Soon to be just memories

We have left our tree up a little longer this year...typically we take it down before New Years but not this year...I was sitting on the couch this morning and looked over at this little set up...it occurred to me that both of these things are soon to be just memories...unless the Lord has a sense of humor, once baby jail comes down, our tiny little den will never see another one.  No more little ones who need a safe place to stay while momma gets a few things done...no more babies...

Our Christmas tree is hanging on by a thread this year...this tree was our first "real grown up" tree we purchased.  The first tree we had in or first home was tiny, maybe 5 feet tall, we paid $19.99 for it at Walmart and although we thought we were buying a Frasier fur, it looked more blue than green! HAHA  This tree also represents time spent with my daddy.  Of all the things I miss about my daddy, I miss his words of wisdom...I miss his advice when I just can't decide what to do.  He went with Andy and I the night we bought this tree...sweet memories...

But just like that, both of these items will just be memories..in a few short days both will most likely come down and my living room will return to it's "normal" state.  And like so many other things, I will remember this sweet season of baby jail and time spent with my daddy and give thanks to the Lord for HE IS GOOD!

Gingerbread House Fun

On Christmas Eve, Bentley our elf, left Caroline and Maggie a gingerbread kit.  Caroline has been waiting so patiently for us to complete it.  Even though it was for both girls, we knew we needed to wait until Maggie was asleep for us to work on it.  FYI it's not as easy as it looks....we had a great time working on it together.  Fun memories...Peep also gave Caroline a gingerbread house so we get to enjoy putting another one together soon...hopfully we learned from this one and will be pros for the next one!! :-)

Zoo Fun

We love visiting the zoo!  We have had season passes pretty much every year since Caroline was 2.  It's a fun day trip and many times we use it as a meeting point for friends who live out of town.  It usually takes 2 or 3 visits to get your money's worth on your pass.  Our pass expired today, we were ALL on vacation and decided why not get one more visit in.  We were a little iffy about the trip because it was suppose to rain starting around noon.  However, we headed out early and were there when they opened the gates.  We pretty much had the place to ourselves...it was WONDERFUL!

 Caroline LOVED feeding the birds

 They got daddy's finger...

 Caroline has always asked to ride the pony's at the zoo.  Typically we are with a large group and it would cost entirely too much money to allow everyone to ride.  But today it was just us, she brought her own money just in case and she was happy to spend it!! :-)

 

 While standing in line, a sweet lady offered us her "adventure" pass.  She had extra on her account and gave one to Caroline.  That meant that Caroline could enjoy all the extra things FOR FREE!!!  What a sweet blessing!  She was thrilled!  We enjoyed a train ride together, which Maggie LOVED!

 We got to feed the giraffes which surprisingly Maggie wasn't afraid of...she thought it was great and got so tickled when the giraffe would take the lettuce.

 Maggie enjoyed her first carousel ride.  She wasn't too sure about it in the beginning.

 Finally, the bracelet allowed her to try out the rock wall.  She's never done one before and chances are the boots didn't help but she had fun.

 She got pretty close to the top and got nervous...but still so proud of her!!

I had a million and one things that needed to be taken care of at home today but instead we enjoyed a fun family day together.  One of my New Years goals is to be available more for my family and to say yes more often than "no" or "not right now."  I am thankful I said YES today because we had SO MUCH FUN!!!!!  There will always be laundry to wash, floors to clean but our girls won't always be this small...

Maybe Christmas Means a Little Bit More

LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(~The Grinch)

Sunday Surprise

When Andy and I were in premarital counseling, it revealed that my love language was definitely acts of service.  I am not a huge fan of bought gifts, I would much rather be served...folding laundry, preparing dinner, washing the dishes, bathing the girls, etc. However, the one gift that I love for him to buy me/bring me is fresh flowers!  If I had the money, I would buy a boutique of fresh flowers every single week when I went grocery shopping.  I love them!!  They make me happy and brighten my kitchen table!!!

This morning on the way to church, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up a Sunday paper.  He came out with these beautiful flowers.  This particular location often has "old" flowers that they give away.  Sometimes they are wilted and sometimes they don't last long but I love it when Andy picks up a bundle for me...he fills my love tank with flowers and FREE works perfectly for the budget!!  But these cute flowers aren't wilted one little bit...they are gorgeous and they made my heart smile!  I love my husband and I am SO thankful for the many ways that he loves me!!!!

Celebrating with Friends

Christmas night we decided to go out to look at lights one more time before folks started taking them down.  We went by a local light display that we had heard lots of great things about.  Surprisingly they were open and so we went in.  It was awesome!!!!  So awesome that we invited Jill and John to go with us the day after.  We were planning to get together for the kids to exchange gifts so it was perfect! Everyone had a great time, even the adults!!

So very thankful for this sweet friend!  She is a friend who I know is only a phone call away...she gives bunches and loves big!  So thankful that the Lord allowed our paths to cross so many years ago...13 years to be exact.  Crazy!

Love the way my girls are looking at Tyler

Thankful our kids and hubby's love one another too!

pretty sure this one needs to be framed!

Celebrating Mema's birthday

Today we got to celebrate Mema's 84th birthday!!!  She wanted to go out for brunch.  Sadly I left my good camera in the car so my phone camera was all I had...still love my "real" camera better than my phone camera...but so very thankful to celebrate Mema.  She is currently getting over her shoulder surgery and is doing amazing!  She is a precious gift to us all!  Happy birthday Great, we LOVE you!

Jack picked up trick candles which gave the girls lots of chances to blow out the candles!!

Merry Christmas

We have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day at home.  So very thankful to share today with my sweet family.  We have already discovered that we honestly didn't need to buy Maggie anything for Christmas...nothing we gave her will compare to all the cool things her big sister got!! :-)  All jokes aside it's been fun to watch them today enjoy their gifts.  We try to keep Christmas gifts simple...3 gifts from Santa and then one from each family member-mommy, daddy, sibling.  We try hard to remember that we celebrate this great day because of our Saviors birthday and what it means to us!

A quick letter to Santa with cookies and chocolate milk

Saying goodbye to Bentley...until next year.  Bentley left the girls a sweet note and a gingerbread house to complete.

Caroline woke up first around 7...we woke up Andy and Maggie...here the girls are waiting patiently to enter the den.

Gifts from Santa

Maggie is addicted to Sissy's keyboard!

One of the sweetest earthly gifts ever received...

Love that I captured this moment...she was checking out her gift card from Maggie but never paid attention to her Kindle underneath the paper.

So FOUND it and was SO excited!!!!!

Maggie giving her baby some love

Our best attempt at a Christmas morning picture

Pop and Peep came to visit

Granny came to visit

trying out the art items and roller blades

Fun Christmas!!!  So very thankful for my family!!!!!