We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Okay, so I'm a little late, but thought I'd sneak in a Christmas post. We had a wonderful week of celebrating Christmas with both of our families! I'll warn you now, this post is long, and full of pics. So to the three or so people that read this, feel free to skim, I just wanted to have everything jotted down so I could remember it all!  Here's the low-down:

December 18: We spent the day at Kyle's Uncle John & Aunt Donna's home, celebrating with the Boyett Family. It was a blast. We had prime rib and all the fixins, and so many yummy goodies! Uncle John carried on the family tradition of reading the Christmas Story from Luke 2. We played White Elephant (with not much blood shed!) and enjoyed all the kiddos. There were four little ones there...ALL GIRLS!!! An almost 3 month old (Rowynn), an 11 month old (Kinley), an 18 month old (Finley), and a 21 month old (Abbie)! We also learned that Abbie's mom and dad will be adding another bundle of joy to their family! Yay for babies!  Finley & Abbie played really good together!

Here's Abbie & Finley playing with stickers!

That Sunday we spent the night in Ft. Worth and celebrated an early Christmas with Kyle's parents! We watched some good movies, ate some Brix Pizza, decorated our missions tree and prayed for missionaries. Finley loved decorating, and re-decorating Grandma's tree. She also loves taking a bath in their huge garden tub. The girls got some great gifts including matching necklaces (for when they're older), a bath time bubble machine (huge hit), toothbrushes (or as Finley calls them, "teeth"), Ro got a music jewelry box and a coat rack, and Finley got a collection of musical instruments and lots of other goodies. Kyle got a wireless thermometer, and his parents bought his ticket to a writers conference in February. And momma got a BRAND NEW CAMERA!! We got lots of other goodies, but most importantly, we got to spend some time with family, a huge blessing! On Monday we all headed to the Gaylord Texan to enjoy some lunch and had a blast looking at all the pretty Christmas decorations! The girls looked so stinkin cute in matching outfits from Grandma & Grandpa! Grandpa bought Finley and adorable orange sock monkey and let her ride with him on his scooter!

The next couple of days we just enjoyed each other's company. Kyle always tries to take two weeks off around Christmas, and we've enjoyed that so much! Finley loves having her dada home and I love having the extra help. We went on Tuesday and spent my birthday money on a bunch of art supplies at Hobby Lobby for Finley & I to do together. Then on Wednesday morning we did "Santa." Still not sure how we're gonna handle Santa with the kids, but for this year they just enjoyed opening the presents. Well, Finley enjoyed it, RoRo just kinda sat in her swing and looked around! The both got fairy wands, Beauty & The Beast (one of my faves!), some clothes, music toys, books, rattles (RoRo), stickers, and play-doh. Finley thought the movie was a book and got really frustrated that she couldn't open it to read. And once she saw the stickers, eveything else got put on hold. She loves putting them on her nose, her sister's nose, and our noses. Can't complain, because I'm the one who started that! After that we loaded up the car, plugged in the portable dvd player (an early Christmas present from my parents!) and headed to Louisiana.

We were in Louisiana for a week and jammed a lot into that week! We did an ornament exchange with our family friends, the Veulemans. Mom made homemade vegetable soup, we had fun looking at everyone's ornaments, and Finley got a ladybug pillow pet, from Gigi which she loves! She just carries it around and plops her head down on it.

The next night we went to Natchitoches to eat Mexican food and look at Christmas lights. If you've ever seen Steel Magnolias, this is where that movies was filmed and the Christmas Festival in that movie is based on a real festival held the first weekend in December. This year was the 84th Anniversary. We didn't go to the festival, but we did look at the lights.  Both girls really enjoyed all the ligths!

That night we also did gifts with my parents, sister and bro-in-law. The girls got a ton of goodies! They each got a box of diapers, wipes, bath stuff, matching red coats, clothes, bracelets, and monogrammed blankets. They also got a rose cottage playhouse, a recordable book, a plush turtle full of balls, a cleaning station, and other goodies. Finley got a pink guitar, and a ton of other goodies. Rowynn got a plush laptop, ruffle bloomers, some cute clothes. Finley had a lot of fun opening the presents...and even more fun playing with them! The girls also got a goat bought in their honor through Gospel for Asia!!!

