New Year's Eve!

God blessed us with such gorgeous weather for our last day of 2011!

Trey and Ambry and their friends Abigail and Will

made a "skating rink" of sorts in our garage and driveway

and the four of them spent hours skating and scootering to music!

They were hilarious!

Then most of the neighborhood kids came over and everyone 

jumped on the trampoline together for the better part of the afternoon!

I was busy finishing taking down Christmas decorations 

and cleaning house so I didn't snap any photos.

Then it was time for Elisabeth and Maddi and Declan to come over.

The kids had big plans to hang out together while the grown ups

ventured over to Serenbe for an amazing New Year's Eve dinner!!!

The food was incredible!

(Kids these days... so many electronic devices!!!)

After our night on the town, we came home to find the kids still awake, waiting for

the peach to drop!  So we rang in the new year all together with sparkling apple cider!

We enjoyed so many blessings in 2011!

We can't wait to see what's in store for 2012!!!

Happy New Year!!

Christmas Day!

We've had such fun, full days lately, 
I haven't had time to take many pictures, 

let alone post to our blog!  

It's been a wonderful Christmas season.  

Lots of family time and good food, game playing, movie watching and RELAXING!
We spent Christmas morning playing with our new "toys", snacking, 
 and wearing our pj's for most of the rainy day.
As the four of us curled up on the sofa together, wrapped up in blankets, 
looking at the pretty glow from our Christmas tree lights...
I think we all agreed with Ambry's sentiment, 
"This was the BEST Christmas ever!"

 Santa drank his milk and ate his cookies!

 So excited to see the gifts that Santa left!

 Trey, looking through the gifts in his stocking...
he still hasn't noticed the four-wheeler keys!

 He finally sees the keys, and thinks they are a keychain for his
keychain collection.  Then it sinks in... four wheeler keys!

 We ran all over the house looking for a four-wheeler!
Where did Santa leave it?  It must be here, 
otherwise why would there be keys!?
Trey's reaction when he finally looks in the garage!

 SO excited!!!  Now father and son have matching green Honda Recons!

And Santa surprised mommy with a new bike!
I didn't notice it parked out on the deck until Daddy told me to look out the window! 
Lots of rides coming up!

Thrilled for her angry birds stuffed animals! 

A simple Christmas morning breakfast of cream cheese sausage balls,
mini-cinis, pigs in blankets and grits and fruit!  Delicious!

Our Christmas Dinner!
I was so proud I made it all myself, and Luke and the kids 
devoured it!
Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, baked macaroni and cheese,
green beans, roasted carrots, squash casserole, frozen cranberry delight,
rolls, and brownies with peppermint ice cream for dessert!
MMMMM!
(Thank you Grammy and Grumps for the funny "crackers"!)

We all tried to come up with different things to make with our cracker hats... 

 Santa was techno-savvy this year...
He gifted Trey and Ambry with ipods!
They have really enjoyed downloading new apps
and music!  Cam-Wow is one of their favorites!
Here, they were having a light saber duel!!!
My how times have changed!

We're blessed beyond belief!
So thankful for our family, friends, nice gifts and memories made,
but forever grateful for a Savior that loves us no matter what!
Jesus Christ, who died for our sins so we could have eternal life...
He's the GREATEST Christmas gift of ALL!

Christmas

 "The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: 
the presence of a family all wrapped up in each other." 

~William Vaughan

Christmas Eve!

Stockings are hung!   

Christmas jammies are on!

We read the story of Jesus' birth from our Bible 

and 

Twas' the Night Before Christmas!

Cookies and milk are out for Santa, 

carrots and broccoli for the reindeer,

and a piece of cheese for Santa mouse.

Now, if we can just fall asleep...

True...

CORRAL Living Nativity

What a special night for our family and our sweet friends,
 The Greshams and The Lanhams.
We attended the CORRAL Living Nativity.
We celebrated our Savior's birth and listened to the story of the true
meaning of Christmas while watching live animals and people act everything out.
We hope to make this a yearly Christmas tradition!

School Parties

Trey and Ambry and I enjoyed lots of sweet treats and fun at their

school Christmas parties!  Today was their last day of school until NEXT YEAR!

 Ambry's class eating their special snacks and watching a movie!

I love my girl!

 Trey's Class!

 Trey and his FABULOUS teacher, Mrs. Ladd!

Trey's friend Starla took this picture of the three of us.  Hilarious!

It's been a great day and we all have major sugar highs!

The Bearded Iris

Tears just streamed down my face today as I read this post from 

The Bearded Iris

http://www.thebeardediris.com/2011/12/21/what-are-you-ready-for-christmas-might-really-mean/

She also made me laugh!

Love her heart and her sense of humor!!!

Aunt Mattie

Lukey and Becky really helped out with all my "mom duties" so that I could make a quick 

overnight trip to Moultrie to attend Aunt Mattie's family Christmas party!

She hosted the get together at Blackbeard's restaurant in Albany, GA.

We celebrated Christmas as well as Uncle Randy's, Cal's and Faye's birthdays!

It was fun to do a little Christmas shopping and gift exchange beforehand 

with Lukey's Mama, Aunt Kathy, and Mary Logan too!

The Lucas Family Christmas 2011

Little Christmas party hats...

 Prince Alfie all decked out and ready to celebrate...

A yummy cake...

 It must be time for the Lucas Family Christmas!

 This year, our festivities with Lukey's side of the family were held at our house!

Our theme for the weekend, was Happy Birthday Jesus!!!!

 There's the littlest party-goer helping Nana put the gifts under the tree.

 Papaw and Nana give the kids an "early" gift to open each year.

This year they were so excited to receive...

 MARSHMALLOW SHOOTERS!

 It turned into an all out marshmallow war in our backyard!

 And with a marshmallow war comes marshmallow SNOW!

 One of our other festivities was the construction of a

gingerbread NATIVITY.

This was a two day process.  We mixed, rolled, cut, baked and decorated.

Creativity gets a little messy sometimes!

 Our finished product was precious!

 Flitter wore her red Christmas bandana this weekend,

this pup likes to party too!

 Everyone loves present time...

Ambry and Allison were very into the American Doll world this year.

Nana and all of their dolls!

 Kit and Julie in their new pj's!

 We're so thankful for a fun-filled family weekend!

It was awesome to see the Christmas JOY on these four sweet faces!