Merry Christmas!

We are so very THANKFUL for the gift of Jesus this Christmas.  I am also feeling doubly blessed this year as I am beyond grateful for my two precious children.  I remember the first Christmas after I had Ava feeling first hand the love of a parent for my child and having an even deeper thankfulness to the Lord for giving the gift of Jesus to us.  As I held Austin at the Christmas Eve service this year singing Away in a Manger I again felt overwhelmed that God gave his precious son for me.

Sweet baby girl opening gifts

Santa brought Ava Rapunzel hair extensions… hilarious!  She refused to take them out for two days! 

I wanted Ava to be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus in a tangible way so we had a little party for him. We made a cake and headed over to see Ditty and Paps.  Ava had practiced singing happy birthday Jesus all month!

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Look who’s ONE!

Nope, not Uncle Scott!  But wanted to first wish Scott Happy Birthday.  We celebrated with a cookout on the 22nd! 

So, LABBY turned one this month! Uncle Brad had a birthday party for her while we were in Fulshear complete with gifts, party favors and cake! 

The little girls helped Jessica and I make this doggie birthday cake from alpo and mashed potatoes

The party guests Willow, Manna, and Baylor

Boo with her party favor!

Thank heaven for little girls

Talk about FUN, these cousins were all giggles, hugs, and play at Christmas.  Ava woke up the first morning and squealed, “I hear my cousins I’m gonna go find them!” and bounced out of bed with a huge smile on her face. It reminded me of how excited I always as a little girl when my cousins came to visit!

Ava just had a blast playing with cousin Laura. I couldn’t get over how fast time flies, Laura was Austin’s age when I started dating Greg and now she is so grown up,  such a beautiful and sweet young lady.

Gramma Rowe, Ava, and Emmy

The whole gang

The Boys

Wow, sitting down to start posts from Christmas and don’t know where to start so many pictures! So here are the first two posts of many to come. Lincoln and Austin are just months apart so thrilled to have a little boy cousin!

Aunt Jessica and her sweet boy!

Getting tickles from Uncle Scott

Loving this moment with my nephew and baby boy!

All smiles for K-Bob!

We were so thrilled to see Gramma Rowe this Christmas!

Hey Uncle Paul!

Lincoln stylin’ in Ava’s sparkly headband ha!

Hi Ho Hi Ho it’s off to work we go!

Aunt Sarah is the coolest!  She invited us to come to Texas Children’s hospital where she is a child life specialist and help her make Christmas stockings and sort donated toys for the children in her care.  The girls had a blast packing up all the toys and it was a great experience to have Ava learn about serving others.  Thanks Aunt Sarah!

Happy helpers

I so enjoyed watching the girl cousins play together, Ava hasn’t stopped asking about Emmy and Hayden since our visit, so precious!

Sarah gave us a tour of Texas Children’s it is amazing!  I wish I would have taken more pictures, there is a children’s mural on almost every wall.  Here the girls are memorized by the distraction stations in the MRI room. 

Aunt Sarah took the girls to the mock operating room for kids.  The girls were fascinated, so cool!

Hooray for a wonderful time!