Sometimes words just aren't necessary!
1/31/11
1/29/11
Living Intentionally
If I had to choose something to sum up how I want this year to go it would be this...
LIVING INTENTIONALLY!
What brought that on? Well, several things actually.
1. Four months from today...exactly...I will be 3-0!! It doesn't really bother me, but it does make me stop and think about my life thus far and how I want the next 30 years to be. (Actually, I am sort of excited, because I think turning 30 is a really great excuse to plan a party for MYSELF!! Is it okay to do that? )
2. About 3 months ago I made some tough decisions about what I can and cannot do (keep reading, I will explain).
AND
3. I was reading a blog post from Ali Edwards today and it got me to thinking about the things that I have learned and the things that I still WANT to learn. It is a long post and talks about how her day is organized, but the really good stuff is towards the end...just scroll down.
Ali has a link to this post by Tara Whitney. Stop right there...you need to go read this one. It is pretty short, has a great photo, and it relates to my post. So, just do it now...I will wait.
See, it didn't take that long. I just love the message she has here. That life isn't rushed. And that is how I so desperately want my life to be. I know a lot of times I come home from work and it is already pushing 5:30 and I know that if I don't get supper going and get Preston started on his homework, then we aren't going to make bedtime and things will just spiral out of control.
Okay, so that is the reality of my Monday - Thursday, but I would really like it NOT to be that way. Don't get me wrong, I like my job at the school, I do. There just has to be some balance between the work life and home life.
Enter the tough decisions I referred to in #2 earlier. When school started up in August I think my vision of how smooth things would be was far grander that it should have been. Maybe it was do to reading a few too many blogs of other working/semi-working women who seemed to have it all together. They could come home from work, help their kids get homework done, cook a healthy, delicious dinner, clean up the kitchen, put the kids to bed, spend time with their husbands and crank out a craft project of some sort all before heading to bed...Really? Looking back now I can't believe that I actually BELIEVED that was their life.
What I see now is that their kitchen's are dirty, the laundry is piled up, toys are all over the living room floor. All those "perfect" pictures we see of their houses and projects are staged...FAKE I tell you! I am sure that on more than one occasion if the camera was to pan out and show us the whole house, we would see all the things that seem normal to us.
So, back to me. I slowly, and I mean like took about 2 months, realized that I was NOT going to make it if I kept on the same track...something was going to have to give. Because on top of working four 10 hours days a week, keeping up with all the responsibilities at home I was also booking photo sessions right and left and making aprons like crazy.
You can see where this is going can't you?
I was feeling very unsettled about all of the commitments I had made. When I was home I was so worried about getting pictures edited and back to clients, or cutting out aprons, or finishing up photo orders that I felt like I was loosing a part of myself. I absolutely LOVE photography and my sewing machine is like a extension of my body, but these things were taking over my life and I was loosing so many other things that were important to me.
I couldn't remember the last time I had read a book with the kids that was just for fun. Not part of a homework assignment. I no longer had a favorite TV show (not that it was a bad thing, but it happened). I was no longer thinking about my next blog post. There are very few photos of my kids and our random days. At the end of the day, I would just be glad that it was over. How awful that sounds!!
So I prayed and prayed and prayed about what to do. There just didn't seem to be an easy answer. I LOVE photography and I LOVE shooting families and giving them a piece of their own history to cherish. I LOVE that I can make an apron for someone knowing that they will be cooking up something delicious for someone they love while wearing it. HOW could I possibly give up those things? It seemed like they were such blessings in my life. I was making money doing things that really filled me with joy.
I knew for quite awhile what the answer was, but I just didn't WANT that answer so I kept ignoring and praying more. Sort of like this...
"So, Lord. I think you may be leading me in a direction that I am not exactly comfortable with. I really don't want to do what it is you are asking me to do, so how about this? You give me another answer that I will like and we can all be happy. K? Awesome! Thanks. P.S. You're the bomb!!"
I really acted like this for about a month. I tried to keep making things work the way that I wanted them to, but my plans kept running into roadblocks. I am stubborn. You know that. A roadblock or two aren't going to stop me. Besides, you can move mountains when you have God. Go ahead, let it out. I know you want to let out a little laugh here. It's okay, I understand.
