My Precious Family: 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Countdown to 2012

Spending the last few hours of 2011 playing Hot Potato and Dollhouse. Can't think of a better way to usher in the new year. Here's to more moments of "being present" in the lives of my little ones; to investing in and raising up.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas 2011

What a fun fun fun and memorable (Snowy!) Christmas!!!

2nd Annual Girls Night!

Fun is......decorating cookies with Grammy, Hayride of lights, Hot chocolate, Pizza, Gingerbread house, and a sleepover with laughter and giggles!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Our Elf...Christoper Pop-In-Kins

We have had super fun this Christmas with our elf, Christopher Pop-In-Kins.

Kaitlyn LOVES looking for his hiding place each morning.
Christoper Pop-In-Kins left Kaitlyn a note this morning on his last night to watch over us.

Hi Kaitlyn!

I have been watching you and your little brother all month long. I love seeing how excited you are to find my hiding spots every morning.
You have been very nice this month. I’ve seen you have a cheerful heart when you do your chores or when your mom or dad asks you to help out. You are also really sweet to your little brother. I’ve heard you say your prayers at night too.
I’ve also watched you open your ornaments for your Happy Birthday Jesus tree! I can’t wait to celebrate Jesus’ birthday tomorrow. That is what Christmas is all about! God sending Jesus to be born in Bethlehem in a manger. Jesus lived a life just like you…did you know he had a brother too? When Jesus was older, he died on the cross for our sins so that we can go to heaven one day with Him.
Thank you for being so good all month long, I bet Jesus helps you be kind and nice!

Hope you have fun tomorrow on Jesus’ birthday! I can’t wait to see you next year!! Tonight I will fly back to the North Pole with Santa, but I will be back next Christmas!!! You will be 5 years old the next time I see you!!!

Merry Christmas!

XOXOXO

Christoper Popinkins

Sunday, December 18, 2011

The Liebster Blog Award

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

A sweet friend from high school Becki over at The Moore Family, honored my blog with an award. Here is her sweet post. Becki has two adorable boys and I love following her little family. Her littlest one, Henry, has the most precious checks...you know...the kind you just want to kiss all over and pinch. I mean go check out these little cuties here.

I think it is so fun to keep up with old friends via blogland.

Thank you so much for the award Becki!! Your words were too kind!

Liebster is a German word meaning 'dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome'.

To keep this award going (by passing along to other new deserving blogs), the recipient must now recognize five other bloggers with less than 200 followers that have really stood out in the crowd.

So, here are my choices to receive this award...In no particular order.

1. Growing up Grier and Ardynn

This blog is too cute for words! My best friend Cori introduced me to a friend she met in San Angelo, Brittany. I immediately loved the girl and was so incredibly thankful that Cori had found a bud!!

Brittany has the sweetest heart! I love following her blog that is written from the perspective of her 3...almost 4 year old little cutie Grier. Brittany takes fabulous pictures of all their family adventures and throws amazing!! parties and showers. Go steal some party ideas from her!!

2. Elders African Adoption Adventure

I talk about my friend Wynne all the time. Love this girl!!!!!

Wynne, you have exactly 199 followers. You just made it on the list friend! Whew!!

After reading just a few of her posts you will see why so many people love her.... her story....and the amazing adventures God is taking the Elders on.

Wynne & Stephen (Stebo as Kaitlyn calls him) are going to be adoptive parents to a little boy from Ethiopia, Camp Elder. Wynne has been so gracious in involving our whole family in the process. Read all about their adoption story here and be prepared to join the journey!

Her blog is full of their travels to Africa, missions, and lots of adoption information.

3. Our Blessed Nest

While I am on the topic of adoption, you have to visit my sweet blog friend Jenna's site. They are waiting to bring thier sweet little girl Emerson home Ethiopia. Their story will captivate you!!

This week, the Knight family is feature on Give1Save1!

Give1Save1 is a website that was created by another adoptive momma, Beth Cupitt, who had a wonderful idea. If 30,000 people gave $1 to their adoption fund, their adoption would be funded in full.

Go read all about it on Jenna's blog here

And you will not believe this story from Barron Batch and how he is blessing this precious family for Christmas!!!

4. The Chronicles of Sugar Mama

Doesn't the title of my friend Cecilie's blog alone tell you that you are in for a treat!

I look forward to her "my week in I-phone pics" of her little boy Johnny and "I made this" post's of yummy recipes!

Cecile also has great posts like this one, 25 ways to wear a scarf. Who knew??

Cecilie's husband and my hubbie are raging Aggie fans!! During football season there are streams of emails, texts, and phone calls between the two of them about their beloved football team. Thank goodness Chris has Carl to talk to about all of this instead of me!!

Miss you Cecile!! Love keeping up with your sweet family via blogland!

5.The Yeager's

What a sweet family! I love following my friend Jennifer's blog. She does such a great job of documenting all her family's fun activities. Her little girl Hannah is the same age as Kaitlyn and I love watching how similar our stories are :)

Jennifer is also one of the sweetest gals! We share a special bond in that our lives have been struck by tragedy. I lost my dad and brother to a drunk driver, and Jennifer lost her dear mother by a driver under the influence. I will never forget this day, as the anniversary of her mother's passing is my birthday. Jennifer's family has done AMAZING things in raising awareness about driving under the influence and the devastation it can bring.
I would hope that her mom and my dad have met and smile, knowing that our paths have crossed..... if only to know what each other feels on those anniversarys, those times when your kids do something that a grandparent would love to see and you miss them.... those moments that you just wish you could ask them one more question....or you wonder what thier advice would be. I am probably rambling here, but so thankful for you Jennifer!

So there it is! I've passed on my award to 5 dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute bloggers! Now it's your turn!