My goals for this advent

So I am working on some ideas for this Christmas season. I really want to focus on giving to others and spending time together as a family. I want the kids to have wonderful memories of the holidays growing up but I want them to know it isn't all about presents. So my goal is to do one thing everyday that is meaningful to us as a family. Here is what we have done so far:
Day 1: On Sunday, we began advent by going to church, I am hoping we can avoid any sicknesses and make it every Sunday this holiday season, not to mention Christmas Eve service. We will miss the 13th though because we are running White Rock this year, so I have to adjust my goals to accomodate that all our long runs will forever be on Sundays. We had a great morning at church and then on Sunday night, we went to see the Holiday train locally as a family event. Despite the cold, we all had a good time (and were happy to also learn that it was a charitable event, KCS donates Walmart gift cards for clothing for those in need).
Day 2: Monday, this morning we dropped off our Wylie Star gifts (similar to the Angel tree, we picked two kids off the tree (one was K's age and the other was A's so the kids could buy for those with similar interests), I took the kids shopping for these kids and did my best to explain that not everyone has presents on Christmas morning and that not all mommies and daddies have enough money to buy anything they want at Target like they think we do. A very hard lesson for Austin but I really think Katie is starting to get it. She has offered to share her toys with other kids, so now I am looking for somewhere to drop off used toys to people who might be in need. If anyone knows of a place (not many accept used toys this time of year, they prefer new unwrapped toys) please let me know!

Choo-Choo!

Can we say cold front?? A very mild morning turned into freezing bitter temps for those standing outside in line for over an hour waiting to see the Christmas train!! Tonight the Kansas City Southern Holiday train stopped in Wylie with Santa onboard. Here are the pics (remember how cold I said we all were! No good pics would be easy) K even posed with Santa this year!

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

So we wasted no time with the decorations this year! I ventured out and did some Black Friday shopping and got home around 6 AM, lukcy me, baby C was already awake and K and A followed shortly. We let daddy sleep in while we got all the decorations out. After he woke up, we put the tree up, decorated, and hung the lights outside. I love this time of year!

Austin really gets mad when I start taking pics of him:

Hodge Podge of pics

So I am trying to play catch up so here are some random pics of nothingness around the H house.

Chase showing off his 2 big teeth:



The kids love feeding Chase bottles however Chase is getting a bit to big for this and even a bit to big for their laps: If Chase could talk he would be saying "Save me!":

I love sleeping baby pictures:

Austin is experiencing a new camera shy (aka annoying to mommy) stage:

Chase swinging away:

My Kate-Kate:

They may not look happy but that is because I was interupting their TV watching:

Caught acting like the like each other :)

When did he get so big (and his hair so long?):

Looking spiffy in my botton down for church:

Northpark Trains

Today we got to hang out with some of our SS friends at the train exhibit. The kids had a great time and they even ate lunch from the food court (if anyone knows my food struggles with the kids, this was a darn near miracle!) A found Thomas and Percy:

I always feel like I have to take a pic of Chase, he thinks I am crazy most of the time. I think his hair is crazy most of the time :)

Thankful

Here is a handful of what I am thankful for this year:

1. Chase Matthew's arrival to this world and into our family.
2. Finding a church home and being baptized as a family.
3. Stan having a job and being able to provide for our family.
4. A healthy, happy, completed family.
5. Wonderful friends (and family!) that keep me going :)

This list could go on and on, but this is my starter list!!!

Final Game

Today was K's last soccer game for the season! We had such a great experience on a wonderful team that I can hardly wait until it starts up again in the Spring! Katie scored 2 goals this season and we are very proud of how far she has come. Go Girl Power!

Fall Music Program

We took lots of pictures since the kids were all dressed up for their Music Program at school. Unfortunately not alot of them turned out as good as I had hoped for because everyone was SO tired! Anyways, here are some of them, pretty sure they are out of order:

Playing Catchup

A random spread of our pics from the last couple of weeks:

I don't know what was up with his hair:

My bunch of monkeys:

Yes he gives momma this look often:

I have two teeth and I chew on EVERYTHING:

I will not show you my teeth:

A quick pic before school:

Loving the exersaucer:

Chilling in the Bumbo:

Austin is going through a camera shy stage:

Our littlest Cowboys fan: