Life with the Pulleys...: The month of December in review

After we returned home from AZ the night b/f Christmas Eve...we set out again the following day around lunch to celebrate Christmas in Fort Smith, AR w/ all of our family. And a white Christmas @ that! We did the usual hop & skip b/w Patrick's Mema's house, my Mamaw Hobbs' house, and my Nana/Grandad's farm - all located in Ft. Smith. It makes for an incredibly busy several days each time we're there, but don't get me wrong...it's COMPLETELY and utterly worth every minute! We feel very blessed to still have so many of our grandparents alive and both have family that live in one place. We have such great family who love us unconditionally.

Plus, it was indescribable to just relax for four straight days w/ family. This year was even a little unique compared to previous years, b/c Patrick's Mom's side of the family as well as my Mom's side of the family BOTH decided to start doing a "themed" Christmas meal. Both meals ended up falling on Christmas Eve...which equaled a LOT of eating and feeling miserable afterwards. : )
And, interestingly enough, both sides ended up choosing Italian food. They were both delicious and fun for a change from the normal "Thanksgiving" foods that were normally prepared again @ Christmas. Have I mentioned what wonderful cooks we have on both sides of our family?! So different in some aspects, but the same in others. Wow!

This year was obviously extra special as we now have two precious joys in our household. Will turned 7 months just 5 days b/f Christmas, so this was obviously his 1st Christmas. He was ALL a/b tearing up the wrapping paper and tissue paper. It was hilarious! He loves to "drum" on everything, so he would certainly beat his hands on each and every gift b/f ripping it to shreds. : )

And, Kennedy understood a little more this year a/b what the true meaning of Christmas is all a/b. We pray that she begins to retain some of the knowledge she's learning and that she continues to enjoy learning and understanding more a/b our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We also want our children to remember Christ's birth all year long, and not just during the month of Dec.

And after Christmas, we were able to attend church w/ my Mamaw as well as my Nana/Grandad @ the church my parents grew up in. It's the church my sister and I attended from birth until grade school (when we moved to OK), and not a whole lot has changed from what we remember a/b it. It's special to be able to attend church w/ 2 sets of grandparents every now and then, as well as see old friends who still attend there. And b/c Sun. afternoon was my Mamaw's 90th birthday party, she requested that her 5 sons sing together at least one more time. They did a great job and I always cherish the times growing up when I listened to my Dad and my 4 uncles sing together on special occasions. It was a beautiful Sun. celebrating her marvelous 90 years of life and seeing just how many people she has touched or even led to the Lord. Mamaw has always been one of the strongest Christian role models in my life, and I am so thankful for the beauty that she embodies inside and out. Kennedy is actually named after my Mamaw, for those who don't already know. Kennedy is Mamaw's maiden name, and holds quite a special meaning and past. Such an important day made me miss my Papaw even more though, but I'm so thankful that he's in such a better place. Happy birthday again Mamaw! I love you w/ all of my heart! And I'm thankful for everything that you've done and continue to do to ensure that each member of our family (all 2000 of us - ha!) know the Lord as their personal Savior and grow in their relationship w/ Him.

Some of Mamaw's grandchildren that were able to make it to her 90th b-day party (aka - first cousins)

Majority of Mamaw's great-grandchildren @ the party

Dad (the 2nd to youngest of 9 kids) and all of our family w/ Mamaw

IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON FOR OUR FAMILY! THANK YOU LORD FOR ANOTHER YEAR!

Kennedy finding her "puppy" that she asked Santa for - Christmas morning