The Warbington Chronicles: 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Let it Snow!

What a gift! 6 inches of snow on the day after Christmas!! We had a BLAST!!!

Ty says, "Hey guys, it's great. Come on in!"

"Come on, Jacob. You got to feel this!"

"Hey, it tastes pretty good, too."

Wesley agrees.

I see a snowball fight about to happen. I'm getting out of the way - quick!

Riley trying to stay warm. Where is this girls scarf and hat??

Chuck went straight for the 3-wheeler. F-U-N is about to happen!

Ty was a pro on the sled! He would be that little white ball holding on for dear life.

Something tells me that Daddy didn't go too easy on him.

Riley gets a ride from Mr. Bowdie.

Wesley is up for a challenge.

Chuck gave it to him good. He may have been thrown off a couple of times, but he loved every minute of it!

Time now for hot chocolate and a warm fire. We'll be sad to see it all melt away, but what a way to say goodbye to 2010!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

Classic shot from the top of the stairs . . .

The boys were thrilled to find airsoft guns under the tree.

And a practice putting green.

And a Bow and Arrow for Ty!

But there was no greater joy on Christmas morning, than the joy that Riley Catherine expressed when she pulled away a nightgown to reveal her first American Girl doll, Rebekah!

I mean, could there be a happier face?

The kids always get a book from Chuck and I on Christmas Day.

Wesley helps Ty with his I Spy book.

This year, Riley was surprised to find my old collection of Little House on the Prairie books in her box.

Will received the classic, King Arthur, as well as a new devotional book for boys.

And, Wesley got a hardcover collector's edition of Swiss Family Robinson.

Here are the kiddos after a scavenger hunt to reveal their Ultimate Gift for this Christmas. If you can read the letters in front of them, they spell out NATURE. Their packge included a Georgia State Park pass, binoculars, an explorer's pack for Ty and a book on waterfalls in Georgia. The challenge: to visit as many waterfalls in the state of Georgia as we can! We are looking forward to a fun year of camping, hiking, sight-seeing, and just enjoying God's creation as a family.

I think Ty took this picture. I love Christmas morning - can you tell?

Okay, so Chuck and I had an agreement that we were not going to give each other gifts this year. But, here's the deal, my husband is very difficult to find gifts for. He is not especially sentimental. He doesn't care much for clothes. He has every tool a man could need or want - thanks to his parents over the years. So, when I see something that I think he would like - I am going to buy it. I think I did pretty good this year - even though I had to break the rules a little.

Framed copies of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He's happy, I'm happy! Rules are made to be broken on occasion.

Last, but not least - the family t-shirt!! It thrilled us to no end that our children could not go to bed that night without seeing their new tshirts of 2011. Chuck and I choose a theme every year(sometimes with the help of the kids) for our family. A lesson, if you will, that we believe God may be trying to teach us. Those of you who know Chuck and I, and our kids, know that we are a little on the Type A side when it comes to personalities. We like structure, order, efficiency, and the like. We are also in a stage of life where things are getting pretty busy and the demands for our time and attention are growing greater and greater everyday. Chuck and I had been discussing our need to really slow down, enjoy our days, laugh more, play more, focus on the important rather than the urgent, and treasure every moment with our children that we can. Thus, our tshirt design was born.

The theme for this year: Don't hurry, don't worry - Be Happy!

Our Scripture reference: "Happy is the man whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:15

Friday, December 24, 2010

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

For those of you who read my post on our trip to Gatlinburg, you already know that my kids do their Christmas shopping for one another at the Dollar Store. They are given 7 dollars with which they must buy 5 presents, and the necessities for wrapping their gifts. They have learned to work together on sharing the cost of wrapping supplies which usually leaves them with a little extra to spend on someone or on everyone, depending on how creative and resourceful they get.

They can hardly stand having to wait until Christmas to give their gifts (If Will had his wish they would open them all the night they wrap them in TN. Most of the time at least one or two gifts have been revealed before we even make it back to our hotel from the $ store.) Still, somehow we manage to hold them off until Christmas Eve night. And, then, in those few short minutes that it takes to give out the eagerly awaited gifts, we are visited by a moment of parenting bliss that comes only a few times a year. Our children beam from ear to ear as they hand out their gifts, one by one, and tell why they chose it for that particular person. They actually LOVE giving their gifts to each other. It is truly a magical moment. Scroll down and share in our Delight!

Wesley and Will opening gifts from Ty.

One of those wooden 3d puzzles - perfect!

I can't even remember who was giving here or what the gift was, but look at the happiness all over their faces.

Will received electric pencils and a punching balloon.

Ty gave Chuck a wrist support - just the right thing for him following wrist surgery.

A swiss army knife for Dad from Will.

Riley got a bubblegum machine from Wesley this year. (Riley had given the boys one last year and had been covetous of their candy for months. I think Wesley may have had ulterior motives here. )

Wesley knew Ty would be thrilled with a weapon. Don't worry it's plastic.

Look at that face. It may be plastic, but I think I'd take this boy seriously!

Working gloves for Dad from Wesley.

I would like to say here that I did indeed get presents as well. I just don't have any pictures to show for it.

Okay, so another tradition on Christmas Eve is all four kids sleeping on a pallet together in the boy's room. Don't be fooled by these happy faces. By the end of this picture taking session we were threatening coal in the stocking. They do look like they actually like one another here, though.

"Okay, that's enough now. I'm not going to stand here for hours with this camera in hand trying to get a picture!! Sit up and smile, and act like you like each other!"

"That's better."

And, last, but not least, Daddy reading " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Thursday, December 23, 2010

"Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas . . .

" . . . And all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds (Well, actually on a pallet in the basement in front of the fire.), while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads."

Okay, so I'm not sure that my kids even know what sugarplums are, but I have a pretty good feeling the were dreaming happy thoughts nonetheless.