The One With Christmas 2019

December 24 - 29, 2019

SANTA!  I know him!  Of course, we watched the obligatory "elf" movie with Will Ferrell, and we set out Sushi for Santa, and we spent time with family this holiday season.

The girls spent Christmas Eve in Orlando with their family but made it back to our house in Stillwater for our traditional Christmas Eve PJ pic and the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  This is a little different from our normal tradition, but change is inevitable.

Emma and Lara (17), Finn (8), Jake (12)

Our FIRST Christmas with Evie!

Traditional Sushi for Santa

Christmas day started with a flurry of stocking, presents, and wrapping paper!  The girls got fun stuff to start their dorm room collections, a few necessities, and some things they really wanted as well.  After we Ake a birthday cake for Jesus, it was off to Nana and Grandpa's house in Perkins for a Baked Potato Bar Lunch (thank you, Instant Pot!) which was a HUGE hit, and another round of presents!  Lara's favorites were the new Harry Styles LP and her weighted blanket.  Emma's were her new shirt for welding and the black VANS sneakers.  The whole family got Disney+ from Sants, so there was a lot of TV watching going on!

The day after Christmas is best spent exchanging presents and spending gift cards, so that's what we did.  Emma had a pair of shorts to exchange, and all the kids had gift cards burning holes in their pockets.  Because there are 6 of us and 4 drivers, we ended up in different cars going different directions at different times during the day, but it was fun!

Mom, Lara, and Emma out shopping - crammed in the cab of Emma's truck!

Emma went back to Orlando after our shopping day because she had basketball the next morning.  Friday and Saturday were relaxing days - finding places to keep all the new Christmas gifts!  Saturday, we watched a lot of college football.  Capped it off with the LSU vs OU playoff game.  It was the Chick-fil-A bowl from Atlnat (Lara's BFF Erika was at the game), and we told Jake if LSU won, we would take him to Chick-fil-A for dinner.  YOu be the judge of what happened;

LSU WINS!  Geaux Tigers!

One of the best things about being in Stillwater during Christmas break when the students have all gone home is that the OSU men's basketball team always has a game (or two), and to fill the arena, they sell the tickets really cheap. So, on Saturday, we headed up and headed to Gallagher-Iba Arena to watch some Cowboy Basketball!  Finn was Pistol Pete Partner of the Game and LARA!  Lara got to play the match game at one of the time outs in the second half, and she won $25 from MidFirst bank!  What a fun way to spend a cold afternoon.

Christmas Break Fun!

Pistol Pete!  I KNOW HIM!

LUCKY!

After the game, Uncle DW and Aunt Jackie Boyd were in town, so we had Hideaway Pizza at our house and got caught up with our family from North Carolina.  Just a few more days left in this month, this year, this DECADE!  The NEXT blog entry will be in 2020...

The One with Sushi for Santa

December 21-25, 2018

This weekend is stretched out to include Christmas Day!  Not a lot to share - we spent a lot of time as a family.  relaxing, binge watching TV and Netflix and Christmas Movies on the Hallmark channel, and board games.  Once we opened some gifts,  there were new "toys" to play with and a few new distractions, but that didn't keep us from recharging our batteries, and binge watching TV!

Friday the 21st, the kids were all out of school.  Mom had to work until 12 noon, but it was still holiday season, and we were so ready!  There was an OSU men's basketball game at noon that day, but Lara was already worn out from football switching to wrestling, and from finals, so she chose to stay home and recharge while the men folk went to the game - and I met them there after I got off work!  We got to watch Lara's friend Clay Hatfield win $100 at halftime by completing a series of shots in 30 seconds.  I'm sure she is sad she missed it!

Saturday, we braved the mall.  Dad had a Christmas Errand to run in OKC, so he dropped Mom and 3 kids (Lara, Jake, and Finn) off at the mall to kill time, and to keep his Santa Secrets.  We shopped for stocking stuffers, went to every shoe store (Thanks, Jake!), and had a treat at the Cookie Dough store.  The mall was busy, but not packed.  I guess we get the procrastinators award this year!  Lara also tried on a couple of prom dresses - never too early to start thinking about that!  When we got home, Jake wanted to see how much taller than Lara he really was...

