Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We just got back from 6 days in TN visiting Luke's family. We got to meet our new nephew, Miller who was born on the 18th. He was fresh from the womb! I'll post pics soon. He is just so precious! The kids got to play with all their cousins - 7 of them now. Our Christmas was a very different this year b/c we weren't at home like usual. I assured Olivia that Santa would know to visit her in TN. We woke up Christmas morning at the Hampton. Very different. We were at Luke's sister - Lisa's house by 8:30 opening up presents. I just want to thank Starbucks for being open on Christmas morning. It was by far the best latte I have ever had. Anyways, Lisa has 4 boys (newborn - Miller, Harrison - 8, Parker - 13 and Houston - 18) and they got everything imaginable that a boy could want. So - Lane and Cam had fun over there. Then, after Lisa's we went to his other sister- Helen's house. Helen has 3 girls (Sophie - 8, Anna - 5 and Reecie - 3). We switched genders to the extreme. Everything pink and foo-foo was under their tree. Olivia was much happier at Helen's.

We drove in our driveway at 11pm last night. We had to literally slither out of our jam-packed car! We couldn't have fit one more toy in there.

Glad to be home, glad to be in our own beds, & will be real glad when school starts back up. Now all we need to do is find Cam's lost snake so I can sleep!

I had the honor of taking pictures of this sweet family today

One of my faves

Youngest (until April!)

Only boy

Oldest Girl

Ryder is prepped and ready to get his ear tube fixed that is lodged in the canal incorrectly.

Feeling really good after the "magic juice"

Camo'd

Thanks Unka Chad & Aunt Taylor for the awesome, warm, cozy camo!!!

Busy Busy

I have been bad at keeping up my blog lately. Super busy with pictures right now. Yesterday I took some indoor shots (wonder why??) of Olivia's friend. I am NOT a huge fan of indoor pictures - mainly b/c it is not the lighting I prefer. As I was setting up my little studio Ryder, Olivia and Cam became my guinea pics. As you can tell I didn't have my settings quite right when taking the one of Olivia and Ryder. I loved that they were holding hands! Cam's was better and the ones of Olivia's friend turned out good.

Baby Ava

Shoots done recently

Thankful at Thirty-three

For obvious reasons I have been thinking a lot this past week about what I am thankful for at this point in my life. I can't believe I am already 33! Wow - life is really going by fast. Have I not said that a gazillion times!
I am thankful in this season of my life that I have hands. Hands to serve my family and others, hands to prepare food for my family, tuck my kids in and give them hugs. Hands to hold with my best friend, my "love-muffin". My hands can clap for my Savior during worship and for my kids on the field. My hands are not all that appealing - they look worn already. Luke sometimes will look at them and say with pity in his eyes "we're getting old". I think that having worn hands is not all that bad - I want my hands to be worn long before their years from serving and loving others!
I have so many other things that I am thankful for as well. But, my hands are on the top of my list this year.

Thanksgiving Day

We had a different, but great Thanksgiving this year. We didn't have any family come up and weren't able to go anywhere so our friends, Amber and Charles Colaw invited us to Charles' parent's house for dinner. They both live only a few houses down from us. There were lots of people there - there are a lot of Colaws in this town! We had such a great time. The kids played outside almost the entire time, even though it was freezing. There was so much good food - I can't explain how fat I feel right now! We are lounging around the house right now like beached whales.
I have to tell you about Charles' grandparents (paternal). They have been married for 70 years, but from the way they look at eachother and treat eachother you would think they are newlyweds. They were so sweet! I took a couple pictures of them to remind me of how I hope Luke and I will be after 70 years of marriage.







Olivia and I had so much fun cooking for the "feast". She is getting to be quite the cook. Of course, Ryder had to be right in the middle of us - trying to taste test everything and let Blaze test taste too. I can't tell you how many times we said "Ryder - no!". What a mess he is.


Everyone is anxiously awaiting the food - but first we go around the room and say one thing we are thankful for. Me - family and friends. The oddest one - a monkey named Tim.... interesting! That was from Trey - 11. Check out Luke (orange shirt) - digging in Ryder's drawers for poo. Lovely.


Lot of people and lots of food.

The boys played football outside for hours

The 20 degree weather didn't keep them from being outside!

Olivia at her Thanksgiving Feast at school

I am still in shock that Cam let me take his picture - AND he is smiling!

Hayden and Trinity strolling by

Playing in the leaves

Her hair is getting so long.

Beautiful Betsy at work directing the Girl Scout fashion show

Cam on his way to UT

Ryder could live outdoors

Random shot - just thought it was a comical concession stand

Hubba hubba!!!!

Yea, his mom rocks b/c she made cinnamon rolls for breakfast

At the church Thanksgiving feast. We were anxious and got there a little early

Lane & Trey at PRESS stretching & getting ready to pump some iron - or whatever they say

Me at work after one of those mornings that didn't involve a hair brush!

This is where I spend a great deal of my life.

He is even more cute when he's sleeping.

Finally - a free night

Lane and Cam's sports finally ended last week and I am so excited. We will finally have dinner together - at the dining room table - not the car.

Olivia was cracking me up at Lane's soccer game.

Bleachers are for jumping - not sitting

He's contemplating the big jump

Disturbing...

Skate-or-die

Ouch!