Christmas 2008...New Years Day

Finally I get to make our Christmas on New Years post. My internet has been down since New Years. We had a very busy but fun time all together. This year the kids came in on New Years Eve to start our Christmas celebration. Kim , Scott and Cooper got her Wednesday around noon. Ashley, Jordan, Morgan and Kennedy came in around 6 that evening. Kim, Scott, Cooper and I made a trip out to Air Tractor to visit PaPaw. That evening we enjoyed lots of yummy finger foods and celebrated the New Year coming in together. Whitney and Jason came down New Years Day. We had a steak lunch and opened gifts. The weather was wonderful so we ventured outside for awhile. Morgan rode Ginger and Cooper got his first ride. Kennedy enjoyed petting the horses and sitting on Blaze. The guys did a little trap shooting there at the house. We rode the ranger around and just enjoyed the out doors. Ashley and Jordan had to go back to Abilene Thursday night since Ash had to work on Friday. They came back Friday night. Friday, Kim, Whit, Kennedy, Cooper and I had a fun day of shopping in Wichita Falls. Morgan stayed home with MaMaw and enjoyed a trip to the Sonic, the park, Dollar General and doing about whatever she talked MaMaw into doing that day. We had fun on our girls day out. It has been a long time since we have had one of those. Kennedy and Cooper were both really good at town. We had several people ask if they were twins. Saturday we all went to Mondie and Dale's for our extended family Christmas together. The guys enjoyed trap shooting while the girls rode the ranger and checked on the cows. Others stayed inside to visit and Morgan loved playing with the dogs and checking out the pigs and the cows. I think Kennedy and Cooper were pretty much just held all day. Peyton enjoyed playing outside with Morgan, riding the ranger and checking on the animals too. We had a very large lunch and can you believe the guys barbequed during the day and we had ribs and ect that night. Saturday night Morgan wanted to camp out in the trailer. So, she and I slept out there. It was warm that day but a cold front came in during the night. Needless to say I froze to death but I think I kept her snuggled up close enough that she was warm. Sunday we all attended church together. We had chicken tacos for lunch and whatever else I got out of the icebox. I wanted all the food gone when everyone left. We had a WONDERFUL time together with everyone there. With eight adults and three children in one house, we went through tons of paper cups and went through lots of rolls of toilet paper and took out tons of trash but it was alot of fun I think everyone's gifts all turned out good and everyone had a enjoyable time together. Eveyone starting loading up around two and I believe Ashley and Jordan were the last to leave. Morgan always ask, daddy can we stay just one more day. I started putting thisngs back in place and finished up around nine that night. It took me a few days to get rested back up but I did and now I am ready to go again. Merry Christmas to you all and hope you enjoyed being home for a few days. I know you were all ready to be back to your own homes but I sure did appreciate your all being her for a few days. Love all you kiddos (big and small) and thanks for the gifts you gave and the GIFT of just being here.



Scott, Kim and Cooper witn an Air Tractor

Paw Paw showing off Cooper...but he was getting a little tired of it all.

PawPaw and Cooper

Cooper laughing at PawPaw

Scott getting Morgan as she came in the door

Ashley and Jordan entering with Kennedy

Morgan wanted to play circus. So, I dressed Donald up like a clown.

<>Morgan was the trapeze girl. It was hilarious!!!!!!!

Cooper smiling at the pretty girl (Kennedy) and even holding hands!

Cooper, Morgan and Kennedy enjoying the presents.

Gana and Morgan opening gifts

Jason, Whitney & Morgan

Lacey even got a couple of gifts.

MaMaw and Kennedy

Ashley and her new jacket.

Morgan opening one of her many gifts

Jordan looks like he liked what came in his
little stocking

Kennedy and her BIG BLUE eyes

Kennedy opening her gifts

Cooper enjoying his new bumbo seat

Gana showing off her new necklace, earrings and bracelet.

Morgan with her coffee mug. The handle had gotten broken in the mail and she was terribly upset about it. We like to drink coffee together so I thought this would be a nice keepsake. I called and the company sent me a new one. So Morgan you are good to go now!



Cooper in his new bag from the Johns family.

Cooper riding his own "Ginger". He and Kennedy both got one.

Morgan and Cooper on Ginger with the guys by their side.

Kennedy and PawPaw with Blaze. She loved petting the horse...

the horses loved it too!!!!

Jordan, Ashley and Kennedy.

Morgan in the ranger.

Morgan holding Cooper

Kennedy in her Johnny Jumper.
She really got to going in that thing.

Kimberly, Kennedy and Cooper at our shoppping outing. Whitney had to go to Mozzios because that was her favorite place to eat in WF.

Morgan and Peyton playing the piano.

Five generations

PawPaw showing off his elk and deer to Cooper

div>

Almost Christmas....

Just a few pictures of some of the Christmas decorations around the house, a few Christmas memories and Rudolf (that Morgan created).



Merry Christmas from Ashley when she was

around 7 years old.

I still get these mugs out every Christmas to enjoy.

A little new on the tree this year.

Actually the tree looks better in real
than in the pictures I think.

I added a little to an old table decoration to make it larger.

Morgan even had to put a red nose on the deer to be Rudolf.

New mantle decorations this year.

