Christmas Eve/Christmas Day!

This year Christmas was a little different. We had so much snow start on Christmas Eve that we were not able to go see family. We stayed home and celebrated together. Christmas Eve the snow begin to fall, and kept falling and blowing, they called it the blizzard of 09'. The kids wanted to go out in it, we tried it, and they lasted for about 5 seconds, because it was blowing so hard. The next day, Christmas Day was brighter. No wind, so they got to go out and enjoy the beautiful snow. It was too powdery to make a snow man so the kids made snow angels instead. Such a fun time for them, and I so enjoyed watching them.

Christmas Day, the kids were of course ready to open presents. We have a tradition of reading the Christmas story before we open presents, then they get to tear into them. Izze helped sort the presents this year, like a big girl, so very helpful!
They received so many great gifts from their nanny's and papa's. They are proudly displaying their new treasures. We even had a great Christmas dinner, thanks to Walmart down the road, that was about as far as we wanted to try and get out. It was a really great Christmas spent with my most precious people!! We will always remember the Christmas of 09'.

Christmas activities!

This Christmas we had several fun activities, I'll share some highlights from our Christmas week of fun! This year we put together our first gingerbread house. The kids were more than excited to do this. We had wrapped it, and put it under the tree, because it was a special family present to do together. The kids got to open it on Christmas Eve, while we were snowed in. The kids ate a lot of the candy before it made it onto the gingerbread house, oh, and Ian kept eating the frosting out of the bag so we kind of ran out of frosting, but none the less, we thought it was a great looking house. The kids were very proud! The week of Christmas we went down to Bricktown to admire all the festive decorations, and to eat with friends. We even watched as people went down on tubes on the man made snow hill. The kids got to pet the horses down town, these are the horses used for the carriage rides. It was a special time as a family.

Christmas week was full of cooking of course, so the kids got in on the fun. They always want to help me cook, so I let them. They got to make, and bake their very own sugar cookies this year. At the end Ian had green hands from the sprinkles, and they both had tasted some icing. They were really proud of their cookies. Such cute cooks!

Christmas Eve, before the blizzard we headed out for our annual light show. To us this means, getting hot chocolate for the kids, and Starbucks for mommy and daddy, and head to look at Christmas lights. We found some really good ones this year. The kids were so amazed and wanted to touch them all. It is amazing how they get all those lights so perfect. We had such a great Christmas week, one we won't forget. New traditions, and old ones alike!

More to come......

Isabelle's 1st Christmas Program!!!!!

Wow 2010 is here! How could we already be in another year? I feel like I have so much to post since my last post. We had a great Christmas with lots of exciting things going on. My goal is to post as much as possible this week to get caught up.

First thing, Isabelle had her first class Holiday program at school before her Christmas break started. It was so much fun to see her in action. She was a lot more animated than I had anticipated. We got some video and pics., but both Brian and I were so proud. I think we had smiles through the whole thing. Her class had prepared songs to sing for us. They all came into the classroom single file, and up on risers they went. They did several songs many with some actions to them. Izze had her eyes on us most of the time, she was great! She is growing and learning so much, sometimes she surprises me with what she comes up with, or knows. It was a great way to start the Christmas week!

Bass Pro & Santa!

A week or so ago, we took the kids to the Bass Pro shop in Bricktown. They were having free photos with Santa, and a lot of games for the kids to play with, as well as the kids getting to look around the boats, four wheelers, fish tank, etc. Ian was the brave one who got his picture with Santa, Izze wasn't too hip on the idea. It was off to play the games. The kids got to race remote control cars, shoot laser rifles, foam bow n arrows, crafts, and much more. They have a huge fish tank that we all enjoyed. It was a fun experience for all of us.

Edmond Historical Museum!!

I am a little behind on my blogs, so I am hoping to get caught up this week. A week or so ago, the kids and I went to visit the Edmond Historical Museum. This is the second time we have been, and they just love playing in all the pretend centers. The museum has a pretend bank, pretend grocery store, pretend jail, pretend little house, they can shovel pretend dirt, art center, different animal furs to read about, train tables, and more. We had a lot of fun! It is a place we will continue to visit.

GO Thunder!!

(Brian & Myself)These pics were done the time before when we went, a cartoonist drew his version of all of us. We thought it was fun, the guy did a good job.









Isabelle & Ian, so cute. I think it is interesting how we all look somewhat alike.










Yesterday Brian got last minute tickets from a friend to the Thunder basketball game. We decided to take our friend up on the tickets since we don't go that often, and we knew the kids would love it! Tis the season to make some new memories! This was even an extra special game because one of our own, Jamie, one of our worship leaders at PC, was singing the national anthem to open up the game. She did such an awesome job, we were very proud of her! Isabelle and Ian were so excited about the game, and especially the popcorn, one of their favorite things to have. We stayed until half time, then it was off to get the kids to bed. It was a great night with our family and friends!