Aunt Sissy Got Finley some pretend make-up and my grandparents got both girls some clothes and really nice keepsakes. Auntie & Uncle Bobby got the girls each a sterling silver bracelet from Santa Fe and Rowynn got a precious purple hat with bows and Finley got a pink butterfly back-pack. My brother-in-laws grandmother also got the girls Elf cabbage patch dolls! They were so cute. Finley kept trying to feed her doll cookies.

Christmas Eve was spent at my grandparents house. We had a yummy appetizer spread and did gifts with the grandparents, aunts, uncles, & cousins. Finley showed off her mad flash card skills and loved helping everyone open their gifts.

The next day (Christmas Day) we went back to my grandma's house to celebrate with the extended family. And when I say extended, I really mean extended! My grandmother has about 20 or so siblings, so the Armstrong Clan is quite large! We had tables of food and lots of laughs! The girls were so cute in their matching red dresses.

That Monday afternoon we got a wonderful surprise with some friends from Houston, Aunt Tina & her girls showed up to visit! We stayed in LA until Tuesday night, and left after my mom made me an early birthday dinner. It was so yummy-roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn-on-the cob, and my favorite, PEACH & BLUEBERRY COBBLER.

The drive home was tortuous! It rained about half-way, and Rowynn cried pretty much all of that. We finally got home about 12:30 that night (or morning) and crashed. I got up the next morning and took Finley in to the doctor since she had been coughing...a double ear infection and cold! Yuck! So we headed to the chiropractor so she could be adjusted to get some relieve and then I went and picked up her prescription. She seems to be feeling much better now. Just hoping Rowynn will stay well!

So all-in-all it was a good Christmas! Lots of laughs, yummy food of all kind, good friends, sweet family, and most importantly, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!!!! Here are some of my favorite pictures!

Dad seeing his surprise gift...an AIR COMPRESSOR!

Mom and her ring she has been coveting wanting

Me & Rowynn Faith

Don't you just love it...pretty much sums up a family with two little ones...you're never gonna get that perfect shot...



I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Our puppy

We have a puppy in the Davis household. He (actually I'm not sure if it's a he or a she) is very well-behaved, never barks, doesn't make any messes and is perfectly content to sit quietly on a shelf for days at a time without being played with. Oh, and puppy doesn't eat anything.


But puppy does love being dragged walked around the neighborhood by Miss Finley...

Love that silly girl of mine!!!


Oh and here is one of me and little bit...

 I love snuggling with my little girl and love how she can sleep so peacefully in momma's arms.

Sweet Smiling Babe

Here's a little video of Rowynn chilling with her owl friends. This kid cracks us up. She loves to sit and stair and "talk" her her owl friends. Sometimes when she's fussy that will calm her down in an instant. And sometimes, if we pick her up before she's ready, she will throw a fit.

So here's a video of her staring at her owls...but wait until the end, because you'll see what she thinks of her daddy.

Yea, our girls are pretty smitten with their daddy. But with an awesome dad like Kyle, can you blame them?

Where's your....????

Here is a short clip of me and my big girl hanging out! She loves pointing to, and in some cases saying (she can say head, teeth, eyes) different parts of her face. She loves pointing to her head, and then touching RoRo's head, my head and Kyle's head...and same with eyes, nose, and so on. She gets a kick out of it! So I recorded her doing some of her "tricks." And really, asking her to do something often will distract her out of a tantrum or keep her entertained. She gets so pleased with herself and loves our little games.

So Helpful!

So I've said it many times before, but Finley really is a big help around the house. It's so funny watching her imitate the things I do. It's crazy the stuff she picks up on when I'm not watching. Like, she pretends to put on make-up, she knows the correct drawer for the utensils, knows where the Tupperware goes, can throw things away in the trashcan when asked, likes to clean with a baby wipe around the house (thanks Sarah D. for that idea), can talk on the phone, knows that keys unlock a door, likes to feed her baby, will grab a hanger and a shirt and try to hang it up, knows where I keep my soap for the dishwasher and trys to fill it up (yikes!), likes to grab the paper out of the printer (she'll even wait until it's done printing), and many, many, many, other things that I didn't really "teach" her.

