Out with the old...

My view from the bedroom window this morning after I asked my darling husband to bring in the Christmas boxes...

Forgive the lame drawing, I would have taken a picture, but...

True Story

Gone like a freight-train, gone like yesterday

**UPDATE: It WAS stolen! Gasp.

It WAS stolen while we were at church Sunday night. Double gasp.

Others also had valuables taken from their vehicles. I'm still in shock that someone would take something from our vehicle, yes, I'm that naive, but also thankful that regardless of how precious it was to me, it is replaceable. Though it may take this stay at home mom, that doesn't earn a monetary paycheck, a little while to actually REPLACE it! :) B purchased my camera from a reputable, local, brick and mortar store, but I'm hoping to find it for a good deal {translation- much cheaper!!} on-line. I've already looked at cameta.com and tigerdirect.com. Any other on-line suggestions?**

original post follows

Gone like a soldier in the civil war, bang bang
Gone like a '59 Cadillac
Like all the good things that ain't never coming back
She's gone (gone) gone (gone) gone (gone) gone, she's gone

My beloved camera is GONE.
G-O-N-E.
Gone.
Buh-bye.

I am puzzled at its disappearance.

Well, puzzled and deeply saddened.

I keep thinking it will show up.

I even had a dream last night that it was in my purse.

"Aha!! Of course it's in my purse."

But it's really not.

It's really gone.

I luh-huh-huh-huh-hove my camera!!

I take it everywhere. I'm always taking pictures.

And now my camera is no more.

~

It was last seen:

We used it before we left for church Sunday night so we could get my weekly belly picture. Billy handed it to me and I scrolled through the three pictures he took, then placed it in the backseat.

We went to church.

We went to eat.

We went home.

We went to bed.

I awoke Monday morning and realized I didn't bring my camera in the house the night before.

Panic!

It was cold Sunday night!!

I ran out to the car to get my camera and there was no camera.

"Did I bring it in last night?"

I ran back in the house, scanned the kitchen counter and desk in the office...no camera.

I ran BACK outside, gave the car a good thorough check and...

still no camera.

:(

~

I spent all of Monday thinking it would just show up. I can't tell you how many times I went and looked under all the seats in the car...I even removed Raegen's carseat completely!!

If there were ever a time I wish I had a messy house, it would be now! I wish I could just say, "oh, it must be under that stack of papers...or lost under that pile of junk on the counter", but that's just not an option.

I have such a hard time thinking someone would have taken it out of the car, but there really is no other explanation.

It is certainly a mysterious disappearance.

For now I am left scratching my head and creating terrible self-portraits in "Microsoft Paint" {hence the 31 week belly drawing}.

31 weeks; just 11 or 12 more to go!

Hap-ee Birf-day Jee-sus!!

We had a wonderful Christmas day at home {though B got really sick and he's still in bed today!}. Raegen didn't quite understand why HE was getting presents on "Jesus' Birthday", but he certainly didn't argue! :)

We have adopted the "rule of three + a stocking" and that works great for our family.

This is the only gift Raegen actually got to unwrap because he had already received his ornament {gift #1} and his third gift was a little cumbersome to wrap, so we didn't! :)

It's a verse for his wall {something I've been wanting for a while}...we found it at P. Graham Dunn when we were there recently.

And now the showstopper, gift #3... "a bicycle?"

"It has a pedal!"

Proof that I can NOT video and take pictures at the same time...

It needs just a hair shaved off the seat post and it will be a perfect fit. With his boots on he can pedal one rotation at a time.

But for now he's perfectly content to push it around the house!

And just sit on it!!

Stocking time!

"A game!"

"Mas-a-roni!!!"

I think that got him more excited than anything! He even tried to open the box!

Billy and I decided not to exchange presents this year so I put a few things in my stocking just for fun. I've got a friend that recently told me how much she LOVES bracelets and I think she's got me hooked now! :) I saw this for a good deal at JCP and thought it would be a fun gift to open on Christmas day.

I also bought myself a pair of nice leather gloves from Kohl's because I don't really have any "grown up" gloves. But surprise, surprise, there was another box in my stocking! Billy bought me a nice pair of earrings, very similar to the pair he bought me when we were dating.

