Christmas 2010

If you weren't already sick of seeing us in the same Christmas finery, you will be after this. We "recycled" our outfits for just about every Christmas celebration we attended this year!

Christmas Eve was full of baking and cooking...and then we got all dressed and ready to go! We stopped by my sister's house for a few hours, to exchange gifts with them. The kids had so much fun opening their gifts and playing together!

Huddy, B, and Peytie

B got a rock painting kit and was thrilled!

Bryson also got a rock tumbler (are you sensing a theme here?) and he was SO excited! The rocks are tumbling as I blog...and B has been so patient. The whole process takes about a week!

Sleeping cutie!! My little Lolo....(does it get any cuter?!)

Hudson was very excited to get his Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash set!

After we hung out at Kel's house, it was time for all of us to go to my aunt's house! What a fun night.....with about 30 of us- eating, singing, laughing, opening white elephant gifts!! My aunt's home was decorated beautifully and not a corner was lacking a Christmas decoration!

Paul, my mom, my Gram, Gram's sis- Ingrid, and Aunt Georgia...chatting it up in the festive family room!

Even everything on her shelves was Christmas-y!

The living room...with all of our gag gifts just waiting to be opened!

Niki (my cousin's wife) and Kari (my cuz)...such beautiful ladies!!

Lolo and her daddy....and Gram talking sweetly to her....

Aunt Gerene asked J to bring his guitar and he obliged! We sat around singing carols together! Such fun memories!!

Me and my cutie!

....singing carols!

Sleeping cutie!!...all tuckered out (it's hard work being a baby!)

We stayed at my aunt's house until close to midnight! The boys fell asleep on the drive home!

On Christmas morning, my parents came over and joined us for a relaxing and FUN morning! We started the morning with coffee and a reading of Jesus' birth story. Then, it was gift time! The boys had so much fun and we did, too!

Hudson was excited to see what he got!

Bryson was thrilled about his remote control airplane!

All Hudson asked for this year was Sharkbite Bay!! He was SO happy!!

B and his Beyblades!

Cute brothers in Christmas jams (It's a tradition for my parents to buy everyone Christmas jammies! We all wear them to bed on Christmas Eve and we open our gifts wearing them!)

After we opened gifts, it was time to make our traditional Christmas breakfast! We made Abelskievers (a Danish pancake....amazing!!), bacon, and Egg/Chile/Cheese Souffle! Yum!!

The boys got to play with their gifts for a while, while my parents hung out. We ate and picked up a bit...before getting ready to head off to Josh's sister's house- for more food and gifts!!

The boys and their beautiful aunties- Shayna and Jessica!

Josh's mom and sister gave the boys a trampoline for Christmas!! Of course, they asked our permission first, and since I always wanted one as a kid- I was thrilled! Josh is setting it up as I blog! :) Anyhow, Shayna made up really cute poems/clues and sent the boys on a scavenger hunt to find the trampoline! They had so much fun! Katie and Ben helped, too!

Here are the kids, finding a clue in the fridge!

B...reading the final clue!

Ben got a big Legos set and my MIL spent hours putting it together! Josh helped, too! The sad thing is that...after many hours of building, the set got moved so that the table could be used. Connie asked Bryson to bring it back to the table and when he did, he held it from the top...and it broke and crashed- all over the floor!! All of her hard work was wrecked in an instant. After she beat Bryson, she forgave him. Just kidding.....she was able to totally blow it off and even laugh about it! Phew.

Our Christmas was so wonderful...full of blessings. Full of precious time with family and friends.

We are blessed beyond measure.

We are spoiled by the Lord.

We are thankful!

Merry (LATE) Christmas....and Happy New Year!

Just a whole lotta random thoughts I thought I'd share....

I don't know what happened this year, but Christmas seemed to come faster than usual. We spent the month of December celebrating the season, and it passed by so quickly!

I pray that you and your families had a wonderful Christmas!! We did...and it's always a bit sad when it's over.

This year has been, well....trying. God is SO good to us, and He's so faithful. I have seen His hand this year...more than any other year. But, this year has been full of trials. I do feel that the Lord has been refining me. Refining Josh. Refining us. Our marriage has never been better (praise God!), the kids are doing great and they are healthy (praise God!), and we live in abundance. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. Finances are a stress and Josh's job is stressful....but GOD IS GOOD. We have way more than we need and Josh has a job....so we are extremely thankful for that. When I say that this year was full of trials, I believe that it's because the Lord has had some things to teach us. I believe that He is actively working in me and in Josh....and I think we haven't quite finished learning the lessons that He has had for us. I feel like this is a "diary" of sorts and that the reader (being you) will be so confused, but I guess I would have written some of this, had I sent out a Christmas letter and cards!!

