Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all my blogging buddies! I hope you all have had a wonderful time with your families! I hope we all can remember what this day and everyday is truly about: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Have a blessed day!

Christmas afternoon!

My parents with the kids!

Travis's parents!


These two pictures are some of the men who work for Travis and their families!
Christmas afternoon was filled with lots of love and even more presents! Both Travis's and my parents came over and brought Noah and Ally a few more gifts. We had a nice dinner with the help of my wonderful mother and mother-in-law consisting of the usual Christmas items. We invited some people who worked with Travis over to eat that evening. It was such a blessing getting to meet these lovely people. One of the families that was there have only been living in the US for about 2 years and the mother and father couldn't speak English very well. The children had to interrupt most of the conversation. They pick up so much easier being so young. I felt very blessed and humble at the same time. We don't realize how blessed we are to have been born in the USA. I am very thankful getting to know these truly wonderful people.

Christmas morning!

Leaving cookies for Santa!

Santa brought Noah a guitar! Our future member of the worship team at church!

Santa brought Ally a princess scooter!

Noah and Ally in their new sleeping bags!
We had a wonderful Christmas! Noah and Ally had a blast opening gifts! They loved their guitar and scooter! It was so much fun seeing the joy in their eyes when they were opening their presents. It was a perfect morning!

Just some fun pics!

Ally in her new high heels!

Ally and Anna Klaire in the high heels looking like little old ladies!

Ally as snow white!

Noah and Ally before church!

Prayers please!

I am asking all my praying and faithful friends when they get a moment to pray for my brother, Jon Paul. He has struggled with depression for a while now and he has been in and out of rehabs. I don't want to go into a lot of detail right now, but he is in the hospital and has been in the almost a week now. He is my baby brother and I can't imagine what he is feeling like right now. I pray that the Holy Spirit will stir in his heart and the Lord will hold him, but also that Jon Paul will allow this to happen. This has been a very difficult last few years for my parents and it seems like things are not getting any better. I know what prayer can do and I know many of you have praying hearts. God Bless you all!
Shannon

Friends!

I had to post this picture because I thought it was too cute. We had our friends Ashley, Tess and Hutch up the other day and went to Chick-fil-a and then shopping around. We told Noah and Tess to hold hands while we were crossing the street and they just looked so sweet. We had to snap this picture and it turned out so good (except for the lovely trash can). Noah doesn't like to get his picture taken, but as you can see, he sure was grinning big. Kids are so cute when they are together! Thanks for a fun time Ash!

Visiting Santa!

So, this was our first year that we saw santa where no one cried! Noah and Ally both sat with Mr. and Mrs. Clause and told them what they wanted. Noah said that he wanted a guitar and Ally said she wanted some babies. We enjoyed our time there at Morning with Santa at Antioch Baptist Church where we at breakfast and did arts and crafts. All the procedes went to Arkansas Children's Hospital. My sister and her family came up as well. It was a very fun time!

Making cookies!

We had a fun day on Thursday making cookies with my friend Heidi and her kids Kayden, Keira and Cole! At the end of the day, Ally had flour all over her face and hair. She didn't even mind though. We delivered them this morning to the Bethleham house here in Conway.

Thanksgiving Trip!

Here we are at the lake over the long Thanksgiving weekend. The kids love going to the lake because they get to ride four wheelers and the golf cart. It is so nice going down there because we do nothing but relax and eat. It is nice to get away sometime for the hectic business in our lives.

Never too late....

to post a little note about what I am thankful for this wonderful time of year! I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything, but I am sure everyone is as busy or busier than I am this time of year. I just wanted to to share some things that I am thankful for during this great season of my life. These are in no particular order:
1. Being awake at 1:30 in the morning with Ally eating cereal and waffles because she will not fall asleep and tells me she is hungry. Although very weary at the time, I thanked God for this time with her to cuddle on the couch and be close to her.
2. Hearing Noah tell me that his "happy" is at the end of the day is going to church!
3. Having a husband who realizes that men, too, can help around the house, even when I don't have to ask him. I think it finally clicked after almost 6 years of marriage. He is doing great now! Oh, how I love this man!
4. Having good family and friends who love me for who I am!
5. Having a church to go to where I can praise and worship my Savior with other people who feel the same way.
6. Having good health right now so that I can run and play with my children.
7. I love to read! So I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to enjoy a few books here lately.
8. I am thankful for people who volunteer their time at church or in the community to help serve those who need some assistance.
9. It makes me smile to see Noah and Ally playing well together and the way they love one another. How grateful I am for that.
10. I can always add this one no matter wherever I am in life: Thank you Jesus for what you did on the cross and allowing me to enjoy a relationship with you!
Also, thank you for all read this and want to keep updated with our lives! You all are a sweet blessing to me!

