CHRISTmas with the family........

 I wanted to share a few pictures I took at our family Christmas.  We got to celebrate on the 25th this year!  And, to make it even more special my whole family - nieces, nephew's, their spouses, sisters, bro-n-laws, mom and grand kids - were ALL there this year....everyone was accounted for!!!!

This is Paige (she is 6 and in kindergarten now...can't believe it) and Erin (Branon in the background).

Paige and Erin



This a my great-niece Claire (2)!



Makalyn and Claire!



Ryan and Branon

Puzzles going on in one room......


Leslie, Paige, Makalyn, Mom and Erin


Christmas Bingo going on in another......

Mom, Jonathan and Mandrea Windsor

Jonathan is currently serving our country in Iraq.  Please say a pray for him as he will be returning the 6th of Jan. until around May or June.  This was the first time I got to meet Jonathan after a year of marriage to my niece.  He is a great assist to our family!

All-in-all it was a great Christmas! 

Until next year!

CHRISTmas pictures at Mom's...........

 We had our family Christmas last night.  It's always an exciting time -  with dinner before gift openings or after.  With our expanding family, and so many families to share Christmas with, we have to fit our time in when we can.  Here are a few pictures to share......

 Cameron - I can never get his picture looking at the camera.  Those are Cd's he's looking at and shoes on his lap.

 Zacheri must always be in a picture of Emily.....here she is getting her Visa card to use anywhere she wants too.

 Zacheri showing us his Zac Brown Band CD!!!!

And Mak opening her gift card to Aropostal.....she was SO excited to get that!!!!












I was the picture taker so there will be no pictures of me.  I got a much needed Crock Pot!  I had worn mine out to the point that it wouldn't heat anymore.  AND, Em is so good to come up with neat crafty things, she made me a glass-scrap-booking-plate with a picture of my four kiddos on it!!!!  Those are just a couple of things that stand out.
It's always a fun time for us.  We LOVE ever minute of our time together!

To you and your family - Merry Christmas!!!!

CHRISTmas concert.......

Makalyn has had the honor of being in "Show Choir" her 8th grade year of school.  So far, they have sung at First Baptist Church, school assemblies, an SBU home football game and many other events.  Here is a pictures of the concert.  Yes, Makalyn had a solo....and she did AWESOME!

This is the 7th and 8th grade choir (show choir mixed in)!  They did a great job on the whole program.

CHRISTmas Sunday.......

I remember as a child Christmas Sunday was a big thing in our household.  My Mom would put my hair in sponge curlers the night before so it would be bouncy-curly the next morning and I would always have a pretty special dress (bought or home made) to wear for the Sunday program of which I would be participating.  This memory became real this morning as I was curling Makalyn's hair.  I used to put her hair in sponge curlers for Christmas Sunday, Easter Sunday, or any Sunday that she would let me.....and would have done it this year too but I figured she would protest the curlers.  HA!
I remember too, getting to open a special gift after the program for "doing a great job!"  Those were the days!

Times have changed, kids have gotten older (so has Mom) and new memories are being made.

It's so exciting getting to watch my children grow up to be adults.  To see their interests, their idea's and their ways.  I love each one of them in a special, unique way that only a Mother knows!!!!!

2011 will hold new and exciting things for us!  I'm anxious to see where God takes each one of my children!
When I look at them I know and see how TRULY blessed I am!!!

Happy Holiday's~

BEST D-Lineman...

This is not just a wedding blog, its also a family blog. Its about the events of our lives. It will be about football, soccer, singing, concerts, wedding plus more.....and grandbabies (none yet)! LOL!! 

Cameron had a excellent football year - playing JR varsity  (JV) and varsity. On JV he had the opportunity to play offence and defence. Playing varsity he mainly played offence. Cameron shined playing JV defence! He had numerous QB sacks, tremendous plays, and the "Best Defence Lineman" moves ever!  He even has the award to prove it!

We are looking forward to Cameron's senior/varsity year-2011!

GO LIBERATORS!!

9/10/11.......

OK....it's official....the day of the wedding that is!

9/10/11 - yes, you see it right....September 10, 2011 is going to be the big day!!!!!
Now, if they'll get married at 12:13 (pm) that would be real cool!

I read  in the newspaper about a couple getting married:
1/1/11 at 1:11 - original idea!

Not only will 9/10/11 be a memorable wedding date to remember but get this,  Zacheri graduated in '09, Emily in '10 and they marry in '11.....perfect!!!!

I've started making a list (wedding guest) and I'll be checking it twice.  As fast as time goes by, 9/10/11 will be upon us sooner then we know.

In January, there has been a date set for wedding dress shopping and Emily has graciously invited Makalyn and I to shop with her, her Mom and sister, so that will be a fun-filled day.  I'm excited!!!

Oh the joy of planning!

More to come~

Half-a-tree.......

Do you feel it in the air......Christmas is coming!

The Holiday's are usually a time of sadness for me but I'm anticipating this upcoming Holiday season with joy and happiness.  You might ask, why are you sad?  For me the Holiday's are about family, getting together and enjoying one another company....with your children and family/friends.  When divorce comes into a family unit things change; for me, for my children and our families.  Making arrangements to go here or there....making arrangements for my kids to go here or there....that ALL becomes tiring and weary on one to the point that you want to run and hide somewhere so you don't have to make decisions.  For the last couple of years I've not even wanted to put up a Christmas tree, and didn't - even resorting to buying a mini, set on the coffee table, fiber-optic tree.....that's how bad it's been.  BUT, BUT, this year is new.  There is a new sense of excitement within!  I am excited about the upcoming holiday's....Christmas!  Makalyn and I even went as far as putting our Christmas tree up BEFORE, yes, I said before, Thanksgiving!!!!!  Mind you, its only half a tree, but it's a tree!  Let me explain that.....living in a small house there isn't a lot of room for "extras (tree's)" so without moving furniture we put the tree up in front of our corner cabinet and in doing so didn't have to put the back half of the tree on.....giving us, "half a tree"!!!!!  It's not a big tree or anything fancy but it's a tree and when looking at it, it brings me back to the reason for the season..........Jesus!  Let us never forget that.  Jesus loves us!  He loves you!  And He loves me!  Let's not forget Him.

Enjoy this season with hope, joy, love and excitement.

Merry Christmas~