Come on turn it up

Ok so we put the decorations away today and quite frankly I am sick of waller'n (I know this isn't a word but I still say it) around about kids that are not home. I pray they will come home and I am just having faith that they will be here sometime in 2009.


So I want all of you to do me a favor. I dug deep into the oldies but goodies for some tunes to party to this New Years and they sound the best when the volume is turned way way up. So do it, turn your volume way up and if you want to get up and dance. I know you want to. Try it! It will bring a smile to your face. Come on, go ahead the first three songs will help you get your groove on and have a good time.


Remember volume way way up and smile, clap your hands, irritate your kid's or spouse that's what I've been doing with all my singing. They love me anyway and sad (or maybe not I love these cheesy songs) but true I know every word to these songs and I bet you do to. Don't lie! Sing it and sing it loud!

Christmas Hangover

Does anyone else have the Christmas hangover or big downer that comes the next day? You know the one that doesn't even include alcohol. I always get it every year ugh why?

Love

As all the hustle and bustle comes to a screeching halt. I am grateful for so many things. I am humbled by the blessings in my life. My prayer is simple on this Christmas night http://www.joytoeveryone.com/

The pictures and music are beautifully done. I hope everyone will feel and experience love in their life.

Father Christmas

This is by far one of our favorite family traditions. When we visit Father Christmas every year. This was our 15th year and the kids always look forward to it. He knows my kids names and is so excited to see them each year. Our time with him is our own as it is by appt and so when the kids are with him they have all the time to ask him anything, or say anything, and he always has something special to say to them, which makes it very special.

When the kids walked in this year Gage was kindof in front and the first thing he said was "oh wow you have grown at least 6 inches this year". He was oh so right and it just doesn't get any better than that when he just knows so well.

I can't wait till the kids are home so they can experience the love of a Family tradition with us.

"2008"

"2007"

"2006"

"2004"

"2003" I'm still not quite sure
how I got him in pj's this year
it still makes me laugh and it
was even longjohn's from Hannah
Andersson. Ha!

"2002"

"2001"

"2000"

"1999" Bless him a little more
knee surgery with a table
over his knee

"1998"

"1997" Father Christmas had a little knee
surgery so needed a helper this year.

"1996"

"1995"

"1994"

*I have misplaced 2005 as soon as I find it I will add it. We were living with my parents while we built our house I think it might be there somewhere. You can click on the pics to see them larger.


"MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS"

Still Waiting

*pause my playlist at the bottom


"Merry Christmas" Third Day

A special song for all of you still waiting for your little ones (sons and daughters) from China. The wait is so very long and I know the Holidays seem to make the wait even harder and sometimes unbearable. That is how I felt when we were waiting so long ago. I pray for all of you that the time will go by quickly. The last six months of our wait are a complete blur even now. My poor kids at home I don't even remember doing anything with them. I became so obsessed with my computer and referrals that I shut almost everything else out. I do regret that time I lost with my awesome, forgiving kids at home.

This time around I am much better. I am living more in the moment and just dealing with the fact that they are not home for Christmas. I hope you to can stay in the moment (I know easier said than done).

Our family wishes you and your families and your babies in China a Merry Christmas

Date night

So last week I pretty much just shut down all together. That is my way of getting through something. I know not the best option but when you feel like curling up in a ball it just is all I can do to get through each day. I am doing better however I don't have any good news to share.

Thank you to Russ and Sarah for taking us out on Sat. We went to dinner and then saw this and I laughed start to finish.



Something I totally needed and the company was great. Thank you

One of my favorites

Please take a minute and pause my playlist at the bottom and listen to this song. I hope you love it like I do. This song is truly for the little ones all over the world. "Prayer of the Children"

I am in need of your prayers

I have been brought to my knees and feel like I have been punched in the gut. For my kids and my husband I need to keep it together please pray that I can be held up.

The stockings are hung

A little glimpse of our weekend. It is always fun getting out the decorations and watching the kids faces light up. My face was a little sad as my son was not around for much of the weekend to help us put up the tree. It is hard to have a teenager and watch them become little men and want to be social and with their friends. He is such a great kid and truth be told I think he missed being with us to when he saw the tree up and the stockings hung.









Oh and some reindeer stopped for a visit.







This is what I looked like by the end of the long weekend. Hookem Horns is all I could give. I wish I had my kids energy still. I'm still not done decorating.

Winner(s) of my 2nd SCENTSY giveaway!

Ok so I decided to draw two names and we just did the drawing. Sorry it took me longer but you know after all that food I ate I could hardly move yesterday. Why do I do that to myself?

