Friday, December 25, 2015

Merry Christmas from Us to You!

It's quiet in the house. Rich is currently in New York, texting me beautiful pictures of gigantic buildings, and I'm curled up with the iPad attempting to get this Christmas letter done.  My kids have been practicing for their Christmas concert, and I've got the melody of “The Love Of God” swirling around in my head as I write. We've recently found our place in a church, and are continuing to seek the Lord as we live our daily lives.

Nolan (5) started kindergarten!!!!!!!! {did you hear me breathe a sigh of relief?}  I legitimately give his teacher all my respect as she manages to corral my energetic, saggy pants, wiggly boy, into his seat at school each day. He's is full of life, and quick to run and hug me at the end of each day. He's very much into hoarding any item that is like or similar to a stick, rock, leaf, or tree nut.
Maeve (7) started ballet and enjoys it (every other class).  She is still my quiet, watchful one, {although still waters run deep}, and her latest quiet plan involved hog-tying her little brother, gagging and blindfolding him, and leaving him in a dark room with the door closed. True story. I'm keeping an eye on that one.
Cannon (9) continues to amaze me everyday with the things he knows. He loves reading the dictionary and spends time geeking out creating Google spreadsheets…just for fun. He's all about minecraft, Legos and math. He is still insistent that he will be enlisting in the military at 18...and I'm continuing to look into DNA testing to see if he is really actually related to me or not.
Brynn (11) is enjoying her final year at PHCS. It's bittersweet for everyone. I wish she could have had more time at the school.  She's thriving in the small setting {11 students to 1 teacher}, and has expressed the desire not to return to public school next year. She has asked to homeschool next year, so I'm mentally trying to prepare for that.  Her favorite memory from this year was our 4 state road trip, and wants to help us plan out the next one.  
Rich (38) is still working at Economy Lock & Key, and is currently in the process of applying for seminary. He excited to dig into the Word and learn more throughout this next upcoming year. I'm not sure I'm ready for another student in the house. He's the source of much laughter in the house, and has the super cool ability to grow an amazing red beard in an unnaturally short amount of time.
I (Angie) turned 38 this year, and I'm continuing to enjoy my work writing for the Dear Handmade Life website (http://dearhandmadelife.com/blog/inspiration/), and the perks that come with my “work from home” job. I took a huge step outside of my comfort zone this year as well, and jumped into starting a business. It's scary, and fun, and there are so many things that we are still learning, but I have enjoyed it! (www.facebook.com/makeandtakebpb or Instagram @makeandtakeBPB) With all the kids in school this year, I'm also tapping into my superpower of multitasking, as I help 4 kids with homework each afternoon at the kitchen table, and amazing everyone with my awesome ability to grow gray hair.
The pets…..what can I say about our four legged friends. Treks is 13, and every year I joke it is his last Christmas, but this time it REALLY might be.  He survived another year, but probably only because of the medicine that he has to take every 12 hours. It's real fun having that added responsibility on my shoulders….
Lily the crazy dog (up for grabs still if anyone wants her) has also survived another year in our house. Even though I offer her to every. single. person who mentions they like her, she has yet to go home with anyone. She still eats all the left-foot flip flops if not put away in the shoe bins, all stuffed animal eyeballs, and most recently - nerf gun bullet tips.
We lost the pet rat, gained a few fish, and thankfully dodged a bearded dragon. This mama can barely handle the load as it is.  
May 2016 be filled with joy as we rest in the peace of the eternal gift of our Lord. Merry Christmas to your family, from mine!
                               Rich, Angie, Brynn, Cannon, Maeve & Nolan

Christmas Morning








Christmas fun always results in Christmas chaos.  I do love a good reason for organizing and cleaning....




Thursday, December 24, 2015

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Life's Rough

The doorbell rang this morning, and we opened the door to three presents sitting on our step. One for Cannon, one for Brynn, and one for me. 
This was very hard for Nolan to deal with, since he's very used to getting everything he wants, when he wants, because he's 5....and the youngest of the family. 
He cried as the other kids opened their gifts, and cried as they played with them. 
And then I find him at the kitchen table with a 3x5 note card, and a pencil. And he looks up at me with all seriousness and says, "Mom, how do you spell - I'm running away?" 

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Christmas Lights with the Cousins

The annual hunt happened once again. Always fun!!!








I mean....

...why not? 

Monday, December 21, 2015

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Time for me to showcase my excellent wrapping skills....


...and for my lack of patience to unravel and un-knot strands of lights.


Time to travel and see friends and family and do holiday-ish actvities!
 





Time to decorate my living room, and watch Christmas movies with the kids.
Time to attempt to take a decent picture that will be slipped into the christmas card.
Time to *maybe* write the christmas card.

Time to enjoy all the laughter and joy that exudes from my kids as they anticipate Christmas morning.

And time to just be still. And be grateful for my Lord who has given me all this...and so much more.

Some Boys & a Dog

Rich has been teaching Cannon some bible study methods in the morning. This morning I came out and this is what I saw. Melts my heart. Praying this boy follows in his dad's footsteps and truly seeks after the Lord. 

Friday, December 18, 2015

Rich in The Big Apple

And the award for "the most states traveled in one year" in our family goes to Rich!

He went to New York to attend a conference of speakers and pastors that he really wanted to hear.  It was a great trip for him. And I got to live vicariously through the pics that he sent.  The buildings are beautiful, and he had a chance to sight-see a bit between the conference times.





 

 In the mean time, I held down the fort by serving the kids insanely unhealthy meals on paper plates, and watching christmas movies every night, and drinking wine.


Even though we had a good time at home, we sure missed this guy....

Thursday, December 17, 2015

That Moment When

your son trips over the full laundry basket, and you grab the camera to take a pic instead of helping him up.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Limo Light Night

Brynn's friends got to go and look at lights in the area...while in a LIMO!!!
The screams of the girls when the limo pulled up was pretty deafening. 
They were *slightly* excited.





And then there was the selfie that I tried to take...that failed.
Love my girl, and so happy to share this fun night with her.