A while back, my cousin made a comment about how people try to make everything sound just perfect when they send out an annual letter. Well, I didn't send out a letter....but this is my blog and I thought I'd just go ahead and be honest. Real honest. Some days in 2010 were very hard. Excuse my language, but they "sucked." Some days were awesome! Whether good or bad- most every day in 2010 was a day of growth. We've been through financial trials, we've experienced several health scares with Hudson, we went through behavior and focus issues with Bryson....but through it all.....I can honestly say that, looking back on these things, I wouldn't change them. God proved Himself faithful time and time again...and He continues to do so. He has taught me so much, and I have never been more sure of His love, His grace, His blessings, and His mercy. Let me just insert some Scripture...."Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

I don't think I have ever been more thankful for friends. This year, the Lord has confirmed His love for me, in that He has continued to bless me with the most amazing friends. I have so many godly women who I can call upon...for prayer, for a listening ear, or just to vent for a minute. The Bible talks about "iron sharpening iron" and that is so applicable for me. I have an incredible support group, and nothing binds hearts together more than studying God's Word together. When I think of all of the amazing ladies that God has surrounded me with...."my cup overfloweth" is what comes to mind.

I do hope that 2011 will be a calmer year for us! I pray that your 2011 will be full of blessings. I hope that each of you had a fabulous Christmas with your families!! We had a wonderful few days together....celebrating with my mom's whole side of the family (on Christmas Eve), and we had a lovely Christmas Day. We started the morning off right- with a reading of Jesus' birth. Then, we opened gifts with my parents and made our traditional Christmas breakfast. The boys played with their gifts, before we headed to Josh's sister's house...to celebrate with his side. The kids had a blast and it was a relaxing, low-key evening together. We ate and played games, and just chatted and hung out. I hope to post pictures soon!

Well, I will end with some pictures of my handsome boys (who have seriously been driving me cuh-ray-zee today!!!!).

I wish you a Merry LATE Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Bryson is eight and is in second grade. He enjoys building Legos and playing his DS. He has a tender heart, full of compassion. He knows how to push all of my buttons, but always redeems himself. He loves my cooking and is a true gentleman. He is doing well in school and Math is his favorite subject. Bryson loves his pet bearded dragon and he loves to "create." He is learning cursive at school and he is actually really enjoying it!! Bryson has a great memory and loves to be around people. He is very sensitive and very caring, but his little brother is "annoying" to him! Bryson is very bright and intuitive. He is also inquisitive and is constantly asking me questions that I don't know the answers to! Bryson is silly, goofy, and quirky...and could care less about what others think of him! Bryson loves Jesus very much!!

Hudson is four and a half and is in preschool this year. He loves to draw, write, and color. He loves Hot Wheels and Legos...and pretty much anything else that his brother is playing with! Hudson is a "man's man" and can't stand anything girly. He is a little stinker, and we pray that his current attitude is just a phase! He asks all sorts of questions about God and he tells us that he loves God the best! We love to hear that! Hudson loves to play outside and loves to take pictures!! Although he loves to play with friends, Hudson can keep himself entertained for hours. Hudson's favorite person in our family is his big brother...and he really wants to be a "big boy!" Hudson does not like to be the center of attention, and tends to be the quiet one. He sulks at times and does NOT like to be in trouble. He has a silly personality and is lots of fun.

....Okay....this post is such a mess. A real writer would freak if he/she read it. Ha!! If you've made it this far...thank you. I am thankful for a place to share my thoughts!!

party time...continued....

on saturday night, we had our "bible study" couples party! we did an italian-themed potluck, and a white elephant exchange. what an awesome night with lots of my most FAVORITE people in the whole wide world! we shared lots of laughs, lots of food, and lots of fun!!!!

me and my beautiful friend, leah!

Wendi- our lovely host...arranging the desserts!

My beautiful and sweet friend, joanna!!!

Tommy and Leah....

our gracious hosts....dan and wendi!

many of my "sisters" and closest friends!!

the handsome husbands....

the lovely host "shushing" the emcee during the gift exchange!

mmm....fruity pebbles!

sporting their under armour!

i wish i had snapped photos of the umbrella with a hole in it, the hideous photo album, and the candle holders with melted wax on them! josh made some special t-shirts....but i can't share them on here just yet! such an amazing night with our friends!!

**I don't get why my fonts get all messed up and why it underlines some stuff and not the rest! Soooo frustrating!!**

party time....

josh and i had two parties to attend this past weekend....

this was taken at his work party (held at dave and busters)

...in front of our tree!

*pics of our "church" party coming soon....

My Handsome Little Men....

There are more to come, but here are some of the boys' Christmas photos. I am not sending out Christmas cards this year (which is really hard for me)...but I definitely wanted my blog readers to see how much my boys have grown this year!

Merry Christmas!!