Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve night, we read the boys the story of the birth of Jesus. When we asked them what Christmas was all about, their answers were "Love", "Giving", and "Jesus' Birthday". :) Guess they are learning something after all.

Bright and early, at 6:30am, my sweet hubby woke me up. He told me that the coffee was ready and I needed to open a present before the boys got up.

I'm still half asleep in this picture, but totally surprised! I never would have imagined that he would get me a new Camcorder. I am so excited to have a camcorder again! Ours broke about 2-3 years ago, and I've been missing being able to take videos of the boys. I'm so excited to have one again! Isn't my sweet hubby amazing?!

Shortly after I had figured out how to use my new video camera (thank you for thinking to charge the battery for me Daddy!), Levi got up. He was so excited about the New Football Uniform that Santa brought him. Look at that face! He was ready to open his presents and said "can I go wake up Seth?". Well, he tried, but couldn't get him to wake up. So I went in there to wake him. It didn't take long, and he was bounding out of bed, and running to the Christmas tree.

Here comes the sleepy head.....

couldn't wait to get his new Football Uniform on too.

They wore their uniforms all morning, and all day.

Daddy, taking video, and wearing his new boots. He got me some new boots too! :) We all got new boots for Christmas this year.

After we all opened presents; they played with their new toys, while I made breakfast. It was such a wonderful, relaxing morning. We've just been chillin' and playin' all day. It's been so nice to spend so much time together today, just having fun.

I hope you have all had a Wonderful Christmas also.

Christmas Eve at Nanny's

We went to visit my Nanny for Christmas Eve. (This is my Mother's Mother.)
Mom and Dad were there, and so was my brother and his wife. We all had Christmas dinner together, and NOTHING beats my Nanny's cookin'! YUM-EE!

After we ate, we were waiting for my Niece to get there so we could open presents. While waiting, my sweet hubby decided to take himself a cat-nap! LOL! :)

My brother, and my Niece. Hard to believe she is 13 years old. Yikes! Where does the time go?

My Daddy liked his new Stetson hat. :)

Is this a face of total excitement, or what?! LOL! He was so thrilled to get new Lace-Up boots.

My Mommy, happy it's Christmas.

Here is our cowboy, showing off his new boots.

My sweet Nanny. :)

Daddy and Seth, trying to figure out how Seth's new Camera works. It is an awesome little camera, and take some really good photos and video.

Stephen, checking out his new Hat.

I was so excited! I got The Biggest Loser Families Cookbook, and two Biggest Loser workout videos! YEA!!!!! :)

My Mother surprised me with this beautiful Red Sweater. My favorite color is Red, and this is cut so cute and flattering. I LOVE IT! :) I loved ALL of the gifts I received. I was especially thrilled to see the excitement and joy on the faces of my family, when they opened their gifts from us. I just love giving gifts!

My Mom and Levi. He is so silly.

My Nanny, and both of my boys. This picture, to me, is Priceless! :) I'm going to print out of copy of this one, and mail it to her.

Last but not least; my Nanny, Me, and my Mom. We were looking at my Nanny's old photo albums, and at that moment I realized that we all look alike! There were some photos of my Nanny when she was really young, that looked just like my mom! Spittin' Image!

Then there were some photos of my mom as a young girl, that could have been me when I was a kid. It was amazing how much the three of us seem to look alike.

My Nanny also made us all some kitchen towels, and pot holders. And my mother has a Bath and Body Works 'Lotion Grab-bag'! LOVE IT! These women always have the best gift ideas.

My cousin Taran, and her husband Ryan, came by to visit for a little bit also. It was so good to see them again. They brought us a bunch of clothes that their son had outgrown, which were the perfect size for Levi. He was in hog-heaven, when he started going through that bag of clothes. {He must get his love of clothes from his mother. :) hee-hee} They are so sweet to share these with us. It is such an amazing blessing! We also made plans to go to the Rodeo with them next month. I can't wait! It will be so much fun to see them, and spend time with them again.

blogging slacker...

Sorry I've been such a slacker when it has come to blogging lately. I've just been swamped with work the last few weeks (Yea!!!!), and then the boys were sick...it's just been a whirlwind.
I hadn't even worked out in over a week! Yikes! You know i was super busy if I couldnt' find time to work out. That is something that I usually "make" time for, but I just couldn't. I did get back on the workout wagon yesterday, after I cleaned our house from top to bottom, after church. It is so much more relaxing to have a clean and tidy house. Ahhh....
Finally, I think we are ready for Christmas. Levi is out of school for the next two weeks. We have all of our presents bought and wrapped. And I even bought our groceries for Christmas dinner. All we have left to do is make Christmas cookies for Santa. :) We are going to do that this afternoon, or tomorrow.
I got some mail last week, informing me that it is almost time to renew my Appraisal Trainee License. I have to complete 14 hours of continuing ed (which will cost me $220 for the class). Then I must submitt my renewal fee of $110, along with my continuing ed completion certificate, and my appraisal log. Wow. What a time of year to be getting all of this in the mail....

If I don't talk to you all again this week; Merry Christmas! :) Enjoy the time with your family, and take the time to remember the true reason we celebrate this season.

Yearly Christmas Photo...

Yesterday was the day. We finally found a moment, right before leaving for church, to try and take a family photo. I've been saying we needed to do this, since November, so we could get our christmas cards made and sent out. Well, needless to say, that didn't happen this year. I had good intentions, but something always came up and we weren't ever able to get this done.

Here are some of our blooper photos...

Stephen took these of the boys:
us saying: Look at the camera Levi....Seth, stop "cheesing"....

Better,....seth could you, oh never mind, this will work. LOL!

Then Levi decided he wanted to take a photo of mom and dad together:

Me: Levi, look at the camera, get Daddy in the photo too.....

Lower Levi, get Mommy in the picture too....oh wait, to low, don't cut Daddy's head off...

why do we try to do this ourselves? LOL!

Seth wants in the picture with Mommy and Daddy....

Ok, let me set up the timer, and get both boys in the picture with us....Ta Da! That will have to do. :)

Craft time....

Since the boys were finally feeling a little better today (but couldn't go to school because of ICE on the roads, and Levi has to be "fever free" for a full 24 hours first), we worked on some Christmas Crafts.

I bought the stuff for Levi to make Candy Cane Reindeer for his Class Christmas Party. I figured this way he could do a craft and 'make' everyone in the class something (without breaking my wallet), and give all of his classmates something for Christmas. I'm so proud of him for doing such a great job on them. He even let his little brother help. :)

Feeling much better, and so proud of his hard work on his reindeer! :)

Sick...

Took the boys to the doctor today.
Levi has Pneumonia, and Seth has Strep Throat....hence the reason you haven't heard from me in awhile....
Keep us in your prayers.

Biggest Loser Talk.....

For my latest Biggest Loser talk, go to my fitness website: Fit4Life (click on the title).
I've devoted this other website for my fitness talk/goals/motivation/etc....
Then this website can be mostly just about my family and kiddos. Those of you who just want to stay updated on what we are up to, don't have to wade through all of my fitness/biggest loser posts anymore. Yea! LOL!
However, those of you who are as addicted to fitness as I am, are more than welcome to come on over to my other blog and talk fitness with me.