Revived, Renewed & REAL Christmas pictures!

Oh, I've missed the Blog World. Last week was super crazy, starting with Ellie being sick on my birthday (started my day at 2:30am by her throwing up on me......fun times!), and then I got sick on Monday, with both her stomach bug and mastitis.... and I can't decide which was worse! But now, I'm back in action. Being sick during the Christmas season is a total drag! I think I had to cancel like 3 or 4 fun Christmas events, I lost valuable time with the kids, AND got super behind on Christmas shopping and housework. But even in the midst of getting sick, there were several blessings...my incredible husband, who was SUPERDAD and SUPERNURSE all at the same time! And my sweet sisters loving on my kiddos one night, and my awesome friend/cousin making us a super, yummy meal. I also feel like God adjusted my perspective. For the past few days, I think I've been more appreciative of our general good health than I normally am. Having good health and having your loved ones be healthy is one of the biggest blessings you can have on this earth....and one of them that we take most for granted until that changes. For those of our friends and loved ones who are dealing with health issues and sickness this Christmas season, I pray that God blesses you with His joy and peace despite those obstacles.

One of my very favorite things of the Christmas season is Christmas cards. I LOVE going to the mail box each day during this time of year. It's so fun to get cards and pictures from everyone....and have those waiting for you in the mail box, instead of just bills and ads. However, taking pictures for our own card is always crazy. I wanted to post...and therefore, remember later how our Christmas pictures went this year. This is our first Christmas as a family of FIVE. It's totally awesome, and a total circus! Here are some of our REAL Christmas photos.....


Not wanting to take our family photo with the dirty football.....

Trying to hold on to a slippery baby....


"Hey Bubba...I am so cold...look at how red my nose is getting...."

Dawson tries so hard to be a good photographer assistant...but they were all strung out by this time. :)

It was so cold outside, and we.....well, I was making everyone suffer through...trying to get the perfect holiday photo. We finally went to the church, hoping to take pictures inside, but that didn't work out, so Dawson and I just started taking pictures of ourselves. At least we could cooperate and "smile pretty." :)

Rage and Humor

There are many reasons why I love HEB. It is a great, reasonably-priced, down-home store. One of it's many great attributes is the "Customer with Child" parking spots they try to reserve at the front of the parking lot......for their customers WITH CHILDREN. Now, I am a Jesus-loving woman, and I try to live a somewhat peaceable life, but when I go to HEB and see people WITHOUT CHILDREN parking in the "Customer with Child" spots, it makes me stark-raving mad!! Seriously!! I don't know why it gets under my skin so much, but it does! Maybe it's because I frequently have to go to HEB with all three of my crazy children, and I know how convienent it is to be able to park close to the store, and close to a cart return rack. But seeing the TWO different WOMEN who got into their cars--by themselves--no child to be seen-- beside my spot.....where I was juggling a baby on my hip, yelling at another kid who was trying to run in front of cars, and at the same, unloading cart/loading car with groceries.....I almost lost it! I will confess that I have left notes on people's cars before when I've spotted them parking in those designated spots. Polite, but poignant notes! And yes, I want to show Jesus to them, and love them just like He does......but wow....it's hard!

And then the humor, as we were driving out of the parking lot of HEB, and I was telling Ellie that it was going to be nap time when we got home, she said, "No mommy! Please don't make me take a nap. Please! I'm not thirsty. I'm really not thirsty!" (in her desperation, I think she mixed up her adjectives :)

Last thing, please continue to pray for my sweet friend, Kristen and her precious daughter, Jordan. They are home now, after starting Jordan's first round of chemo. I pray that God continues to work miracles in their lives!