Goodbye 2016

We really didn't get settled in Forney, TX until December 2015 so 2016 has been a year of transition.

Over the past year we have turned our house into a home.  

We don't have to use GPS every place we go anymore. 

We have created close friendships with some amazing people.

We found a great church home and have a church family again.

It seems like Vance has turned into a big boy overnight.

Keller started going to school full-day and is much more independent.

Sutton attends preschool two half days a week and is a toddler instead of a baby.

Chad has settled into his job and life in Texas.

I have started focusing on creating a new, healthier lifestyle for me and my family.

All that being said, I don't think 2016 was our best year ever.  However I truly feel like we have set ourselves up for an amazing 2017 so...

Goodbye 2016!!!

Keller-antics

Keller is getting older now and for the most part uses words correctly but he still has a few that aren't quite right.  I NEVER correct him because I think it's adorable. One example is holy instead of whole..."I ate my holy lunch today!"

He is constantly using the word "legit" and any form of the word he can think of: legiter, legitness, legitest, legitly.  It cracks me up!

Keller likes school but is always counting down how many school days until the weekend.  Then he asks how many more days off until he has to go back to school.  It cracks me up.  Literally every night when we tuck him in he asks, "Is it school tomorrow?"

If one of the five of us are gone and the rest of us are doing an activity together, Keller will say "It's like we are a separate family." I don't know why he is so fixated on that idea.  When we all get back together he will exclaim, "We're a together family again! Yay!"

Keller thinks I'm so pretty.  They say a mom is a son's first love. I don't know if that's true for Vance but it definitely rings true with Keller. He loves his mama! And I love it!!! He is constantly writing me love notes and giving me compliments.

One night before Christmas I asked Keller is had been a good boy. He replied, "I'm good half the day and bad half the day." I smiled and then asked, "Why don't you try to be good all day?" He just looked at me and solemnly said, "Okay darlin'." I started cracking up! This boy is turning into a true Texan!

One day in Colorado we were getting in the car to go look at elk. Keller yelled to Vance, "Come on bro (pronounced more like bra)! Dad is gonna get wrecked by some elk!" LOL!!!

After we opened Christmas parents, Keller went over to the chimney and yelled, "Goodbye and thanks Santa!" The years that kids believe in Santa are seriously the best!!!

This & That

The boys each wanted their own Christmas trees in their rooms. Since I love Christmas decorations so much, I couldn't tell them no. They loved their trees and were so cute decorating them!

Sutton has loved playing with the Little People nativity set.  It is a MUST have item for little ones!

Of course we snuck in a few trips to Krispy Kreme with Grandma and Grandpa Sutton!

We have had more than a few late nights so the kids have fallen asleep numerous times in the car on the way home.

With lots of shopping to be done I had some late night shopping trips with my girlfriends!

My cousin, Maddie, came to visit for a few days!  We had fun hanging out, playing cards, and baking cinnamon rolls!

We grabbed a cup of Peppermint Mocha (my favorite drink this time of year!) and then she headed back to school :(

Chad and I signed up for a half marathon in March so we've started training for it. We (well really me) are slow but committed to our training!

My dad got a Starbucks gift card that he let me and my mom use. Thanks Dad!

 When shoes are buy one get one 60% you have to buy two right?! One for Chad and one for me ;)

 Since we got married 11 years ago Chad has wanted to tattoo my name on his ring finger.  He hates rings! I finally gave in and I love it.  That's really close to how I write my name and the infinity underneath goes along the infinity on my foot tattoo. He loves it!

 I found this app where you can take a picture of a room in your house and then add Santa in it. I am excited to show the boys this picture on Christmas morning.

 I managed to stay in my pajamas ALL DAY one Saturday in December.  That is usually unheard of on a weekend and it was fabulous!

Our Sunday School class at church had an ugly sweater party. We inherited two sweaters when my Grandma passed away and we will wear them every December for the rest of our lives. I love those sweaters!!!