What I thought God might be telling me is that my camera and sewing machine will ALWAYS be here, but my children are going to grow up FAST. And that I didn't want to look back in twenty years and wish that I had done it all differently. However, I still wanted to hold on to the money and the "significance" these things were giving me. (This was also about the time we knew that Jeremy was probably going to be ranching full time in a few months, that money would get tight and that we were facing a potential move.) I just couldn't let go of the thought that we are going to "need" this income soon.
At the time we were reading What Happens When Women Say Yes to God in bible study and I read these statements.
"...there may come a time at some point in your life when you will need to decide between your will and His. One thing you can be assured of is that God has already worked out all the details of what your obedience will accomplish - and it is good. We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss. The sooner this truth resonates in your heart, the quicker you can make peace with a command from God that you don't fully understand. We tend to want to see the big picture complete with all the details before stepping out in obedience to God. We long for a cost analysis where we can weigh out what we'd be giving up against what we'd be gaining and then decide if the trade is worth it."
WOWzers!! It was like she wrote that just to speak directly to me. I was doing the cost analysis. I didn't want to give up the money and the significance, BUT I wanted to have peace at home and feel like a good mother again. The sentence that I underlined above is the one that sealed the deal for me. It was what made me look back and realize that I didn't want to miss what God had in store for our family because of my disobedience.
Have I missed my photography or sewing? Not really. I have been MUCH more relaxed and able to enjoy everyday life. I made a dress for Cambree. I made photo books of my kids birthdays from the past few years. I was able to tackle the laundry and stay on top of it. I have done several quick little projects around the house. I am reading to Westynn. Coming home from work doesn't feel like going to a second job anymore.
I still have a long ways to go to living a completely intentional life, but it feels so good to be going down the right road!!
Now, back to that thirtieth birthday party....
LIVING INTENTIONALLY!
What brought that on? Well, several things actually.
1. Four months from today...exactly...I will be 3-0!! It doesn't really bother me, but it does make me stop and think about my life thus far and how I want the next 30 years to be. (Actually, I am sort of excited, because I think turning 30 is a really great excuse to plan a party for MYSELF!! Is it okay to do that? )
2. About 3 months ago I made some tough decisions about what I can and cannot do (keep reading, I will explain).
AND
3. I was reading a blog post from Ali Edwards today and it got me to thinking about the things that I have learned and the things that I still WANT to learn. It is a long post and talks about how her day is organized, but the really good stuff is towards the end...just scroll down.
Ali has a link to this post by Tara Whitney. Stop right there...you need to go read this one. It is pretty short, has a great photo, and it relates to my post. So, just do it now...I will wait.
See, it didn't take that long. I just love the message she has here. That life isn't rushed. And that is how I so desperately want my life to be. I know a lot of times I come home from work and it is already pushing 5:30 and I know that if I don't get supper going and get Preston started on his homework, then we aren't going to make bedtime and things will just spiral out of control.
Okay, so that is the reality of my Monday - Thursday, but I would really like it NOT to be that way. Don't get me wrong, I like my job at the school, I do. There just has to be some balance between the work life and home life.
Enter the tough decisions I referred to in #2 earlier. When school started up in August I think my vision of how smooth things would be was far grander that it should have been. Maybe it was do to reading a few too many blogs of other working/semi-working women who seemed to have it all together. They could come home from work, help their kids get homework done, cook a healthy, delicious dinner, clean up the kitchen, put the kids to bed, spend time with their husbands and crank out a craft project of some sort all before heading to bed...Really? Looking back now I can't believe that I actually BELIEVED that was their life.
What I see now is that their kitchen's are dirty, the laundry is piled up, toys are all over the living room floor. All those "perfect" pictures we see of their houses and projects are staged...FAKE I tell you! I am sure that on more than one occasion if the camera was to pan out and show us the whole house, we would see all the things that seem normal to us.
So, back to me. I slowly, and I mean like took about 2 months, realized that I was NOT going to make it if I kept on the same track...something was going to have to give. Because on top of working four 10 hours days a week, keeping up with all the responsibilities at home I was also booking photo sessions right and left and making aprons like crazy.
You can see where this is going can't you?
I was feeling very unsettled about all of the commitments I had made. When I was home I was so worried about getting pictures edited and back to clients, or cutting out aprons, or finishing up photo orders that I felt like I was loosing a part of myself. I absolutely LOVE photography and my sewing machine is like a extension of my body, but these things were taking over my life and I was loosing so many other things that were important to me.
