Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, friends! We hope that you have been able to celebrate our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace!

Throwback: Ornaments from preschool that we still put out every year!

Some kind words about Nola from her teachers! Way to go, girl! 

O Crispy Tree, O Crispy Tree! How brittle are thy branches! 

Despite the interesting tree this year - the star shone bright! 

We enjoyed having our friend Phillis over for lunch on Thursday! Presents, yummy food, and then Scrabble - what a treat! She is one special lady whom we are blessed to know. 

Last year we opened presents on Christmas Eve. We decided that was a good new tradition! Brenner was feeling a little puny but trudged through! 

Nola was the youngest and went first. 

Brenner's turn! 

Matt went last. Nola looks impressed! 

Nola LOVED this poster that she found on Amazon. I love the message. Be the storm, Nola! Be the storm!

Hoops for the bedroom! 

Her new shirt! Brenner didn't model his clothes or futsal shoes (lol) but he did eat a pound of beef jerky and a whole pack of tic tacs followed by a bunch of whoppers. No wonder he didn't feel good! #yeswewarnedhim

Christmas Ever service - it was packed! It was a lot warmer than last year when we had it outside!

Christmas morning brought stockings and the present from Santa!

Santa brought Nola the Hunger Games DVD set. 

A punching bag thing for Brenner! 

Me and the kiddos! Santa brought all of us a new TV. Just what Matt wanted....hmmmmm, Santa.

Next it was off to Grammy's for Christmas lunch. We had a Christmas Miracle on the way - a quiet car ride! 

Where does Brenner get it from.......

Still a tired boy! 

Nola selfie!

Grammy Vo, Matt, and Aunt Janet!

Grammy and Nola - two beautiful ladies!

Uncle Chuck, Nola, Aunt Theresa, Grammy, Brenner, and Matt.

Matt, Grammy, Aunt Theresa, Brenner (standing super tall so he can tower over people), Nola, and Jo.

Uncle Chuck, PawPaw Floyd, Aunt Theresa, Grammy, Nola, Brenner, and Matt. Brenner has grown so much in a year - so hard to believe!

Sunday led us to Grandma Val's for Christmas with Jo's family. Hot chocolate anyone!? Nola the squirt dumped a ton of chocolate syrup in hers......I made her drink it all...she didn't want sweets for a while lol!

Nola and Mackinzee!

Charlotte, Gannon, Nola, Mackinzee, and Eadlin. Brenner decided that he was too old for the "kid" picture. 

But not too old to wrestle with Gannon! It's blurry but who cares?!

Some fun playing Herd Mentality (thanks for the new game Aunt Theresa!).

Brenner wasn't too old to sit (sort of) on Grandma's lap lol! 
 

The Wonders of His Love

I may have mentioned (or you may have experienced) that I am a control freak. Or perhaps I used to be (wishful thinking?!). I am certainly trying to relinquish control of things that I can't control....a novel concept, eh!? In this busy season, I am truly enjoying each and every day - and am in awe of the laughter, love, and fellowship around me. I am truly grateful for this wonderful gift. 

Nola and Odette have created a business of making yarn jewelry. They go out every day after school to work on their product and marketing (I was asked to put them on Facebook Market Place....I said they needed more inventory). They even (severely) trimmed my Jacob's ladder and redbud tree so their shop could be "seen" from the road. (I wasn't grateful when I saw that!). 

Defenders basketball party including making a basketball ornament. 

A gift exchange - pass the gift until the music stops. $10 limit. We gave a $10 Casey's gift card but put it in elf snot (green slime in jar) - it was fun! 

A few fun games that work on skills - limbo while dribbling the basketball.

Stealing the jingle bells (see the string with bells on their waistbands) while protecting your ball. 

The Defenders are tough! 

Tuesday night found us back at the gym for Nola's 5th grade band concert. See the Santa hat in the back (in front of the brick pillar). They played Mary had a little lamb, Hot cross buns, and the opening theme to Jaws. 

Brenner was excited to be there lol! Of course, Grandma Val made an appearance! She actually got there early to get us a front row seat! 

It was a good setting at work all week long. I was chill and cozy! 

We got this amazing email from the school counselor. Way to go, Brenner! 

Saturday, Grandma Val and I watched Nola play basketball with the Chargers. Matt was in bed super sick from his covid booster and Brenner had soccer practice. 

Nola's game was definitely off - so was the whole team. She didn't get a lot of playing time and was kind of disappointed at the end of the day. 

The team took first place but Nola was "meh" about it. We will see how it goes next time! 

A fun little way to deliver some gifts cards this year. I can get crafty lol! 

A dear work friend is battling breast cancer. She is a phenomenal woman who knows how to bring people together - with food. She has organized Souper Thursdays in the winter for our small building at work for several years. Our group got her a new cookbook Soup Club and wrote personal notes for her. I had the honor of delivering them to her yesterday. We had a lovely visit and her prognosis is good. 

Nola's teacher had a fun announcement for the class! 

The church Christmas program was Sunday. Nola was King David. The older kids including Brenner played in the orchestra. Poor Brenner was the only one without a chair....that made him entertaining to watch!

Brenner with his signature head slant. They all did very well! 

After the church program, it was off to our annual girls Christmas gathering with lunch and A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theater. Grandma Val, Aunt Lynnie, Cousin Elly, Nola, and I had a great time! Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present stole the show imo!