She's 16.5; He is 11 and 11/12ths

So, there's that...

Sunday, we had another relaxing day and went to the "Christmas Eve" church service at Life Church.  We took the obligatory Christmas photo in front of the prop the church always provides!  After we got home, Jake and Lara had a YouTube Karaoke contest in her room.  I was the judge!

Perfectly Imperfect

Monday was Christmas Eve!  The tension was mounting, and the 7 year old was SO READY for Santa to make an appearance already!  Lara left early in the morning to meet up with Emma and the Horinek/Golay side of the family for Christmas festivities.  They sent this cute pic from the Walmart parking lot:

Before we got down to Christmas business, we were still marveling at how the girls' "little" brother was so much taller then them!  We actually found some old pictures and made a fun collage:

ages 3 and 7; ages 14 and 10, ages 16 and 11

We measured the kids, too.  Jake is 5'9", Emma is 5'8", and Lara is 5'6".  Finn is 4'1" at 7, but his growth has always been weird, so we have no idea where he will end up in the mix.  We'll know in about 10 years, I suppose!
Then, that evening, we all met up at Nana and Grandpa's house in Perkins for Christmas Even festivities with them.  We had chili for dinner, and the kids got to open presents from their grandparents.  The girls are at the age where they get money and gift cards to their favorite stores.  But, don't be fooled, they still got down on the ground and played with Finn's new toys, too!

Once we were all back at the Weaver House on a Hill, it was time for Christmas Eve traditions: new PJ's, the annual reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and setting out sushi and soda for Santa.  The stockings were all hung, the kids tucked in bed, and the next morning would be CHRISTMAS!

Christmas PJ's 2018

Stockings and Sushi

CHRISTMAS DAY!  It's finally here!  And there are literally no pictures!  That means it was a great day, right!  Emma and Lara each got their traditional 3 gifts from us (just like the wise men gave Jesus), and a Santa gift (something more frivolous).  The fact that they traded some gifts around just goes to show how their personalities switch back and forth, and in a pinch, they will help each other out!  They were surprised by some gifts, and grateful for needs met with others.  Just the way we like it!  We had Chick-fil-A catering and Potato Soup for lunch, then moved on to our Christmas Day tradition of board games.  For several years it was Rustic Cuff Monopoly, but the last 2 years it has been Ticket to Ride.

Ticket to Ride (board game)

Emma left us early in the evening to go see friends and do her own thing.  We were happy to be all together for the Christmas holiday.  There is only one more of these before the holiday will change drastically since they won't be living at home anymore.  Bittersweet.  Glad I am documenting these memories!

Next week, it's a new year.  Welcome, 2019!

The One With the Sticky Chicken Christmas

December 22-25, 2017
Sandwiched between finals, end of semester parties and school getting out, then basketball and wrestling practices, spending gift money, and family time (or dates) while on break, there was Christmas.  There are only 2 more of those with the girls "officially" at home.  Two More.  Two more Christmas mornings being the best big sisters watching little brothers tear into gifts - especially the little one.  Two more crazy Christmas Eve's of shuffling from home to home getting everyone to the places they want to be and celebrating with a big family.  2 more late Christmas Eves where I get to stuff stockings KNOWING they will be there the next morning to see what Santa brought.

We spent as much time as possible with the girls this holiday weekend.  These girls are supremely lucky and immensely blessed.  While a big family can be hard to manage, and communication failures are abundant, there are perks, too!  They have SO MUCH FAMILY that loves them, cares for them, and spoils them rotten.  My family.  Britt's family.  Their Dad's family.  His wife's family.  They had more Christmas Celebrations and presents to open than they could possibly count.  I hope they treasure that.  They have new clothes, new gadgets, pocket money, and a true momentum heading in to the new year.

