Yesterday we pulled all of the Christmas decorations down and Nick worked outside and I worked inside and somehow we got just about everything put up. Tonight we put the ornaments on the family tree. Maddie sure was a Big helper as most of the ornaments we gave her were placed on the bottom of the tree. We fixed most of them while she wasn't looking. Wyatt loves looking at the tree and I'm sure next year he will be able to help us a little more with the decorating end of things. Christmas is my favorite time of year and it is even better now that we have kids to teach the true meaning of Christmas and share the magic of the season with. Enjoy the pics!







Putting the star on top.



Maddie and Daddy









Wyatt's tree



Maddie's tree that she decorated...of course!



The finished project!

So this had to be one of the best Thanksgiving Celebrations I can remember having. We had so much fun yesterday. My brother drove in Wednesday night and my parents came in yesterday morning and we headed over to Nick's parents house for Thanksgiving lunch. We had so much fun talking with family and eating the good food and then just relaxing. We of course in Barrett tradition watched Christmas Vacation and did a little shopping today too. Here are some pics from our Thanksgiving.



Uncle Jame and Wyatt having a little chat.



Maddie and Wyatt decided they needed a little break from all the adult attention and headed for the toys in the play room.




Carson is just taking it all in. Look at those rosy cheeks!



Dad and Jame before the turkey.



The room after "turkey coma" set in.



Maddie learning to play Old Maid with the big girls!



Maddie is buttering cousin Jake's bread for him.




Maddie was very excited about her "Big Castle"

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am up bright and early because my kids have no clue how to sleep in, so I thought I would take this minute to write down a few things I am thankful for.

1. for hugs and kisses from my babies every night before bed

2. for the laughter that fills our home every day

3. for a husband that makes me laugh, listens to me, comforts me, makes me feel secure and is the best daddy to our kids

4. for my job, this year was full of changes..I moved schools and have a wonderful roomie (Macey), I love teaching the program I am in and God has restored my joy in teaching these kids.

5. For our church, Nick and I rarely miss a Sunday, I love the sermons and worship and the joy and freedom that fills that place.

6. For my Life Group, they are my family, Nick and I have been more blessed through leading these couples than in anything else we have done together. I love you "More Than Sunday".

7. For my Friends, you know who you are, a simple call from you can make my whole day. Because you remember me before I was a mommy and a wife and I was just a crazy "city" girl. I love you and distance cannot change our friendship.

8. My parents, they are my "Home", they are loving, supportive and most of all raised me to think for myself and they gave me my wings to fly. They are also the BEST grandparents!

9. My brother, man he is just crazy! But he is my little brother, my life would not be the same without him. He makes me laugh harder than anyone. I am so proud of him for serving our country and being a man of honor.

10. My kids, Maddie and wyatt are the best things about Nick and I. They are the most beautiful, loving, funny and amazing kids ever. I catch myself being amazed that God would give me the chance to be their mommy all the time. I love you mads and wy-wy!

11. My in-laws, that means mother, father, sister and brother. I love that these people have let me enter their world and be apart of their family. They love my kids and nick and I, and are always just a call away.

12. My extended family, I know we don't see you near enough. But I can promise you that my kids hear all about you and they know who sends them gifts and hugs and cards. We love you all and can't wait to see you all at Christmas!

13. Lastly, but certainly not leastly, is my God. I am thankful for my salvation and that you love me even when I fail. I love my life and the blessings you have bestowed upon me. I am thankful that you restore me daily and are my provider and sustainer.


Happy Thanksgiving !

Oh yeah and the loud squeal in the back is Maddie, she got a little excited!

I found these pictures tonight of Maddie the summer of 2007. I just can hardly remember her looking like this. These were taken just a few months before she turned 2. I was just reminiscing and thought I would share these sweet pics of her.

This weekend my parents came in to see the kids and to help my uncle celebrate his birthday. From the minute I mention that Nana and Papaw are coming to town, Maddie starts getting very anxious for them to get here. I have to be careful how much notice I give her or else she will drive nick and I crazy asking when they are coming. Saturday morning she literally planted herself by the front door and waited for them to pull up.
We had such a good weekend with them, thanks Nana and Papaw for coming to see us!



Running to Nana



Running to Papaw



Nana reading to Wyatt



We ate dinner at Perini's to celebrate my Uncle Steve's birthday.



Wyatt and Daddy goofing off



Cute!



Papaw and wyatt



My Uncle Steve and his grandson Parker
(Happy Birthday!)