I couldn't remember the last time I had read a book with the kids that was just for fun. Not part of a homework assignment. I no longer had a favorite TV show (not that it was a bad thing, but it happened). I was no longer thinking about my next blog post. There are very few photos of my kids and our random days. At the end of the day, I would just be glad that it was over. How awful that sounds!!
So I prayed and prayed and prayed about what to do. There just didn't seem to be an easy answer. I LOVE photography and I LOVE shooting families and giving them a piece of their own history to cherish. I LOVE that I can make an apron for someone knowing that they will be cooking up something delicious for someone they love while wearing it. HOW could I possibly give up those things? It seemed like they were such blessings in my life. I was making money doing things that really filled me with joy.
I knew for quite awhile what the answer was, but I just didn't WANT that answer so I kept ignoring and praying more. Sort of like this...
"So, Lord. I think you may be leading me in a direction that I am not exactly comfortable with. I really don't want to do what it is you are asking me to do, so how about this? You give me another answer that I will like and we can all be happy. K? Awesome! Thanks. P.S. You're the bomb!!"
I really acted like this for about a month. I tried to keep making things work the way that I wanted them to, but my plans kept running into roadblocks. I am stubborn. You know that. A roadblock or two aren't going to stop me. Besides, you can move mountains when you have God. Go ahead, let it out. I know you want to let out a little laugh here. It's okay, I understand.
What I thought God might be telling me is that my camera and sewing machine will ALWAYS be here, but my children are going to grow up FAST. And that I didn't want to look back in twenty years and wish that I had done it all differently. However, I still wanted to hold on to the money and the "significance" these things were giving me. (This was also about the time we knew that Jeremy was probably going to be ranching full time in a few months, that money would get tight and that we were facing a potential move.) I just couldn't let go of the thought that we are going to "need" this income soon.
At the time we were reading What Happens When Women Say Yes to God in bible study and I read these statements.
"...there may come a time at some point in your life when you will need to decide between your will and His. One thing you can be assured of is that God has already worked out all the details of what your obedience will accomplish - and it is good. We need not fear what our obedience will cause to happen in our life. We should only fear what our disobedience will cause us to miss. The sooner this truth resonates in your heart, the quicker you can make peace with a command from God that you don't fully understand. We tend to want to see the big picture complete with all the details before stepping out in obedience to God. We long for a cost analysis where we can weigh out what we'd be giving up against what we'd be gaining and then decide if the trade is worth it."
WOWzers!! It was like she wrote that just to speak directly to me. I was doing the cost analysis. I didn't want to give up the money and the significance, BUT I wanted to have peace at home and feel like a good mother again. The sentence that I underlined above is the one that sealed the deal for me. It was what made me look back and realize that I didn't want to miss what God had in store for our family because of my disobedience.
Have I missed my photography or sewing? Not really. I have been MUCH more relaxed and able to enjoy everyday life. I made a dress for Cambree. I made photo books of my kids birthdays from the past few years. I was able to tackle the laundry and stay on top of it. I have done several quick little projects around the house. I am reading to Westynn. Coming home from work doesn't feel like going to a second job anymore.
I still have a long ways to go to living a completely intentional life, but it feels so good to be going down the right road!!
Now, back to that thirtieth birthday party....
1/26/11
A Commentary
Those lights are spectacular. And this mat sure is soft.
Oh, here comes my sister down the slide. Hmmm, I think I will get her GOOD!
I am just gonna give you a little hug sister. 'Cause I love ya!
PSYCHE! You're going down girlfriend!
And, here comes the final smackdown! Today is the LAST day you will call me little! HA HA!
1/14/11
House Love
While things on the house are progressing MUCH slower than I would like, (see this post) it hasn't stopped me from searching the internet for inspiration. Thought I would just share some of the wonderful images I have found so far.
This first one is pretty much my dream kitchen. I even went so far as to email the lady and ask for her supply list!! AND she emailed me back! I about died!
Our plan has a space for the a "kids nook" and this is somewhat how I envision it looking...without that door! And maybe not so white, but definitely with big, tall cubbies.
Another lovely kitchen. Notice a pattern here...you will. White cabinets, rich floors, dark counters, subway tile back splash...Oh how I can't wait to cook in a kitchen like this!
We also have a breakfast nook and I just LOVE that bank of windows. Who wouldn't love eating breakfast, or any meal, there?
Another breakfast nook inspiration. Love the black, white and green!