Christmas Eve night was spent with Nana and Grandpa - the first Christmas in their new house in Perkins.  Nana brought Gigi over from her home at Brookdale in Stillwater, Grandpa picked up the girls from their dad at a meeting spot in Guthrie, while Britt and I brought the boys over from Stillwater.  We had chili (or chicken nuggets for the picky eaters), ate a plethora of desserts, and then opened presents.  We even stayed a little late after Gigi went back to Stillwater and played with new toys and gadgets.

After making it home to Stillwater, we read the annual "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and donned "Christmas" PJ's.  Jake took over the duty of reading the story this year,  He's such a big guy these days.  Then it was off to bed so Santa could come.  There are practically no pictures of Christmas.  We were too busy enjoying it!  We stayed home, as a family of six, all day.  We opened stockings, and presents, and then played with new toys, enjoyed each other's company, (one of us took a nap), and generally chilled until we got hungry for lunch.

For lunch, I chose our family's favorite and easy meal.  Keeping it simple.  Lara helped me make Sticky Chicken, and EVERYONE ate it.  No arguing, no begging for people to taste new things.  No worries about insulting the host or the person who made a certain dish.  We ate what we liked and we enjoyed it.  After the kitchen was clean, it was back to fun activities and playing with new toys.  Nana and Grandpa stopped over to play our new board game - Ticket to Ride.  Fun, relaxed, family day.

Merry Christmas, indeed!

Sticky Chicken:

Prepare a package of frozen popcorn chicken.

While it cooks, mix over low heat:
6 Tbsp honey
4 Tbsp ketchup
4 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
Salt/pepper

Bring to boil, simmer 3-5 minutes (to thicken slightly)
Toss with cooked chicken, garnish with sesame seeds and green onions

serve it with boil in bag brown rice

The One Where They Were Spread Out

December 8 - 11, 2017
Rural Oklahoma.  Kids active in Team Sports.  And other clubs and activities.  There are weekends where we do not connect much, if at all.  This was one of those...

Another weekend has passed.  The 2020 Project has made us all look at things in a different way.  Really lean in to the weekends and the experiences.  And to cherish the down time and the calm moments.  This weekend was a busy one for all - as usual this time of year.  With Christmas just a few days away, it seems everyone is celebrating, and with team sports kids, there is always a competition or a practice right on the horizon.

As I write this, it is Thursday.  Of the next week.  I think this is the latest so far that I have gotten around to logging my weekly #2020project entry!  I will probably start in on next week's as soon as I am done here!  As a family, we have had something every night the past week, and next week is no different!  Love my crazy, busy, big family, and all the adventures they take us on, but this old Mommy needs a NAP!

This pas weekend for Emma started with her Mulhall-Orlando Lady Panthers heading to Agra for an area tournament.  They lost out on Friday, but that didn't mean things were getting less busy for my #1 daughter!  She was soon off to Midwest City for her FFA MFE (Made for Excellence) leadership conference.  I know she had a blast with that and was able to connect with old friends, meet new ones, and hone her leadership skills.  My favorite part of that experience was her sending me a short clip of her FFA crew singing Journey's "Don't Stop Believing!"  That's the Dream Weaver theme song!

Emma at MFE

Only one I got of her in official dress

Lara's weekend started early on Thursday night with a wrestling match at Stillwater High School with her Pioneers facing Southmoore.  As a team they came up short, but there were a few fantastic duels where our wrestlers came out on top.  And if that wasn't enough wrestling, there was an area tournament in Perry that started on Friday and lasted all day Saturday.  Lara left from school to head up there on Friday, and got home late Friday night.  Only to get up super early Saturday morning and go back!  We had to have her at the high school by 7:15 Saturday morning.  She must really love being a trainer!  ;)  She was done by early ebeing Saturday, and then got to spend the rest of the night recooperating because the rest of te Weavers were with Jake at his basketball tournament!

cleaning up blood from the mat Thursday night

Sunday, we got to rest, and go to church.  Much needed day of catching up!  After church that evening, we met some friends on campus to take their Christmas Card picture in front on the big orange "O" on Library Lawn.  Since we were there, I had the kids pose and I got one of them as well!

Another weekend in the books.  Another marble out of the jar.  Childhood is fleeting.  Right before our eyes.  So beautiful to watch and share.

