Last Month...

Can you believe Christmas was a MONTH ago? Wow. Time does fly. And I didn't post any pictures from the big day.

So I will. Now.

The kids have their own trees in their bedrooms.

Lucy's new black, silver and white tree!

Will with his super fun traditional tree.

Molly's colorful tree.

Lots of wonderful gifts were given and received. We are truly blessed.

Lucy's new running shoes. Will she ever be able to keep up with Mom?

Will is now armed and dangerous.

Molly, aka Chef Molly got a handmade apron from Ashley, some cooking utensils and this awesome Chef's hat. Look out Rachel Ray!

Drew and Rachel got a portrait of the two of them that will look great in their "loft style" apartment!

One of the "funnest" gifts was a WHITE CHRISTMAS!

Molly was an easy target - but kept a smile on!

It was a wonderful Christmas!

Cheerful Christmas

In early December (yes, I'm still catching up) Molly and I hosted a party for her cheer squad and their mothers. We had lots of fun and the best part was the super cute

Hot Chocolate Bar.

Everyone loved making their own gourmet Hot Chocolate with their favorite toppings - and there were lots of choices! I also had Caramel Apple Cider with whipped cream and caramel topping!!

Everyone brought cookies to share. Lucy made dipped pretzels.

The girls had a great time and it was fun to be together outside of practice and games!

I made a bag filled with Pirate Treasure for each of the girls to take home. With the help of my handy dandy Cricut machine (which has come in handy this year - big time) I personalized each one (with lots of help from Lucy).

Don't you just love the do-rag? This is Peyton!

This is Georgia... or is it Chloe??

I hosted our Book Club Christmas Book Exchange at my house the next week and did a repeat of the Hot Chocolate Bar! It will surely be a new tradition for us.

I've got to get this off my list....

I'm feeling too much anxiety over not posting anything about our wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festivities.  The perfectionist Karen wants to do a really cool montage of photos to add to the post.... time intensive.  The Karen dying to come out wants to just move on with the events of the day.  Soooo, the Karen's have come to a bit of a compromise and "we" will just post, in the ordinary fashion, a few of "our" favorite photos of Christmas past.

Enjoy.

We (especially Molly) love to have our good friend, Chris spend Christmas Eve with us.  

Ashley and Sam

Fun with Fondue!!  We've had Fondue on Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember.  We added chocolate fondue for dessert several years ago.

We wear out the old people!

Santa makes an early delivery on Christmas Eve!

This is what he brings!

(The PJs, not the gangsta kids)

The wait on Christmas morning.  Dad, are you ready??

Jon's favorite gift, the Kindle.  Karen is so smart.

Santa heard the plea of both Molly and Will!  

Lucy is the black, white and zebra print queen this year!

Christmas dinner was casual, yet delicious this year.  Notice various members of the family still in their PJs!!

Karen's favorite gift was having Parker home for Christmas!

And here are a few shots of some of our favorite post-Christmas activities!

Our traditional bowling game was super fun at the black light bowling alley!

Molly was awesome with the handy-dandy ramp!  No bumpers, though!

Parker had fun, too!

Lucy wins the prize for the coolest shoes.  Orange flames with green glow laces!

Seeing the Christmas lights is another fun tradition.  This year we went to Highland Park and to Frisco Square where the lights are synchronized to music.  And our street was pretty, too!

We had lots of fun and made great memories together shopping, wrapping, party throwing and party going, singing, playing, bathing babies, catching up with friends through visits and cards and most of all, sharing in the joy of celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Family Portrait Session

A few days before Christmas, while everyone was home, we ventured outside for a family portrait.  Since Texas isn't the most beautiful spot on the planet in December, we had a difficult time deciding on a location.  We ended up in Downtown McKinney, which has a darling little square full of boutiques and antique stores.  I've only seen a few of the shots so far, but will go next week for a look at all of them.  The photographer (Marquette) who took our great shots last year couldn't take us during the time we were all together, so she referred us to her friend Angela Majerus! Angela was great to squeeze us in at Christmas time and spend 2 hours with us.  We had so much fun laughing and playing around.  She posted a preview on her blog. (click on the word blog to see it) There are some cute shots.  I especially LOVE the ones of my wonderful parents. They look amazing and are in such great health.  I'm so glad they came along! Take a look, if you'd like.  I can't wait to see them all.

It Was A Merry Month!

2008 has been a wonderfully eventful year.  It's fitting that we wrapped it up with a wonderful Christmas season.  Here are some highlights.

Karen's Mom and Dad arrived mid month and are staying a whole month.  They are blessed to be in such good health and we enjoy having them in our home.   Dad turned 80 this year and Mom isn't too far behind.  Don't they look great?

We hosted our annual Chili and Chowder party in our new home!  We loved having old friends from Plano and our new Prosper friends all together.  The food was de-lish and the company was even better!

Our great neighbor Mike Koster and the Morleys, new church friends.

Prosper church friends the Platts and the Fergusons.

Long time Plano friends Rhoberta Blankmeyer, George and Heather Nail and Cindy Bell

Ashley had fun visiting with college roomate Kristin Willardson and her sister Jenny.

On Christmas Eve, we headed for the mall for our traditional kids photo with Santa.  We've done this since Ashley's first Christmas.  There are a few more people in the photo and for the first time, a second generation is included.  Parker was remarkably cooperative!  We actually had a harder time getting everyone else to pay attention and smile.  

The photo Karen took looks pretty good, too!

Will and Molly looking picture perfect!

The professional image - pretty good looking family, I think.  Nice socks, Santa!

Everyone had a great time!

After the photo, we all (except for Drew who had to go back to work) headed to the Original Pancake House for a yummy breakfast - Breakfast AFTER Santa.

Molly's Swedish Pancakes were as big as she is!!

Ashley and Sam

Grandpa Jon and Ashley

Beautiful Lucy and Adorable Molly

Perfectly adorable Parker!

We had a fun visit with an old friend from Karen's YW Prez days.  Charlie Thiot served on Stake Youth Committee, along with Ashley.  He's married now and has a really cute (and itty bitty) daughter, Keelie.  I managed to only take pictures of the babies. 

The standoff.

We also were able to celebrate in other ways of which we didn't get photos - school parties, a choir concert, an ornament painting party, seeing Christmas lights in Highland Park, playing games and visiting with each other.  We've had a wonderful time with family and friends and appreciate so much all who add so much to our lives.  

Up next - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day....