Holidays....in review

Quick little review of the holiday seasons......we had Thanksgiving here with B's family and my mom, dad, sister, brother in law and niece came to visit also!!! So we had a great time with the WHOLE family!!

For twelve years now we have alternated Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays since we live 6 hours away from my parents and 2 hours away from my sister and her family- we can't make both families houses the same day!! It has always worked out good that way. Since we have had children we have also alternated Easter and Mother's Day in the spring. Here is a picture we took of my side of the family this fall. First time since 2008- I would say it was over due!! Not bad for setting my camera up on a tri-pod and running to get in the picture!!

My sis, mom and me Thanksgiving morning......if the food wasn't good at least we had a good time and looked good fixing it!!

B's side of the family.....Our family with his sister, niece, aunt, uncle, mom, dad, grandmothers, and grandpa. Thanksgiving day at his mom and dad's house.

We spent Christmas in Oklahoma......glad we got spend 3 days seeing and spending time with my Papaw......he was 89 in November!! We LOVE our Papaw!!!

Poppie's gift to the grand kids was......a guitar like his.....so now he has his own band!!! Got to love on my girl- my niece lil AG.....love her and getting to play dolls with her!!! Not my best picture.....but it WAS Christmas morning!!!

The Christmas morning excitement is still the same because Santa came to Oklahoma instead of our house. And cookies and milk taste just as good right??

T asked for a Transformer Bumblebee and C a Batman castle....he LOVES batman!!! So they were both so excited Christmas morning to see that Santa had come to visit!!

and he played and played and played with his batman castle for 12 hours straight!!!!! Santa got his monies worth in the first day!!! Then when we arrived home we opened our gifts.....from us to the boys!! We gave the boys bikes this year....lots of fun!! We barely made it home before dark to ride the new bikes!!

I love the aftermath of Christmas presents everywhere.....signs of life and healthy children!! C didn't want to go outside and ride.....we had to pry him off the batman castle.....T on the other hand was SUPER excited and could not wait!!!

This is our Family Christmas photo for 2010.....the night before the tree came down....we posed of it via self timer on the camera!!! I think the boys get a kick out of watching me RUN to get in the picture!!My 33rd Birthday is 5 days after Christmas my boys gave me a new purse!!! I love it!!!

We got a few snow days in January and daddy got to stay home from work due to icy roads!!

B was getting the boys ready to pull behind the 4 wheeler....courteous of Uncle Charlie and his "clean" trash bin lid. When you live in the south and you rarely get snow....sleds are few and far between....you must be very creative. I saw everything from trash bin lids, knee boards, laundry baskets, ice chest and a Dodge car hood that people were using as a sled!! BUT we have the 4 wheeler to do it- where there's a will there's a way......even if it is the redneck way!!!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells Jingle all the way!!! Oh what fun it is to ride on a trash can lid pulled by daddy's 4 wheeler...HEY!! The boys laughed and sang that song the whole time!! I rode a couple of rounds and felt it the next day.....trash bin lids don't have that much cushion on them!! But it was fun while it lasted!!

The boys built a snowman.....made of sleet!!! Frosty the Sleet man....had Hershey kiss eyes, peanut butter cracker button, and a carrot nose!!
The little boys had a good time on the 4 wheeler with my big boy too!!

That is a wrap of what we have done of the few months of my lack of blogging we have still stayed busy!!!

So far so good!!!

Mollie

Easter Fun @ our House....

We had a great Easter Sunday- starting with a WONDERFUL church service. As far as I was concerned I could have left after the singing was over- it was so good!! I woke up singing "UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE!!" That was the first song we sang in church. Then Brother Steven preached and AWESOME message. Easter is so refreshing to know that someone who lived long before I did- yet knew of all my sins and short falls before I ever was born....to die FOR ME!!! I can celebrate everyday not JUST Easter but each day for my Eternal LIFE with my Heavenly Father!!

Then back to our house we went to enjoy a lunch and fun games with the kids. We had a FULL house of family & friends. 12 adults and 3 kids....we had chicken, ham, twice baked potatoes, green bean bundles, fruit salad, green layered salad.....and desserts GALORE!!! Needless to say the DIET was OFF!!

I just love entertaining....I LOVE using my china, crystal & silver. This year I used my Mamaw's dogwood China and then some of mine. It was so special and I knew she was looking down smiling seeing her dishes on my table!!