Still loving the white cabinets, but I also like how they painted (i think) the back of the cabinets so they dishes would stand out in those glass front doors.
Adorable bathroom! The curtain here is to die for, don't you think?
Well that is just a small sampling of all the inspiration I have saved to the hard drive and/or printed and put in our notebook!
This first one is pretty much my dream kitchen. I even went so far as to email the lady and ask for her supply list!! AND she emailed me back! I about died!
We also have a breakfast nook and I just LOVE that bank of windows. Who wouldn't love eating breakfast, or any meal, there?
Another breakfast nook inspiration. Love the black, white and green!
Still loving the white cabinets, but I also like how they painted (i think) the back of the cabinets so they dishes would stand out in those glass front doors.
Adorable bathroom! The curtain here is to die for, don't you think?
Well that is just a small sampling of all the inspiration I have saved to the hard drive and/or printed and put in our notebook!
A self-check
For the past couple of months I have been getting up early each morning to spend some time reading my Bible and doing a daily devotion. At the beginning of the year I started this devotional book.
It is AMAZING!! I stumbled across it while reading another blog (really wish I would remember which one it was) and was blown away by the segment the blogger had posted from the book. It is written from the perspective of Jesus speaking directly to you each day. I decided it sounded perfect for ME, for the new year. I ordered it, along with a new Bible. Granted, I have a couple of bibles already, but I didn't have a Study Bible and I really like the NLT translation. This is the one that I ordered and I am LOVING it!!
I also bought a cute little notebook at Target and I was ready to grow with God. So each morning I read the bible verses for that day as well as the study material related to those verses. Sometimes I copy the verse right into my notebook. Then I read the material for that day and then record my thoughts in my notebook as well.
It has only been a couple of weeks, but I am already going back and re-reading verses and thoughts from earlier days! Like today, when I am feeling the frustration of things not progressing like I think they should. I pick up my notebook and glance at it only to find this.
"...If God is for us, who can ever be against us." Romans 8:31
"The key to God being FOR us is that our course of action has to be in line with His will. God never promises that simply because He is for us that our path will be without obstacles. Trying to force things to happen before God's time is the cause of a lot of stress (what I am feeling now!). Let God set the pace. Ask Him to show you the path forward, moment by moment. Make sure that your decisions are based upon God's will and then - Never Give Up!"
Wow, I seem to have figured it out a week ago, but have had trouble remembering it this week! It is so good to be able to go back and re-read these words. Reminding myself that I MUST wait on God's timing.
It is AMAZING!! I stumbled across it while reading another blog (really wish I would remember which one it was) and was blown away by the segment the blogger had posted from the book. It is written from the perspective of Jesus speaking directly to you each day. I decided it sounded perfect for ME, for the new year. I ordered it, along with a new Bible. Granted, I have a couple of bibles already, but I didn't have a Study Bible and I really like the NLT translation. This is the one that I ordered and I am LOVING it!!
I also bought a cute little notebook at Target and I was ready to grow with God. So each morning I read the bible verses for that day as well as the study material related to those verses. Sometimes I copy the verse right into my notebook. Then I read the material for that day and then record my thoughts in my notebook as well.
It has only been a couple of weeks, but I am already going back and re-reading verses and thoughts from earlier days! Like today, when I am feeling the frustration of things not progressing like I think they should. I pick up my notebook and glance at it only to find this.
"...If God is for us, who can ever be against us." Romans 8:31
"The key to God being FOR us is that our course of action has to be in line with His will. God never promises that simply because He is for us that our path will be without obstacles. Trying to force things to happen before God's time is the cause of a lot of stress (what I am feeling now!). Let God set the pace. Ask Him to show you the path forward, moment by moment. Make sure that your decisions are based upon God's will and then - Never Give Up!"
Wow, I seem to have figured it out a week ago, but have had trouble remembering it this week! It is so good to be able to go back and re-read these words. Reminding myself that I MUST wait on God's timing.
1/9/11
1/1/11
Welcome 2011!
We have said goodbye to 2010! I don't like to spend a lot of time "looking back" and instead like to "anticipate what's to come."
2010 was a very good year for us and we experienced many blessings.
However, 2011 promises to be a very exciting year as well!
First of all, there will be A LOT more scenes like this one happening...
...Jeremy with his other women! (the cows, not Cambree!!)
