My New Card Cabinet

Lane worked really hard today to finish my card cabinet! He's working on finishing the outside now - staining the door, etc. This is for our souvenir cards. We have 20 decks of cards so far from trips we've been on...the bottom row has extra playing cards until we fill it up! My favorite deck is on the third row, center...We could not find ANY playing cards with the words South Padre on them or even a beach illustration, so I ordered cards with a picture of the boys with their boogie boards.

Mason's Electric Guitar is here!!

Mason has been saving for quite a while to be able to buy an electric guitar. Before Christmas, he was thinking that he would have enough money next fall. He got some money for Christmas that put him being ready to buy in the summer. But, he checked the website the day after Christmas and found that it was on sale and he would be able to buy it right away. He was so diligently saving, and we are so excited for it to work out for him so much sooner than anticipated.

While we have been talking about how God clearly blessed Mason's diligence and patience in saving, we were able to see another way God worked when the guitar was delivered today. It specifically said that a "gig bag" was not included in the purchase. Mason even asked the guy at the store, just in case he might want to throw one in for him. No luck there, the guy said no. Well, look what the guitar came in!! A $60.00 gig bag!!

A really great show tonight!

This is by far the greatest show we have had by these performers!

Crowell Restaurant

The girls were having a tea party and decided to make Mark and I a special meal. So, we had homemade grape juice (made fresh by them squeezing grapes by hand into a cup and adding some water- yum!- see below), pretzels, and hot chocolate (one packet mix to about 1 quart water).

They set us up a table all nice with flowers and a picture of Mark and I. Shelby played some music for us on the plastic guitar that Toby got in his Christmas stocking.

Since there was music, I suggested we dance!

We were treated very nicely by our waitresses (except when they kept eating off of our plates!), so we gave them each a nice tip!

A Day of Games!

Nana and Grandad got the kids "Mayberry-opoly" - like "Monopoly," and it's a two to three hour game! Jake and Lane tied.

Nana and Grandad also got the boys Target gift cards, and they purchased a few Wii accessories today...one that helps shoot skeet. Nana and Grandad gave it a try. The patch on Grandad's ear is from a pre-cancerous skin spot removal.

Christmas is over......

Mom was so kind to stay an extra day to help us clean up Christmas. We enjoyed it all for a month, but it is over. After about 5 hours of packing and cleaning, mom may have wished she left on her original flight.

Mason got the fun job of dealing with the cords under the village table.

Tim's favorite job. He is teaching Mason to be able to take this over soon.

Nienstadt Christmas

First, I loved all the Christmas posts, sisters!!!!! We have such fun decorating the outside of our house!

I tried to get it a little lighter!

Last night (Christmas Day night) we turned off the lights, so the tree was bright, and cozied up to watch Miracle on 34th street- the girls got in their new sleeping bags!

Mena got Hannah matching pj's for her and her Mallory doll!

Christmas Eve day- we were at the Nienstadts...the nice mom that I am, made the girls run outside for a pic...without their coats!

Christmas morning...we built a "snow fort"...after lunch, we came home, hoping it was still up to take this picture!

A Very Blessed Day!

We have started a tradition of AK reading the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve. This was year 2! I love seeing pure joy on their little faces!

Wow! Not such a good hair day for me so far! Mal- I got some cozy pajama bottoms like yours for myself the other day!

Christmas at the Crowells- we had a great time!

We were a little worried about Tobs- he wouldn't eat most of the day, but finally ate a PB&J!

Mark gets good action shots! The girls LOVE Grandad!

I love this picture- is it too early to use for next year's Christmas Card???

Shelby would have made you all cry- She spent at least half of the time while we were there talking with Nana, showing her her new toys, and just visiting with her. She has a special gift for loving on older people!

The Chisms. Bregan is about 8 months old.

Now you know where Mark gets it.....This is what I am dealing with....

Hope you all had a wonderful day of celebration!

Andersons Arrive!

The Andersons arrived around 7-ish, and two hours later we've already eaten a very large meal, exchanged gifts, taught them Blokus, and started a Spades tournament!

Christmas in Sugar Land

We had a great Christmas! We started with stockings around 8:00.

After a traditional Christmas breakfast of Tim's banana pecan waffles, bacon, and pineapple, Mason and Mallory went on a scavenger hunt for their big gifts that were not wrapped. Mason got a backpacking backpack.

Mallory got a rifle. She was saving up for one, so this was a nice surprise for her.

Mal made mom this decorative pillowcase.

Tim was quite excited about his Springfield XD subcompact handgun.

After these gifts, we headed out to give away some blankets, food and water to people in need. It was quite interesting that this year we ended up giving it to some people who had a pit bull with them. Don't worry, see the picture above? Tim was armed and ready.

Our next stop was the shooting range. Mal really liked her 22 and she was a great shot.

Tim was glad to be able to shoot his gun just hours after opening it.

I had a picture on here of me shooting, but I deleted it for fear of the comments it would bring. Mason shot some clays with his shotgun. Actually, Mason and Tim shot all four guns we now own. I hardly believe I can say that.

We got home around 3:00 and opened a few more gifts. Christmas dinner was at 4:30. It looked a lot like Thanksgiving dinner! After dinner we opened the rest of the gifts and sat down to watch a new Tim Hawkins comedy DVD. It was so very funny! We are going to end the night with Miracle on 34th Street.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas Morning

We've enjoyed our Christmas Day...but no Nana and Grandad yet! It's 4:30, and they just called. I-20 was bumper to bumper, so they've gotten off the Interstate and hope to be here about 7 p.m.! Hope you all had a great day! Love, Julie

Christmas Eve

We did all of our traditional Christmas Eve activities tonight. We started the evening by going to the Christmas Eve service at church. This year it was especially good!

After the service, we always go to Pappadeaux. Greek salad and Cedar Plank Salmon.. Yum!

Mason and Mallory always open their gifts to each other on Christmas Eve.

They got each other shirts from Family Christian.

We are now watching the Muppets Christmas Carol. It is such a cute movie.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!