Good Bye 2012

Yes, this is some stellar Hot Chocolate. It has been helping us get over some of these very chilly days we have been having. 

I have spent a lot of time today reflecting on the past year. There have been some high points and some very low places as well. I know that 2013 will bring many changes for our family. We will just take one day at a time and let God guide us. I also pray that God will guide our country in the coming year. So here is to the New Year! We are looking forward with hope and keeping our eyes on God.

Bloopers

In the midst of my fever induced Flu fog, one afternoon a few weeks ago, I decided to snap some Christmas pics in front of the tree. Bentley did not agree! Honestly, he got down right mean and nasty!

 

Christmas Wrap Up

Santa brought a few more gifts for Camden. He had already been to our house and he just wanted to surprise Camden since we were visiting family. Then we were off to my sister's for our Christmas morning breakfast and more gifts.

Santa's little helper. Spooky eyes!

 Long standing tradition of these three in front of the tree..

 Camden did get the new cleaning supplies that he asked for. Just look at the joy on his face!

I also got some special gifts this year. These are just a few...some new rocking horse ornaments for my collection.

Camden told Daddy this morning that he didn't get the one thing that he really wanted for Christmas. Tim told Camden that he didn't tell us what it was. Camden said, "Well I thought it in my head!" Santa is not a mind reader, is he?
 
 And that's a wrap! We missed out on a lot of Christmas activities this year due to illness, but it was still a memorable one. So thankful that we got to spend time with most all of our family members and just to know Jesus and celebrate his birth. After all, that is what Christmas is really about.

Christmas 2012

I don't even know where to begin...we had so much fun visiting family and eating a ton of food and not to mention a truck load of gifts! Everywhere we went the food was abundant!

 Can't have Christmas without some Turkey!

 

 I even found some of this.  The funniest thing ever. Who knew?

 There were so many gifts that it was hard to keep up with them all.

 Lots of cousin time!

 After Christmas Eve service we went home to get ready for Santa!
Camden was really into the magic this year!!! He was especially worried about Santa's reindeer.

 

Memory Bear

We found two of Poppy's shirts to have made into a Memory Bear. The stripe shirt is the one that he wore to Tim's Pin On Ceremony when he made Senior Master Sergeant. The plaid shirt is the one he wore at the beach his last summer with us and we all had such a wonderful time together. We have pictures of him in both of the shirts that hold some very special memories. We wanted to give this very special  bear to Grandma for Christmas. 

Here is a piece of the stripe shirt tucked into his little back pocket.

He turned out to be beautiful and I think she loved it!

Merry Christmas!

May all that He is bring you all that you need at Christmas and throughout the New Year.

Jesus is the gift that perfectly fits the size of every heart.

~DaySpring~

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Santa Came Early

Santa decided to come see us a little early, like last weekend. He is so sneaky like that. Camden got a CD player and some cool Army gear. However, he did tell Grandma that it was "FBI" stuff. Someone is a little confused....must be all the presents.

 Yes, Santa we do have a Chimney!

 This was actually from a sweet friend who dropped this off on our door step the night before. It was just what Camden wanted!

 Even Bentley got some love from Santa!

 I got another really cool clock. My other one bought the farm a few months ago, never to be heard from again!

 Daddy got some money to buy a new pressure washer. I guess Santa couldn't fit a real one in his sleigh! We sure did have a fun morning from what I could remember of it. The Great Flu epidemic was still hanging onto us!

Party Time

That's right friends, the Christmas spirit has whirled right in and taken us over. We all recovered from our sickness long enough to make it home to enjoy some much needed time with family! We have only hit a few rough spots. One incident involved a skunk and Tim and a very bad odor, then Camden got attacked by Kelly's dog. The dog took a bite right out of his boot. There were no real injuries thank goodness. Now, my dad has come down with some kind of Flu sickness. We are all staying as far away as possible!

We have been to a church service and two parties so far. Many more parties to go! We are just soaking it all in and so thankful for many blessings!

The Gifts

At Susie's First Annual Work Party we got so many great gifts. Amanda found these really neat towel wraps and we had to sport them for the camera! I got this really cool Jim Shore pumpkin bird house. He is cute!

 Since I love me some cupcakes, Susie gave me this awesome cook book. And I didn't get a picture but she also gave me a little Christmas tree with cupcake ornaments. It is adorable.

 I love my new Hot Chocolate mug!

 These are only a few of the gifts, but everything was just perfect! 

And just because this is so unbelievable....Tim came home with a very swollen and painful Lymph Node under his arm. After a trip to the doctor yesterday morning it is confirmed that his body is fighting off an infection. An infection that the doctor believes is from the Flu germ that he has been exposed to by me and Camden. Thank goodness he was the only smart one in the house to actually get a Flu shot or it could be a whole lot worse for him. Merry Christmas to us!!! 

Party On

Since we were not going to have our traditional work party at the Creek this year, us girls decided to have our own at Susie's. Susie's sister joined us for the festivities. We had so much fun and the food was superb. We played Christmas trivia and got a little silly. 

Even the guys got to have fun. 

Girls can rock a mustache!

 Someone needed some coffee!

 Isn't Susie's tree lovely. It is a real one and was just gorgeous.

Even Sally Grace had fun.

 Thanks to my fabulous photographer friend Stephanie for the pictures! When we arrived I took about four pictures and then my camera battery pooped out so I borrowed these from Stephanie! It was a great party and we had tons of laughs. This was the last thing I remember before the 2012 Flu epidemic hit us. Sigh!

Camden wanted me to make something for his class Christmas party. I told him that I had been sick and I just couldn't make anything. He said he wanted his classmates to be impressed by me. I think they will be more impressed that I don't give them a Flu bug! Ha!