Happy 6th Birthday, Audrey & Abby!

WHERE has the time gone?! I KNOW I just delivered these beautiful girls a few months ago! Audrey & Abby turned 6 last Monday, the 19th.

They had their party on the Saturday before, at our house, which was SO FUN for everybody. We even set off a Mentos Rocket outside (thanks, Ro-Ro!). OK, so that was MY favorite part! It was great to see all the friends that came (even the Hooks family drove down to come!) and the ladies are still enjoying all their gifts.

It's hard to believe how far they've come since their tiny 1-pound selves came into this world. Watching Abby play soccer or listening to Audrey spout off a Bible memory verse, and of course, seeing their funny personalities come out & thinking, "Where did she come up with THAT?!" *sigh* Time sure does fly... Can't wait to see what this year will bring!

More Mayhem Pics

These are some more pictures from our post-Christmas mayhem! Clay really likes his new phone; Sarah Hailey (and her family) came & visited after Christmas to share in some holiday leftovers (Sarah was so sweet to our kitten, Handsome, he fell asleep in her lap!); Abby is showing off the first of many cupcakes she'll be making with her new "cupcake maker". (Thanks, Mimi!) Way to go, Chef Abby!

Christmas Mayhem!

Christmas was a BLAST at our house! The girls are really at that age where things are fun for Clay & me.

On Christmas Eve, the girls opened one gift-- a children's Bible-- and we read the Christmas story from it that night. Then, off to bed... not to wake up until---- 7:30am!!! Merry Christmas to me & Clay!

Adrienne was the "early riser" and came into our room whispering, "Wake up, it's Christmas!" Then she did the same thing in the twins' room. Abby jumped up & the two of them ran to the Christmas tree. Every direction that Abby looked, she would gasp in delight & say "Wow!" So funny! As they started playing with the big toys (see above) laid out, the sleepyheads, Audrey & Addison, made their way to the tree & played with them. We opened our wrapped presents & played & made a mess (!!!) & ate candy all morning/afternoon long! It was unseasonably warm outside, so the girls (and me!) got to ride on their new plasma-cars outdoors and in! SO FUN! They came inside for a Princess Lunch at the Castle where the "royal servant"--that would be me, of course, served them lunch and "tea" on a new tea set.

We wrapped things up with some yummy baked potato soup & grilled sandwiches for dinner (with Christmas sweets for dessert!). The girls had an even harder time going to bed that night than before!

Merry Christmas to You

Now 4 days before Christmas, we are finally ready to come in from the rush & chaos & busyness & enjoy this time. Sad, isn't it? We had our Kids' Choir musical last night, Christmas at Bethlehem Gulch, in which all 6 of us participated. Clay ran sound, etc., I directed the songs, Audrey was a sheep at the manger, Abby was a pig at the manger (don't ask!), Adrienne was an angel (for 1 night of her life! Just kidding!), and Addison was a little lamb. Wish I had pictures.

The week before that was the Adult Choir musical, The Name...Jesus. Again, we all participated to some degree. Clay lead the multi-church choir, the Kids' Choir performed on one song, & I led them. It really was good (and I'm glad it's over!).

Before that, West Side Christian School (where Adrienne is) had their Christmas program. The K-4's did a nativity story, and Adrienne was Mary. I took video, but it's kinda long, so...

Intermingled in all of that is the Christmas parties, shopping, Christmas cards, and all the other things that occupy our time. (You all know how it is!) But, finally I have some peace, now with the groceries bought & the girls at home & no set agenda for the days leading up to Thursday. Now we'll bundle up & play in the yard, drink hot chocolate, watch the Grinch & Charlie Brown & take good naps in the afternoon. Sounds nice, huh? Hmmm...

So, merry Christmas to all of you, from us. Hope your Christmas & New Year hold blessings you couldn't dream of.

Turnabout's Fair Play!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Our New Kitty!

So cute! Here's our new pet, an 8-week-old grey & stripey teeny little girl kitty! Abby, with the help of her sisters, named her Eloise. She is bound to be one tough kitty!

Owens Funny of the Week: We found out last weekend (Dec. 13) that our kitty, who was sick & went to the vet, is not a girl, but a BOY kitty! Ha-ha!! We thought we'd let Clay name him, but the best he could come up with was "Falwell" (after the late Pastor and President of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell). Adrienne decided on "Handsome-- because girls are pretty & boys are handsome!" she says. So now we have "Handsome Falwell!" Twisted, huh!?!