Free Photobook*

As I was running today at the gym, I was watching Oprah. I tend to watch her on occasion, but sometimes she can be a little out there. Anyway, she is promoting a free photobook from Snapfish until midnight on Friday! I just created mine and ordered mine for the very first time. It was pretty easy, although it took me a couple of hours because I wrote in mine too. I have heard many people say they do this for each year of their child and it is a pretty neat thing to do. To get this deal, you have to go to her website and click on the snapfish promotion on her home page. Just thought I would pass on a good deal when I see one.
*You do have to pay for shipping and handling! I think around $7.50!

Tis the season......

to pull out your Christmas music and get excited about the joy of Christmas!! That is what I did yesterday in the car! Noah, Ally and I were dancing to Rudolph the red nose reindeer and Run Run Rudolph! They loved every minute of it and if someone passed by our car during this time, they might think we all were a little crazy. It was well worth it though. I can't wait to tell them the true meaning of Christmas. I know Noah will understand a little better this year. My prayer for them is not to get overwhelmed with all the "stuff" this season tends to bring, but for them to be involved with us in giving to others and loving the Lord for what he has done. This being said, I do think this year will be a fun year for them. I can't wait to enjoy Christmas lights with them, decorating the tree and hopefully seeing some snow this year! What a glorious time of year it is!

Hola Diego and Dora!

Diego and Dora!



Daddy and Noah on their first fishing trip!

This week has been the busiest week we have ever had I believe. We usually try not to do much during the week, but this week was unusaul. We got to attend 3 different hayrides! We first went to Bo's birthday party at the pumpkin patch on Tuesday and then on Thursday, we went to our friends, Chad and Casie's families land, for a bonfire and hayride, which the kids really enjoyed. Friday night was the Fall Festival where Dora and Diego made their appearance. Ally kept her hair on for half of the night which was more time than I expected to happen. Then on Saturday night, we enjoyed our last hayride at the Fulgham's house, where the kids got to dig in hay for some treats! Also, during that week, daddy took Noah fishing, where only one fish was caught by Noah. He was thrilled! What a fun and exhausting week! Now it is time for resting! Adious!!!

My future firefighter!

Can you tell my kids do not like their picture taken?

I am one handsome fireman!


Noah's school held a community helper parade and Noah was a fireman! He did a great job waving to the crowd and parading around the gym. I was actually a little surprised he did so well! He enjoyed being by "Bob the builder", aka Eli, while walking around. We were so proud!

He thinks he is a lap dog!

This was just to funny not to share. Our 100 pound boxer, Frodo, thinks he is little and should have all the benefits of a little dog. I caught him lounging the other day in one of our patio chairs. Travis and I cracked up when we saw this!

Noah's first race!

The night before the Soaring Wings Half Marathon, they held a kids run! I entered Noah in it and ages 3-5 had to run 1/4 of a mile. We took Noah to the track by our house and practiced with him a few times. He was really excited! He did a great job! He was one of the youngest kids in it, but he ran the whole way and at the end, he got a medal! He was so thrilled with his medal! We were so proud of him. I think next year it will be even bigger. Everyone with little ones should look into this because it was a really neat event!

UCA football game!

Noah and Ally dressed ready to cheer on the bears!

Daddy, Noah and Ally

Ally, Ella, Noah and Ruby

This past weekend we took the kids to their first football game! They had a great time! We sat with our friends the Jones and their two precious little girls, Ella and Ruby. Noah and Ally love Ella and Ruby. Ella kept wanting Ally to sit in her lap and Ally and thought she was just as big as the others and could sit by herself. Ruby and Noah talked and played the whole game. It was very cute to see them communicate with one another. Noah and Ally did surprisingly well at the game. The actually watched it and cheered! The loved watching the band play and scouting out the big stuffed bear that walked around in the crowd. At one point, Travis was yelling, "Go Bears," and Noah said, "Daddy, those aren't bears out their. They are football players." Too cute!