As of March 1, 2011 Jeremy will no longer be working at People's Bank and will be working FULL-TIME at Broken Arrow Ranch. For those of you who don't know, Broken Arrow is the ranch that we own with Jeremy's parents. It has always been a dream of Jeremy's to be able to run cattle full time with his dad. We started trying to make that happen 10 years ago when we got married. And here we are in 2011 seeing that come to light! It's pretty AWESOME!
Since Jeremy will be at the ranch all the time, it only makes sense that we would do this...
BUILD A NEW HOUSE!!!!
We are still very much in the infant stages of the house planning and building, but we are confident that by the end of 2011 we will be living in a house like this one up on a hill at the ranch!!
Other things we are looking forward to in 2011:
The other day as I was taking Westynn to the bath and he was laughing so loud I just took a moment and thought about how GLAD I am that I am not in control of my life, but that God is! Had it been up to Jeremy and I we would have missed out on one of the most incredible gifts in our life. It truly does amaze me that God knew just the right thing we would need at this time in our lives. Westynn is just the perfect addition to our family and I don't even want to think how empty our life could be right now!
It is also INCREDIBLE to think that we have been working for a decade to make a way for Jeremy to work with his Dad full time and run the ranch and GOD is just making our dreams come true and making all the pieces of the puzzle fit together so easily. Sometimes it is easy to think how "lucky" we are, but it is like I told Jeremy last night..."Luck has nothing to do with it. That is why I am trying very hard not to take it for granted and not to hold on to things too tightly. We definitely have to remember that none of the things that have been given to us recently are ours to begin with. The tighter we try to hold on to them, the more likely we are to loose them."
Sounds like I am really smart huh? Just kidding! It was more of a reminder to both of us. That is why I am so sure that this year will hold many things for us that we have no idea about, but that God has planned for us! Isn't that amazing?
So, BRING IT 2011!!! I am soooooooo ready to see what you hold for each of us!!
2010 was a very good year for us and we experienced many blessings.
However, 2011 promises to be a very exciting year as well!
First of all, there will be A LOT more scenes like this one happening...
...Jeremy with his other women! (the cows, not Cambree!!)
As of March 1, 2011 Jeremy will no longer be working at People's Bank and will be working FULL-TIME at Broken Arrow Ranch. For those of you who don't know, Broken Arrow is the ranch that we own with Jeremy's parents. It has always been a dream of Jeremy's to be able to run cattle full time with his dad. We started trying to make that happen 10 years ago when we got married. And here we are in 2011 seeing that come to light! It's pretty AWESOME!
Since Jeremy will be at the ranch all the time, it only makes sense that we would do this...
BUILD A NEW HOUSE!!!!
We are still very much in the infant stages of the house planning and building, but we are confident that by the end of 2011 we will be living in a house like this one up on a hill at the ranch!!
Other things we are looking forward to in 2011:
- Cambree Jane turns 5...Holy Cow, how did this happen?
- Jeremy Dean will turn 34...there are no words.
- Sara RaShelle turns 30...and she doesn't feel a day over 21!! (Don't worry I plan to blog extensively about my transition to my thirties!!)
- Jeremy and Sara will celebrate their 11th anniversary...not sure what the "celebration" will entail!
- Westynn Cole will turn 2...didn't I just find out I was pregnant with this little rascal?
- Preston Dean will turn EIGHT....WHAT?
- A trip to Houston...why Houston? Aunt Janelle and Uncle Jeff are moving there next month.
- Selling our house...so we can move to the ranch!
The other day as I was taking Westynn to the bath and he was laughing so loud I just took a moment and thought about how GLAD I am that I am not in control of my life, but that God is! Had it been up to Jeremy and I we would have missed out on one of the most incredible gifts in our life. It truly does amaze me that God knew just the right thing we would need at this time in our lives. Westynn is just the perfect addition to our family and I don't even want to think how empty our life could be right now!
It is also INCREDIBLE to think that we have been working for a decade to make a way for Jeremy to work with his Dad full time and run the ranch and GOD is just making our dreams come true and making all the pieces of the puzzle fit together so easily. Sometimes it is easy to think how "lucky" we are, but it is like I told Jeremy last night..."Luck has nothing to do with it. That is why I am trying very hard not to take it for granted and not to hold on to things too tightly. We definitely have to remember that none of the things that have been given to us recently are ours to begin with. The tighter we try to hold on to them, the more likely we are to loose them."