Treat Every Day Like Chirstmas

It's Christmas time.  And right after that the New Year.  That means its time for reflection, new horizons, goals and dreams.  At the Weaver house, the winds of change are blowing pretty hard this season.  And we're looking forward to a NEW 2016 and all the change that it brings.  But today, I am reflecting on days gone by.  Memories of the people and places and things that made me who I am today and remind me of what Christmas means to me.

Take a look at this Christmas Card picture from our family in 2011.

What do you see?  Christmas greetings.  Adorable kids.  Fun photography.  A tiny baby fighting for life. Cute owl graphics.  Snow, ornaments, family names. A sweet card sent out with love and care to share with family and loved ones the blessings of the season.

Do you know what I see?  Something missing.  Each image shows me a memory, and a piece that's missing.  My sweet friend Gabi made this card for us.  She used those same owls on a sign that hung in our home, and then in my temporary hospital home that year to help keep me focused on a healthy baby.  She used them on a website that helped raise funds for our tremendous medical bills.  And she used them here to convey the hope and future of our family.  Lives get busy, and I don't see her as much as I used to.  I miss that... That bottom picture of the feet is missing somethings, too.  Our talented friend Beth took that picture on a HOT July day in Oklahoma just after we discovered we were having our fourth baby, and this was our Big Reveal image to share with everyone.  This was in the days shortly after we had lost my big brother.  (FYI - standing like that and getting that shot was INCREDIBLY difficult and sweaty - Jake was 4 and the girls were 9: wiggly). Beth has moved on to Texas and is raising her own family now.  We miss her.  This image shows the hope we had for the pregnancy - which was dramatically cut short.  I miss the expectation we had for a more normal gestation and infancy. (Don't get me wrong, so blessed by what we got instead, but I mourn the loss of a dream.) I miss being a family of 5.  It was different; Finn changed everything. For the better, of course, but a definite divergence from where we were going. And my brother Brian.  He wasn't here all the fun.  4th niece/nephew. NICU days. All the holidays, birthdays, milestones and moments from the last 4 years and 9 months.  He missed it all.  And I miss him. He should have been here for that picture, and all that came after it.

And up to the top 2 images.  So much missing.  How hard for those 3 little faces to have to deal with a family torn apart by 70 miles, illness, surgeries, stress and separation for a total of 5 months start to finish.  They were SO BLESSED by all kinds of surrogates to stand in our stead as I fought for 2 lives, Britt tried to be in two places and once and all things to several people, and then as Finn started his journey into this world.  But Emma, Lara and Jake were missing things, too.  Normalcy.  Mommy. Daddy. A brother they were only allowed to see through glass and touch with one finger for the longest time. A baby that didn't get to come home for Christmas. They weathered that storm so well.  Built resilience.  Taught them many tough life lessons.  They are stronger for it.  I miss those tiny faces and those effortless smiles.

And my sweet, sweet tiny miracle baby boy Finn.  He brought joy to our world.  And pain, and stress, and lessons, and LOVE.  So much love. From every corner of our universe.  So many people were touched by his presence, prayed for his life, and loved him without even knowing him.  He spent that Christmas in the NICU.  Santa came to see him there.  We had a Christmas lunch in the car consisting of Lunchables and Capri Sun after we had opened presents at home just so we could see him and hold him that day.  He was missing in our home that morning.  And for the entire 3 months he spent in the hospital.  He was missing from that sunny day picture at the top of the card.  And his siblings are missing from this picture of him.  So much separation!  But so much to be thankful for!  

2011 - NICU

2015 - Santa's Workshop

Little Dream Weavers - 2015
Emma (13), Jake (8), Finn (4), Lara (13)

As we get older and the kids get busier, we realize that the pictures of all 4 kids in one place at one time are going to get fewer and further between.  But we always have the memories.  The blessings. The lessons that made us who we are.  Somethings may be missing, but nothing is missed.  Every detail to our story has been written by the best Storyteller there ever was.  We celebrate His birth and what he did for our world this Christmas season, and EVERY Christmas season.  Thank you God, for sending your son, Jesus, to be our Savior.  And thank you for being a better Writer of my story than I could ever imagine.

