Life with my sister

I did this last year, here . Abby did this last year, here . It was fun to do, and even more fun to look back on today. Here are our combined answers for 2010: Julie: What did you do in 2010 that you had never done before? J- I don't know. Check back, maybe I'll think of something. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make any this year? J- I looked back to see if I made any resolutions publicly. And I can't find any. I'm sure I resolved to lose weight, read my Bible more and be more patient with my kids. If those were my resolutions, then NO, I did not keep them! Did anyone close to you give birth? J- Sadly, no. Did anyone close to you die? J- No, but I did attend funerals for a few that I was close to the family of. (wow, that was a rough sentence!) What places have you visited? J- Disney World!! It was great! What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? J- My answer last year was patience. So, I will repeat last year's answer

We stayed in Fort Smith through Christmas day. The kids were so excited to get to spend Christmas there they could hardly stand it. Last year we stayed home and they were less than thrilled with that. They love the busy-ness of going from place-to-place and having grandparents surround them for the holiday. At home, its just business as usual for them. We did our usual Christmas traditions. We went to a candlelight Christmas Eve service, which the kids love. And then headed to the in-laws for the evening. Once we put the kids to bed, Santa got to work. He didn't have anything to put together this year and we loved that! The boys got Lego's and Stephen commented that this year we didn't have to put anything together, the kids have to put their own toys together this year. Finally! Christmas morning was great fun! The kids took turns opening presents. They got to see what the others got and they practiced patience. And they didn't seem to mind. Gotta love that! The big

This past week has been a busy and fun one for us. Here is a recap of some of our festivities. We headed to the Fort to celebrate with Mama and Julie's family. We all rode the train at the park. We love that train. It was Henry's first train ride. We did not let him ride the train at Zoo Lights earlier in the month so this could be his first train ride. He smiled the whole way and was mad when we got off. Henry finally got to meet our Aunt Donna. It was one of the best parts of Christmas this year. I loved how they looked at each other. It was an instant bond. I got to love on my first babies for a wee bit. Julie's kids make aunthood blissful. We then came home to have Christmas in our matching pj's. We had so much fun. Nana and Papa came to celebrate with us. We enjoyed having them with us Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Santa came and Henry is now in toyland Daddy is now giving lots of wagon rides around the house And I am sitting here trying to remember all

Today is our heavenly father's birthday and we celebrate big..real big! It is also our earthly father's birthday. Our grandmother had a baby on Christmas. I can't imagine how incredible and inconvenient that must have been for her. Our Daddy shares a birthday with Jesus and Barbara Mandrel (Yes, we are reminded of this every year...all our lives we have heard this). We always have a little pity for him because everyone sort of forgets about him to praise Jesus. He loves Jesus also, so he looks past it. Bless him. He usually gets robbed in the presents department too. It is always easy to wrap one gift in blue paper and call it a birthday gift (not that we have ever done that....just sayin). Poor old man! We are so glad Wilma had him all those years ago on this super special day. It does have to be pretty cool to know you share a birthday with Jesus!! Happy Birthday, Daddy! We love you Your girls

This week is a little food for the soul. My hope is that you have a meaningful Christmas, full of the love of Jesus. No matter where you are, who you are with, or what your your woes or praises may be this year, know that God loves us just the same as always and this season is about that love...Jesus! Luke 2 The Birth of Jesus 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[ a ] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, be

Yesterday Abby and I did Christmas together. We hate not being together on Christmas day, it goes against our sisterly bond, but since we're married now and have children, somethings must change. It was such fun watching Henry "do" Christmas. He probably wasn't awake much last Christmas, but this year he was awake and ready to participate! I know Abby wanted perfect Christmas pictures, but he was playing with wrapping paper and bows, he didn't much care to stop and smile. Although he did, because he is such a good boy! My kids got just what they wanted and were itching to go outside and play, but waited patiently on the adults to finish opening presents. Then they were playing hard! Abby has left to go home now and will spend Christmas day at her house with Randall's family. We will go home Christmas afternoon. And next weekend we head to our Dad's to have Christmas with him. I love dragging Christmas out over so many days. I loved it as a kid, and still

My little Santa baby. I let him wear this to school one day this week. I am surprised he was still there when I went to pick him up. I think he was passed around and made over all day. I am humble, but I must say, he was pretty stinkin cute in his Santa suit! I love the under shirt. Every good Santa wears an undershirt to conceal his arms....and every good Santa wears gloves. I learned the undershirt and glove lesson the hard way as a little girl all dressed up in her plaid Christmas dress waiting to go on the Santa Show. Who from the Fort is reading this, smiling and saying out loud, "Oh, the Santa Show!!", with a big smile on your face? Yep, I see ya! :) That was the last year I truly believed in Santa. My Daddy had worked for the TV station and knew all the people there, back doors, etc. I was escorted in a door that the other children did not go into. In return for my Daddy taking a shortcut to the studio, I saw Santa getting dressed...only his bare arms. I knew he was

I love a list! Hope you do too. ***I love the women at my church. We had a Christmas party Thursday night and had almost more than the house could hold. We laughed, and talked, and ate. Oh my! We ate. We laughed. We exchanged ornaments. What a great time! ***Friday I was privileged to go with our Student Minister and his wife shopping with three teenagers that deserved a great Christmas. We shopped for hours and had fun bonding with them and seeing God's love made known to some kids that needed it! ***I missed out on our Deacon and wives dinner Friday night because I was sick. I started feeling bad when we hit the first mall that day and didn't get better until Sunday afternoon. Man, I don't know what it was but I texted Abby and my mom a few times and let them know that I was dying! It wasn't pretty. I'm not a good patient. ***I will finish up my Christmas shopping tomorrow. Well, I plan on it. I know some people enjoy having it all done before December 1, but I

