Merry Christmas!

From Our Family to Yours......Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Happy Birthday To You,

Happy Birthday To You,

Happy Birthday Dear Jesus,

Happy Birthday To You!

2nd Place...Not A Bad Beginning!

Last weekend, Gabe won second place at his first wrestling meet!! We are very proud of his accomplishment.....this is definitely going to be an exciting sport in the years to come....if he decides to stay with it! Way to go Gabe...We are so proud of you!

You Know...I LOVE MY KIDS!

My S.I.L. Erin put on her blog the other day about being a Mom...something little that each of the kids did that summed up why we put up with the everyday...well this inspired me....just this morning Gabe did something that helped me to realize...I'm probably not doing a half bad job at this Mom thing!

Okay I can't for the life of me sum anything up quick....so,bear with me! This past week the 3 of us...Gabe, Shawn and myself, all worked on his States of Matter science project. Gabe did all of the leg work, but Shawn was the fact checker and I was the poster helper girl. His poster looked fantastic...he did get A LOT of experience making posters last year for 3rd grade...so he is sort of a pro, but nonetheless...it was awesome! Okay, so on the way to school this morning...it was due this morning...I asked him if everything was still holding on okay...he said it was and that he was really happy with the way it turned out, especially after seeing some of his fellow classmates. He said he couldn't figure out why some of the kids just did it in pencil or used a shoe box, so I told him that not all parents have the time to help their kids. And I proceeded to tell him that God gave us them to take care of here on Earth...that we only have a short time to get all of the important life lessons crammed in and we are doing our best...in hopes that someday, they can look back and see that we weren't half bad and maybe even like us a little. And do you know what Gabe said....I already know how lucky I am to have you as parents...and I think you are doing a great job and I already do like you! I just looked straight ahead...tears rolling down my cheeks and told him I Loved Him....how did I get so lucky? For me, this morning was a fantastic reminder of why I do 20 loads of laundry a week, clean their bathroom, play taxi to the umpteen events each of them have, and volunteer like a crazy lady.....I only have these precious boys for a short time.....and, it seems like , at least today, I may know what I'm doing!

Watch Out Wrestling World!

This weekend will be Gabe's first wrestling tournament!! We are all getting very excited around the Fox household! His tournament is in Wellington....it is a novice tournament...so supposedly everyone is on the same playing field...a month's worth of knowledge! He is doing very well in practice, so we are anxious to see him do some live wrestling! We have no clue how he will do...we do have him wrestling up a weight...he has been consistently weighing in about 4 ounces heavier than the lower weight, but this Mama is standing for no weight loss....so, he is wrestling heavy. Gabe is skinny enough....he needs every ounce he can get! Anywho, I am blogging this early for me mainly...I am super nervous about this weekend...not if he will win, but I am nervous about seeing my baby out there on the mat, and there is nothing I can do to help....he is getting big and I have to stand back so much now....I can't go fight every battle and it is killing me...so please pray Gabe stays safe and has a fun time...win or lose! And pray for my sanity.....and my ability to stay in the stands....Shawn won't be there to keep me planted...he has to coach....maybe say a little prayer for him too! We'll let you know how this weekend goes!! GO GABE!

Grady's Christmas Program!

Last night we had the pure pleasure of attending Grady's Christmas Program! He looked so stinkin' cute all dressed up! The Kindergarteners sang 2 songs by themselves and then combined with the 1st graders to sing 2 more songs! They all did a fantastic job! I love it when all of the kiddos get up on stage and you can see them straining to see past all of the lights...and then they finally see their parents and all of a sudden there are 70 arms all waving around crazy....priceless! I just LOVE these programs....I wish they would have them once a month! Thank you for the awesome program, Grady....you did a fabulous job!

Not only handsome, but insanely talented!

So, he will probably kill me....but can I tell you how crazy I am about my husband??!! I tell you, we have been married 12 years...together for 14...and he never ceases to amaze me! Last Wednesday night, we get an invite to our sweet niece Sophia's 3rd Birthday! Well, a little background to the rest of the story.....6 years ago our first niece (Seth and Ang's first child)turned 1...Shawn made the sweetest little chair for her...then 4 years ago our first nephew (Shan and Erin's first child) turned 1...Uncle Shawn again made a chair. So, at that point it sort of began a tradition, the oldest niece or nephew received an Uncle Shawn original on their first birthday...in hopes it would be passed down to any siblings to follow. Well 3 years ago, we moved away, leaving all of Shawn's tools behind. In that 3 years our beautiful family has grown and the last of the firsts (Shane and Abigail's)was born. This first was Miss Sophia...and she needed a chair...but unfortunately her 1st and 2nd birthday's passed without a chair! Thankfully the 3rd birthday did not pass... Super Shawn to the rescue! In 3 days, he made new patterns, planed the wood, cut the pieces, sanded the pieces, and put everything together...not to mention still going to work and putting in 10 hour days!!! If you need a chair, Shawn is your guy....there will probably be a little more than a three day turn around though! H.A.P.P.Y.B.I.R.T.H.D.A.Y.S.W.E.E.T.S.O.P.H.I.A.

O Christmas Tree!

This weekend we found our tree! This was the first real tree we have had in Kansas, so we had to scope out a place to find one! Well....if you are in the hunt for a great tree, look no further than Windy Knoll Tree Farm! This place was fabulous! They had a ton of trees.....all of them perfectly shaped! We found at least 10 trees that were perfect for us....I'm not sure how we finally chose one.....I think it must have just been this tree's lucky day! We chopped it down, loaded it up, sprayed it down, aired it out and last night we finally got it decorated!! Finished pictures will follow soon!

I tell ya, I was never a real tree person until 4 Christmases ago, but now you would have a hard time getting me to change my mind! I absolutely love trudging around the tree farm with my 3 favorite fellas....okay, I love doing anything with them, but they are all so serious....I just love to watch them find the perfect one! I would honestly take the first one...I'm kind of impatient, but my 3 guys will walk to the ends of the Earth in search of the perfect one! What a fantastic way to start off the most wonderful time of the year! MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!!!

Granny's 90!!!

This weekend my Grandma turned 90 fabulous years old! She is in fantastic health, in good spirits, and still has her wits about her....I only pray if I live to be 90, I will do half as well as her! We had a birthday party in Fredonia on Sunday....the place was packed out! I am so thankful for Grandma....and her genes of longevity that I'm sure I inherited! HaPpY BiRtHdAy GrAnDmA!!!

This my friends is what has sprung from 90 years living.....there are oodles of children, grandchildren and great grands!!!