One of the hoops fell out without me knowing and we found it a week later, smashed to smitherines!, in his driveway. He thought it would be nice to finally replace them. :) I thought it was very sweet.

Of course Billy got a stocking too...he loves Macaroni as much as Raegen so I had to include that, along with some travel bags of peanuts/cashews, and a holiday Coke.

My attempt at a family picture...

It's rather difficult when my husband will only let me take three pictures, so this is it!! ha.

Then it was time for lunch...just a nice relaxed, southern meal...pork chops, mashed potatoes, vegetable and rice medley, and Macaroni, of course! With sweet tea, no doubt!

Thankfully Raegen's a little more giving in the photo op department!

This is his infamous "I'm cute" smile. ;)

Despite Billy being confined to his recliner {due to illness} and Raegen believing his bicycle is "boken", because the wheels stop turning when he pedals backwards, we had a wonderful Christmas. We are so thankful that

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

For Jesus is the true Christmas gift, and we are the true reason for the season.

Four Christmases

Home Sweet Home

After a whirlwind weekend of traveling the state, we are home and happy for Christmas day! :)

~

Bader-Stain Christmas

We started our weekend with Billy's family and because we had several more stops to make, I spent the day making sweets and a few dishes for the meal.

The night before we left I had an "AHA!" moment...you know, where the lightbulb literally goes off in your head. I was dreading making Christmas candy {enough to supply FOUR Christmas parties!}, and then I thought of a way to make my life easier.

When making the peanut butter sandwiches dipped in chocolate, use my Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorator to apply the peanut butter to the crackers!!

DUH!

ha...why had I never thought of this before? Thank you Lord for that wonderful idea, for it truly made things run smoother, quicker, and cleaner!

This is how I spent my day...in front of Nana's stove. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it to get it all made and be DONE!

Aunt Bridget and Uncle Danny shared some great news...baby Sean's going to be a BIG brother!!
Congratulations!!!

That brings our toll up to NINE cousins on Billy's side. :) What a wonderful Christmas surprise.

~

While I was busy in the kitchen, someone {no idea who} took over for me as "photographer"...thank you! :) I LOVE pictures.
"Who touched my iPhone?"

Talk about a rare moment...three boys sitting still! :)

Me and my little king

Time for "peasants"!

Waiting patiently...

Before we made a mess of the house with wrapping paper and bows, we decided to take a picture of all the grandkids. This is what four cameras flashing at once does to seven kids aged six and under...

Out of all of those, these are the "good enough" ones... :)

NOW it's present time...first, presents from Pawpaw and Nana...

Isn't this too cute?? And he has a red Carhartt zip hoodie to match.

A-dorable!

This year we let the kids each draw a name and then buy or make one gift for their cousin. Raegen received a Crayola Color Wonder set from Annelise {I think??}.

And Raegen's mommy Raegen made Alyssa a tutu and princess crown outfit.

Alyssa is THE definition of "girly girl" and she loved it...can you tell?

The adults also drew names and bought $30 gifts. I drew Amber's name and found a fancy smancy purse at Kohl's {of course!} that I LOVED and hoped she would too. I waited for it to go on sale and then used my 20% off coupon...I love a good buy!

And because Billy missed the tradition of playing "Dirty Santa", he decided it would be a great idea to take $5 gifts to exchange. So, he gave me the job of finding TWENTY-THREE $5 gifts!! ha. It was a fun challenge and I think I was able to find some nice things for $5...most of them were found at Kohl's on sale!

What a sport...

Billy modeling his $5 gift, a silver metallic giraffe print scarf.

"What is going on??"

Uh-oh! Ever the fierce competitor, Robby took the chance to steal Billy's beloved scarf!

What will Aunt Amber receive??

All this gift opening makes Brody a tired baby!

I think the $5 Dirty Santa was a hoot with Billy's family...there were a lot of laughs and even more steals!! We realize playing this game and even exchanging gifts has nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas and celebrating Christ's birth, but I do believe God enjoys seeing his children have a good time.
What a day!

