What a fun, full Christmas week we enjoyed together. We made so many memories. :) I can hardly believe my mom and dad are already on their way home. It seems like they just got here. Living states apart like this is a bittersweet thing. We get to enjoy them living in our home for the week they are here. This allows them to have such close relationships with our boys. But then we have to let them leave. It is never easy to watch them drive away.
Here's a few things I'd like to remember about our week together, in no particular order:
- We surprised the boys at school by hiding Grammy and Grampy in the backseat!
- Mom and I spent lots of time in the kitchen together.
- Aaron still loves to knit with Grammy.
- Derek took my dad to the shooting range for his first-ever target shooting experience.
- We took our boys ice skating for the first time and they loved it! What a great idea to let them bring friends that day. What a lot of laughter this brought to everyone. :)
- Our new ping pong table is a big hit!
- Grammy treated us all to the new Chipmunks movie. It was cute!
- My parents love us so much they even came to our dentist appointments! :)
- My dad treated us to several meals out. (Chinese, Egg & I, Arby's) What a gift that is!
- Kaleb flew his new plane outside and we walked Ginger without wearing coats. It felt like Spring break!
- We played lots and lots of games of Clue. It's a family classic I grew up playing.
- I won 3 out of 4 Scrabble games with my mom. :)
- Derek and my dad took Kaleb and Aaron bowling. Aaron was super excited to get a turkey, and he almost beat Grampy!
- Part of Mom and Dad's Christmas gift included a trip to the nearest eagle viewing site. We were blessed to see 6 eagles that day!
- Braylen and Kaleb played lots of games of chess with my dad. Aaron is itching for his turn when he masters the rules of the game.
- My husband, my parents, and my in-laws pooled their resources and gave me a really cool Christmas gift. I'm beyond grateful.
- Mom and I shopped at the mall, craft store, and Christian book store and found several things we didn't know we needed. :)
- We stayed up late watching movies, talking, and connecting. Sometimes too late!
So here we are, ready to say farewell to 2011. Overall, I think it's been a pretty good year for us. Like every year, however, there are good things and hard things. That's how life is. Still, I feel incredibly blessed--not by the stuff I have, but by the people God has placed in my life. Our pastor says that there are only two things here on earth that will last for eternity: God's Word and people. Am I investing my time in those things, or do I fill my days with meaningless busy activities? I suppose that is my challenge for 2012. To live with that eternal perspective in mind.
Wrapping up this New Year's Eve with pictures. Another year of blogging...done! :)
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| Cookies for Santa |
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| Ready to open gifts! |
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| Hank & Drover shirts...too funny! :) |
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| Even Ginger gets treats from her Christmas stocking. |
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| Playing Clue |
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| Leave it to Grammy to find the funniest book for our boys! |
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| One of many games of ping pong |
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| Our little Aaron on ice skates |
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| Kaleb & Aaron having fun |
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| Braylen and his buddy |
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| Kaleb in action |
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Dad & Mom/Grampy & Grammy at the eagle viewing site.
Thanks for such a fun week! |
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