The artful blessing!

As I began to clean and take down a few of the Christmas things, I came across something truly lovely, and my heart dropped.
Shelly and Isabel sat at the little kids table many hours while she was here. Each time I saw then together they were at that table, chatting, laughing, coloring away.i guess it was silly of me to think Shelly was coloring pictures from a coloring book. She was drawing pictures for Isabel. These will always be framed in our home. A favorite Christmas gift of mine. I only wish you could see the detail and color in them. Left to right: Cherries, plantlife, hearts, and Isabel. Thank you Shelly for being so beautiful inside and out to care to be with, nurture, create and encourage the spirit of a child.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to get in my Merry Christmas to you before New Years hits...tomorrow!!

We hope you enjoyed a peaceful holiday.  We sure did.  These are just a few to share this
evening...until I get the rest up.  We had such a special time with Mom and Dad, Shelly and Jeremy.
It was a WHITE CHRISTMAS!  I believe just for them.  It began snowing Christmas Eve, then again Christmas day and the day after.....and there is not snow in the forecast again for another week.
They are so special and so sweet.  My family is just such a blessing to me and every minute was such a JOY having them here.  As we all know...you blink and it's over..  but ever since we moved away, I made a promise to myself to hold on to those memories, and when i miss them, I think about the joy in those memories and it really gets me through until the next time we are together.  
Family is all that matters.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!  We are going to a little get together with friends... then hopefully landing on the couch to watch the ball drop.
Looking forward to 2013 and what God has for all!

BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

Christmas is coming!

A few last requests please Santa...

We've been very good boys and girls!

Luke just found a crazy good last minute deal on-line!  haha - J/K!

Are you ready for Christmas? All I want for Christmas is to get a mani and pedi! Or else it will just be a Christmas catastrophe!  All this preparation is hard on the nails....

This week we are cleaning, baking, wrapping, fluffing, playing, snacking, singing, dancing, praying, celebrating, preparing to get ready for.....

 NINA, POPS, SHELLY, and JEREMY!  

We are e-x-c-i-t-e-d! ! ! ! ! ! 

A few Christmas pretties...

Really hoping to catch up on blogging soon!

What a blessed, wonderful time of year to not be blogging though....too many Christmas books to read..cookies to bake...gifts to wrap...movies to watch...snuggles to be had!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TIME TO YOU

XOXO

O Christmas Tree!

Look it's Clark Griswald!  Isn't she a "beaut"? 

{The tree i mean}  ;)

Well....the Friday after Thanksgiving, I earned my Prarie wife Christmas tree badge! Yes indeed! We made the trek in the cold and snow to find our very own, hand picked tree from the great Wyoming mountains!  Not to be disappointed!! Our wonderful friends, the HOlman family, invited us along, and how could we turn that down?!  This is a tradition for their family, and this year, they were so nice to let us tag along and see how it is done.  All the kids couldn't have been happier and more excited.

Look at all the beautiful Christmas trees....

Isabel and Gillian have great fun together, as the only two girls!  And they are classmates too!

 Our family picture in front of "the tree"!

Just gorgeous...

 Here they go!  Stand back!!!

The strong boys will now make the long walk back!  Gosh i wish I lived in the olden days..

Two sweet boys!  Luke and J. D.

FREEZING...the Mama's and babes hitch a ride back to the campfire, where warm soup and hot chocolate await..

J.D., Luke, Gillian, and Wes....wet, cold, tired...but HAPPY!!

Oh golden memories made!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU HOLMAN FAMILY!!

a little time in Colorado...

{Give Thanks}

For each new morning 
with it's light
For rest and shelter 
of the night
For health and food
and love and friends
FOR EVERYTHING
Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~