Four Christmases...cont.

Christmas #3

Christmas morning after our adventures at home we piled in the car and headed down to Houston. Our morning was already great and we got to see this winter wonderland...a snowy Christmas who would of thought.



We arrived in Houston to an empty house and didn't have a key...so we decided to give Mickaela her first driving lesson...she did great (except for the looking at the road part ;0))



On Saturday we were able to spend the day with all of my family opening gifts and eating...lots of food :). Mickaela was tuckered out and took a nap on her Aunt Mary (who was pretty tired too)...



Mickaela and I stayed an extra day in Houston so Grammy, Mackenzie, and Molly (my nieces) got to drive us home on Monday because my sisters had caught a stomach bug. yuck. We were glad to have them even just for the night. The girls were thrilled to see a little snow left on the ground.

Christmas #4

We headed over to Mick's brother's house to meet up with his brother and sister everyone feeling better after having a stomach bug last week. I didn't take any pictures :/...But it was fun to have our first Christmas with the Chapmans (Mick's sister, her husband, and two girls). They just moved here from Wisconsin. It is nice to have all of his family so close.

Our house is full of stuff but our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for family, friends and most of all Jesus for coming to this world putting on skin and saving us. It is an amazing thing to me to see all that God has done this year in our lives and in the lives of those in our family.

As we begin 2010, my heart is full of hope and joy, I am so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to love a man of His and the responsibility to care for and love 2 of His children. What blessings He has brought us this year...

Wishing each of you a blessed New Year!

Four Christmases...part 1

So, mom fail...I can't find my camera. I know it is around here somewhere. The sad thing about this is that there are few pictures of Christmas. :( Thankfully I have an iPhone. So there were a couple at least. My sisters are sending me the ones they have from out Christmas #3 in Houston.

So for now here are the moments captured...

Christmas #1:
Christmas eve with some of Mick's family. Mickaela and I volunteered at the church on Christmas eve in the nursery since they were short on volunteers. It was a lot of fun. (I have a story about that but it is for another post).

Mick's Mom, Dad, Brother and Niece came over to celebrate Christmas with Mick, Tristan, Mickaela and me. We had a great time and some decent chili (if I do say so myself). The kids got some awesome toys thanks to Grandma and Grandpa; Mick and Alex got a lesson in big wheel construction :).



Christmas #2:
Christmas Day was a first for all of us. Tristan was able to wake up with us on Christmas Day which was a first, and Mickaela, of course, was celebrating her first Christmas as well! :) It was such a blessing to watch their excitement and get to celebrate with our family on Christmas morning. Tristan got some awesome "heavy work" toys (therapy speak for high energy...tiring toys). A trampoline, a bean bag, and this awesome bubble ball that I found that is a huge inflatable ball that he can get inside of. (It is now his happy place).



This is the mess that was left behind...



To be continued...