Bridezilla! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

Bishop & Papa have a jam session! 

Sexy Brad....:) 

Nice glasses dad! 

Stocking time!! 

Santa brought a Wiggle doll....whoo hoo!! 

He already thinks he's Eric Clapton....:) 

Bishop & his new guitar on Christmas morning:) 

The massive chaos afterwards... 

The kids all gathered round to help Jesus with his candles....Colton, Braden, Calebi, Bish & Colby! 

Opening presents.... 

We have a birthday party for Jesus every year! 

The girls... 

We shed a few tears because Santa got too close and we broke our candy cane!! 

I guess this Santa didn't seem as trustworthy....he would not get near him!! He did tell him what he wanted from a safe distance! 

THE fabulous train ride! 

Brad got cold waiting for the train so he had to borrow mom's earmuffs!!! 

Christmas

I decided before New Year's came & went that I better get to blogging about Christmas!! I have been somewhat neglectful due to time constraints & just plain nothing to say:)! Our Christmas was wonderful...very peaceful & relaxing. For the first time since we've had Bish we got to stay in one place....Altus, Oklahoma...which just happens to be my favorite place in the world;)! We hung out iwth family, played at the farm, and basically just had a great time. I got to eat at my favorite restaurant & get vanilla rootbeers at the Tunnel:)! Bishop & I went and fed the ducks & drove around the reservoir and looked for bridges. We all loaded up and went to the local park which is COVERED in Christmas lights and rode the little train around the park. It was perfect. On Christmas Eve, the WHOLE family (all of 18 people:) gets together to eat & open gifts. With 7 kids as part of the 18, you can imagine how nuts but fun that was. Christmas morning was the BEST! Bishop finally got Christmas this year. He understood that Santa was going to come & leave him gifts. So at 7 in the morning, BRAD comes in & wakes BISHOP up. Brad is still a kid at heart:)! Brad lays down on the bed & says..."Bishop, Santa came last night & he left you some presents in the living room." Bishop's eyes POPPED wide open & that was all it took to get him up. He walked into the living room & the goofy grin on his face was priceless. Santa had left him a guitar that has a real microphone & Bishop just stopped in his tracks when he saw it. He then proceded to open all of his gift as fast as he could. It was so fun & I can't wait to see how much more he understands next year. We got up Monday morning & went to Brad's dad house & had one more Christmas. It was great too....all of the family showed up & we had a little impromptu party.
So....here are some pictures in no certain order because I cannot seem to sequence well on this blog!! Hope everyone had a GREAT CHRISTMAS & that the New Year brings blessings to all!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We are packing & geting ready to hit the road....I just wanted to tell everyone to have a wonderful Christmas!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!!

The Christmas card picture. We took this near my moms house...a flower shop has this sitting outside & we took advantage:) 

Beautiful Sound

I got to go to the doctor yesterday & hear the most beautiful sound in the world....our babies heartbeat. I think it may be the most beautiful sound in the world. We got a good report....and the heartrate is......170. Girls tend to have a higher heartrate but it is still early so no way of knowing yet. We found out yesterday that our insurance is awful so we may not be able to have a sonagram at the doctor's office to determine the sex but Jodi's mom is a sonographer & will probably be able to do one for us. That was lovely to hear....the insurance that we pay SO much for every month doesn't cover a lot of things....but I won't get on my soapbox about that today.

We are just happy that things are going well & the baby is healthy. Bishop is getting really excited about the baby. He wants to hold it so bad. He may be very disappointed though...he REALLY wants a boy. We keep trying to explain that we don't get a choice but he is convinced "he" is having a baby boy.

Not much else new to talk about. I sent out a two page Christmas letter so that should have everyone up to date:). (Sorry...I got carried away in that letter!!) Bishop is excited about Christmas & going to Mama & Papa's house. He is ready for Santa to come and to get to play with all of his cousins. I am just ready to RELAX a little & eat at my fav restaurant again:)! Alright...I am babbling now....adios!!