Family Time, & two dates!

Yesterday we had a fun family day. Brian switched his day off this week, because of extra stuff going on, so we got the day started early. It is a challenge now to get fun stuff done before Izze has to be at school, but we try and fit some in when we can. We headed to the mall early to take the kids to the lego store, it was fun for them to look around and build some small creations. We grabbed some lunch before Izze headed to school. After the school day was over, daddy and Izze were going on a date, and Ian and mommy were going on a little date. Daddy and Izze headed for pizza, ice cream, and to do a little Christmas shopping for mommy. This is funny, because Izze always wants to tell me what they got me when they get home. Ian and I headed for dinner that included a small toy, which he was super excited about. We also grabbed some ice cream, one of Ian's and mommy's favorites. We headed back home to take a quick bath, and then cuddling on the sofa with one of his favorite shows right now, "UP", except he says, "pixars up", when he wants to watch it. So So cute! That is one of our favorite things to do is cuddle together and watch a fun show. Daddy and Izze got home after bed time, so they were having lots of fun! This is such a fun time for us and the kids. They love to go just by themselves with one of us, you can tell they feel special when we do. These little people mean so much to us, we just love, and adore them!! Thank you Lord for these little people!

Thanksgiving Holiday 09'!

Izze with her new Easy bake, Thank you Toni!







Goldie with her "treasures"






Ian with his new car, Thank you uncle Mike & Aunt Sunny, Jackson, Goldie!








Izze with paw paw and her new baby alive, Thank you papa








Paw paw and Ian all smiles!







Goldie relaxing!








Jackson & Isabelle making their own creations out of markers and paper!








Uncle Mike and Goldie finishing their present opening!




Wow, how fast time seems to fly sometimes. Thanksgiving of 09' has already been, and gone. We did have a great time with family this year! We headed to Ponca on Thanksgiving day, to have a big family get together, and lots of yummy food. I learned how to make my aunts sweet potatoes this year, which I was really excited about. Almost learned the recipe for her pecan pie, I can't really recall it though. It's those simple traditions that mean a lot to me. Even if it is cooking, that way I can pass them on to Izze and Ian. We were surrounded with nannies, papas, aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, brothers, the things that are most important around the holidays. We are so thankful for each one of these people in our lives. After the Thanksgiving meal, we headed outdoors to toss the Frisbee and football around. This is one of the kids favorite things to do with the "older" kids, and adults. Later in the day we headed to my mom's, nanny Faith's house. The kids almost immediately had nanny Faith looking for fun things to do. Nanny Faith found some "treasures" for Isabelle to bring back with her, she was really excited about those. Thanksgiving day ended with a nice drive back to Edmond.

The next day was full of excitement as well, Brian's brother and his family, and Paw Paw Jack, were coming over for Thanksgiving lunch and to open presents. Uncle Mike and his family will not be back for Christmas, so we decided to combine the two, which the kids thought was a great idea of course with presents to open and all. We tore open presents first, and then got started on the Thanksgiving lunch, everything turned out so great! We made it really special this year with Ann's, (Brian's mom) china, no paper plates this year. After the Thanksgiving lunch, this year we decided to put lights outside. Granted we decided to start with what we have and each year add something new. Just a few this year, but none the less the kids had a blast helping Brian put them up. They get excited every night to turn them on as well. We skipped out on shopping Black Friday this year. We did get out and get our family Christmas ornament. The first Christmas Brian and I were married that was a tradition we started, to get a new ornament for the tree each year. The kids helped pick it out this year, and it is fun to tell them about each ornament from years passed. Thanksgiving Holiday 09' ended with much love, thankfulness, gratitude, and many blessings in our hearts. We love this time of year, and we are looking forward to the Christmas Holiday just around the corner. New traditions, and plans to be made!!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Time to Reflect

Brian here...

Thankful for so many more things than I deserve. A savior that loves me unconditionally, a beautiful wife that I love more every day. Two kids, Izze and Ian, that make their daddy's heart melt every time our eyes meet. My dad (Jack) & brother (Michael). Friends I love (and that love me, even with my lack of sports knowledge). My Pastor & Mentor (Herbert). Thankful for the staff that I lead at People's Church. Incredibly thankful for our team of almost 90 people in the Music & production department at People's Church. Blessed, & very, very Thankful.

Brian

Mom's group Thanksgiving Party!

Today we had our mom's group Thanksgiving party at our house. The kids had a lot of fun playing with their friends, and doing a couple of crafts. We got to indulge in some yummy food as well, tis the season!
I am so very thankful for these ladies, and their kids. I know they make my life brighter. Thankfulness is in my heart today!!