Pop and Cita's Christmas

We drove straight to my uncle James' house in Carrollton for some appetizers and fellowship and then went to Arlington. Christmas Day the extended family came to my parents house and we had a WONDERFUL lunch and opened gifts and watched the tube! We had a wonderful visit as always. We went to Aledo Wednesday to meet up with Trent's two uncles and their families and Thursday went out to our friends the Davis' in Coppell and were able to meet the newest member of their family, Miss Ellie Claire. The next morning we were in an urgent care center where we found out Trent has strep! Now every member of our family has been sick within a few weeks time! He got a shot and then we were back to my parents to pack up and head back!

Road Trip!

Next we headed out for The Metroplex!!! Getting out of town was a bit of a challenge but once we were on the road things went rather smoothly. The kids watched movies the whole way and Trent and I listened to music and had some nice conversation! I love road trips for that very reason.

Our little family Christmas

We got home pretty late that night from Meme and G's so we slept in a little big Monday and then had our own family Christmas which was actually Christmas Eve. Ty got more spiderman type things and Olivia got her "O" charm for her bracelet and they both got all kinds of neat little things in their stocking. Olivia got her first "lipstick" which is really a lipsmacker without color of course! She has enjoyed it greatly! We are only doing two wrapped gifts in our family and stockings and that is it! Trent and I have decided we don't want the focus to be gifts so we are downplaying this part as much as possible. We enjoyed our short time together with our own little family very much. Then the packing began for our next Christmas!

Meme and G's Christmas

We celebrated the Sunday before after early service. We all went out and had brunch and then lots of festivities and later a WONDERFUL dinner. It was almost comical how many trips back to the house I had to make before actually starting the celebrations, well almost... I was all good by the time I stopped for a diet coke and then was sitting by G's fire enjoying some unbelievable food! The kids all had such a great time together and I am so thankful that we all live near one another and they can grow up together knowing each other so well-something I wish I had as a kid, well even as an adult actually! What a blessing it is to be their aunt.

The Nutcracker

Precious pics from our night at the Nutcracker! These kids had a great time together, and so did the big ones!

Little Ty Man is FOUR!

Wow. Wasn't he just in a crib?! It is just going way too fast. Michael Ty Phillips is turning into such a sweet big boy! He is so endearing toward others and incredibly thoughtful for his four short years! Our friends the Fredericks and the Kemps invited us to go to The Nutcracker the other night. Olivia is still a little young and we knew it was a great possibility that she would not be able to sit through it. I was SO excited at the idea of spending a night out alone with him, something I don't get to do real often. I told Ty he was special so just Mommy was going to take him on a date. His response was, "Mommy... Olivia is special too- she should come with us." Everytime someone asks him to do something, go somewhere, or if he would like to have something, he insists that Olivia be included without being encouraged to do so! He often gives me a hug for no imparticular reason, and tells me how much he loves me ALL THE TIME! His curiosity has peaked and he is asking lots of questions about everything. He is in a constant state of wonderment. He loves to look at the moon at night, the sunsets (which by the way are unbeatable out here) and most recently how he got here. For now we are going with God made him and put him in his Mommy's tummy. His Aunt Emmy is pregnant with two baby girls and he is just amazed by it.

I absolutely love how he asks me to 'nuggle' and to put his head on my neck (my chin on his head). I love hearing his precious prayers at night and how he wants to make good choices. We are not "Love and Logic" parents so this one he has done on his own! I love how he runs to Olivia when she is crying for being hurt or in trouble. He tries to sit in 'the spot' with her to make it easier on her but we kick him out pretty quick. He is truely upset when we are at a restraunt and she has to be taken to the restroom for other reasons than rest. He has a strong connection with older people and is very attached to his 'great-grandparents'. He askes about his Paw Paw, my maternal grandfather who lives in Dallas and we don't get to see all that often. He tells me he misses him frequently and asks when we will see him again.

His favorite color is still green. He is currently obsessed with spiderman and was overjoyed with his cake this year! He still wears his Halloween costume on an almost daily basis when we get home from school. He spins webs wherever we go and is learning when the appropriate time is. His favorite Bible story is Jonah and the whale. Still lovin hotdogs and all fruit. He loves to pick out his own clothes and dress himself and does quite a good job at that. Also a little particular about his hair already, I think we all know where he gets that and its not from me! His favorite song on the radio is "I am Yours" but especially fond of the verse, "You make everything glorious..."

This little man is such an incredible example to me. I could go on and on. I wish everyone reading this could know him and experience his sweet spirit and see God moving in him and through him. I pray that He protect him and watch over him every day and that he wake up safe and healthy every morning. I pray that He continue to place people in his life that will forever keep him accountable and encourage him in his walk. Ty is so precious to me and I feel honored to be his mother. I pray that I can be the parent he needs me to be in all situations and can mold him for The Lord. Look out world, he is going to do great things... I just know it!

The Big Apple

The View from our hotel room, 39th & 3rd

This is a sculpture that stood at TWTC and was taken from the wreckage, there is a flame at the bottom that burns constantly in remeberance of the lives lost that day

THE Tree!

Imerial Pizza.. yummmm

Radio City, The Rockettes (KayEllen -mil, Tina-sil, Hannah-niece, Tamara-sil, and yours truely)

Ride on the ferry

In case you can't read, Grand Central Station

The famous MAP!

Tavern On The Green

Ashleigh, Me, and Shauna @ TOG

I had the huge blessing of being asked to accompany my Mother-in-law and Sisters-in-law, and oldest Niece to the City that never sleeps these past five days. I have always wanted to go and especially at Christmas time. What a gift?!!! I felt like I was five again the entire time! Just incredible.