Every chance I can get to use my China & Crystal!! That is what it is for right?? The only thing is it takes forever to clean it all BY HAND!! That is why I am glad I just use it for special occasions. I got my centerpiece at Hobby Lobby- it is a scene of a stone rolled away with Jesus standing outside....it is kinda hidden by the salt & pepper shakers in the picture. T loved it and loves to talk about Jesus and how he died for our sins!!

The kids decorated a cake with Aunt Vickie....it was on the cover of a local grocery store add. It was a chocolate cake with chocolate icing....then add yellow peeps and chocolate chips in the middle to make it look like a sunflower!! They did great- C although got a little chocolate on his hand and could not figure out how to get it off.....so he wiped it on anything he could find! He had an immediate wardrobe change...how he got it on the BACK of his shirt I will never know?? But the CAKE was great!! Thanks Aunt Vickie for your help....you did great!!

Yes, I forgot to take an AFTER picture...I was busy with the chicken that didn't cook all the way...Thanks to Pampered Chef and my new covered stone- I finished baking it in the microwave for 15 minutes!! It was my first time to fix 3 WHOLE chickens at the same time....I did not judge the time and degrees right......but it baked perfect in the stone!!

So how hard to do think it is to get three kids to stand and smile in their Easter outfits......TAKE ONE..... TAKE TWO...... TAKE THREE- FORGET IT!!!

C would not put his gun down- or stand still and AG would not look up- Good Ole T stood and grinned the whole time.....I know 20 years from now on Easter Sunday we can pull these pictures out and laugh!! But at the time we were all sweating trying to make kids smile!!

So on to what they really wanted to do.....hunt some Easter Eggs!!! The older ones really were into it. And the both are VERY competitive too!!! C was ok with it but eventually got tired of it. He got some help from MiMi on a few eggs- because he was getting tired of getting run over!!

Okay truth be known they were ALL empty eggs.....I am not a BIG fan of candy or JUNK that comes along with holidays......so I was going to fill the eggs with spare change. Well, then I thought what if it all fell out in the yard.....so I told them whoever found the MOST eggs wins a DOLLAR!!! After about a half full truck load for T he looked up and said "this good- do I win a dollar!!" I ended up giving all the kids a dollar for all their hard work!! They had a fun and it shows too!!We did give the kids a bag of goodies with books, and a few small toys. Pretty sad when you are done eating lunch and T walks up and asks...."when do we open presents??" B told him this is NOT Christmas....this is Easter!! So funny how kids think and then funnier when the say it out loud!!

We had a great weekend....How did you celebrate Jesus this weekend with your family??

BIG thanks to Jill & Charlie for the Roses for my table....they looked good again today and I am enjoying them!!

Mollie

Snow ride.... minus the Snow....plus the cold!!!

Friday night we went on a Snow ride with the Children at Church!!! Lots of Fun, we drove through neighborhoods and sang Christmas Carols. Ate Chili before we left then came back and had Hot Chocolate here are some pics we had a BLAST!!!

It is moments like this when kids really remember the fun times and the memorable moments of life, I know when I was a kid I enjoyed things like this. Luckily our daddy made it in just in time to enjoy it with us!!

What do you do for FUN during Christmas time to show the true Spirit of Christmas??

Mollie

Advent Conspiracy

This weekend at church our pastor spoke on Advent Conspiracy.... it was wonderful!!
I just want to share my thoughts and my way of thinking on Christmas.

It seems like so many people put so much into gifts and Santa that when the holidays are over.... there is an emptiness. I had a very close friend of mine come very close to death this year in her battle with cancer. I lost my grandmother to an illness. We lost our family pet of 6 years too. There have been those very few things this year for us that have been challenging.

If it were not for the LOVE that I have for God and his son Jesus who died on the cross for my sins & sickness.... I could not face another day. Jesus is the real reason for this season. I myself know that and have been brought up knowing that- but it is so easy to forget when you see the SALE rack at the local store and want that RUSH from all the hype about shopping.

The Scripture that says "do not be conformed to this world- but TRANSFORMED, by the renewing of your minds" (Romas 12:2) I have to daily remind myself. That is this what God wants for me or my family.

