Christmas Card 2017

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 2017 was full of adventure! We are blessed and grateful! Front and back of the Christmas card we mailed out.

And here are some fun outtakes! Cheers to a great year!!! We welcome 2018 with open arms!

Merry Christmas 2017

School is out and time to celebrate! The kids were so excited about Christmas break. Scott and I had a few parties. It's always nice to get dressed up sometimes! The kids joined us to a few parties too. The rest of the days were filled with wrapping, playing with friends and food! Lots of Christmas goodies! And we squeezed in a few more Santa visits too!

I LOVE this pic of the kids. It is totally their personalities. Trent...Mr.Cool! Hunter...full of joy! And Faith Ann...Miss Sassy! I have enjoyed this season so much. They are at perfect ages to enjoy the holiday fun! Their belief, faith and joy is contagious!

Christmas Eve!! What a day! The Evetts clan and Mom's family (Jim, Janis and Katie.) Dad didn't tell us that he had dialysis that morning. He thought he could skip it since "he had a party to get to!" Well, the dialysis clinic called me to let me know he didn't show up...and this was 30 minutes before the party! You can't just skip dialysis!!! That's not how it works. He would have been very sick! So, I called him. He was mad that the clinic called me to "tattletale!" ha! Needless to say..he had to go to dialysis and the party started a few hours later!

Chad and Veronica came in town, and they spent the night! So, the kids got extra cousin play time. The party was very casual and fun! We had our traditional gumbo lunch. Then, we opened all the gifts from my dad. I shop all year long for these gifts, so it's always fun to watch my family open them. My sister-in-laws joke that they replenish their wardrobe every Christmas...I love finding them great gifts! We then went to Christmas Eve church after the party. The kids sat through the service...well, kinda sat! Faith Ann was all over the place, but it was a great candlelight service! We always open their gift from us Christmas Eve. They all got pajamas, book, and an athletic outfit! Practical gifts that they were excited about!

Christmas morning! It was SO SO fun to have the cousins spend the night. They woke up and ran out to see their Santa stacks! Their stockings were filled, and they each had their 3 Santa gifts! Plus the one from their drawn sibling name...they couldn't wait to open! Trent tried to act cool and like he "wasn't excited!" Hunter was full of talking and joy! Beaming! Faith Ann quietly grinned with each gift. They all have their unique way of living in the moment of excitement!

I then cooked a million eggs and cinnamon rolls for breakfast. The rest of the day was filled with Scott and my brother Chad building stuff! Hunter's ninja slackline, Trent's baseball net and football goal! We played with Hunter's remote helicopter, Faith Ann's skates, Barbie dolls! Cousins and kids filled my home and yard. Playing kickball and more! Scott's dad and brother came over for lunch. They cooked backstrap and tamales! The perfect day! A wonderful Christmas, and the close of a memorable year!!! Goodbye 2017!

Christmas Season

Christmas 2017 is here!!! We kicked off the season with our favorite tradition...cutting down our Christmas tree. We have done this every year since we were married, and each year gets more and more fun!!! the kids love it and we always get the perfect tree! Trent cut it down this year.

 

We then filled our home with Christmas once we decorated our tree. I surprised the kids with Christmas pajamas and an elf that has their names on them! We made cookies as we decorated the tree. I always remember my moms last Christmas...she had her only 2 grandkids decorate the tree. All the ornaments were on one branch, and she said "just the way I want my last Christmas tree!" I reflect on that as I am tempted to have a "beautiful professional" looking tree. I remember that a tree filled with child bliss will be one of my final wishes! So, I will love every year that my tree is filled with paper ornaments, mismatched ribbons and a Mickey Mouse star!

We always celebrate Christmas with my dads side of the family early. My aunts and cousins all come into Houston and we have a day full of family. It was extra special this year with the condition of my dad. We are SO grateful he was able to ride in a car and make it to my house. His sisters didn't leave his side. This is a special Christmas. My house was full of kids and food...and priceless memories. I just love hosting all the fun! Of course, we played outside for hours. We had an intense game of kickball going on. Dad had to take a couple naps, but he managed to stay the entire time and enjoyed the company!

And SNOW!!!!! It actually snowed in Houston! Like REAL SNOW! It was magical to wake up to a white winter wonderland! The kids were beaming with joy and excitement! We also made our Santa visit. No tears at all...just happiness. The boys had a long conversation about their list. Faith Ann just told him how much she wants skates! My sweet girl. They each have 3 things on their list because Jesus was brought 3 gifts when He was born. Hunter wants a ninja slackline, remote helicopter and an Etch-a-Sketch! Trent wants a Houston Texans pillow, baseball catch net, and a hunting outfit! Faith Ann wants skates, purple unicorn wallet, and a Barbie doll that drives a car!!! Sounds like a magical Christmas to me!!!