For example:

But that's the thing, kids are ALWAYS watching. They notice the everyday stuff you do. They notice the good, the bad and the ugly. It's pretty frighting knowing I've got this little person that I'm shaping, watching my every move, listening (sometimes) to my every word. She's like a sponge soaking it all in.

Dear God, help me reflect Your love. Let me be a vessel that You use to teach my children about Your grace and forgiveness. Help me treat their dad with kindness and respect. Help us model the kind of marriage that rests upon Your Holy word. Let them see what true love looks like. I pray that I would reach out to others and serve people with a cheerful disposition. I pray that I would show them what a true friend is. Let me demonstrate grace so that they can lean into Your grace. Let them see me turn to you in everything. Let me show them that You are the ONLY way, the truth, the life. Lord, help me not to mess it up. And when I do mess it up, let them see me turn to You. Thank You Jesus for entrusting me with these two precious souls to raise.

In Jesus Name,
Amen


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On a lighter note...

   We recently put up our tree, which kinda made me break out in hives slightly nervous. I just knew all our pretty ornaments would be destroyed by a certain toddler. We told her that she was allowed to touch any ornament she wished, as long as she did so with only one finger. She's done pretty good, there's only been a hundred or so  few times where she has yanked an ornament and ran gleefully through the house. But over the past couple of days, she's gotten a lot better.

Well I thought she had. And then the other night I pulled back our dining room curtains and found this:

At least she's organized in her destruction...

Gotta love that spunky kiddo!!!!

Some oldies but goodies...

So I was going through my memory card and found some old videos that I kept meaning to post. So here they are, for you viewing pleasure.

This one taken at the beginning of September, Labor Day Weekend. Finley sliding like a big girl, into her daddy's waiting arms!

Here's one from Halloween weekend. Rocking with Grandma!

Here's a more recent one. Finley was "talking" to dada. Little did I know she actually called him. If you listen really closely you can hear Kyle say "Hello!"

Sometimes...

Sometimes...

...I only vacuum as far as the cord will allow.

...I will wear an apron while I cook. It makes me feel like Susie Homemaker and I imagine I'm preparing a gourmet feast...when in reality I'm usually just opening a can or reading directions off a box.

...I make my bed even if I'm about to get in it. It's so nice to walk into a clean bedroom with a pretty bed after a long day. It gives me the illusion that the rest of my house is clean.

...I feel like I'm 14...Although I'm nearly 25, have been married for almost 5 years, and have two children, I still feel like a kid myself.

....I feel like a total failure as a parent. I worry that my kids are gonna be "those kids." I worry that I'm just getting everything wrong.

...I think about piercing my eyebrow and dying my hair red...or black with purple streaks.

...I think about getting another tattoo.

...I drink tea just because I like heating up water in my pretty blue kettle. I mean I like tea, but sometimes I like the idea of tea more.

...When I check the mail I take my time walking to the mailbox and take a few minutes to breathe slowly and let my mind wander.

...I don't like taking free samples at stores because I feel guilty and think I should buy whatever they're selling.

...I miss riding 4-wheelers, bonfires, and all the charm that comes with living in the country.

...I don't think I could ever live in the country again because I've discovered I'm a city girl.

...I wish I were more patient.

...I dream of becoming a fashion designer, even though I can't draw or sew. That's not important, right?

...I want to learn to sew.

...I wash my feet before I go to bed.

...I think about having 5 or 6 kids...and then my toddler questions that desire.

...Re-read random sections of my favorite books...namely Twilight

...Add milk to my eggs before I scramble them. Not sure why, but my mom and grandma do, so I do.

...Eat my black-eyed peas covered in mayo, even though I'm not crazy about mayo.

...Don't like watching movies at home because I can't change the channel. I also change the radio station mid-song in case there's a song on another station that I'd rather hear.

...Buy stationary in the vain hopes that I'll actually sit down and right notes to people.

...Randomly start cleaning the house, even if we're in the middle of watching a show.

...Turn up the music real loud and get my dance on.

...Stay up really, really, late.



What do you sometimes do??? 


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