Yesterday evening we loaded up the back of our car with about 10 bags of clothes and shoes and headed down to Mission Thanksgiving to give to the Love and Care Ministry. This was the first year Maddie has been able to participate and to really understand what we were doing. We had her go through some of her things and pick what she wanted to give to another little girl that might not have some of the things our kids have been blessed with. She picked this denim jacket to give to "a little girl that was cold." I was so proud of her when she handed that jacket over because she was grinning ear to ear that she had helped someone. The whole way there she was telling Wyatt that, "we have to help people that don't have shoes and coats and clothes, we have to help them!"
It truly is better to give than to receive and my 3 year old got to experience that first hand yesterday. I think we will make this our Thanksgiving tradition from now on!



Driving up to Mission:Thanksgiving (notice the denim coat in hand)



After they unloaded the back of our car this boy came to Maddie's window to take the coat.

Tonight we drove out to the boonies for Life Group. Our sweet friends Abbye and Tate graciously opened their home to us to have a little fellowship. Their home is built on some of the prettiest land I have ever seen. The food was excellent and the kids and adults had a blast. Here are some pics from our evening.



My little country girl playing in the corn trough.



Kristi and Carson



Our Life Group girls..minus Ranae (we missed you :-( )



Webb, Nick and Wyatt



The Kiddos in the corn.



Me and my girl Kathy



Wyatt eating dinner on the front porch.


Abbye decorated this cake...amazing huh!?

Today I am celebrating my Dad and my brother's service to our country. Because of these two men (and 3 of my uncles and my papaw), I was raised to respect honor, embrace freedom and have a love of our country. They are also the reason I can rarely hear the National Anthem without tearing up.
I am so proud of my the military heritage in my family and so blessed to have these men for my kids to look up to. No matter how you feel about the wars around the world, these men and so many others like them deserve to be respected and honored not just today but every day. They give selflessly so we can be safe, go months and years without seeing their families and all without complaint.
This Veteran's Day thank the Good Lord for placing you in a country that actually allows you to be able to choose your president and allows you to have freedom of speech and religion. But more than that...thank the Lord for the men and women out there who are doing the fighting for these freedoms--for YOU!

Nick took Maddie deer hunting with him Saturday evening. He said she had a blast but was a little loud! and wanted to know "Where are the deer?" Nick says it reminded him of the first time he took me hunting and I could never remember to use my quiet voice...wait...what is a quiet voice? Anyway I'm sure this is the first of many hunting trips she will take with her dad. They never saw an deer....wonder why?!

This morning we took Maddie to "Cooking with Santa" at the Civic Center. My sweet friend Kathy, who has been on her "Walk to Emmaus" this weekend, provided us with tickets. We had a blast with Maddie and she enjoyed herself so much. Here are some pics from this morning.



Chefs Noah and Maddie



Shaking the Chefs hand



Marco and Noah



The Finished product...and don't ya just love the FAKE smile!


First taste...so Noah's face says it all on how much they liked it! HaHa



Sweet Friends...they really enjoyed "cooking" together!

**We actually DID see Santa, I just don't think he ever actually made it over to our table. Maddie is already asking when he is going to come see her at Christmas!

Wyatt got a cool new toy for his birthday from his Nana. We let him try it out a few days ago and he LOVES it. Enjoy!









**Wyatt's EEG test came back normal...the Dr. thinks everything is fine!!! Praise the LORD!!!

My brother came through town last night and stayed with us. He was heading back to El Paso and decided to spend the night on our couch. We didn't tell Maddie he was coming or that he was staying with us. So she woke up this morning and starting eating breakfast as usual and then Uncle Jame peeked around the corner and the look of surprise on her face was priceless!



"Too early for pictures", they both said. So this is what Maddie's hair looks like every morning when she wakes up and then I get to work my MAGIC!



They loved his VERY short visit!

Tonight we went to my friend Kathy's house for a playdate with her son Noah and my friend Rosalynn and her daughter Bella. Kathy had pumpkins for them to paint, they ate sandwiches cut out like pumpkins, played with flashlights that had Halloween shapes, she read them "5 Little Pumpkins" and let them run ALL over her house having a ball! Thank you so much Kathy and Noah for the fun evening...Maddie and Wyatt are pooped!


Painting her pumpkin



she loves her work!



Roz showing us her skills


Wyatt playing with Noah



The Three Amigos


"Come back here punkin!"



Looking at pictures on the ceiling with their flashlights.



Kathy reading "5 Little Pumpkins"