Thankful

God is so good! This past weekend my kids went to stay with my sister Kayla in Midland and they had a fun time.....even got to see Mimi, Pops, and cousin Brock while they were there. I met Kayla in Lamesa (half way) to get them on Monday, and just as I was headed out of Lamesa on the way home a car ran a stop sign. I was on the highway so I was going about 65mph. I was already at the intersection when she ran the stop sign so I couldn't stop in time. The first thing that crossed my mind was that I was going to have to swerve to avoid hitting her.....but I really felt the Lord tell me very clearly " Do not swerve." I did not swerve and I did hit her. She had minor injuries and the kids and I were all untouched. Gage was pretty shaken up, but not a scratch on either of them! The car was not drivable afterwards, so it was towed to a yard there in town. Once Chad came to pick us up, we went to clean out the car since we had to leave it in Lamesa. As I opened the back hatch to our car I saw something that I had forgotten all about. (Chad and Kayla's husband Kurt often have to meet each other in Lamesa to swap parts that have been completed for Hytek) Since I was going to Lamesa anyway Chad just asked Kurt to send the parts with Kayla to give to me. In the back of our car lay about 10 pieces of heavy, sharp angle iron. It hadn't occured to me until that moment that I opened the back of the car how lucky we were that we didn't roll the car. Then I remembered the Lord telling me not to swereve.......had I swereved we propably would have rolled going 60mph and the angle iron would have flown all over the car.

I am so thankful that God is so good. He knows what we need and how to take care of us. I am so greatful for His mercy and grace. I give Him all the glory for our safety. I don't think we were just lucky......I know that the hand of the Lord was upon us.

Workin' Woman!

It's official......I am back to working status! I decided a few weeks before Christmas that I would go back to work and I DID. I have talked about it before and never followed through. I am working in the Littlefield hospital just a few days a week. I am slowly getting back into the swing of things and remembering how to be a nurse....ha. The hardest part is being up at 5am! I am not used to that at all!! My mom has been helping me with the kids and that has been so nice. The first day I worked Gage woke up with strep throat and Chad had to take off work to stay home with him..hee hee! Although Chad loves our children, he quickly decided he wouldn't want the stay at home daddy position......and he only had 1 sick kiddo not 2! Here are a few new pictures of the kids.

Christmas Day!

We made reindeer food for Rudolf and all the others!

We made sure Santa could spot the glitter and find our house quickly!

Mac throwing it in the yard~

MacKenna's worm from

The football gear was a huge hit!

Football player/Fireman!

Team Chad, Dana, and Gage!

My beautiful sisters with MacKenna~

Aunt Dana and Mac

My sweet girl!

Gage and Mac playing

Love those lashes and curls!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

My beanie babies and not so christmasy christmas cookies...

We made Christmas cookies today, that turned out to be not so Christmasy. We went to walmart to get the stuff to make them and when I asked them what color sprinkles they wanted, it was anything but Christmas colors. Oh well, we put them on a Christmas plate so that makes them Christmas cookies! Gage decorated while MacKenna licked the icing! They did all of this in there super cute beanies! Here are some pictues...enjoy!

All Aboard!

The Polar Express was a hit!! Both kids had a great time. Gage even held up his end of the bargan and talked to santa. He told him he wanted football stuff and even gave him a hug...ha! This is a drastic change from last year when he couldn't even stand the thought of santa coming into our house while we were asleep, regardless of whether or not he would see him.

On the train we had hot chocolate and cookies, sang christmas songs and headed to the North Pole. Once at the North Pole, santa and all of his elfs boarded the train with us! We will definately go again next year. Here are some pictures. Chad made fun of me because the kids got to wear their pajamas and even though they were pajamas MacKenna still had to have a bow to match! I made her a bow and while I was at it I made some cute ones for her slippers too. Hey if were gonna have fun and see santa and all.........we might as well look good! enjoy.

Before we left the house

The two cutest passengers on board!

Oh gosh...Oh gosh....big fat guy with a white hairy face....Oh gosh!

Haaa! Mac's face when santa got on the train.....really!

Gage and Santa

She warmed up to him........a little.

Me and the kids

.......and of course......the shoes!

Silly Kids!

You better not pout.....

You better not cry......

These are the reactions I got from my two sweet little angels when I tried to get a Christmas card photo......

So if you are on our Christmas card list......this could take a while!

I kept telling them smile....say cheese.... oh look over here....and Gage kept giving me that fake lazy eye crooked smile he gives EVERY time I try to get a picture. I couldn't help but crack up at them!

On another note, I want to take this moment to pat myself on the back because..........................I am just about DONE with my Christmas shopping! Yes I know, be jealous...be very jealous! I am always a procrastinator, but this year I decided I would get it done early and enjoy the season.

Stay tuned because tomorrow night we are going on the Polar Express. Gage is so excited and is even claiming he is going to sit with Santa and tell him all his Christmas wishes....we'll see about that one! I am hoping to get some fun pictures of the kids.

Shaaaaane.....Shaaaaane!

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! Uncle Shane was home from Colorado and to say that the kids were excited to see him as a huge understatement!! It took him all of 5 minutes to win MacKenna over....again! She would not let him out of her sight. He stayed with us a few days before Thanksgiving and Mac would wake up in the morning and yell "Shaaaane" from her crib. We went to Chad's parents in Midland on Wednesday and enjoyed time with all of the family.

(we got home yesterday and everytime I have told MacKenna no, she says "Shaaaane." ) Thank you for making her rotten Shane!

Shane fit just perfect in our backseat....can't you tell?

I did a little Black Friday shopping and got a few things for the kids for Christmas. I am hoping this week Gage can help me clean out some of the old toys and make room for a few new ones. I love the Holiday Season and am so thankful for all of our family, health, and most of all God's love! His Mercy is new everyday and His grace is sufficient! It is exciting this year, because Gage is old enough now that he can understand Christmas. I don't mind our kids thinking there is a Santa and he brings them presents, I just want that to be in the shadow of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. I want them to know the story of Jesus and His birth. I want them to know that He gave them the best gift of all! So this year I want to acknowledge Him in everything we do that prepares for Christmas. We will start today with putting up the tree! I am excited to do this with the kids....(I will have to remind myself of that later when they have every thing strung across the living room and I have said be careful that can break over 100 times!)

Here are a few pictures I took over Thanksgiving!