Friday, March 17, 2017

December Days, Part One!

When Daddy builds a fire, everyone is extra happy! On this particular night, Avaree was beyond excited to give everyone the gifts that she picked out for them in her school store. She took six dollars from her piggy bank, and she bought sweet, thoughtful presents for each of us. The most precious part of it was watching her excitement as she gave and explained each one. 

This is Avaree giving Felicity her gift. 





 She bought her Mama a pair of angel earrings. She said it was because I was so sweet. 
 Melt my heart! Here is a picture of my sweet earrings and my tears!
 I love that she couldn't wait until Christmas to give us our gifts. So precious, and the thought behind the gift is the sweets part of all. :)

 Later that evening, we cuddled by the fire and watched Polar Express for family movie night!

I'm not sure why they took a picture in the bathroom, but I do love it. :) 
 The kids had been begging to go see Santa, and we hadn't been since Avaree was tiny (and our only child), so we headed out to Grapevine to have Chick-fil-A and see the free Santa at Bass Pro. The littles had a ball playing in the boats!

Monday, March 13, 2017

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I was running behind getting our Christmas decor up this year, but it was a really sweet day with my little loves when we put it up! :) Avaree was the most excited (after me, of course)!
When Daddy got home from church that evening, we had everything ready to go, and then he helped Ave put the star on top!
It was such a happy memory.

...and she was so proud!
Little man loved the lights! And this marked day one of a month and a half of trying to keep him from breaking ALL of my ornaments!

Sister loved helping me hang the ornaments!
Her face!
 
Avaree did, too!


Brandt clapped every time he and Daddy hung one up! It was precious!


Sweet little sis!
We put edited Elf on as we were adding ornaments to the tree!
Snuggles with my sissy!
We finished our movie snuggled on the couch! We needed proof that I was there, too. I love that they always need to be on me or near me. :)
The three munchkins admiring their tree!
Sweet sis the next morning!
Daddy came home that afternoon, and tickle fight began!
More snuggles!
 Can you find Daddy? ;)
A friend posted this picture of the girls at one of our Christmas parties with friends!
 I never get tired of hearing him sing, and I always LOVE our Christmas set! :)
Christmas 2016 is coming soon!

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Beginning of December!

All five of us went to see Moana, and everyone made it through the whole movie! We had babies piled on top of us, and everyone shared popcorn, but I cried more than once with thankfulness. :) The music was amazing, so that didn't hurt either! Look at these cuties outside the movie theater!

Mr. Brandt wore his new clothes from Barton Christmas, too!
It's always sweet to watch the babies run up to Daddy on Sunday mornings while he's practicing! :)
Sweet Bubbie!
Sassy big girl!
Sweet Felicity loves to read!
The babies and I got to watch Avaree rehearsing her Christmas routine at dance!
She's so passionate when she dances! :)
That evening, I had the privilege to go to a Hope Gathering in honor of Hudson's first birthday. Getting to hold that perfectly formed baby boy in my arms, and watch his Mommy and Daddy praise Jesus in the midst of the deepest pain of their lives, changed my life. I will never forget it. On Hudson's first heavenly birthday, we gathered to pack boxes for mamas that would be going through that same pain. It was a teary, encouraging night! I couldn't get over the fact that the sweet mamas we were praying for don't even know yet what is coming. Holly courageously prayed over all of the boxes and organized this amazing event all while having a three week old! She blows me away. This is an example of one of the cards that I wrote for a box that I packed.


Holly received one of these boxes while she was in the hospital, and it was such an encouragement to her, so she wanted to make more for others.


I was also able to pack a box in honor of the babies of my sweet friend, Kelli.  I went to Michael's funeral when Brandt was 6 weeks old, and I will also never forget that tiny casket. 

Life is so precious. I am so thankful for the hope of heaven.

Sweet Kendall sat with me and packed boxes in her brother's honor. She was so so sweet!

Holding her box!
The following weekend, I took the girls to a Mommy and me Christmas party while Daddy took Brandt to a birthday party for his sweet little friend! It was a divide and conquer kind of morning!
Ave loved decorating her Rudolph cookie!
Making Reindeer food!

Singing Jingle Bells!
It was a fun morning with my girls!
Felicity with her favorite, Mrs. Susan! :)
 My sweet girls!
 My girls and me at the party!
 When we got home from the party, Daddy left for church as it was Hang of the Green Dress Rehearsal Day! He worked so hard, and the next day was the best Hanging of the Green ever--in my opinion! ;)

I let both girls come to service with me, and I'm so thankful that Mrs. Kristin sat on the other side of us!
Mr. Ryan was a great addition, and Daddy loved having him there!
We were SOOOOO proud of our Daddy!
 That afternoon, it was nap time for everyone!
 Brandon had to go back to church, but the babies and I started decorating for Christmas!!! We had been SO busy, that it was five days into December before we got our tree up!!!! Stay tuned! :)