Monday, November 28, 2011

Hanging of the Green

Sunday night was our annual Hanging of the Green service at FBCTW. Our congregation comes together and sings Christmas songs and decorates our sanctuary. One tradition is to purchase a poinsettia in memory of a loved one. Willie, Nate, and Anna all placed one on the stage for Morris. It was a very sweet moment. 

 Here's Nate carrying down the angel for the nativity. Notice the boy's pant is tucked into his lime green boot...oops!

Nate's choir also performed the most precious song. I was one proud mamma! I love hearing their sweet little voices! 
A pic of my most precious Christmas blessings.

Lou Lou and Anna

After service Nate played in the snow. He sledded down the "snow hill" over and over and over again!

Nate and a few of his favorite buddies.
Anna played in the snow too, but her favorite part was eating the cookies after service! Little piggie!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Cousins' Weekend

DAY ONE: FRIDAY

On Friday morning, we packed our bags and headed to Clear Lake to stay at the Hilton. We met right up with the family and headed to lunch on the sea wall.

 Nate and Blake are two peas in a pod. Nate hooked right up with Blake. It was hard to tell who was trying to keep up with who for 2 1/2 days.
After lunch we drove to the ferry and fed the birds off of the back of the boat. There were a ton of them! This was great free entertainment for a family of 9. We saw several dolphins, which was my personal highlight of the ferry ride.

Aaron, Blake, Anna, and Nate waiting to get on the ferry.




 The family!
 The birds would literally swoop down and take bread right from your hands!
 
After the ferry ride, we headed right over to Moody Gardens and went to the aquarium. Nate was thrilled about seeing the sharks and ran around as fast as he could until he found them. Anna loved taking in all of the animals from the starfish to the penguins.
 Watching the penguins.

 Nate with the sharks.
 The sharks swam right next to you and over your head. It was fascinating to see all of their rows of teeth. Nate couldn't get enough!


As if that wasn't enough fun for one day, after Moody Gardens we went to dip our feet into the ocean. I cannot believe it, but the kids had never been to the ocean before.

Pictures are worth a thousand words, and these pics are too perfect for captions, so enjoy...








A video of our fun at in the ocean....

DAY TWO: SATURDAY

A storm was brewing in Clear Lake, and the kids were getting stir crazy in the hotel, so we spent our morning at the park and hanging out on the pier before the downpour.


 See the building in the background? That was the hotel that we stayed at. We LOVE the Hilton in Clear Lake!





 Off to the Fun House...I couldn't get too many pics here b/c the lighting was bad, but we did have a blast, and the kids loaded up on tickets and prizes.


We ended the night at Sam's Boat to watch Baylor stomp Texas Tech!
Sic 'em Bears!!!
Heading home this morning was tough after having so much fun with our cousins. Both of the kids took a 3 1/2 hour nap this afternoon and only woke up b/c we made them get up. We were worn out! Thanks, Sandy, Aunt Wilma, Sheri, Aaron, and Blake for another awesome cousins' weekend!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts." ~1 Chronicles 16:8-9
 
Today I am grateful for my sweet babies and Buddy the Elf. He made his first appearance this morning. The kids were so excited about his arrival. I saw about a 10% improvement on their behavior. I was hoping for perfect angelic children, but I guess we'll settle for 10%.
 I am thankful for Nate's imagination and personality. He loves to laugh and has more energy than anything I have ever seen. This child never stops. Tonight, before bed he told me he wanted to be 5 things when he grew up. 1.) In the army 2.) A gun shooter 3.) Do what daddy does (he pretty much has no idea about the details of that, but I thought it was sweet) 4.) A police 5.) A back flipper...as in he wants to do back flips for a living. He told me that one was #5 b/c you have to be bigger to do that. I cannot wait to see Nate do a back flips and get paid for it when he "gets bigger."
This morning he dressed up as Darth Vader and put on all of his medals.
 Watching the Lions vs. Packers
 I am thankful for Anna Marie. She is so snuggly and has recently become a mamma's girl. Both of my kids are usually obsessed w/their daddy, so this is a welcome change. I love reading her stories, listening to her read stories, and rocking her to sleep. She still has a little bit of baby fat on her cheeks, and they are extra kissable. Anna is talking up a storm and knows how to throw a huge fit to get her way. She is a perfect blend of sweet and sassy!
This afternoon Anna helped Mimi stuff the turkey. She really wanted to help and would not take no for an answer.

 Nate and Peyton
 Dustin and Jessica
 I have no words....
 Sisters
 I am in LOVE with this picture. I am so grateful for LouLou and Mimi!
 Our Thanksgiving spread: 2 turkeys, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, glazed carrots, olives, green bean casserole, corn casserole, crescent rolls, homemade rolls, stuffing, dressing, cranberry sauce, 3 pies, cookies, bread pudding, brownies...We literally ate 1/4 of everything we had. Dinner was delicious!
 Willie, Linda, and Jake
 What's Thanksgiving w/o...Twister?!

 I am so thankful for my family!
 I am grateful for my best friend and the love of my life. Thank you for working so hard to provide for our family, for being such a wonderful father and husband, and for loving me unconditionally. You are always teaching me how to be a better person. I fall more in love with you every day, Willie!
Today was full of blessings, but we were left with a huge void. We had a tough morning knowing Morris wasn't going to walk into our house this afternoon. I take such comfort knowing that Jesus knows our suffering. Among so many blessing, Jesus is my greatest. Thank you for your suffering, your love, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. Thank you for your faithfulness and for the peace that only YOU can provide.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe." ~Hebrews 12:28

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18