Merry Christmas

If I Were a Christmas Letter…

The time of year has arrived when I just LOVE to check the mail box every afternoon!  SOMETHING finally out numbers the bills and the unsolicited advertisements and random coupon fliers stuffing the mailbox on our front porch.  CARDS!  Real, signed, personal (and some not so personal) greeting cards!  How humbling to think that someone thought of me and my family – even for just a moment as they addressed the envelope – with love! We got our first card on Tuesday of this week, and have gotten a couple more each day.  My kids fight over who gets to check the mail, and if the envelope says “The Weavers” or “The Weaver Family” there is a mad scramble for who gets to open it!  Just another Christmas tradition that I absolutely LOVE!

*edited to add: This is my personal opinion and is not meant to bash anyone who loves or writes Christmas Letters. No throwing of flames needed.  :) *

But, inevitably, some of those cards come with the notorious “Christmas Letter.”  You know the one – the letter that touts the fabulously amazing accomplishments of the kids and tells of gloriously wonderful trips to exotic and magnificent locales – WITH PICTURES.  Tales of laureled accomplishments in the workplace and domestic bliss in the home.  I get it!  We all loved to tell our story and to brag of our endeavors – it is human nature.  And I love stories!  I just get the feeling with these types of letters that somehow, I’m not doing it right.  I don’t have a laundry list of marvelous events and spectacular triumphs to share with my Christmas Card List. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my life and I love the time I spend with my family and the fun things we do - it's just not Christmas Card worthy, in my opinion.

My letter – if written in that vein - might tell about my kids meeting all attendance requirements at school because we finally had a “well” year!  It might tell about the trip to the City to go to Sam’s AND Target – ON THE SAME TRIP! LOL! It might mention dance, or baseball, or volleyball – but there’s no trophies or ribbons or medals. Nobody wants to read that.  And besides – isn’t that what Facebook is for? ;)

So, the Christmas letter is basically a chance to pick out and emphasize the BEST things that happened over the past year.  You see that?  The BEST things… Not the daily things.  Not the less than stellar things. Not the hurtful, sad, trying things.   During a message one time about social media, my Pastor Craig Groeschel said “We're comparing our behind the scenes with their highlight reels.”  YES!  That’s exactly it!  (He has actually said that in a few different references, but this one stood out to me.) That’s why Christmas letters make me sad.  That's why there are no Christmas letters from the Weavers.  Not like that, anyway. You get a fun card, with a picture of my family, and a message about the true Reason for this season. Merry Christmas!

But you know where we are all the same? And our “Christmas Letters” don’t matter? At the Foot of the Cross.  We all know the Christmas Story - the "Highlight Reel," but have you thought about the details? The "behind the scenes?" Instead of a highlight reel of the things the members of my family have done this past calendar year – which would surly bore you to sleep – I am going to write you THIS behind the scenes Christmas letter…

Dear Friends,

As the year 2014 comes to a close, I want to tell you about the only Christmas that really mattered.  The one that changed eternity.  The one that happened over 2000 years ago.  To a young girl, and her fiancé – who both had faith above all things to carry out an incredible mission. This is their Christmas letter...

Mary had grown up in the same village as Joseph who was several years older than she was. Perhaps they had admired one another from a distance ... perhaps Joseph had just been waiting for the darling Mary to grow up!

Mary was in the house one afternoon, maybe working on her wedding attire, or sewing towels for her new home when she sensed someone in the room with her. Conceivably, Mary looked around to see if anyone had joined her.

“And coming in, Gabriel said to her, Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ... 

Joseph and Mary’s love story had been horribly and inexplicably interrupted. Mary is pregnant and Joseph knows that he is not the father. Joseph surely must have wondered if Mary had been violated, although she was quietly insistent that the child in her womb had been placed there by the Holy Spirit.

Did Joseph wonder if Mary was delusional? How else is it possible to explain this catastrophic turn of events? What was once lovely is now tinged with ugly. What was once anticipated is now dreaded.