Tree and some of the gifts

Believe it or not, I bought my last gift tonight. I am still waiting for a few to be delivered in the mail. It is good that we are having Christmas with the kids a week later huh. Guess everyone is wondering why I have pictures of coffee mugs posted. Ashley, do you remember those? Ash got those for us probably sixteen years ago. She actually rode her bike to town to the convience store and bought them even though she was not suppose to go off like that on her bike. Every year I get the mugs out in December and enjoy my coffee out of them. One Christmas MaMaw took the girls to town to shop for us a gift. I remember one gown especially they got me. It said, don't mess with me, you know how I get and had a little ole lady with her arms crossed and a grumpy look on her face. Do you think they were trying to tell me something? I think I still have that thing packed down in a cedar chest even though I wore it out. I just could not part with it. Morgan & Kennedy, maybe I can find it and you can pass it to your mom for Christmas one year reckon. Or Cooper, you might want to give it to your mom. Precious Christmas memories, oh how I love them!!!! This will be the first year since the kids have been born that they have not been home for Christmas. It will be a change for us but I know we must share since they all have more family now. It will be ok, we will just have ours a week later. Sounds like I needed the extra week anyways to get it all done. I know we are so blessed to have such a great family to spend time with and I hope each and every one of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mom....What Are You Doing Saturday???

Ok, this happened two weeks ago but I needed to keep up. Kim calls On Friday night. Mom, what are you doing Saturday? Well I was going to WF to get my Christmas shopping done. Remember last week, Whit calls and says mom what are you doing this weekend and I said well I was planning on going Christmas shopping. I ended up keeping Morgan and Kennedy for three days. So, the next weekend I am going to go get it all done and Kim calls with the same question. Mom, would you mind keeping Cooper while Scott and I finsih up our shopping. Donald and I planned on going to to their house Sat morning. Low and behold Scott gets sick with a virus but we go ahead and go. Donald and Kim go shopping and I stayed home with Cooper. Sunday we did all go to Arlington and I got a few things done but it was a total mad house there. We mostly worked on getting Kim something to wear to Scott's work Christmas party. Above are some of the pictures I got that weekend. Cooper had really grown. You "KNOW" I would not turn down getting to keep the little ones....so I still had my shopping to do.

Catching Up ...Again

Ashley and Jordan being interviewed by Abilene Reporter News at the luncheon
Some of the Thanksgiving food

Morgan riding Rudolf and PaPaw decorating (???)
Morgan and Kennedy in Bible Class
Kennedy at the Fantasy of Lights
Morgan in front of Santa soaking his feet
Morgan and Kennedy at the Fantasy of Lights
Kennedy was all bundled up
Morgan and the little train that says "I think I can" This was her mom's favorite when she was little.
Oopps a duplicate.
Morgan and Ganna in the Ice Cream truck
Kennedy riding to Wichita Falls
Kennedy sitting and playing
Morgan and Kennedy playing with my doll I had when I was a little girl. (It is OLD)
Morgan riding Ginger
Morgan and PaPaw hauling wood to the back porch.
We built a nice fire Friday night.
Morgan was a big helper
Giving Ginger a little loving
Morgan feeding Ginger
Like PaPaw...like Morgan
The guys waiting for Thanksgiving lunch
Headed to the barn

Morgan, Cooper and Kennedy at Thanksgiving

Cousins, Cooper and Kennedy

Seems like I am always behind on my blogging so I will catch up from Thanksgiving, Big Brother, Big Sister luncheon and weekend with the little girls.

My pictures are not in order but guess they will have to do. One of these days I am going to get this all down but for now I am doing good to just get a post made.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend in Abilene. The food turned out good even if I had to cook it. The company was great and it was just wonderful spending time with everyone and all the little ones. We all attended the ACU football game on Saturday. ACU had their first loss of the year but that put them out of the playoffs. It was sad to see them loose but I bet I know some girls that will be glad to have their daddy and husband home a little more now. Congratulations Jason on a great year. Sunday we attended church together and had lunch at Ashley's before we all headed back home.

Thursday, I decided to take the day off and attend the Big Brother, Big Sister luncheon with Ashley and Jordan. I am so glad I went because they showed their video and presented the winner that day. We had no idea they were doing that. Guess what? Ashley and Jordan won the video contest and received a video camera for first place. I was so proud for them, but most of all I was PROUD OF THEM for giving their time to make a difference in a child's life. I got to meet Ashley's boss and "K's" mother and grandparents also. I am glad I took my kleenex along because I shed a few tears just watching the video.

I brought Morgan and Kennedy home with me from Abilene Thursday also. MaMaw kept them for me on Friday. Morgan thinks MaMaw is just one of the kids because she plays with her so much. Isn't it neat that she knows her great grandmother so well. She always wants to know where's MaMaw or says well how's MaMaw doing. I think MaMaw was pretty worn out by the time I got off of work. We had a great weekend. Morgan helped her PaPaw feed the horses, haul fire wood and help with Christmas decorations and even got a little riding time in. Donald and I decided to take the girls to the Fantasy of Lights Saturday since it was always a Christmas tradition when the girls were growing up. Morgan loved them and I think Kennedy enjoyed them too. Ha!

Cooper, maybe your mommy and daddy will be ready for a break next year and you can come spend the weekend with us and go see the Fantasy of Lights with Morgan and Kennedy.

Sunday we all went to church. Morgan and Kennedy went to Mondie's class. Morgan is a little too old for that class, but she said she did not know anyone else in the other class so she wanted to go there. (She is so shy about meeting people you know) Ha!

Morgan was begging her daddy to please let her stay "just one" more night. We even turned the reindeer into Rudolf. I will post pictures of that later. It was a wonderful few days with the kiddos. Donald and I laughed when we were at the mall (taking Morgan to see Santa) hoping no one was watching us as we tried to get the stroller set up. Morgan told her PaPaw that he had the carrier on backwards. Oopps! We are a little out of tune on those things these days.

It has been a busy few weeks. I have been working on the Christmas decorations so I will make a post on that soon...hopefully before Christmas is over. Thanks everyone for sharing your time with us. We love you all very much.