2nd Christmas - 2012

The stockings were hung...

Who wouldn't "Ho! Ho! Ho!" with that many stockings on their fireplace???

Not a lot of chatter on this one.  Just enjoy my beautiful family!

We started at Julie and Richard's house...

 Brynn

  Brynn & Chase

  Brynn practicing "the pose"

  Brynn - Diva practice!

Chase

 Chase has Brynn's cup.  Do you think he knows??

Oh! He knows!

Kate (usually preceded by "dear, sweet...")

More Kate

Kate & Brynn

 More Kate & Brynn

Richard and Chase

Richard, Chase..... and who's that?  Richard's doll? Chase's doll? 
Looks like an American Girl doll.  Must be Kate's

From Julie and Richard's to Amy and Greg's...

We weren't so lucky with pictures at Greg and Amy's.  The kids are biggier and off doing their own "thing".  BUT... we did catch Gregory with his new bass...

  Gregory, our rock star

On to Crystal and Scott's house to see if Santa came and... he did!!

Bryce showing us what Santa brought

Bryce

More Bryce

And yet more Bryce  (who can get enough of Bryce???)

Let's not forget Mason, the youngest of our family - with Dad, Scott

What more is there to say?  I am blessed beyond words!

Merry Christmas... again! 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you,
unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Matthew 18:1-3

Happy Birthday, Michael!

  The BIG.... ....

Words of "wisdom" on turning 60...


We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.
- May Lamberton Becker

You are the oldest you have ever been, but you are the youngest you will ever be again.
- Unknown

Michael and Kate taken a few years ago

Old hippies don't die - they just get better guitars!

Happy Birthday, Michael!

(and many more)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My father is 89 today.   He was born in 1923 which makes him about 6 in the picture above (I'm a math whiz).

He bowls, golfs and works part-time - and takes NO medication.  I wish I could do half the things he does!  He's pretty amazing!

 This one is Brynn and Dad at Richard's 40th birthday

Scott, Dad, and Richard - same day

I hope your day is everything you'd wish it to be.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Saturday, Alex!

Today is Alex's 12th birthday!!!

Since Amy has been so sick (but recuperating nicely), Alex's family birthday celebration is going to be postponed for a week or two until Amy is ready to party.  :-)

SO!  I decided to seize the opportunity to have a special day with Alex and whoever he chose to include.  We decided last night that we'd go to Buffalo Wild Wings today for lunch. Our first thought was to take only Alex.. for HIS day... HIS birthday.

But, if you know Alex, you know that his generous spirit would not be able to pull off that whole "it's all about me" thing.   It's simply not his nature.  Alex knows that life is much better when shared.

This morning Alex texted me to ask if it would be okay if he brought his brothers.  Well... heck... I planned on that from the beginning, so.. sure!

Richard added a bonus surprise by meeting us for lunch and to celebrate Alex.  

We laughed about Gregory and Alex ordering wings that were almost too hot to eat.  We laughed while Gregory wiped the perspiration from his forehead and Alex wiped the tears from his eyes.  We laughed while Carnel, the Captain of our area,  danced and sang to Alex and reminded us to always be funky and fresh (like we're not already????)  We laughed while our server, Ezell whispered behind a menu about serving the cake we brought - as if Alex had no idea what we were talking about.

We laughed.... and we celebrated Alex.

Happy birthday, dear Alex.  Happy birthday to you!

Welcome to your 13th year!

Happy Birthday, Bryce!

He's 7!
He's 7!
He's 7 years old today!

Every time we  celebrate another birthday I wonder where the time has gone.  This one is no exception. 

I remember when Bryce was born.  I remember the day when Bryce was a little more than a year old when Scott called and asked... "Why didn't you tell me I would love him so much!!!!"

Who could ever explain to their child the love that they'll feel when their child is a year old?

And who could wish more for their grandson on his birthday than the kind of love that Bryce experiences from his mom and dad.

Happy Birthday,  Bryce!

Welcome to your 8th year!

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Matthew is 8 today!   EIGHT YEARS OLD!

And when you talk to him you think you're talking to a semi-adult.  His vocabulary is far beyond his eight years!

Greg and Amy had a great party (and I forgot my camera)... and Matthew had a happy happy birthday!

Happy birthday, Matthew!!!!

School Milestones

Today is the first day of school here in Delaware and it's a big year for the school-age kids in our family:

• Gregory (14) started High School today
• Alex (11) started Junior High
• Matthew (8 this week) is having his first day in school without Alex in the same school
• Bryce started First Grade today
• Kate started Kindergarten

A new year for Brynn.  (How could she possibly get any cuter???)

The babies, Chase and Mason have lost their big brother/sisters to a new school year.

Where does the time go??   (A recurring question with me)

Miss Kate

 Mr. Bryce