Joseph apparently did not believe Mary’s story because his plan was to put her away privately. This was the kindest and most loving choice for a young man found in the throes of betrayal. He could have allowed her to be stoned before the baby was born. Or, after giving birth, he could have allowed both her and the baby to be stoned. Sending her away never to be heard from again was the ultimate loving sacrifice on Joseph’s part.

It is impossible to even imagine Joseph’s disappointment with God and with the person whom he had loved most in the world. Mary had been his world and now he would never see her again. Did Joseph believe that the girl of his dreams had given her virginity to another man?

Joseph did not deserve this betrayal or this heartbreak. What he “deserved” was a wedding day filled with joy and the promise of young love.

Now, perhaps, Joseph’s reputation had been sullied on the streets of Nazareth and his boyhood friends were snickering behind his back.

Joseph had to face Mary’s parents and his own parents. Although he bore no guilt there was still the possibility that they would not believe him. There was no holiday frivolity for this disappointed, heartbroken young man.

Christmas, for Mary, was the challenge of understanding what the favor of God is truly all about. Mary was about to learn that being highly favored by God does not mean a life of unbroken happiness nor does it promise that all of your dreams will come true. There is a tremendous price to be paid by those who are highly favored by God; favor means, simply, that God is willing to use you.

Christmas, for Mary, was about discovering the intimacy of the Lord’s presence as never before. Mary was about to be confronted with the reality that favor happens when God places a piece of Himself into an earthly life. No longer was God a mere concept or a Divine Being who never engaged Himself in the affairs of everyday life. Because of Gabriel’s message, the presence of God Himself had invaded the life of this young girl who, prior to this moment, had nothing but Joseph on her mind.

Christmas, for Mary, was about understanding that God’s ways are so much higher than our ways. Mary was learning, like all of us must, that when Divinity invades humanity ... Divinity always wins! Christmas is a reminder that His ways are always higher and better than anything that we could ever think or imagine.

Christmas is about the Holy Spirit bringing peace and joy through a Baby Boy to the mess that we have made of planet earth. It is about the power of heaven’s reality invading one life. Christmas commences the moment a person realizes the longing that has always existed to be overshadowed by all that He is and all that He does!

Christmas has nothing to do with dancing elves, reindeer with red noses and snowmen who sing. Christmas is about an invasion! Christmas happens at the moment when heaven’s light invades the darkness of planet earth! Christmas is a time when we should all expect heaven’s entrance into our dusty, dirty worlds. Christmas is a time that reminds us all that miracles really do happen, prayers are actually answered and that heaven is just one response away. God absolutely hears your prayers. He is listening intently to your requests and loves it when a believer comes to Him boldly and unashamedly. Ask and keep on asking, seek and keep right on seeking, knock and keep on knocking! (Matthew 7:7) 

Claiming His Promises,
Betsey

(All excerpts from the YouVersion reading plan "Joy! to Your World! A Countdown to Christmas" written by Carol McLeod if Just Joy Ministries

This is one Christmas letter I am glad that was written. Can you feel the hope in this?  The Promise! He will bring us GOODNESS and LIGHT!  This is what I love about Christmas and this season of the year.  I love the pomp and circumstance, the decorations, cards, food and festivities!  I love the lights and trees and BLING!  But most importantly, and definitely above all, I love the Gift of Jesus, my Savior!  To God be the Glory. Amen. 

A Costumed Christmas

This past weekend, Britt and I got to go on a date.  On a CAR date.  That included a ROAD TRIP!  This was HUGE.  We rarely get date nights in on our busy schedule, and to actually take SIGINIFANCT time to make something like this happen is HUGE.  It talks a lot of phone calls, texts, hits and misses to get 4 kids taken care of for a weekend – especially after the Tween Twins had a school dance on Friday night that they HAD to attend! And not surprisingly, it was not without a few glitches.  But, it was SO VERY WORTH IT!