Hannah drew the names for me again and she pulled "L" and Barbie. Yeah I am so excited for you.

Please look at the catalog on my link and choose your plugin choice, scentsy bar, room spray scent and car candle scent. Then if you will email me I will be in touch with you soon.

I would love you to have it for the Holidays!!!

Final Curtain

Nutcracker is that time of year that starts the Holiday Season for our family. When auditions come around in Sept the next few months seem to be a whirlwind. This week was full of all things Nutcracker and to have it come to an end is a little sad. I love to watch my girls dance and this year was no exception. They have the extreme pleasure to always dance with a live orchestra and it is magic. All the dancers did so well and Hannah loves it and by the end of the week is truly exhausted. She danced the part of Chinese and of course that was special as she can share that with her sister someday.

Sis we are so proud of you! Just think next year you will hopefully share the stage with your sister. You were awesome!

Love Mom and Dad

2nd Giveaway Yea!!!

HAPPY FALL YA'LL

I am excited to host another fun giveaway! It will include one of the new plug-in warmers and a Scentsy bar, a room spray, and a car candle. You will be able to choose the plug-in warmer, the scent of the bar, car candle and room spray.

To enter the giveaway leave a comment and let me know you want to enter. Deadline to enter for this drawing is until midnight Nov 26th.

Good Luck!!!

Stinky (bad and good)

Do your outlets have something like this? I gathered this stuff from drawers in my house. Ones that puff every 9min or something like that, ones with gel that starts to crack when they are used, ones with oil, big and little ones. None of them so great to me.

So this is what I did with them!
And this is what a candle does on the edges and everywhere else.

Tagged

I've never been tagged and I don't know if you really want to hear 7 weird or random things but here goes and I will keep it clean just kidding. I was tagged by D and Shealin over at http://shealinsworld.blogspot.com/

1- J and I got married, in Vegas, at midnight. I don't recommend this to the baby of the family or any daughter for that matter. My mom locked herself in her room for two days. She was heartbroken and I don't blame her at the time I was a total doof I guess. I just was not thinking of the consequence. I will hurt my kids if they ever do this haha! My mom and me are close and yes she loves my husband lots.

2- I love to do laundry but I hate I mean do not love to put it away. Which means ya its kindof everywhere. Ugh!!!

3- Meat well this is so hard for me. I am that crazy lady at the store in the meat section that is pulling all the paper towel off the rack to wrap around the meat 15 times. I do not cook it I cannot touch it. I can eat it if its cooked but the blood ewwww. I am also the mom in the kitchen who is holding the garbage so when J is cooking it he can immediately throw the package away. Then I stand there with the cleaning supplies to make sure that he gets everything totally clean.
He still loves me. I have always been like this eww it just creeps me to think about it.

4- When I am eating potato chips from the bag I only eat the ones that are looped over touching. I feel it gives me a better crunch. I know whatever that means weird.

5- I like so many LLLLLooooovvvvveeeee Disney. I think it is such a great vacation takes me away from all the worries in life for just that little while. My kids love it just as much. I would be a princess even for a day. Can you imagine looking at the faces of all those little girls all day and the way they can't wait to see them. What a great job I think.

6- I was a dancer growing up ballet was my favorite and I loved to dance on point. However I took everything and did dance at a Rams/Cowboys football game once.

7- I want to go on the Amazing Race so bad. I did do a tape with a friend and literally was getting ready to send it in and was going down the checklist to make sure we had everything. I get to the part that says both have to be US citizens and her sister sitting there goes "she's not a US citizen". I laughed, thought she was joking but she wasn't. Our video was so great as she is Black and I'm white it was flippen funny. I am convinced we would of gotten on. Does anyone want to go with me? We can pretend to know each other and just think our video would be totally funny.

I tag Sarah N, and anyone who hasn't done this that reads my blog. I just don't know who has done these before and who hasn't. Please play I want to read about you.

Halloween

We had the best time this year. All the kids are at such a fun age. The weather was fantastic we were just able to hang outside and visit. Candy well I ate way to much of that and don't tell anyone but secretly I throw it away little by little. I hope they think they are just eating it quickly or maybe they know oh well. I didn't get a pic of my daughters face makeup I am waiting for a friend who did to give it to me.
Grace wants to make sure I post a pic of that so coming soon.




"Faith"




Her choice of transportation for trick or treating



"Mickey Mouse" looks awesome nice job Dad!



This is were my son wants to go to college if you ask him "he will be going there". I think it's great!





Just her size ya