I still need a dog collar....

It is a week until Christmas!! ONE WEEK! I'm sorry but I am amazed at that thought. I wish I could say that we are ready and we ARE close but I cannot find a stinking dog collar. I have everything wrapped & decorated but I cannot find Shadow a new collar. They are out at most places & the few left at Target were, well, not cute. So, aside from the minor annoyance that I cannot find the dog a new collar, we are ready. I am trying one more Petsmart tomorrow & then he can just wait until after the holidays.

We wrapped the rest of the presents today....Bishop FINALLY took a nap so "Santa" could wrap his presents. But then I bought him one more this afternoon so I guess I will have to drag it all out again...oh well. As much of a pain as it is, I secretly enjoy it....I love EVERYTHING about Christmas:)!

We will be going to Oklahoma this year...I think that we are leaving Thursday night. We only have one place to be this year so that will be different. Lots of time with family....my kind of Christmas:)!!

I better run....gotta put the kid to bed!! Happy Saturday!

OH....Bish is doing better but isn't well yet. His fever will go away & then come right back up but the doctor said that is normal with an ear infection. We are hoping it will be completely gone by tomorrow!!!

Life...

Well it has been a ROLLER COASTER week. Nothing terribly tragic thankfully but when you are pregnant....life seems like a rocky roller coaster. I was sick all this week & that was awful...and now that I am beginning to feel better, Bish is sick. I went ahead & took him to the doctor today & all he has is an ear infection (THANK YOU LORD!!!!!) He has a high fever which is frightening for a mommy no matter how many times a doctor tells you it is nothing to worry about, and he has a cough and a runny nose. His doctor (who is fabulous) says nothing is in his chest or throat...just his ears so we are thankful for that. We got an antibiotic and will hopefully be on the road to recovery!! I however have lifted him way too much today because I wanted to comfort him & have WAY overdone it. I am going to have to start being more careful which is hard for me to accept. I hope this kid isn't too mad at me:)! Bishop is asleep on the couch right now...that's all he has doen today. It is awful watching your baby suffer....breaks my heart into a thousand pieces. I finally had to pray on the way to the doctor to let it go. I know that God is taking great care of my baby....I can't control it. I HAVE to let him handle it. And He is just like He always does!
We did attempt to go to school today...it was Christmas party day. Our prayers were answered though. Even though Bish didn't get to go to his party, we got all of his prizes so we had a party at home:)! That made him happy & Brad was able to come join us & even my friend Rebecca. So Bish was pleased.
On a totally different note....does everyone eles realize that Christmas is NEXT weekend?!?!? I will finish up all my little things this weekend....stocking stuffers, wrapping, last minute gifts....should be FUN!!! We will be in Burleson so maybe the lines won't be too long....wishful thinking, I know:)!
Well good luck to all trying to finish getting ready for the holidays. Please pray that we can all heal & be well for Christmas!
TGIF!!!

Just a great reminder before the start of the Holiday Season!!

Remember My Birthday????!!!!!!

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.
As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face.... and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"... as if the party were in his honor ! At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other ; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me? Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.
Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart. I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Do you know how you can answer this invitation? It is by extending it to others whom you care for... I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year... See you soon .... I love you !
-Jesus-

I got this via email a few days ago & it made me cry to think of my Saviour standing alone in the corner. I know we all know the true meaning of Christmas but it helps to be reminded.

Brad's trophy...whoo hoo! Won't the baby be excited to have this in it's bedroom!? 

What dorks?!?!?! 

Brad & Bish working hard at putting my Christmas present together...aren't they sweet?!?! 

This Santa must have looked trusting I guess. Maybe because he was at God's barn....I guess. This is the first time in 2 years that Bishop has gotten his picture taken with Santa...he was feeling brave!! 

Only in a small town does a tractor lead off the parade! I miss home!!! 

Who can resist Santa on a firetruck?!