We had planned to stay the evening, but there was "no room at the inn" so we drove on home. It worked out great because we were much more comfortable in our own beds and it gave me a little extra time in the morning to finish my dishes for the Richardson Family Christmas.
~
Richardson Christmas

Mom bought these decorated pine cones from a lady at her church.

Each of the girls got to pick one to take home.

They were all so pretty, it was hard to pick, but this is the one I chose:

Because I thought we would be traveling from Billy's parents home to my parents, I had to brainstorm a few "cold/travels easily" foods. My sister gave me the idea to make a vegetable crudite tray.

It was a great hit with the kids!
And so were these!! :)

Izzy was decked to the nines...her outfit was soooo cute!! It's hard to see, but her name was also embroidered above Santa's cap. So precious!

Mimi and Izzy

Let's eat!

I want some of that!

The grown-up table...

and the kids!

Raegen is not present because he immediately went down for a nap when we arrived. He had had enough traveling already and it was making him super grouchy and sensitive. His daddy and I thought it best he get some rest! Food can wait! :)

My dad takes the best pictures...really...I don't know how he does it, but he always manages to have the same expression in EVERY picture...

It's a true mystery!

Maybe that's where Raegen gets it! ha! Had to include this picture although it's not a great one of the little king. This is his gift from Aunt Stacy. She made him some adorable John Deere pajamas, complete with tractor applique on the top, AND a sketch book for the car. So thoughtful!

We each gave mom and dad a framed 8x10 of our families...

I sense someone being a little bossy... ???

I can't find the pic of mom opening Stacy's framed fam, but she gave one too! :)

With my family we agreed to play Dirty Santa {for the first time ever!!} with $25 gift cards...no Wal-Mart cards allowed!! :) Billy and I didn't see the fun in exchanging/stealing one $25 gift card for another, so we also brought along our $5 gifts to my family!

Henry Bug thought it was a great game! :)

And despite the outcome, there were tons of laughs too!

I don't think we won them over, but it's one of those games you have to play without feeling bad to take something from someone else. I asked dad if he had fun and he said he wished he hadn't taken the mag light from Kristen! :( Poor guy! And I doubt she really wanted the mag light in the first place!! ha...in fact, Justin stole the silver scarf from mom and I doubt it was for himself. haha.

I had to share these gifts Stacy made for Izzy...

I just love these pillowcase dresses because Izzy can wear them as tops with leggings next year when she's outgrown them as dresses...so versatile!

This was our attempt at a family picture...


Stacy has a Canon Rebel EOS that can take TEN automatic pictures in one setting. It is AWESOME. My Nikon D60 will take ONE timed picture at a time or I can use my remote to take multiple shots. I have to admit, there are many advantages to having a camera that will take 10 at one time. It's great to not have someone behind the camera because the kids focus on the flash of the camera and their eyes stay fixed...not all around the room looking at everyone waving and trying to get them to smile! :)

These are a few of my faves...

~
Sunday School Progressive Dinner

When we left mom and dad's, we headed home, dropped Raegen off with a sitter, and headed straight to our Christmas party with our Sunday School class. We were late, but still made it just in time for dinner...most of you that know Billy would probably say, "that doesn't surprise me!"

We had a great evening of food, fellowship, and fun.

Dessert my favorite stop...of course!!

We played "four on the couch"...have you ever played that? It's a lot of fun, but hard to remember all the info needed to win the game.

~

Church Christmas Program


These are a few of Raegen's buddies from church. He LOVES the little guy on the right and generally calls his brother by the same name! Poor guy. :)

S-A-T-R...any relation to L-E-O-N, I wonder?

Raegen saying his lines...

"We have that happy story,

It's told to me and you,

It's right here in the Bible,

In St. Luke, Chapter TWO!"

Maybe I'll figure out how to put the video up of him saying his lines...we'll see...

Grandaddy and Mimi got to come see him in the Christmas program too. I was so surprised he was able to not only memorize his four lines, but recite them too! Not sure how many people understood what he said, but he said it nonetheless! :)

And this concludes our weekend of "Four Christmases"!