Sounds like I am really smart huh? Just kidding! It was more of a reminder to both of us. That is why I am so sure that this year will hold many things for us that we have no idea about, but that God has planned for us! Isn't that amazing?
So, BRING IT 2011!!! I am soooooooo ready to see what you hold for each of us!!
Holiday Wrap-up!
***WARNING - Long post follows!! Lots of pictures!!! Read at your own risk!***
We had our Children's Christmas Program at church...
Preston was Joseph and Cambree was a sheperd.
We went to Grandma Robin's and Papa Jene's to open presents. Before we did that, we had a delicious breakfast!!
We all got very spoiled. Both the big kids got butterfly chairs to watch movies and play games in. They LOVE them! Westynn got new shoes and a new coat. He loves both of them! Cambree got a purple butterfly suitcase with some crafty stuff inside. Preston got a new game, Mario Kart, for the Wii and the DS. Jeremy got a Cabela's gift card...he LOVES that. And Mom got a new camera bag/purse. It is turquoise and she LOVES it!
Santa sent letters to the kids.
And the letters arrived just in time...Christmas Eve! So we went ahead and left Santa some cookies and milk.
Cambree sprinkled reindeer food on the lawn, so they would know to stop at our house.
Christmas Eve was a LOOOOONG night for us! Preston woke up about 11:30 with really bad stomach pains and Cambree got sick (aka stomach flu) around 12:45 am. What was so cute though was that while Jeremy was cleaning up the bedroom and I was in the kitchen cleaning things up, Cambree came up behind me and tapped gently on my back. I turned around and she said in a whisper and with wide eyes, "SANTA HAS BEEN HERE ALREADY!"
I immediately thought to myself, "Great! Now we will never get them back to sleep!" Then she brought in a package of her favorite socks that Santa had left in her stocking to show me. After that she went into the bedroom and told Preston, "Santa has been here already! Do you want to go see what is in your stocking?" Lucky for me, he didn't feel good at all, so he wasn't interested at that point!
BUT, come 7:00 am, EVERYONE was up and ready to open those presents!!
Westynn's favorite gift was this $1.50 squishy ball that Santa left in his stocking...go figure! He also got a Noah's Ark playset with 2 of every animal, some cars, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, new cowboy boots and some goodies in his stocking!
Cambree got a pillow pet! New cowgirl boots (which are too small and have to be exchanged!) a Fur Real Friend, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and goodies in her stocking.
Preston got some word puzzle books, a new coat, another air craft carrier, Dangerous Hunts for the Wii, some Adventures in Odyssey cd's and goodies in his stocking.
Jeremy got a tool set, to which he responded, "What am I supposed to fix?"
I got a Silhouette SD (from Jeremy) and some salt and pepper shakers and measuring spoons (from the kids) that have hearts on them! I LOVE them!
Finally, on Sunday we had Christmas with the Stapleton side of the family. Aunt Janelle, Uncle Jeff and Jace and Jordyn came to Kansas and we opened presents at Grandma and Papa Stapleton's house at the ranch.
Cambree got a new DS game and a couple of cases, an easel, and some Zhu-Zhu pets! She was a happy girl!
Preston got some hunting boots, a new DS game, a gun set (pretend), and a lego game. He was thrilled with his loot!
Westynn got a Busy Ball Popper (which he LOVES), a laptop, some new bath toys, snow boots, and a helicopter. He was very pleased!
(Cambree took the rest of these pictures!)
Jeremy got some new OU shirts, a fleece jacket, a target, some work jeans and gloves. He, as always, acted less than impressed. BUT, deep down he is appreciative!
I got a new coat, some pyrex storage containers, a new necklace and earrings and a new shirt! I LOVE everything that I was given!!
Papa Rodney got a trip to the BIG 12 championship game and he got his birthday present early...some hunting stuff (sorry Uncle Jeff I don't remember the correct name of it! It looked pretty neat though).
Grandma Janis got a trip to the BIG 12 championship game and some slipper socks and a Mix & Chop!
Aunt Janelle got a new OU hat....and some other stuff!
Uncle Jeff got a Visa Gift card...ands some other stuff!
I just couldn't help adding some of the pictures that Cambree took...she is turning into a mini-me making everyone pose with their presents! I think she is pretty good considering my camera is pretty heavy and I just turned her loose on the Auto setting! Maybe she needs a camera for her birthday!
