Updated

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Goodbye 2013

Well, it's that time again... another year has gone by.  2013 was good to us and we look forward to what God has in store for us in 2014.  Our prayer as we start a new year is that we will stay focused on God.  That we won't be distracted by things of the world, but will keep our eyes on Jesus, listening and ready to obey.

Goodbye 2013!

Phone Pictures

Motor Cops for Kids Toy Ride

Baking cookies for our family progressive dinner.

 Starbucks on our way to Santa Land.

 Brynn's haircut.

 The kids wanted to take me to see Frozen again for my birthday:)

Elfcapades

Christmas Day

I didn't get many pictures on Christmas Day.  I am having camera problems and didn't want to spend the day messing with it.  I did get a picture of the kids right before they came into the living room to see what Santa brought.

Daddy had to work, but luckily he gets to stop by to see us!

We spent the day being extremely lazy and finished up our Meaningful Christmas study before heading to Gram and Papa's house for dinner.  As usual, the Christmas dress code was pj's!  This picture used to be of 4 little girls all snuggled in bed excited about getting to see what Santa brought... now you can't see the bed because of the very large family!  One day this bed is going to collapse during this picture!

Sisters4 

It was another great Christmas spent celebrating the birth of our Savior and enjoying the gift of family!

Merry Christmas

From our family,

to yours!

Christmas Eve

We woke up Christmas Eve to Barrett's 2nd lost tooth!

 The rest of the morning the kids and I did "operation clean house".  We went to work cleaning our house to get it ready for a day of rest and relaxation on Christmas Day.  Our motto is, "first we work, then we play". And that's exactly what we did.

We played the game of Life. 

 We baked cookies, or put sprinkles on break-n-bake cookies I should say.

 We snuggled on the couch under quilts and watched A Charlie Brown Christmas.

When daddy got home from work, Nana came over.  We ate dinner, opened presents to and from Nana, and then drove around in our pj's looking at Christmas lights.  We drank hot chocolate, ate cookies, and listened to Christmas music.  When we got back home we sat out Santa's cookies and milk and then got our very excited children tucked into bed.

This is the night that magical childhood memories are made of!

Santa Land

I took the kids to Santa Land to see the lights a couple of nights before Christmas.  Robert had scheduled to work an extra job, so the kids and I went without him:)

 There was a long line of cars and lots of beautiful lights!

 We rolled down the windows so we could hear the music and see the lights better.

By the end of it, the boys were hanging out of the sunroof! 

The kids liked it more than I expected!  It was a fun festive outing!

Stockings

Our annual stocking pictures.

2013

 2012

 2011 (Blake apparently didn't pose for this one)

 2010

Annual Progressive Dinner

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is our annual progressive dinner.  We started at the Gillespie home for the appetizer.

 They drew Robert and Barrett's names, so they got to open up their presents!

We visited and played before moving on to the next house.

 Cheese and crackers were next at the Killough house... along with Caleb, Uncie, and Blake's gifts. 

 And a quick girl cousin photo session.  So thankful they have each other!

 Next to the Estes home for the main dish, Zoey, Brynn, Shannon, and my gifts.

 Our house was the last stop for desserts, Stephanie, Samantha, Cade, and Josh's presents.

Dad and mom with their girls.

  All the cousins

Our family

Sunday Before Christmas

December Happenings

Here are some things that have been going on the past couple of weeks:

Brynn and her friends acting out the Christmas story in Mission Friends at church,

 Barrett's pajama Grinch day at school,

 A sweet not Brynn left me when she went to spend the night with Gram while daddy was hunting,

 The Nativity Symphony at church,

 Christmas caroling with friends,