130 Points for New Swagbucks Members

If you have yet to sign up for a Swagbucks account now is the perfect time to go for it! Now through 12/31, new members to Swagbucks can start off with 130 points… just for signing up! Just head on over here and register AND be sure to enter the code HOLIDAYSWAG (may need to type out – do not copy and paste) during sign up and you’ll snag an additional 100 points (in addition to the 30 points you normally get), so a total of 130 points!


My favorite rewards are the Amazon gift cards and the Starbucks giftcards! Before Christmas I as able to get a $50 amazon.com gift card that helped with Christmas this year!

Christmas Morning

It was after 8:00 on Christmas morning and both boys were still fast asleep!

Any other day I would relish the extra quiet time but this was CHRISTMAS MORNING!

So we put turned up the Christmas music and woke them up.

First we enjoyed some hot cocoa stirred with candy canes...

Then we opened stockings.

My grandma has knit each one of the family stockings with their names on them.

Daddy opening his stocking. He must have said something silly because Elijah is cracking up here. =)

Family picture time!

After reading the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2 we opened gifts.

Ethan brought me mine.

Then it was off to my parents house for our big Christmas dinner!

Too much turkey? =)

So thankful for my boys!

Christmas Eve

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas.

It's been fun to read your blogs see your pictures and hear your stories.

Our church had a service on Christmas Eve and my whole family joined us. This is my beautiful sister and her lovely family. Look how adorable my niece is in her Christmas dress!

After church we all went to my mom and dad's house for our traditional Christmas Eve of Christmas cookies, cheese and crackers.

My little brother who is back from Moody for the holidays (the extra long one stretched out on the couch below) is all into traditions this year. (I think he missed home) =)

It's been special having my grandmother here from out of state. I haven't seen her in three years!

Here she is holding her great granddaughter.

Then the kids got to open their gifts from Great Grandma.

Then it was off to home and beds and dreams of Christmas morning!

my heart is breaking for this family

There's no easy way to say this but I wanted to ask you all for your prayers for some family friends right now who are facing a terrible heartache. Their nineteen year old son went missing earlier this week. His body was found yesterday on a Tampa beach.

Patrick was finishing his first semester of studying criminal justice at University of South Florida. His memorial service is being held this afternoon.

Would you take a moment to pray for the Freeman family? That they find peace during this difficult time.

Friends + Babies = a great afternoon

 I got to spend the afternoon yesterday with some of my favorite people in the world!

Lots of snuggling with babies and catching up went on.

I FINALLY got to meet Brittany's daughter Ella!

She's the sweetest thing with this mischievous little smile!

Elijah soaked up the time to hold Ella and Joseph who is only one week old.

Elijah's holding Ella while they watched a movie.

Here's Elijah helping Ella to open her gifts.

And giving Sammy his present...

See, he just wanted to hold the babies!

Wordless Wednesday

So far in December...

We picked out our Christmas tree at a local Christmas tree farm...

Grandpa and Ethan being silly.

 We decorated our tree...

Books and cocoa under the lights...

Celebrated Uncle Andrew's birthday...

Decorated gingerbread men...

Said goodbye to Granny...

This is Elijah and Granny back in 2008

Welcomed this precious boy

Spent mornings by the tree...

Added many items to the Etsy shop...

Drove to Bass Pro Shop to see Santa and get a picture then forgot the photo at the store!!!

Thankfully I snapped a photo on my cell phone.

Packages from friends over the ocean...

Thanks RUTH!

And lots and lots of climbing trees!

Think they are going to be tree climbers like their dad?

Are you all ready for Christmas?