I can remember as a child pouting after Christmas morning when I opened my presents from my parents that were Roper boots that I had wanted.... only in BROWN not BLACK!!! WHAT a brat!!! If that would have been my kids today..... spanking & to your room- I will take them back to the store!! REALLY, I would - Did my parents, no they went and got grey... they were out of black. But, I didn't care I was a kid!! My dad worked hard for a living and I was always very appreciative- but I don't think I realized how hard he worked or how little they sacrificed for us, until I became an adult/parent!! Maybe if they would have made me go work at the Salvation Army food line on Christmas Eve- I would have seen what I had and be thankful for any boots on my feet!! Let alone Feet that work and are healthy enough to walk on!!

Already, I can see in T who is only 4- when he gets a toy or gift that he doesn't care for that much.... he looks at what C has with at look of intent and pouts with his little red lip out saying " I don't want mine- I want what he has!" Yes, this is what kids do- But I don't want my children to do it. WHERE Do you start?? How do you end this attitude that for years has gone on in so many people.

Here we live in a FREE country can do just about anything we want to if it is legal..... yet all we can do is complain about it is not enough. Do you think that Jesus thought about himself or others while he hung on the cross and and was beaten and spit on.... hmmmm..... yeah WE WERE the REASON that HE SUFFERED & DIED!!!

So, although I have almost all my Christmas shopping done. I did go and pick one more child off the angel tree at church. We are going to buy food for another family here in town. And my sister has mentioned this year sending money to a forgein country for a family to buy a chicken & some vegetables to eat- Instead drawing names and wasting time & money on something that you will have to stand 2 hours in line to return!!

We did in fact start last year after Christmas, I had T to clean out toys making room for all the new ones. Told him to pick 3 toys to give away to some kids who had NOTHING!!! He did not completely understand it..... told me he could give some of C's toys away "because his toys might not be age appropriate for little ones" Honestly, people I cannot make this stuff up- Have no clue where he gets it from!! FINALLY, he chose ONE Thomas the Train to give to the kids at our local homeless shelter- when he had to look around and see that they did not have anything!! He then wanted to give them more!!

Last year we also were given a Little People Natvity set from GiGi and the boys LOVED IT!! We have played with it all year long- it is good to talk about Jesus all year long, not just a Christmas too!! We had a Happy Birthday Party for him too- cake, candles & all!!

So remember this season is the that we should celebrate Jesus, buy giving ourselves and time for the ones who need it the most!! Take the time to share his word with those who have possibly never heard it. If it were not for the gift that Mary & Joseph received those many years ago in a stable in Bethlehem, we would not have the eternal life promised by him!!

This season we hope to:

Worship Fully

Spend Less

Give More

& LOVE ALL

Mollie Moses

Thanksgiving Feast!!

Two in fact. We had a wonderful feast at B's aunt Donna's house on Saturday before Thanksgiving. Then once again on Thanksgiving Day at my sister's house in Texas.

Needless to say.... I have gained back a few lbs. I lost a few weeks before the holiday season began. Not to worry, I will run to catch up with that wagon I fell off of... maybe I can sweat a little running to catch up?

Here are some pictures from Turkey Day!!

Donna does it up... she is a great decorator

Donna, Mamaw, Deb & BoBo

Mamaw & C

cousin C, TK, & Uncle Mark

TK & his Nonna

Gotta LOVE those BLUES!!!

Aunt Deb & Roxette

J & J with baby TK

Texas Thanksgiving!! LaLa cookin' & samplin'

Enjoying all the great food!!

gotta love the kid table!!

The Family

workin' off the BIG lunch!!

My very favorite reason for Holiday season.... GREEN BEAN BUNDLES!!!! YUMMO!!! Every party every get together..... everywhere!!!

Hope you had a good one!!

I did not get to go Black Friday shopping..... due to HUNTING SEASON!!! Now that I have kids- that sleep til 9 mind you. I did however talk aunt Donna into playing Santa. As we were driving to Texas- T said in the back seat "Look this is what Santa is gonna bring us C." I said "let me take a look?" Much to my surprise the toy that they want (or were talked into wanting... they are still young I can do that, and get away with it) was on SALE and then a 20% off coupon. AWESOME!!! Then I thought how in the world am I gonna get these kids up and out the door at 7am then to the store to buy it.... then to hit the HUGE thing???? So, as always trusty aunt Donna I called her and her response "yes, sure- I love those boys and their family and will do anything for them!!" Gotta love some aunt Donna!!!

Thanks Donna, we love you too!!

Mollie