Friends coming to play

Fingerpainting
Hannah and AC

Four girls in a jeep.
Carly and AC
Clay playing with the girls.

Brydget and Josh holding the girls.
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We have had alot of fun this week playing with friends. The day after Christmas we met DeEtte and Hannah for lunch. Afterwards, we came back to our house to let the girls play while we talked and played with them.
The Copley's came down on Wednesday and spent the night. Carly, Calee and Ana Claire had a great time playing. We traveled to China with the Copley's to bring AC and Carly home. It was nice to get the girls together again.

Christmas day

AC and Jax
MeMe with her two little ones.
AC demonstrating her gymnastics on her new beam.
Don't you just love play doh?
This should have posted last instead of in the middle...oh well, this photo was taken after we got home. She passed out in the floor after a jeep ride. Anyone that knows AC, knows that she doesn't do this very often. She is snoring as I type this. LOL We have had a great day! Now to rest a little and then clean up.

Papa Jack feeding baby.
AC and all the boys.
Someone is getting tired.

We went to my parents house for lunch. I have posted a few photos from our visit to MeMe's and Papa Jack's. If you scroll down, you can view some photos of Christmas morning.

Christmas morning

Clay with his new helmet.
Checking out her baby doll.

Our three blessings
Feeding the baby

This is the look she gave when she saw her jeep.

One happy girl.
Clay in his chest protector.
Josh in his Carrhart jacket.

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Who was up first this morning??? Not Ana Claire. It was the boys. They came in and woke us up. They asked her if she wanted to see what she got for Christmas. She told them no since she was still half asleep. One of them got her attention when they asked her if she wanted to see if she got her jeep. Out the bed she jumped. The only thing that she has asked for if you asked her was a jeep and a baby doll. When she walked into the den she was grinning from ear to ear, but you could tell she still didn't know what to think.

As I sat there and watched the kids, I couldn't help but think back two Christmas's ago, the boys sat under the tree with just a photo of their little sister and now here she is right in the middle of everything. Tom and I were also anxiously waiting to hear when we were to travel to bring her home. God has truly blessed our family over the past years.

While we were sitting there I reminded them to think about the true meaning of Christmas. That today we celebrated the birth of Jesus. While it was nice to get gifts, we couldn't forget the true meaning.

Fast forward, we straightened up a little and we all got ready to go to my parents house to spend time with my family. I have also posted a few photos from that above.

Merry Christmas

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Celebrating with old friends

We met some of our oldest friends today for lunch to celebrate the holidays. It is so hard to believe that all of our kids have grown so much! Seeing Ana Claire with their girls makes my heart feel good. I can remember a time in our life when I thought God blessed us with just 2 boys and I had to live vicariously through my friends with their daughters. God is so awesome and he does answers prayers. I prayed for a daughter for years and God answered my prayers when he blessed our family with Ana Claire.

Blowing Bubbles

Ana Claire loves to chew gum. She actually calls it num. Today she was determined to learn how to blow a bubble. Clay sat down with her this morning and showed her several times how to blow and hold her mouth. She did succeed a couple of times. This evening she sat down with a mirror and was one determined little girl. She sat and entertained herself for over an hour looking at herself in the mirror blowing bubbles. She was so proud of herself.

Happy Birthday Tom

Icing the cupcakes
Taste test

Adding sprinkles
Birthday kiss with lipstick in hand


Make a wish
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Tom's birthday is Christmas Eve. In the 19 years that we have been married I have surprised him on a different day in December. I just hate for his birthday to get thrown in with the holiday celebrations. He deserves his special day like anyone else.

I baked some cupcakes, Clay and Ana Claire iced and decorated them. They did a really good job. Clay got away before I could get photos of him helping. I cooked a special meal for him. When he came home we all surprised him. After dinner the kids gave him his gifts. After he opened them he shared with me that Ana Claire had told him that we got him a pair of Crocs. He also told me she calls them "Cocs". We got a laugh out of that. If she decides to talk about his shoes I will have to be on my toes. I know now that she can't keep a secret. LOL

Happy Birthday Tom! I love you!

Last year's Santa photo

This year Ana Claire has made it very clear she wants NOTHING to do with Santa. I showed her this photo of her sitting on his lap from last year. She looked at me and said I NOT do that.

When I have taken her to the mall and passed by the area where Santa is, she just looks the other way like he is't even there.

Since she has had a fear of men I don't want to traumatize her by putting her on a strange man's knee. It isn't worth the trauma. She has come such a long way with this issue, I don't want to make her regress. So I guess we will have to enjoy her photo from last year and hope that maybe she will sit with Santa next year.

After all Jesus is the reason for the season!

Merry Christmas!

Seven days left until Christmas!

Playgroup Christmas party

The group

AC icing and tasting her cookies.