We had a great turn out at the party and it was lots of fun!

I made a bundt cake. I am getting better but it bugs me that I still get air pockets in the icing.  I know I'm OCD.

I was able to go to brunch one day while Sutton was at school. It was awesome.

The boys' bus driver sent home the sweetest note. I am grateful she took the time to write it because it meant a lot!

We met up with the Ogdens and my parents to go look at Christmas lights.

Afterwards we got some hot chocolate ;)

During December the boys earned money to buy gifts for one of their brothers.

They had a great attitude about it and were excited to pick out gifts their brothers would like.

Sutton had a Christmas program. I would've bet a million dollars he wouldn't participate or would cry. Boy was I wrong! 

He happily clapped along and did the actions to the different songs. He was so dang cute and I loved watching him.

Afterwards he had a class party.

The next day the other two boys had class parties.

Keller loves to write me notes. I LOVE THEM! One day he wrote I was "buttful." I know he meant beautiful but it made me laugh.

My mom took the boys on a bike ride one morning during Christmas break. They were in heaven.

Christmas Eve & Morning

We got back in town just in time to unpack and get ready for Christmas Eve.  This was my first year hosting Christmas Eve dinner and I enjoyed it. It was fun to set the table just like my mama taught me.  

Before dinner we went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our church.  The boys were a little restless but as soon as it was time to light the candles they hardly moved a muscle.  It was the perfect way to start celebrating with the focus on Christ.

At the church they had a cute photo op that of course I couldn't' pass up.

Then it was dinner time. For appetizers we had nuts and a cranberry cream cheese dip with meats and crackers. In this picture you can also see the birthday cake for Jesus that the boys helped me make.

For dinner we had a salad, steak, scalloped potatoes, and roll. It was all delicious!

For Christmas Eve it was our family, my parents, and our good friends Tony & Caitlyn and their two kids, Cami & Tison.

After dinner we had a little program. Vance played Silent Night. It was a challenging piece for him but he did great. We won't talk about the arguments about practicing leading up to Christmas Eve.  I am going to choose to remember my heart swelling with pride as he played for us.

I played "Where are you Christmas?" and Keller sang at the end of the song.  His little voice is the sweetest.

My mom and dad told the story of Christ's birth using this cool light box thingy. 

Then Caitlyn brought stuff for the kids to make a cute Christmas tree craft.  Keller kind of did his own thing but Vance's turned out great. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the finished product.

For dessert we had Pizookies.  They were divine!!

Then it was time to get ready for Santa to come! The boys changed into their jammies.

Sutton snuggled with Grandpa while the other two boys left Santa his eggnog and pizookie.

We took one last picture in front of the Christmas tree and then off to bed!

All of the boys slept on the bottom bunk in Keller's room since my parents were staying in Vance's room.

I didn't think they would really fall asleep but when I went in to check on them they were fast asleep. I was cracking up at Keller literally falling of the bed but still snoring.

The next morning the kids were thrilled Santa found our house and brought them exactly what they wanted.

Vance got a new BMX bike and a camera.

Keller wanted Pokemon everything and that's just he received!

Sutton got a new kitchen.

Here is everybody lined up ready to go see what Santa brought!

They loved it all!!!

Sutton was beyond excited about his candy cane of M&Ms. He was hilariously possessive about them. Santa could've saved a lot of money and just bought the $2 candy. Haha

Vance and Daddy were stoked about their new back scratchers.  Chad has had one that needed replacing and since Vance wants to be just like his dad he loved his too.

Afterwards the house looked like a bomb went off!

Instead of cleaning up we made a delicious breakfast ;)

We spent the rest of Christmas Day enjoying our gifts. Sutton is on cleaning duty with his new cleaning tools.

Keller looks like Pokemon threw up on him.

And Vance didn't fare so well when we played Pie Face.  Mom decided she needed to show him who is boss ;)

 That evening we went and looked at Christmas lights.  

We had a great holiday and hope you did too!