Christmas 2008

We have been busy!

We spent Christmas Eve night at Johnny's Uncle Jeff's for LaFever Family Christmas! We had a really good time and lots of good food! Austin and I went to Christmas Eve services at Church. I have never been before, I really enjoyed it! There were just a few of us there but it was very nice!

We were very tired when we got back home and we had very excited kids! A and A went straight back to bed and our little Prince Charming was bouncing off the couch at 1am! "Look at me" "Look at me" Finally at 1:30am he gave up! And when we woke up at 8:00am we found that...

Santa came! And I think he received the request from the kids! They were very pleased with their gifts! I had so many pictures and obviously I can not post them all so... "YEE HAW" Yup Santa brought Cash his very own horse! Austin got the Ipod touch and Allie is happy to report that she got REAL diamond earrings! After many conversations with lovie that we were NOT exchanging gifts! NOT! EXCHANGING! GIFTS! Some how the ipod nano found it's way into my stocking...Hmmm!! I would be lying if I said I did not LOVE IT!! After our Christmas here we got ready and went over to my Mom and Dad's....

We opened gifts and had a wonderful dinner! Dad made an anti pasta plate, lasagna, bread, salad and...for dessert...

bananas foster! It was all wonderful! We were completely stuffed!! And the time spent with family...priceless! After Christmas with my fam it was off to unload and re load to Johnny's parents! Kim and Ron and the boys were home this year! We opened gifts there and snacked on what snacks our full belly's could handle! Again time spent with family~Priceless!

Friday we had family pictures with Johnny's family. It went really well for having 12 of us to photograph. The kids spent the evening with the boys at Johnny's parents, while Johnny and I ran over to Jeff and Em's for cards. We had a good time. Saturday Ma and I ran into do a little shopping and then back home for Kim and Ron and the boys and John and Linda to come over to see the basement and visit! Sunday....we were totally lazy and watched movies on the couch all day and did some much needed resting!!

Things here are now calm...well for the most part! And I will be enjoying the next few days chillin with J and the kids!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!!

I am stealing this idea from a dear friend... 1. Do you remember the year that Santa left Cabbage Patch kids by the back door? Oh how excited I was to meet Fredrika, she had red hair and piggy tails! I think I still have her? 2. How about the year we went to Texas in an escort? That was the last year I spent Christmas with my Uncle Terry. I miss him!! Also the same year Santa left a letter for me to tell me that he WAS infact a real person! Thank you Uncle Chris! 3. Sitting at the top of the stairs or in our rooms yelling to Mom and Dad..."Can we get out of bed yet?" EXCITEMENT!! 4. How bout...CHA CHA CHA CHIA...and that hat I wore to Aunt Brenda's with that awful jacket, or was it a shirt or a sweater...whatever it was I wanted it soooo bad, it smelled like the potato sacks that you go down the slide in at the fair! 5. I remember wanting to open a gift sooo bad on Christmas Eve...that was just un-heard of...still is huh Dad?! 6. The camera that Grandpa Murray got...it was in a huge box...and many boxes inside that...I miss him too! 7. The smell of sausage balls in the morning... 8. Actually hearing the reindeer on the roof...and the bells that followed 9. The smell of Christmas...now really sit back and think...go ahead it won't hurt anything...You smell it don't you?! 10. We always had a real tree...artificial trees were just not the same! Except for the year it went in the front door and out the back...that year artificial trees were going to be just fine, right Ma?! The older I get the more I appreciate the fact that Christmastime at our house was special, always spent with family even if it was just the 4 of us...so if you ask yourself why I am such a freak about Christmas...Thank my parents! And I will take the time to Thank them too! Dear Mom & Dad, Thank You both deeply from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done for me! Oh and will do for me...lol! Thank You for all the Christmas' that you made special to me, each and every one! I love you both more than words could ever say! Merry Christmas!! Love, Kate

Dinner with B & D

I am still backwards in putting in my pictures...OH WELL!

Tonight Brooke and Damien came over for dinner and our annual pre-Christmas get together! We had a nice visit. With ok chili for dinner. Thankfully this time the chili was not so hot that you couldn't eat it without needing to go to the bathroom asap. But for some reason it was just ok. I had a good time talking with Brooke about her pregnancy. She is due in June. We are so very happy for them! It will be nice to have a little one that has no care if you love on them too much! Cash is at that age where he still likes to cuddle but only when it is convenient for him! And that is not enough! And we owe B & D a ton of babysitting nights so we are looking forward to that! We would normally get them a little something for Christmas, but as we parents know when there is a baby in the picture even if it is a very small not really seen yet baby the gifts are for the kids! So a prego willow angel and some OSU socks were what we got for them! They came in packing some gifts for A, A, and C...I think I told her not to! Save for the baby!! But anyways C will be sporting a cute lil outfit Al, has already been online with her new webkinz not before she put on her bracelet and AJ, is ready to go spend his gift card tonight! So...Thank You Brooke and Dam and baby! We love you all! Remember I posted backwards again so....REWIND Austin went to work with Johnny this morning! He really wanted to go! He loves spending time with his Dad! Allie, Cash and I ran into the store and then out to see the big boys at work! I think Austin had a good day and actually was a big help to Johnny! IT IS ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!! The excitement for me just never gets old!

updates....