We were invited to a Costume Christmas party Saturday night in Dallas thrown by our ******** upline Diamond and Platinum distributors.  We thought just getting the invitation was a big deal, and we were ready to move mountains to make it to this party!  Once we put it on the calendar, it was game on.  We started making arrangements for our drive, where we would stay and most importantly, where the kids would all be.  I am so grateful to all the families that helped all my kids have a good weekend while we were away. And of course to Nana the Wonder Sitter for shouldering the brunt of the responsibility and helping coordinate it all!

So, through the Facebook event page, we knew we were expected REQUIRED to wear a costume (there were threats! LOL!), and to bring a gift for the dirty Santa exchange.  Time to get creative!  After several days of brainstorming and thinking, Britt ordered a costume from Walmart.com, and I went to Hobby Lobby and gathered supplies!  The end result was the Pink Bunny from the Christmas Classic “A Christmas Story” and I was a festive rendition of Dancer the Reindeer.

The party was so much fun!  We were staying with our (very pregnant) friend Megan, and we all traveled to the event together.  She was a trooper!  I know she thought her elf costume looked ridiculous, and I know she was not feeling all that festive, but she was a great sport and helped us to have a really good time!

Liz and Rob - our hosts

With our friend Megan

A lot of the couples there were dressed as a “pair” or a “couple.”  All of the winners fell into this category, so we have made that note for next year.  Alas, we did not win any contests!  The couple from “A Nightmare Before Christmas” won the overall prize – they went ALL OUT!  The costumes and make-up were amazing!  We also had 3 Cousin Eddie’s from “Christmas Vacation” – and an EXCELLENT Clark Griswald!  Also from that movie was Aunt Bethany and Uncle Lewis – PRICELESS! As well as 2 Pink Bunnies  - AND THE LEG LAMP - from “A Christmas Story,” Bill Murray and the Angel from Scrooged, a complete Nativity scene, several Santa’s, Mrs. Clauses, elves, a Christmas Tree (and skirt), presents, snowmen, Jack Frost, a kid waiting for Christmas morning, and many more! The creativity was stellar, and the costumes had us smiling all night.

Costume Contest winners

YUP!  This happened...

AdvoFamily

While everyone arrived, we were treated to some GREAT ******** friendly foods, and an endless supply of water and *****.  These people know how to party!  The food was GREAT!  I think Britt wanted to stuff some of the wraps into his pockets.  But, FWIW, Bunny costumes don’t have pockets! LOL!  So, we just ate while we were there, and thought about what all was in them so we might recreate them at home later.

Then it was time for the “Dirty Santa” style gift exchange.  I don’t know exactly how long this took, but there were over 50 people there!  It was not a QUICK game. But it was pretty fun!  One of the gifts we brought got passed around quite a bit – that always makes you feel good when you bring a “good” gift!  We left with a set of 2 beer glasses and an AMAZING king size blanket in a beautiful teal color for our bed.  It is so warm and cozy and PRETTY!  Props to my husband for sacrificing his turn for me to “steal” this blanket to “freeze” it.  That’s how he ended up with the beer glasses.  We’re not drinkers, but the glasses are pretty cool!  The kids want to use the glasses to put Santa’s ***** in for Christmas Eve!

After a nice night of sleep at our friends’ house, we got up early and headed out.  But not back to Oklahoma just yet – we went to TARGET!  Cuz we don’t have one here!  We spent a couple of hours with our carefully crafted Christmas list and got a few gifts marked off the list.  Then, we barred back home to be with our kids!  MISSED THEM so much – but very glad to get to spend that precious time together as a couple reinvesting in each other.  And, our ******* family.  We are so blessed and honored to be on this awesome journey.  While the weight loss is great, (Britt is at 72 lbs gone, I am at 45) I think the most rewarding parts of our adventure are the PEOPLE!  The people we are meeting, the people we are helping, and the people that are now our FAMILY! It’s so rewarding and fulfilling!

Ended the weekend at LifeChurch where it was Baby Dedication day.  I got the distinct honor of praying over my (2^nd) favorite preemie baby and her family as they embark on the challenging journey of raising their adorable miracle girl to being a fully devoted follower of Christ. What a humbling, yet refreshing experience!  Love this sweet face and her awesome family!  You will go far, Baby Lucy!

Baby Lucy