OC Christmas Breakfast 2008

The annual OC Christmas Breakfast was last week. We actually had everyone healthy and happy this year...including mommy. This day can become stressful when you want everything to be just so and it turns out otherwise. I think this year was a combination of my kids being older and me finally giving up on things being "just so". The above picture is some of the decor I helped with...I was just a helper...other people were the real brains behind the cuteness.

Like these two...Amy and Becca put A LOT of hard work into this day and I think it payed off. This year ran much smoother than others thanks to some of their ideas. Everyone bought tickets in the rotation they wanted for the morning (pictures, craft and breakfast) and after some worship time went to their designated areas. They also had two Santa's this year for a "Disney-like" experience of visiting and getting your picture made (we are still waiting on our pic with the big guy b/c we just sat there in awe that BOTH kids actually went to him with very little coaxing).

Baylor and Caroline

Craft time was our last stop...they made treat bags and Christmas tree ornaments

Anna Kate and Christian

Above our life group minus Kim and Kevin and below most of the kids (some were no longer in the mood to have their picture taken)

KayKay and Tex were there to join in on the fun

Our family

Lighting of the Green

We spent a cold Tuesday night at Lipscomb University for their annual Lighting of the Green. Several friends went with us and we all enjoyed free cookies, hot chocolate and listening to Amy Grant. It was so very cold and some of us didn't last long enough to see the tree lite The Thomas family

Christian and Luke

The Westermans and Brandon

Brother and sister sweetness

Satrting Christmas at Nana & Papa's

We started off our Christmas season this year with ornament making with Nana. She mixed equal parts applesauce and cinnamon (which smelled wonderful) and we used cookie cutters to make our shapes. While we were there Christian had to show off his reading skills

My job was to poke holes in the tops

Such cute hands:)

Baylor watched more than anything

Christian and Nana were hard at work

Christian has earned his blue belt...he took his test right before Thanksgiving and proudly sports his new belt now. He has to work hard and sometimes doesn't really want to, but he sticks with it. His teachers are demanding, but still playful and the kids respect that and WANT to work for them. This is his fifth belt for those keeping track. We are very proud of him.

Kindergarten Thanksgiving

As long as we have been at Otter Creek we have heard about the Thanksgiving lunch the Kindergartners put on for their parents. This was our year to finally participate. They worked so hard on the food, songs and decorations for this day. It was all we heard about for weeks...then three days before it was to happen Christian gets VERY sick. Turns out he had pneumonia and we had to have x-rays, shots and an oral antibiotic. The shots did their job and he was well enough to participate. Above you see Christian with his very favorite friend Patrick and below Fast Fish (that was the Indian name he picked out) is posing with Mrs. Melissa

They sang songs about turkeys, Pilgrims and Indians. They used sign language in several songs and we were all so impressed at how well they did.

After the program the parents are invited to a special meal that the children and teachers (every OC teacher help with this event) prepared. It was all so yummy and we enjoyed trying it. It was a great day and I look forward to doing it with Baylor someday.

Thanksgiving Day 2008

We went to my Aunt and Uncles in E-town for lunch. It is about a two hour drive so we went there and back in one day. It's always nice to get together with family you don't see very often. We all tried to squeeze on the front steps for a group picture. Football was watched...

smiles were shared...

LOTS of yummy food was eaten!!!

What a smile:)

I went straight for the day and my sister recently went brunette, so we look more alike than usual

Christian showing Mam-ma how he can read...he is excited to share with anyone who will listen

We had a Life Group Thanksgiving meal the week before at the Houston's house. Heidi made everything look so pretty and made the kids the cutest turkey utensil holders:) Everyone brought something to the meal and it was ALL fabulous. We had so much fun and can't wait to do it next year...Jeff and Christian had to miss out since C was so sick:(




Fenley and Nathan tackle the drumstick






Our great hosts...Thanks guys













The group minus Jeff and Christian.
This has been an amazing year and I can't wait to see where this next one takes our group. We know it will involve increasing our # by two more girls when Gracie and baby Houston make their way into the world.