
It's still going to be before Christmas but I was ready to get together

This morning we woke up to 4-5 inches of snow
Church has been cancelled which means no Christmas program
I know our pastor/chief of police just wants everyone safe but it won't be the same after Christmas


I have 3 days to get myself in the mood
Here's to hoping some holiday tunes and baking will do the trick

a HAPPY BIRTHDAY at our house

We celebrated a BIRTHDAY last Wednesday

This kiddo is 9!

We celebrated with family last Saturday

Lasagna, italian bread and salad for supper

Cake and ice cream for dessert

I always let the boys pick the theme of their birthday party 

{This year Parker picked soccer}

and

I always let the boys pick 2 ice cream flavors to go with their cake

{Parker picked Snicker and Bordeaux Chocolate Cherry}

Let me say, I'm not a cherry lover but Oh My!

Parker was spoiled rotten

Just to list a few things he got-

A new soccer blanket made by cousin Katie

Alarm clock 

{He has got out of bed without me waking him every morning - This has been AMAZING}

Legos 

Under Armour shirt

Hawkeye hoodie

Gift cards

Money

A cubs hat

Bop It {Game}

Tuesday was his "real" birthday

We celebrated with a cupcake and candle for breakfast

He got an Amazon gift card and his room decked out in soccer decor from Mom and Dad

He took reindeer cupcakes for his birthday snack

{I didn't like the idea that they were holiday themed but I made what he wanted}

and we had a Christmas concert for Spencer that night

I still can't believe how fast 9 YEARS has gone!

Happy

Birthday

Buddy!

You are AMAZING and we can't imagine life without you