Family Christmas!

We celebrated our 11th anniversary with a Family Christmas! With people spreading out accross the country, it was the date that worked for all, and we enjoyed spending the day with our family. Lane and Josh brought their new puppy and their kitty, which of course the kids loved!

 Will got a lottery ticket and about killed Josh with stretching out the anticipation, HILARIOUS!

 We had a great time hanging out, exchanging gifts and eating yummy treats!

 Austin, my baby...sigh. So cute. And sweet Annie with G-ma!

It was a great day at the Kucharski's home!

Christmas at Nana and Papa's

We had a wonderful night celebrating Christmas at Nana and Papa's house! It was a picture perfect night!

More Christmas!

We visited Papa Kenny and Grandma Dorothy at the rehab center where Papa is getting stronger every day. Our family filled the room, giggling, opening gifts and enjoying a Christmas visit. Not the first pick for a place to celebrate Christmas, but we made it work! :)

Christmas Morning!

Sleepy smiles, excited eyes, Grammie and Grandaddy waking up with us, Santa gifts, stockings, and cinnamon rolls....Happy Christmas Morning!

Grandaddy's Birthday!

This year we celebrated Grandaddy's birthday with a visit to the Santa Train! It was a perfect way to celebrate the man who loves trains!



Face painting, balloon art, exploring the old train station, and cheering as the real train pulled in with Santa waving! So fun! Everyone went on the train to take their turn telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas, and of course that they'd been good!



This was a great day and we'll definitely be doing this event again!

Shelley

Dance Time!

This sweet girl loves to dance! So much that it didn't even phase her to be the only girl from her dance class to perform! Miss Ami won the teacher of the year award for dancing with Annie so she wouldn't be all alone. We love Miss Ami! Annie did a wonderful job clogging and had a great time!




Shelley

3rd grade concert

Ellie did an awesome job in her 3rd grade Christmas concert! We love hearing our sweet girl sing!

Christmas Cookies!

An evening of decorating cookies sounded like a great thing to do with my girls and Grammie! We enjoyed icing and liberally decorating our cookies with tons of sprinkles, marshmallows, and candies! The best part was leaving the mess behind! :)

Be an Encourager.

What does it mean to be an Encourager?

For some reason I can't stop thinking about this tonight. Perhaps it's because the last few months have been tough for me, and with Christmas just around the corner, our lives are in hyper-drive.

Or maybe it's all the mashed potatoes I ate for dinner talking...

I digress.

Anyway...An Encourager.

Tonight I was remembering the words of a fellow mom. Not someone I know well at all. Barely an acquaintance really. I think it was about a year ago when she stopped me in the hall at Annie's preschool. I had just dropped off Annie, and Ellie and Austin were already at school, so I was alone as I hurried out of the building. This woman called out my name, and I turned around with my "always a friendly face" smile on and greeted her. She smiled sweetly and seemed a little nervous as she said, "I just want to tell you something..."

You are a wonderful mother. I watch you, and I just really felt like today I was supposed to tell you that. I've been meaning to say it for awhile. You really are. You are doing a great job.

I thanked her, gave her a hug, told her how sweet she was, and thanked her again. That day I walked a little taller, and had a little more patience.

She was an Encourager.

And today as I remember that, tears fill my eyes, because...Wow, it still touches me that she told me that.

So many times as a mother of some really great, but sometimes really difficult kids, it's the negative stuff that gets my attention.

The nasty look from a stranger at the grocery store, the loudly spoken comment from a shopper at Target, the direct condemnation from an old lady at McDonald's, the glances and whispers from acquaintances at the pool, the disappointed face of a once loved teacher...When you add that all up, it's crushing.

But she was an Encourager.

She's not the only one. There was the kind old lady at Bass Pro who told me she'd survived, and I would too. The man at Wal-Mart who reminded me to be thankful even in the midst of a tantrum. And of course, there are the kind, uplifting words of my family and friends. Without them I don't know how I would survive sometimes.

I guess what I'm trying to say is Be an Encourager. Make someones day. Smile at the exhausted mother, hold the door open for the older man, or even tell someone how great they are. Speak kind words, and watch someones face light up.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."
2 Corinthians 13:10-12

Adoration Parade

Our wild and crazy group of friends collected again to watch our towns fabulous Adoration Parade. Nana and Papa hosted us for dinner before the parade. We then trekked down the street a little to set up camp as the parade route had changed this year, and no longer went in front of Nana and Papa's house. We found a great spot and had an awesome time cheering for the bands and floats and just hanging out together!







Shelley

SO much fun!

A few weeks ago we took our little family bowling.

To be completely honest, I was a little worried it might not be a good thing. I mean the thought of Ellie, aka: child who doesn't like loud noises, and Austin in a room of very heavy balls, were definitely some valid reasons to be concerned. However something in me really wanted to try this little venture, so I brushed off my concerns, convinced Jason everything would be ok, and decided to go for it.

We met some great friends at the bowling alley, ordered some pizza, and settled in. Things started off well, all the kids were having a blast hanging out and cheering each other on, and then...

Things got even better.

I gotcha there, didn't I?! You thought I was going to throw in a horrible/crazy/someone got injured twist, didn't you?

I could scarcely believe it myself, but the evening was just pretty perfect. I told Jason at the end of the night I think that was the most fun we've ever had as a family. Seriously!

And of course, I had my camera, so...







SO much fun! And we'll definitely be doing it again!

Oh and I thought the matching shirts added a nice touch too! Sometimes it's fun to be cheesy!

Kindergarten Santa Night!

For the second time we got to attend Kindergarten Santa Night! It's been three years, so we were very excited to go back. At the front doors we were greeted by a real reindeer, VERY exciting for the kids! Inside there were delicious cupcakes, fun crafts, and of course, Santa!!! I love that our school does sweet things like this!







Shelley

Fall Family Pics!

Lane squeezed in time this last visit to take some awesome family pics for us! As always, it was a challenge, but she did great! Thanks Laney!