So what has been going on around here? The kids are officially on Christmas break! I can remember being on Christmas break...LOVED IT!!! Actually I am probably one of the few mom's that still LOVES IT!!! Having my kids home with me is great...did I just say that? No really I mean it! Ok so by the first of the year they will have drove me nuts and I will be ready for them to go back...NAH! I am crazy...I will still LOVE IT!!

Allie was totally bummed out that school was cancelled on Friday! Princess just had a week full of disappointments! Christmas concert was cancelled not once but twice...and then on what was going to be the BEST day in school history they cancel! Oh if you could have been here to hear the things this princess said!

Me: Pooh Bear time to get out of bed, Maggie is hear to play with you!!!

Princess: I am still depressed about them canceling the concert last night...

Me: Oh sweetie it is...(interrupted)

Princess: Mommy why is Maggie here?

Me: Oh honey I am so-(interrupted, again)

Princess: Do you know what it is like to be 8? This is just the worst week ever!!!

This was followed by LOTS of tears and not just by her, by the time I was done talking with her I wanted to call the superintendent myself and have him ride his happy self on over to pick her up and spend the day with her! Oh but that's right I love having my kids home so I didn't!

Cash is really enjoying the time he has had with the kids so far...in case you didn't know he is sleeping in this picture...he gets the eyes open while sleeping from J! So you see they have completely worn him out! Oh and yes Dad, that IS a Browns outfit he is sporting! We went to see Santa Friday night! He did really well, no tears at all! And he even told him he wanted a horse for Christmas...geez he sure expects a lot out of that Santa! Austin is LOVING the time off...I think he wore the same outfit for ummmm...well ok I won't post that, it may look bad on my part as his very clean mother! HA! So chillin in front of the TV and playing video games has been top on his list of things to do...but I really shouldn't post that either...so never mind I said that...he has been reading and doing lots of studying....OH OK, I can't lie!! Never was good at lying!!!

Johnny is LOVING his basement! Tonight I put him in charge of dinner! Hey it got him out of the basement for a bit! I love you, baby!! (he may read this you know, I have to throw that in) HA!

Ok it took a bit! I know you all were trying to send the most sunshine you could! And it worked! It is just colder than...well it is cold! Last night w/o the windchill -2! Yes folks that is cold! However I do appreciate the sun! So THANKS to all of you who were looking out for my family in hopes that the sun would hurry here before I completely lost it!

So, Ma there you have it...as soon as I got your email I grabbed my camera and ran around the house and snapped pics of everyone...I am sure you noticed I did not even care what any of us looked like! And I thought I was vain...

Only 2 1/2 days til Christmas...are you ready? Oh I know I do not have to say it...

What the heck this is my blog right...

I LOVE CHRISTMAS...I LOVE CHRISTMAS...I LOVE CHRISTMAS...

SUNSHINE...PLEASE!!!!

"No Pop at Aunt Cheryl's" "Puweeze Serrul" "ok Cash I love you and you are too cute here is your pop!" This is what I came out in the kitchen to. Oh that lil stinker he always gets his way...he is too cute! So today we spent the day at Cheryl's! Making Christmas cookies. We made a ton of cookies! They all turned out really good too! I had a lot of fun! So did Cash...he loves to go to Cheryl's and well she gives him everything he wants so...hello what kid wouldn't want to go!!! So here he is rolling his already baked cookie...ok I know he needs a hair cut! I will get to that! Or maybe it is that he needs a brush?! Sunday was Christmas with GG! This year we went to my Aunt Brenda's. Good food, fun games, presents for all! Here is a picture of my Uncle Bobby, Aunt Brenda Grandma, and Ma! I was sure to take lots of pictures this year so when and if I do the family calender next year I will not be scrambling at the last min for a pic of someone! And of our family well minus Kelly and Layne!

Saturday night was off to the Kokosing Christmas Party...

Austin took a good picture! Looking forward to the next night out with my man!!!

Almost done with my shopping! Only 1 more gift to buy! 10 days left til Christmas! I NEED really I NEED some sunshine my way! The weather is S*@!!Y and I just want the sun to peak out and tell me that it is still there just taking a break...hey it is ok to need a break! But just let a girl know you are still here! A girl who can't go to the tanning bed or be in the sun! Only stare at the sun from the window! Oh I need the sun!

ANYONE...ANYONE want to send a lil sun light my way???

The moment you have been waiting for....

ok the moment "we" have been waiting for.... okay, okay, okay, the moment "I"have been waiting for!!

