Annual Cookie Exchange & Christmas Brunch

 An ice storm came in the weekend before Christmas.  Tree limbs split under the weight of the ice.  Fortunately, the roads never got too bad but the ice stayed for days as the temps were below freezing.

 Every December my mom's entire Oklahoma City family gathers at her house for a huge cookie exchange and dinner!  It is one of our Christmas highlights!  The guests are my grandparents (mom's parents), her three sisters and their families and their families (plus boyfriends), my sisters and I and our families, my sister's friend and her husband and Granny and PawPaw.  The kids got all dressed up but Lily did not want to pose for a picture.

 Look at all these YUMMY cookies!!!

 The kids eating dinner.

 Gramma always makes these fun mice that the kids just LOVE!

 The next day we had our annual Christmas brunch at church.  The girls went up to sing with daddy during the carols that he lead.  It was a beautiful service and time of fellowship!

Granny's Birthday and Lights

It is our tradition that Granny and PawPaw come up and spend the night for Granny's birthday. After dinner, we took Granny out for our annual tour of Christmas lights.  We drive through the lights in Yukon and then see the Chesapeake lights.  The girls really loved seeing them this year.

I think Granny was pretty pleased to hear her grandkids sing "Happy Birthday" to her and help her open her gift. It was a wonderful evening!

Rio

Bren had his second bass guitar recital last week.  He played Rio by Duran Duran and did a great job. I'm so proud of how great Bren has become on his bass.  It is a joy to hear him play every morning and also at church!

Lily at 22 Months

Lily is closing in on her second year of life.  She is such a cutie pie.  She is sweet but oh so stubborn too!  She is busy and loves to follow in her big sister's steps!  She has started to love wearing tutus and undressing herself, too.  Several times recently I have found Cait helping her take off her diaper and putting her up on the toilet!  She even tried to put on Cait's panties this past week!  She loves babies and wanted to hold our friend really bad!  She always has a baby doll with her.

She still cannot tolerate dairy products (and she still nurses so Mom cannot eat dairy, either!) but just the other day she came into the kitchen with the bathroom stool, got Cait's little kid's knife and was trying to cut open the butter I had set on the counter!  I love her up on her tiptoes!

This isn't a great picture but Cait and Lily were sitting in the rocking chair together watching YouTube. Lily LOVES to listen to The Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald.  We sing them often but occasionally, I let them watch videos while I get a task done.

I am so grateful to be a mommy to these kids!  Our days are not perfect and it seems that I am often frustrated by their disobedience or ability to make monster messes but I am trying to love them through our trials, teach them of our heavenly Father's love and enjoy this life, even the messes!

Old Testament Tabernacle

Last week, we met some friends out in Harrah to see a life-size replica of the Old Testament tabernacle.  Unfortunately, it was a blistery cold day.  It was about an hour long guided tour through the tabernacle with teachings on the meanings behind the items and what the events might have looked like.

It was a neat experience and maybe we can go another year when it isn't so cold!

Gingerbread Houses...kinda

 Our PE class made "gingerbread houses" with graham crackers.  The kids were able to have fun making them with their cousins Tae, Bella and Jack!

 The icing wasn't thickening quickly but the kids were having fun watching mom assemble the crackers over and over again.

 They got to decorate just a little bit (and Bren helped with cousin Henny)...

 But the icing just wouldn't hold!  We eventually used hot glue and made new ones!

Well, the candy was good!

Snow!

We got lots of snow this week!  The kids had a blast playing in it but it was very cold so the girls did not last long!

Lily and Cait loved eating it!

It was pretty deep for an overnight covering!

Bren and his fierce snowballs.

And this week, I put up a love banner to remind us to focus on loving one another.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Lily wanted a ponytail like her big sister.  Small problem.  She doesn't have much hair.  Look close, we made it happen!

A huge table full of food and family.  Twenty four people, to be exact!  What a wonderful day it was!  My mom and dad always cooks up the best meal!  And we are so blessed that we can spend the day with my parents, sisters and grandparents AND JC's mom and stepdad!

These girls!!!

Thursday fun outside before dinner at mom and dad's. It was beautiful outside.  Lily is enjoying new books from Aunt Nancy.

Saturday, we went to Bricktown to have dinner with my family and stopped by this playground and the candy store before dinner.  After dinner, we walked to the Cox Center to watch a hockey game with my fam.

Cait loved seeing the horse drawn "princess" carriage! Lily snuggled into daddy.

Dad and Cait figure out where our seats are.

It was lots of fun.  JC was the only one who was REALLY into the game but I think we all had fun.  The kids enjoyed climbing around with their cousins.  Cait's highlight was getting to cheer with the cheerleader and her pompoms!