Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to Me!

Well, you have seen the goodies that the kids received for Christmas... now I'll share my pressies (Australian way to say presents! ... that is for you Ellie!!!)!

I must have been good this year (or they must have felt sorry for me??? ) as I received some really special gifts; however, I have to say, the best was probably lunch today with Joe... he drove and I actually had a Margarita with my fajitas! It was a yummy lunch! We were planning to see a movie ~ Marley and Me~ but it was sold out... so we went to Sam's Club instead... oh the joy! I now have all the toilet paper that my heart (or bottom) could ever wish for!!! : )

So here are my goodies from Joe and the kids:

How cool is this bracelet???? It was made to commemorate the Beijing Olympics ... but for me it will always remind me of a very special trip we made to China in '08! The little take out box opens up and there is a heart on the inside... and the little girl and boy have moving feet! Seriously "high" on the cute scale!!!

I LOVE frames... have I told yall that??? I have frames everywhere in my house... even frames with no pictures in drawers... waiting for the perfect photo! Each of the kids gave me a frame this year... I will find the perfect photos before New Years and enjoy them all year long!

As for this one... I NEEDED it! I blow dry my hair pretty much every single day... the "curse" of having fine flyaway hair... I can not go a day without blow drying it! I am "known" (by my husband) for going through way too many blow dryers... they just STOP working after a few months... or weeks or days... I usually buy whatever is on sale for $9.99 that does not weigh a ton! Joe decided I needed a professional dryer... like the salons use. If they can dry hair all day every day... it should last me at least until next Christmas! And... it matches the bathroom... brown! hahahaha!
This cashmere blanket is from Daniel. It is a beautiful ice blue and the softest blanket I have ever touched! He and I always "fuss" over the blanket on the couch. Funny thing is... I gave him a blanket for Christmas too! Great minds think alike!

From my Holly girl... I need to show pride in my new home town team... Roll Tide! Only problem I have... that is one scary looking elephant they have for a mascot!!!

Last pic (random) ... my kids think I should dress up like Sarah Palin next Halloween... what do yall think?? Daniel just took this photo to prove it... I am not so sure....

As a friend of mine said... only 10 months until we get to start the festivities again!!!

Joy FULL Morning!

Before:

During:

I love Abby's face in the pic below... remember when you felt that way.... sheer EXCITEMENT!!!

Can you believe it was REALLY a SURPRISE!!!!

Our Family Room will never be the same....

Notice my Ballerina and my Batman....

My FAVORITE thing this Christmas....

Holly's goodies:

She was so thrilled about this "old" typewriter... she has been asking for a typewriter for as long as I can recall... thanks to eb*y... she is ready to type!!!

After:

Lilli said it best this morning when she said, "I am loving this!".

The late night at the airport allowed us to sleep a little late as the littles did not hit the ground running until 7:17am this morning! It took only minutes for the house to go from neat yet festive to total chaos... with Christmas wrap and empty boxes everywhere!

Joe is now cooking bacon - real bacon- something we still treasure after living overseas for so long (Indonesia is Muslim... NO bacon... Australia had "bacon rashers" which was ham or Canadian bacon... not the good stuff like home!)

Joey and Daniel are loading games on Daniel's new laptop. No more fighting over the computers for - HOMEWORK (if you believe that I have some nice land in the Pacific to sell you!!!). Holly is back to bed as she is soooooooooooo sick... poor baby has picked up a stomach virus somewhere and barely made it to unwrap presents this morning.

As for Joey... I think he is still in shock! Can you believe I pulled off the HUGE surprise!!! Huge as in CAR in our garage for over 2 weeks and he never ever had a clue! This was a bit of a "selfish" present on my part... because I need and WANT help getting everyone where they need to go! YEAH!!! I will have help soon!!!! : )

Merry Christmas! I need to go eat some bacon!

Six Hours!!!

I NEED nothing under the Christmas tree in the morning because my gift arrives in 6 hours!!!!

It is 2:45 and I am still in my pajamas... What am I thinking???? The littles are napping and the bigs are scattered around entertaining themselves. I am just sitting here with a huge grin on my face!!!

Joe actually hits US soil in about 40 minutes ~ touching down at DFW. His layover is so long... even though he has to clear customs... he will have hours to sit and twiddle his thumbs!

I will upload a few pics from the airport later tonight! Abby has agreed to wear a DRESS!!!! What???? You will have to check back for photographic proof that she followed through with that decision.... : )

I hope everyone has a Blessed Christmas surrounded by family and friend

** UPDATE**

Joe's flight made it about 30 minutes late... the airport (very small airport) was wall to wall people as his flight was FULL! Abby and Lilli were able to weave through the human traffic to get to Joe first... We are all so happy that he is home safe!!

"Rebus" Update....

In

Days, I will load
into

and excitedly drive to
to pick up
just in time to celebrate

We will all be so Until then, I am knee deep in

trying to get the house in tip top shape for Joe's homecoming.

Yesterday; however, the kids and I took a break from our hectic schedule to enjoy

The Living Christmas Tree was amazing! What a wonderful holiday tradition!

We also took the girls for

I asked Joey, Holly, and Daniel to join in the picture, and they all looked at me like I asked them to do something that was crazy or dangerous... they "won" and I did not force them to join in the Santa fun. I will say that while Abby was simply "tolerant" of the old jolly guy in red, Lilli decided that she was going to make extra sure that the baby doll and baby doll "things" that she asked for would be under the tree! She hugged Santa and hugged him and told him she liked his beard... and his reindeer... and his red shirt etc etc! I think he was just as smitten with her!

I am also so happy to report that with the help of Holly, I was able to finish

Seriously, they are all wrapped and ready for "delivery" late on Christmas Eve. YEAH!!!!

Today it is

So, I think we will just enjoy a day in

with some

and sit in front of the

to keep us warm!

That is the end of my "Rebus" update... I don't think I will do that again as it took way too long!!! : )

Merry Christmas!

Should Have Known

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should've known. ONLY women would be able to drag an old man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

Our Little Stars

Today the girls had their Christmas Presentation at Church/School. We got all dressed up this morning (although not in red... as I am sure I never received the "memo") and off we went for a morning of fellowship and song! What an amazing morning! All of the children put their hearts into the performance!

We went for lunch and then came home to snap some pictures on the front porch as not to waste a "Matilda Jane" moment!!! Can her clothes get any cuter????

Hope you enjoy the photos. Joey is going to edit my video into 2 short clips for me to upload in the next day or so....