Friday, January 6, 2012

Happy New Year

Happy 2012!!!!

OH I had all the intentions in the world to do many posts in the month of December but the busy season and changing over to a new computer kept me from it.

AND... while it feels a little weird to post Christmas pictures now I am going to anyway...

Let me must say......We had a very Merry Christmas together and with our family!!!!
I always have this picture in my head of what our Christmas will be like....
WELL...
It never ends up like that picture in my head and I am not sure why I do that.
We had LOTS of time together which is nice but also put us on each other's nerves. I would look at other blogs where everyone looked to be getting along beautifully.... everything just looked so perfect.
I might have even wondered for a minute what in the world was wrong with us....
But Christmas is a reminder of the fact that there is only one that is perfect .... JESUS...
We don't have to be perfect..... life is not perfect.....
SOOOOO while our holiday was not picture perfect it was SO wonderful and I loved it!!
We are so blessed and so thankful!!!

Our 2011 Christmas Card....
When it came time to do our Christmas card I realized that I had no family pictures in 2011. SO.... out came the tripod... which is always great fun and so easy (not).
Note to self..... take more family pictures in 2012 and do the Christmas card way before December.

We usually put up 2 trees but this year (in an effort to simplify) we just did one. This is what we call our family tree. Each year the kids add the ornaments they make at school, we add a family picture ornament, picture ornaments of the littles, and I give them each an ornament on
Christmas Eve.
I love this Happy tree...

Lily and I baked LOTS of delicious treats.... which we shared with our neighbors and
Jeff's co-workers.... and we saved a few for us....

This year we did our Advent Calendar but we also did Bible readings for each day of the Advent season. This was a great addition to our Christmas.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa N. we added this beautiful nativity set to our Christmas traditions. Hershey thought he was part of it and could be found in this spot each day.

We baked and enjoyed our birthday cake for Jesus... we started this tradition about 3 years ago. We sing Happy Birthday and have candles.... the whole birthday works.....
The littles get so excited about doing this!
Lily and Ty LOVED their new pj's from Robin....
(another fun tradition)

Lily with her favorite Artsy Girl doll.... just like her... an Artsy Girl...

Ty very excited about his Lego Kingdom Castle... he wanted this for a year.... he spent the next day and 1/2 putting it together... all 933 pieces.... (by himself).

11 comments:

Kennedy and Jaida's mom said...

Wow, are the kids ever looking older! I can totally relate to what you say about the holidays and feeling like perhaps you're the only ones on each others' nerves! It happened here too! We're not used to all that down time together and we need routine! Your card was beautiful! Your family always takes beautiful photos.
Happy New Year to you all!
Carolyn

Anonymous said...

You made my day posting new pictures and updates. Your Christmas was beautiful & perfect in God's eyes...because you dedicated the holiday to Him. Love the photos and Ty & Lily are so adorable in their PJ's and Christmas clothes. Wonderful update, as always. Love, Mom

the meaklims said...

Lily has a missing tooth!! I don't remember that update! What a momenteous occasion!

Tiffany, you're too hard on yourself, your Christmas pictures are always so picture perfect! Even Hershey takes a super picture! And yes, we all have those melt-down moments! We just choose not to picture them or talk about them! ;)

I think we all make the same resolution every year, to take more family pictures! Lilah has been home 3 years and this is the first year we have had family pictures done, I was feeling very bad about that!

Anyway, here's to a wonderful new year and lots of blog posts! I really do miss you. Hope you've settled into your new home and into your business again, with the littles being at school all day. I can only imagine how much miss them.

Jill

PS - I agree with your Mom's comment, and you have given me an idea for next year about reading every day - thank you for that. Oh, and I love the cake idea too. See, your children know the true meaning of Christmas, the same can not be said about the rest of us - and I say that with regret. Sometimes everything can look perfect, but there is no depth behind it.

Faith, Hope, and Love said...

What beautiful photos, Tiffany! I always love seeing your littles. :)

And your Christmas card was beautiful...thank you! You are still glowing. :)

Like you...I set expectations. This Christmas season was nothing like I had planned. Oh well....

Thank you for sharing your beautiful Christmas.

Love you!

Faith, Hope, and Love said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maxine Ryal said...

I love the happy Christmas tree - and the happy Lily and Ty! And the beautiful cookies! Evenf Hershey looks happy! Your Christmas card was special, as always, but a Hallmark would have been special as well
I guess we all set ourselves up for disappointment with our unrealistic expectations for a magazine perfect Christmas. It's what is in our hearts that matters.
Love to you all. Auntie M

Football and Fried Rice said...

I love your Christmas card! And I love how your kitty thinks his part of the nativity :)

I canno believe Ty put that Lego thing together by himself!! My kids gets frustrated over 100 pieces!!

Happy New Year!

Our family: said...

What a beautiful family you have! We have a Lily coming home soon too!
Blessings,
Lydia

Lori said...

Hi Tiffany! Your Christmas pictures are wonderful!!! Your tree made me smile and I love how your cat made himself part of the nativity...spiritual guy. :)
Happy New Year!!

Debbie said...

Happy New Year Tiffany! I have loved reading about your Christmas...and I cant tell you how relieved I am to hear someone else finds its hard to "live the Xmas perfection dream"!!
My hubby does a good job of making me laugh at my silly levels of expectation :-)
I love your tree too....

amanda77kr said...

Love hearing about your fun Christmas traditions! That is a very happy tree, indeed. And surely baby Jesus in that manger had a cat to chase away the mice...Marshall's just doing his part (so funny!).