Christmas 2015

When the sun came up on December 25, it appeared that the Mowry's had, in fact, all been on the good list this year.  Santa was good to each of us and we had a wonderful morning opening presents and sharing breakfast with Mimi and Pappy.

It really struck me this Christmas just how much the kids are growing and maturing.  They slept until 6;30 and when it came to opening presents they did it in an orderly fashion - one person at a time.  Kinley loved the fact that Santa brought her a bike that matched her helmet.  We even took it for a spin on Christmas morning thanks to the crazy, warm temperatures.

It warms my heart that even at twelve years old McKenna still enjoys receiving various things for her American Girls.  This year one of the girls was gifted with her very own Harry Potter t-shirt.  The dolls also received a kitchen which I equate to getting a sweeper for Christmas but apparently they had been wishing for one.  

I love the faces of Christmas morning and this is one of my favorites.   McKenna has been wishing for a camera that will allow her to make better stop motion animated movies and Santa really came through for her.  I can't wait to see what she creates using her new equipment.

Cooper's Christmas list contained a lot of video games and Legos.  

And a pair of Beats headphones.  Suffice to say he was a happy guy.

 Even Barkley had a few things left in his stocking.

McKenna insisted I include tihs picture that she took when I opened my "grown up purse" also known as the purse you finally get when your kids have outgrown diaper bags and sippy cups.  I love it and vow to keep it crumb free for as long as possible.

I believe this picture of Barkley sufficiently sums up how we felt around 10 am Christmas morning.  We all were full to the brim of love, appreciation and genuine Christmas joy.  

This is how we do it - Family Christmas Parties 2015

I should preface this post by saying it contains an obscene number of pictures.  You've been warned.

We are extremely blessed  to be able to spend some time with family during the month of December in celebration of the holidays.

The weekend before Christmas we headed to Lewistown where we shared a wonderful meal with the Richard side of the family.  I don't have many pictures from that day besides these funny photo prop pics.  We had so much fun with them!

Yes, Mom, smoking a pip is naughty!

On Christmas Day we spent the evening at Mimi and Pappy's house.  We said we were keeping it simple this year but we still ended up with SO.MUCH.FOOD.  Don't we look well fed?  Ha!  We opened presents, talked and ended the evening watching a movie together.

Blake was so cute as he opened presents and posed for the camera!

(Cooper picked this out especially for Pappy and Pappy loved it!)

A few days after Christmas Mom-mom and Pappy, Nicole and Jon came down to exchange more presents and eat more food!

It's such a blessing to celebrate with these two. 

I'm slightly embarrassed to say that I haven't seen Nicole since last Christmas.  I hope in 2016 we see eachother more often.

Always nice to have Shane home too.  We missed getting a picture with Kyle this year but I promise he was there!

So there is a quick summary of Christmas 2015 with my side of the family.  We are looking forward to a visit from Earl's mom some time in January to round out the holiday season.

Christmas Eve 2015

All of the gifts have been bought and wrapped;  all the food has been prepared.   We've been to church where we worshipped with friends who are like family.  Christmas pajamas are on and cookies have been put out for Santa.  

In just a few hours the house will be full of excitement and Christmas joy.  I eaglets anticipate their reactions and the fun that is Christmas morning with three kids. I pray that I can take it all in, remember each smile, each giggle, each hug. These days are busy but fleeting and I want to remember every moment.  

So I'm off to bed knowing that I have poured love into this holiday but remembering the real reason that we have reason to celebrate at all.  

Merry Christmas!

Happy 12th Birthday McKenna

I feel like a bit of a slacker in the birthday party department this time around.  But, I suppose that's what happens as you get older.  McKenna's birthday always falls at an awkward time, half way between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  However, we managed to get her Besties together for a birthday dinner and sleepover.

If you want to attract attention just take 6 kids to AppleBees on a Friday night.  We had a great time and it was just the beginning of one of the easiest birthday parties ever.  After dinner I handed out glow  bracelets and dropped the girls off at the middle school dance.   I picked them up two hours later, listened and laughed as they giggled, fed them ice cream and sent them to the basement to "sleep".