We left last Thursday and after we checked in to our hotel we started out for Rockefeller Plaza to see my most anticipated part of the trip, the tree! On the way we stopped at Imperial Pizza which was an authentic Italian Joint! There was a picture inside showing a shot from the film, The Godfather. It was WONDERFUL pizza! Then we made it to the tree...It was quite a site! Bigger than I imagined and beautiful! We went down and saw the ice-skaters and then ducked in several shops. TWO of my ALL TIME favorites, H&M, and Forever 21!!! (Thanks for the tip last year Jodi ;) ) Seeing the department store windows for Christmas was pretty beautiful and just incredible!

The next day we headed out to the subway, which was a different experience every time we rode thanks to the very entertaining people that were along with us. I mean truly entertaining and wanted to be paid for it! There was a group of VERY young boys on one of them.....it was really quite sad. I also kept thinking I just don't see how people with small people do it there. We saw alot of strollers with their little ones bundled up tight! It was SUPER cold the entire time. I felt so sorry for those kids. I tried to imagine myself with mykids there and then noticed, you didn't see alot of people with more than one child which would definately make it more doable! We mostly rode the subway because we never even saw an empty cab! The last day we rode, we were eating in a place where one of the drivers was sitting next to us and overheard a message that a little four year old boy had been separated from his parents and a description to be looking out for. All I could see was Ty lost and afraid! It just broke my heart and I have not stopped thinking about him since. I pray that they found each other!

On a brighter note, we did WAY TOO MUCH SHOPPING! I almost did not get it all back! China town was a complete shopping high. I think my favorite store was FAO Shwarz though! I couldn't get myself away from the Madame Alexander dolls, that thanks to Meme my daughter is collecting, and then the baby section!!! I wanted a doll for myself! They have this little nursery set up where the dolls are behind glass and in beds just like the hospital, the salesperson is dresssed as a nurse and the little girls come pick out their baby. They get it out of the bed and prepare it for its new mother and then she gets to sit and rock it in a little chair!!! TOO PRECIOUS! Oh how I would love to take Olivia to do that someday! I had a ball in there.

I think the highlight of our trip was a tie between Tavern On The Green and seeing the

Christmas show of the Rockettes. Truly amazing, both of them. The fun part of our eating venture was getting to meet up with my sweet friends Shauna and Ashleigh who were also there on an all girls family trip! I love them both to death and how fun to get to experience some of New York with them! Ashleigh's mother, and Shauna's MIL is also a close friend of my MIL so it was a blast for all! We also went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Wall Street, Macy's, Time Square, Grand Central Station, and where the World Trade Center towers once stood. Very somber and sobering at the same time.

I am way blessed to have such fun Sisters-in-laws, beautiful niece who is just as beautiful inside- trust me you just can't know- and INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL AND GIVING Mother-in-law! We had so much fun just laughing together and I truely enjoyed every minute of each of them. Tamara kept us on track and guided us in the right direction, we could not have made it without her and I still don't know how she figured it all out! You know, I just had no idea what to expect of this city. I just pictured what I had seen on television and movies. It was really different in person and the people were un-believably nice and helpful!!! I don't know where they got a badr reputation but everyone I even just came in contact with was pleasant and smiling! I hope to be able to go again some day!

We made it back and our husbands made it okay without us taking care of our children. I had too much fun but have to admit I was ready to kiss my babies! The day I returned my first baby turned FOUR! I just can't believe it. I will post about that next. I am glad to be home and soak him and sister and Dad up for all their worth!

Its Beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Like the B family, we have more than one tree in our family as well. First we have Ty's "cowboy" tree.
Next Olivia's "frilly" tree.

Next our family tree in our living room. Notice there is no tree-skirt! Mine has vanished since last year so I suspect I will be making my way to Hobby Lobby at some point tomorrow to purchase one that is half-off! I am really sad! I LOVED my old one. It was a red velvet with a green velvet wide trim :(

The ornaments.... I love anything old or that looks old as a rule throughout my life and especially on the tree! My mother has given us the most to trim this tree but Ty and Olivia have added with some sweet ones as well ;)

My Dining room table is set with Lenox Holiday china which are a yearly gift from my mother-in-law. Our entry is graced with a precious simple pewter and rustic manger scene. I wrote about this last year when I had to replace Joseph's head to his body and enjoy it long after Christmas.

Next our stockings which are hung by the chimney with care. My nutcracker collection also resides here. Thank you Mother for blessing my collection with a new member each year! We enjoy a fire almost everynight and early morning because although the highs have often reached the mid 70's the lows are low 30's in this town!

Next my breakfast area with one small table tree, also a thank you to my mother for her incredible giving heart!

I added a "Kitchen" tree to my window sill last year. I found some little mugs that are quite useful little "gifts" to adorn the bottom!

These things help us to get into the holidays at our house. We have the tradition of opening one gift Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning. My grandfather usually reads the Christmas Story out of the Bible that night at my parents house where we enjoy fun little appetizers and treats. I do not watch Dr. Phil very often if ever but a few years ago I purchased his book, "Family First," where he discusses how important having famiy traditions are. He shared several but one that I have incorporated into our family is taking a video each year of the kids telling what they would like for Christmas each year as well and more importantly, what Christmas means to them each year. This may also include things they feel thankful for and blessed by. As my children get older and the years that we happen to be in our own home I would like to start a Christmas breakfast in our family followed by a time of study and prayer focusing on the birth of Christ which would have to be age appropriate of course.

Thanks for letting me be a part of this year's bloggy Holiday Happenings. If you have not already stop by and visit the host herself at :http://talkinghairdryer.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-happenings-2007.html