Well that sums up our Christmas celebrations. (We technically still have one more with my dad, but illness forced us to post-pone.) I am going to just call this post DONE, so that I can move on to my New Year's Post.
We had our Children's Christmas Program at church...
Preston was Joseph and Cambree was a sheperd.
We went to Grandma Robin's and Papa Jene's to open presents. Before we did that, we had a delicious breakfast!!
We all got very spoiled. Both the big kids got butterfly chairs to watch movies and play games in. They LOVE them! Westynn got new shoes and a new coat. He loves both of them! Cambree got a purple butterfly suitcase with some crafty stuff inside. Preston got a new game, Mario Kart, for the Wii and the DS. Jeremy got a Cabela's gift card...he LOVES that. And Mom got a new camera bag/purse. It is turquoise and she LOVES it!
Santa sent letters to the kids.
And the letters arrived just in time...Christmas Eve! So we went ahead and left Santa some cookies and milk.
Cambree sprinkled reindeer food on the lawn, so they would know to stop at our house.
Christmas Eve was a LOOOOONG night for us! Preston woke up about 11:30 with really bad stomach pains and Cambree got sick (aka stomach flu) around 12:45 am. What was so cute though was that while Jeremy was cleaning up the bedroom and I was in the kitchen cleaning things up, Cambree came up behind me and tapped gently on my back. I turned around and she said in a whisper and with wide eyes, "SANTA HAS BEEN HERE ALREADY!"
I immediately thought to myself, "Great! Now we will never get them back to sleep!" Then she brought in a package of her favorite socks that Santa had left in her stocking to show me. After that she went into the bedroom and told Preston, "Santa has been here already! Do you want to go see what is in your stocking?" Lucky for me, he didn't feel good at all, so he wasn't interested at that point!
BUT, come 7:00 am, EVERYONE was up and ready to open those presents!!
Westynn's favorite gift was this $1.50 squishy ball that Santa left in his stocking...go figure! He also got a Noah's Ark playset with 2 of every animal, some cars, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, new cowboy boots and some goodies in his stocking!
Cambree got a pillow pet! New cowgirl boots (which are too small and have to be exchanged!) a Fur Real Friend, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and goodies in her stocking.
Preston got some word puzzle books, a new coat, another air craft carrier, Dangerous Hunts for the Wii, some Adventures in Odyssey cd's and goodies in his stocking.
Jeremy got a tool set, to which he responded, "What am I supposed to fix?"
I got a Silhouette SD (from Jeremy) and some salt and pepper shakers and measuring spoons (from the kids) that have hearts on them! I LOVE them!
Finally, on Sunday we had Christmas with the Stapleton side of the family. Aunt Janelle, Uncle Jeff and Jace and Jordyn came to Kansas and we opened presents at Grandma and Papa Stapleton's house at the ranch.
Cambree got a new DS game and a couple of cases, an easel, and some Zhu-Zhu pets! She was a happy girl!
Preston got some hunting boots, a new DS game, a gun set (pretend), and a lego game. He was thrilled with his loot!
Westynn got a Busy Ball Popper (which he LOVES), a laptop, some new bath toys, snow boots, and a helicopter. He was very pleased!
(Cambree took the rest of these pictures!)
Jeremy got some new OU shirts, a fleece jacket, a target, some work jeans and gloves. He, as always, acted less than impressed. BUT, deep down he is appreciative!
I got a new coat, some pyrex storage containers, a new necklace and earrings and a new shirt! I LOVE everything that I was given!!
Papa Rodney got a trip to the BIG 12 championship game and he got his birthday present early...some hunting stuff (sorry Uncle Jeff I don't remember the correct name of it! It looked pretty neat though).
Grandma Janis got a trip to the BIG 12 championship game and some slipper socks and a Mix & Chop!
Aunt Janelle got a new OU hat....and some other stuff!
Uncle Jeff got a Visa Gift card...ands some other stuff!
I just couldn't help adding some of the pictures that Cambree took...she is turning into a mini-me making everyone pose with their presents! I think she is pretty good considering my camera is pretty heavy and I just turned her loose on the Auto setting! Maybe she needs a camera for her birthday!
Well that sums up our Christmas celebrations. (We technically still have one more with my dad, but illness forced us to post-pone.) I am going to just call this post DONE, so that I can move on to my New Year's Post.
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