I always loved caroling as a child. I miss it. I am like most of you, I love Christmas music. All kinds. Growing up in church and school choirs, I learned a lot of different songs of the season. It brings back so many neat memories to hear the holiday music on the cable access channel (yes, I am lame. But I like it), Randall's satellite radio, the local radio station that plays Christmas music all the time and the CD's I have in my car CD changer. Each year a few songs stand out to me. Ever year those songs are different than the year before. I decided to share a few of them with you in this post. I could have added much more than this but decided that this was plenty! These are the ones I am listening to a lot this year, for whatever reason. I love this!! Makes me cry. A lady in our church sang it Sunday before last and it made me tear up there too. Such an amazing story. After 33 Christmases, I never get tired of the story of Jesus. Each year has its own nugget of truth and w

Whew, I am tired of cooking. I admit it. I am about to close the kitchen for Christmas and make Randall get Christmas Eve supper at Pizza Hut and Christmas lunch at KFC! I am only partly joking too...don't tempt me. Ha! I have made bread, cinnamon rolls, candy, cupcakes, a cake and pumpkin butter this week for gift giving...along with cooking dinner for my family each night. Can a girl get a little "atta girl" love??!! I hear ya...thank ya! Love all you bloggie pals. These are the mini cupcakes I made for Henry's class party. I used a tartlet pan. It makes the perfect size for their little fingers and mouths. The local grocery store by my house gave me the little elf picks. The sweet bakery lady was unable to make the little cupcakes for me, as I had so hoped, so in return she let me wheel my cart back into the bakery and go into cake decorating heaven. I was overwhelmed with choices. I came out all smiles with these little elves and the reindeer you will see below.

Julie and I had all these great ideas for December posts. We were going to do a post a day on our favorite things, activities and memories. Well, that ain't happening, folks! I am chasing a little walker, being a domestic diva who is now married to a sourdough bread starter, trying to fit in quality family time before Henry goes to bed, and then trying to decide what to buy the man of the house so I can be finished with my Christmas shopping...that I just can't gather my thoughts at the end of the day for a decent post. I know Julie is just as scattered these days also. So, if we go a few days without posting...we are alive, just not coherent enough to post anything worth reading! Seeing the wonder and excitement in little Henry's eyes this year is so much fun. I realize he is still too young to understand it all, but compared to last year we have come light years, people! He slept during the month of December last year, yet we loved having that baby asleep under our tree

I've decided to tell you a story. She was 12. A boy she knew rode his bike in front of her house while she stood outside. He yelled, " will you go with me?" She yelled, "no" and ran into her house. She was 15. A boy she knew from church and school became her friend. She was 16. A boy she knew asks her out on a date. She says, "no!" (she is dating someone else.) This scene plays out again and again for the next two years. He leaves town to go to college. She stays home. She spends time with him at church activities during the summers. He sets her up on a blind date with a friend of his one summer. She picked up his girlfriend and the blind date and they drove across the state together to see him and attend a concert. He began sending her letters and spending time with her when she was in town. He kissed her at a New Year's Eve party they hosted. She became involved in a serious relationship. He was also in a relationship. She felt the Lord lead her

I hope you are enjoying the tastes of the Christmas season. It is always fun to get out the old recipes we use each year and make cookies, candy, casseroles and drinks that our family and friends expect from us at the holiday. Those dishes are each filled with memories of their own. I just love it. Just this morning Henry and I were starting our candy tins we make for friends and family.....ok, he was eating Ritz crackers and I was working on the candy. Anyway, I have 3 tins full of fudge sitting on my kitchen counter and I am working on finishing my goo-goos and Ritz Mint Goodies. I know several men in my family who are awaiting the arrival of their candy tin! This wassail is a Christmas favorite. My mother (yes, Julie's mother too) served it for years and now I make it each year for my parties and such. It has become a tradition. I love traditions! The bowl was dry after my ornament exchange last week. I always love to see my friends enjoy a family favorite. I thought you migh

Lindsey rocks it out...again! Abby

I lost it. It has been one of those days. It started off fine. I read my Bible. I had a chocolate doughnut for breakfast. My hair looked good. Ran a few errands. And then came home and lost it. With my kids. It was awful. I will admit that I yell. They are used to that. But today was different. I really yelled today. I called Stephen to confess. Not that a man can forgive me of my sins, but they are his kids too and I thought he needed to know how his kids were treated. I prayed and asked God to forgive me. I am assured by His Word that I'm forgiven. Now, I must go to my children and ask their forgiveness. It won't be the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. I could have written to you today about how great our morning went and how we were all smiles, and we had such a good time. But, I get tired of reading that on all the blogs I read. Some times I just want to read that sometimes they failed on the "mother front" . Sometimes I would like to see the

The last monthly picture...what a guy! Those photos got harder and harder each month. What a fun memory to have in his baby book though. We were so excited to throw our baby boy a party to celebrate his big 1! We even decorated the Christmas decorations on the porch in honor of our birthday boy! The mantle and hearth tree were in full birthday mode. We also had a little slide show running on the TV. The kitchen was party central. I had so much fun making everything, with the help of my graphics pal, Leslie. She designed the banners, invitation and hats for me. I then printed them and made them all, and the goodie bags. I also made the cakes, cupcakes and cake balls. The cookies on a stick were made by the ever-so-talented, Amy C. of the Fort. It was such a fun undertaking! I painted the ones for both cakes. Posing with our birthday boy in clothing that matched the theme. Randall is such a sweet man to allow me to go overboard with my party planning. Bless him. Henry loved his b