Goodbye 2015

2015 brought some great things for us.

We gained a new nephew and niece, as well as a new great-nephew.

We bought our camper and made a lot of wonderful, lasting memories camping.

We officially became a family of six. 

2015 is also the year that we lost Robert's mom, the kids' Nana.  This will be a year that will forever be burned in our hearts and minds and will always bring pain and heartache.  We miss her everyday.

Our verse for 2015 was:

Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing!  Psalm 100:2

It was a big year for us as a family as bonding and attachment with Kaleb blossomed.  It was also a challenging year as we cared for Nana for six months between her car accident and her death.  We were all stretched in different ways during those six months.

I pray that as we served the Lord in 2015, both in the big things and the little things, that we did it with gladness.  I pray that we will continue to strive for joy and gladness in the new year in all we do.

New Year's Eve

Barrett wanted so badly to make it to midnight this year.  He tried standing up until his legs got tired.  Then he sat and tried to stay awake.

 He made it to 11:00, oh so close!

 He gave it his best try... maybe next year!

There Was That Time...

That we got a new camper.  Another new camper.

 End of year closeout sales tempted us, and we caved.  It has quad bunks, so now Brynn won't have to share a bed with the boys.  We can't wait to try it out!  So far it is way too cold though!

Barrett's Lego campsite creation.  I love watching him create!

Looking forward to another season of camping this spring!

Star Wars

The police department rented out a theater so that all of the police families could watch the new Star Wars movie together.  Robert, Uncle Joshie, and the two big boys went to see it, and they loved it!

Elfcapades

Compton, Niles, Tricia, and Timmy provided fun and Christmas magic again this year!

  They arrived on the night we put up our Christmas tree and went back to the North Pole with Santa when he delivered our gifts.  The kids always love the fun these guys add to the season.

The Polar Express

We couldn't wait to take Kaleb on his first Polar Express ride!  The big boys opted out of pajamas this year (insert my sad face) and Brynn went with a tunic instead of a gown (another sad face). 

 Our family is too big to fit in the standard seating, so the boys had to ride across the aisle from us in their own seat. 

 We got to listen to the book read aloud, drank hot chocolate, and ate cookies on our journey to the North Pole.

 We finally arrived at the North Pole after beautiful ride through the East Texas woods. 

 The conductor announced that Santa had boarded the train and this little guy squealed with delight.

 Santa gave the kids a silver bell.

 We had been getting alerts and texts that the weather was not good at home.  We wasted some time at the train station and then stopped to eat dinner on our way home. 

 This tornado was passing over our town and touched down a couple of miles away from our home. 

 The red line is the path of the tornado, the red x is the area where our home is.

We made it home and Robert changed into his uniform and went straight over to help in the aftermath of the horrible destruction.

We had a great evening as a family.  We are so thankful that our home was spared, but are so heartbroken for the other families in our community who lost everything.



Christmas Day

The kids woke up at 5:30 a.m. on Christmas morning.  They couldn't wait to see what was under the tree!

 We played with new toys all morning.  We got ready to head to Gram and Papa's house for our Grable family Christmas early evening. 

 The kids got bean bag chairs from Gram and Papa.  They love them!  I failed to get a picture of Blake sitting in his though.

 We had a wonderful Christmas this year!  Kaleb was more adjusted than last Christmas and was able to relax and enjoy the day!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours!

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve found us doing what we always do.  We love traditions and routine!

We baked cookies for Santa.

 We drank hot chocolate, ate sugar cookies, and looked at Christmas lights in our pajamas.  The weather was so warm that we were even able to park and walk at some of our favorite spots. 

Everyone went to sleep excited about a visit from a certain man in a read suit!