Christmas 2007

Well, the presents are opened, the tree is down, and now we look forward to what the new year has in store for us.



We have much to be thankful for and reflect upon as this year comes to a close. This was one of the best Christmases we've ever had, simply because we are still here to watch the light in our children's eyes as they experience the joy that only Christmas morning can bring.



But while this was a very good Christmas and I got many things done very early in the season, before December even got here actually, I still felt rushed at the end and didn't enjoy any time of relaxation and peace. No evenings just sitting with my family enjoying a Christmas movie while gazing at the lights of the tree. I did make time to let the kids make a gingerbread house and some goodies, but it just wasn't what I want it to be. I have had a Christmas like I'm describing last year. It was wonderful! But this year, between my mom's surgery and taking care of her, all of us having parts in our church's Christmas play, and our CO scare, well, time just got away from us.



So next year I plan on using the Holiday Grand Plan, an 18-week program to clean and organize the entire home for the holiday season. Surely if I start in August and have someone telling me exactly what to do and when I'll be ready for Christmas and actually be able to enjoy it and focus on the REAL reason for the season by the time December rolls around! If 18 weeks is a bit too long or overwhelming for you, why not try out this 6-week Christmas Countdown plan?

..."What do you really want for Christmas? More time, more joy, and less stress? A calmer, more centered holiday celebration is easy with the Christmas Countdown!"

Here are some pictures from our Christmas fun and celebrations from this year. Enjoy!




The kids making their gingerbread house my Aunt Cindy sends them every year. Thanks Aunt Cindy! We love you!




Here the kids are making our yearly tradition, Pretzel Snaps. They are so easy and so very yummy. Just take square waffle pretzels, place a Hershey's Hug in the center of each one, stick the pan in the oven at 200 degrees long enough to JUST begin to melt the Hug, then place an M&M in the center and push it down to flatten out the Hug a bit. Chill in the refrigerator and eat cold. YUM!




My favorite picture from this Christmas. My heart just BURSTS with love for my babies!




The WHOLE family. This is Sweetie's family... mom & dad, 3 brothers and their wives, 1 sister and her husband, all 15 grandchildren, the oldest grandchild's wife and their new baby boy. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful, loving family. God has truly blessed me, taking me from being an only child growing up alone (all my cousins lived in other states) to this!




Santa had asked, "Who's been good?"




Santa handing out presents to the good girls and boys at Sweetie's mom & dad's house, a fun yearly family tradition.




Sweetie and the kids tracking Santa on Christmas Eve. Now, if we could just get them to bed this easy every night!




Being my mom's only child and our kids being her only grandchildren, Mamaw tends to really have fun Christmas shopping for us! This was our tree after she brought all her presents over and added them to ours. Notice the big empty wall? Remember that because on down you'll see what Sweetie got for Christmas that actually brought tears to his eyes.




And this was the kid's reaction to coming out and seeing the presents Mamaw brought.




Princess with her bike Santa brought her.




The only thing Reece Cup has wanted for the past two years has be a Game Boy DS, and this year Santa brought him one!




Mom's going to have to have a talk with Santa. What's he thinking, bringing 8-year-old Handsome a BB gun? Doesn't he know he'll shoot his eye out with that thing?!




And Baby Girl was beside herself with her new Ipod Shuffle.




Don't you just love reactions like this? (In case you noticed, his mouth is blue because he had just eaten some kind of blue candy).




And THIS was their reaction to the hidden and found present from Santa, a Nintendo Wii! Mom and dad had tried and tried everything we knew to try to find them one, but leave it to Santa to come through (or as Handsome said, he thinks it was Jesus). Both girls are SCREAMING, Handsome had already jumped up screaming, and Reece Cup had his back to me, but rest assured, he was screaming too.




Look at those smiles!




And here's what Sweetie got that brought tears to his eyes. This is his 'baby', a projector TV that uses a pretty expensive bulb. Well, his last bulb went out last Christmas and he wouldn't take the money to buy himself a new one, so I got him one this Christmas. Can you see what's on the screen? Oh man is it COOL to play the Wii on this baby!



And that's our Christmas in a nutshell. I hope you and your family also had a wonderful, memory-making Christmas season as well. God bless you all.