In the morning we served up pancakes and bacon, by request and before I knew it they were going home.  McKenna deemed it a successful and very fun birthday and that is all that matters to me!

Introducing Barkley

I can't believe how long it's taken me to write this post.  Perhaps in all the excitement and all of the busyness that has ensued I just didn't get to it.  That is not to say that we are not thrilled to introduce the newest member of our family, Barkley.

The way in which Barkley came to be our very own is a short story that transpired over only a few days. I discovered him online and after one email knew he would be ours.  Earl and I traveled just under an hour to pick him up before returning home to surprise the kids.

We brought him into the house wrapped in a blanket and put him in the middle of the floor.  It didn't take long for the kids to discover that the blanket was moving.   McKenna's mouth dropped open and she simply stared at him in disbelief.   Needless to say, Barkley received a warm welcome from everyone.  

The rest of the weekend was a bit of a blur.   Barkley was a champ, tolerating a Captain America Halloween costume, a Penn State Jersey, his first trip to PetSmart and a soccer game.  The good news is that he travels well, sleeps well, and for the most part has done well with house training.  He's a smart dog who puts up with all of - especially Kinley who has made it her job in life to boss him around and carry him everywhere.  

He cheers us up, makes us smile, cuddles with us, and keeps us laughing always.   We are so happy to have him in our lives.

Serving Together

"Feed the hungry and help those in trouble.  Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as the noon."  Isaiah 58:10

What better time than right after Thanksgiving to spend time serving those who are less fortunate.  The kids and I had the opportunity to serve at a local homeless shelter with the church youth group.

This was the first time McKenna and Cooper have participated in this type of service project.

They were so very excited and I was really impressed with them.  They got down to work on the job they assigned were asked to do.  McKenna was on the cookie team with Mary and Cooper and I headed up the salad team.  We also shared spaghetti and garlic bread with the residents.

The evening was not only a wonderful time of fellowship and service but an important learning opportunity for all involved.

For these things I am thankful

Kinley's first field trip

This morning was kind of a big deal for Kinley.  Today marked her first official field trip.  She was so be excited. 

Her class went to the pumpkin where we all enjoyed a hayride, picking pumpkins, and lunch.  

It was slightly chilly, as in the coldest day yet this fall.   The pumpkins still had frost on them when we got out to the patch. 

But the kids didn't even seem to notice and the amount of fun they had together was enough to warm your heart!

Missing you

Tomorrow we are getting a new puppy.  And tonight I can't sleep.  Not for the reasons you might be thinking.  Of course I'm excited.   But tonight I'm mostly missing our Tucker.   I can't believe it's been over a year since I last snuggled my face in his soft fur.   Four years since he lay beside me at night while I was up with a baby.  Eight years since he chased Cooper around the hallway of our first house.  Nearly 12 years since he became a big brother.  Almost 15 years since we brought our first puppy home.  

Tomorrow will be so exciting but I suspect it will be a little sad too.  The kids still miss Tucker so much and talk about him constantly.  I know that a new puppy won't replace him, mostly because he was such a great dog.  But he will be on our minds tomorrow for sure.  Miss you buddy. 

So I can remember

Here we are ... It's October again already. School is really in full swing, activisties are keeping us busy and Christmas trees are on sale at Wal-mart! I'm worried that I'll look up tomorrow and it will be May.  And so, of course, I worry about missing things or forgetting things because life is ten times more complicated right now than usual. 

Yesterday was rainy and dreary and we didn't really leave the house.  The kids played quietly or played iPad a lot of the day and I let them because everyone needs a day like that.  At one point I found McKenna in one of her favorite places, doing one of her favorite things. 

She was in her closet turned doll house playing dolls.  These girls sure have had a lot of play time.  They are nearly celebrities, starring in their own stop motion movies on YouTube.  

I don't want to forget this.  I don't want to wake up one day and realize that McKenna doesn't play with dolls any longer.  Just the thought leaves a lump in my throat.  

I know she's growing up and someday she will ask my help to pack these things away.   

But for now I'll continue to enjoy my time in the closet with her and "the girls".