Here she is folks! Our cute as a button $69 Kohls special! I will have to take a picture with the lights on in the basement for you to see all the scarlet and gray! That tree skirt is just too darn cute, huh! No comment from you, Ang!!!

Tomorrow the furniture will be here! And I will post pics of Johnny's new baby!!

I spent the day with GG today! We had a nice visit and I talked her out of a few pics...well with the help of a certain favorite aunt!! I took a couple that I will post of this absolutely adorable baby...OMG I know why my kids are so cute...LOL! I love you JD! So, not much else going on! We have a busy weekend...Johnny's work party on Saturday and then Christmas with GG and the gang on Sunday! Oh Christmas...I love Christmas!!!

I LUV CHRISTMAS...

Do you love Christmas?

I LOVE Christmas!

I love the smell of Christmas. I love getting all of my decorations out. I love the lights. I love giving gifts. I love the crowded stores and, waiting in line. I love being with family. I love all the yummy food. I love wrapping the gifts. I love Christmas music. I LOVE IT!!

And this year I love it even more than last year. And next year I will love it more than this year. There is just something about it...and really it is not all the things I mentioned above that are important to me...well ok...the food...oh and being with family! But the fact that Jesus is a HUGE part of my life and we are celebrating his life...WOW!!! I love it!!

This year I told myself...self lets make December just unforgettable! Let's bake cookies and make a mess in the kitchen ( I do not like messes in the kitchen ) let's go see the lights at the zoo and really enjoy them, let's get our shopping done early so we can really enjoy it all! Let's give because we WANT to give and not because we "feel obligated". Let's be happy because we are so truly blessed why would we not be happy. Let's sit and watch all the old Christmas shows that I watched as a kid, and not rent the movie...really sit on the couch and watch it on TV...Charlie Brown, Rudolph, The Grinch, Frosty...I remember as a kid watching those shows and feeling happy, excited...blessed! And I want my kids to have those same feelings! And so far it is the 8th of December and we are right on track!

So...not that you needed to know or even wanted to know about all this...I know most of you read to see pics of the kids and all but today this is what you get....

I LOVE CHRISTMAS and ALL the things that go with it!!!!

lights, tree, CHEESE!!!

Okay so this picture is BAD...but you get it...right? I thought I would show off J's hard work with the lights! They really do look pretty! And here is the living room tree...funny I think I have this same picture from last year.

Austin, Miley, Cash, Belle & Allie

And our Ohio State Fans!!! The dogs are both wearing their OSU jerseys...Belle was not really happy about this. But she did like the fact that I let her in the living room for the picture!!

So as I promised, pictures of the tree...okay I know only one of them! And not the one you want, Steve...but it is almost, so close, I can taste it, done! Maybe by Sunday?!

Nothing really going on around here. Johnny will be having his very permanent surgery this Friday...maybe...okay he is! Wish him luck! We told Allie tonight she almost lost her spaghetti!! As I said the basement is soooo close to being done! We and many of our dear family and friends have been working very hard to help us get it done!! I told J last night that we would be glad to get the house completely finished, but not as glad as everyone that has, is and will help us will be!! We are just so blessed to have so many loving, caring and handy people in our lives!!

That is all for now...keep checking back for the updated pictures!!

no band aid, GG, and a new start

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We did! Like I said before we have so much to be Thankful for! No this is not at the top of my list...BUT...I went to the Dr today and I will not have to be posting anymore pictures with this awful band aid! But I thought the picture was cute so I posted it anyways! So they took out the stitches today! No more hole in the nose! So I am thankful for this, but not #1 on the list! And no I will not bore you all to death with my list of things that I AM thankful for! I can but I won't! So now that you are all thankful for that... Brenda, Mom, Leslie, Kate, Jess, Austin, Allie, Cash and Grandma We went to see my grandma aka GG, G unit!!! She is now out of the hospital and at home! See another thing to be thankful for...we had a nice visit with her. I think she enjoyed our company, for a little bit anyways. Friday I had my annual black friday shopping trip with my girls, Jess, Brandy and Angel! We had lots of fun and we were able to get all the things we wanted to get! And I am happy to report that I am 90% finished with my shopping! I have NEVER been done this early...ok now I say that and I won't finish until Christmas Eve...anyways we had fun and we will be looking forward to next year! And because I am a black friday shopper this happened... Cash slept in his own bed ALL NIGHT!!! For the first time!!! No not because I was gone...because I bought Austin a new TV and moved the TV/DVD combo in Cash's room! Yup that is what I said I put a TV/DVD combo in my 2 yr old room...hey people a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do!!! And when I put it in there he looked right up at me and said "thanks" not in a chipper way, thanks like it is about time you silly lady!! Everyone else has a TV in their room!!! Oh the great joys of toddlers!!! Just one more thing to be thankful for...hahaha!!! Stay tuned for pictures of our tree (s) One is up and the other is just about ready to go up...finished basement or not!!!!!