New Years Rocking Out!

Since Rodney and I had the knowledge of what our family gift was going to be, we had planned an all nighter with the Lawsons WAY before Christmas came. We had been waiting in anticipation for this evening to come with pizza, soda, family, friends and Rockin Out! We picked teams and took our turns on about 3 songs or so. The teams seemed to change as the evening went on but it was all still so much fun.

Here is a team of Jesse, Bre, Rodbey and Jessica

and here is the other side of that team.

Rodney was cracking us all up with his very deep rocker singing.

And Rachel is just about the cutest little 2 year old drummer I've ever seen. SHe rocked out with us all night no matter how out of it she was, she kept on going and how.....none of us know although the almost full glass of Pepsi I let her drink might have played a hand in it.

As the night went on everyone grew more and more sleepy or "out of it" and this is a perfect picture of playing the guitar while half asleep. Her face was so blank like she was gone and yet she kept in tune pretty darn close.

I had a blast and enjoyed this night so much. Kim actually made it to see the ball drop for the first time in the 3 or 4 New Years we have spent together. She made it even if she was also half out of it. Good job Aunt Mimi!

Christmas

Wednesday before Christmas the kids and I drove down to Madison to pick up Grandma CUlver and then headed back home. Christmas Eve day Rodney had off from work so we all hung out as a family and enjoyed Grandma's company. We were all very anxious for our presents and Rodney especially was anxious for the kids to open up our family present from Grandpa Rob and Grammy Theresa (we already knew what it was). We made it to our churche's Christmas Eve service for the first time since we have been attending there, then as tradition is, we all packed up into the van and headed to see the lights at Matter Park in Marion and then home to bed so we could wake up and open up some stuff. The morning finally came and there was paper flying everywhere. Rodney and I played it kind of funny as to the order we had the kids open the last few presents. Colby opened some Xbox 360 games his dad had sent him but the crazy thing is we don't have an Xbox 360. The girls then opened Band Hero for an Xbox 360 (I'm sure you see where this is going). Then the boys got to open the last gift..... the XBOX 360! We then played Band Hero after dinner for hours and Grandma watched us from the side lines and even sang along to some of the songs. We had a wonderful time spending our first Christmas in our new house, with Grandma Culver and rockin out.

Colby's Basketball '09

Colby played basketball for the first time and LOVED it. His team did very well and he did very well since he has never played. They won 4 out of 7 games and 2 of those losses were only by 1 point. I am very proud of him and enjoyed watching him play.

The "Hulk" is gone!....

So I am kicking myself for not getting a picture of the green beast/ Hulk of a heater we had before the guys took it totally apart, but here is what I did get of it....
This is some big ol part of it along with....

this heap of metal. So we went from this big, huge, green, old, beast of a monster that took up a pretty good area of our garage, to....
this much smaller, WAY more efficient not so loud and much more powerful lovely new furnace. It was a bit cold the day they installed it, but so worth it considering it will burn through our propane WAY more efficiently!

WHen handed Lemons, make Lemonaide....

So after having to miss church this morning due to a battle the girls and I are on and will have to continue for a few weeks or so, we decided to have a bit of fun of our own while the rest of the family was at Sunday school and church.

We got all dressed up for some snowy fun.

Madi again this year wanted so desperately to make a snowman from the first moment she saw snow on the ground the other morning. She actually didn't want to make a snowman, she wanted to make a snow princess and that's just what we did.
This snow princess is adorned with a pink fun foam tiara, a plastic play kitchen carrot, a stylin pair of strawberry shortcake gloves and one red scarf.
After wards, it was time for snow angel making. Autumn went a head first and then
Madi followed right behind.

While we were having a blast, Daisy was enjoying laying down in the snow and having us jsut in the area as company while she just went to town on her deer bone.
All in all, it was a very fun morning had by us gals in the snow.

The halls are decked!

The Saturday after Thanks Giving I went to do my annual church decorating which normally leaves me so tired that I don't want to come home and decorate my own home however this year I was ready to keep on going.
We got the tree up and this year we have a country tree all decked with natural ornaments, some choice themed ones and even....
a Bethleham barn star.
My little primitive house got a couple trees in front of it and a Santa just below it. I love this Santa as he is new and I made him just a couple weeks before we moved.
The top of the entertainment center holds out Nativity, some photos and hidden is a pine scented candle on a warmer for added ombiance.
The shelf above our couch just had a few mice added to it, a country Christmas sign, a peace sign and a little tree that holds all the "first" ornaments of my kids.
This is our snow flake which at the time was the only one around and the advent cabinet full of M&M's below.
We added our other count down to our shelf along with Mickey and Minnie.
I leaned my candy cane wreath against my stool with a plate for carrots for the reindeer and another country santa.
Then down in the living room is a light up wreath, our banister lined with greenery and lights with our stockings hanging from it. We also have a wreath on the front door and another jingle wreath on the inside on the garage door that comes into the living room.
We are quite pleased with hw decorated it is as well as cozy. No we are just counting down those days that to kids seem to be so long and in the mean time they seem to be goofing off......

Vintage isn't what I would use to describe this since it ages me, but I have no better word.....

I have let almost an entire year pass by and I could kick myself for it. My Oma gave me my dress she had my pictures taken in when I was 3 and I waited so anxiously to when the day would come and I could have Madi's picture taken in it and then life keeps on going and time flies by. Well about 2 weeks ago I let her wear it to church and finally decided to just snap the stinkin thing myself. So here is my cutie all beautiful in my dress and too close to turning 4. She's growin up so fast!