Christmas in Roswell

Our Christmas in Roswell was a two-fold trip where we were able to help Grandad brand and have Christmas together. The kids always love getting to go brand because they get to ride, work cattle and hang out with their cousins. It was pretty chilly (okay it was cold) so momma watched from the warmth of the pick up to keep Josie warm of course. And what did she want? Out of the pick up and on a horse. :-) I soon learned that standing by the branding irons was the warmest place to be. We had a great time, enjoyed great food and were blessed to get to be with family..

My Talented Husband

Rody, who has always been creative, has found an outlet for his creative genius. He has been working on leather projects and he has done some amazing things. Here are a few things he made recently.

Christmas Light Parade

Our family enjoyed a night together watching the Christmas Light Parade in December. They put on a great parade and the weather was perfect. The kids favorite entries? The ASU percussion and all the horses were their favorites. They had one float with minature horses and the kids just thought that was way too cool.

It was also very "interesting" to see all the different "religious" projections of Christmas. Enjoyed the time with the family...

Putting Up the Tree - Nov 2011

Okay so I'm a little late posting pics, but better late than never right....

We had the perfect night putting up our tree. We ordered pizza and borrowed from our sweet neighbors Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch. They watched movies while I put on ribbon and then they helped me put on the balls and decorations.

I was blessed with a new "theme" for my tree this year -- thank you Nana & Paw Paw --and LOVED my tree. David did not like all the things "sticking out of it" and said it looked like something out of the Grinch. I thought it was beautiful.

I love having memories like these.

Another Talker...

Rody is learning that when they say women/girls talk alot..well it's true. Little Josie's vocabulary has expanded and this girl talks ALL the time. In a home where 2 big sisters are already talking all the time..well there are a lot of words spoken around here. I wish I could say they were all kind and spoken in their "inside voice" but..well not always.

Josie can communicate just about anything..

• She is my only kid that when she is tired says "Mamey (Lamby), milk or duce and then Nigh Nigh"
• Bath is her favorite word..And shower and if there is water running in our home, watch out..she will be in with you before you know it.
• The dogs are Mimmy (Kimmy) and Boy (Anakin)
• Kids are Ryra, Dadid, Tatie
• Oh and who can forget "No" but she also is the earliest one to say "es ma'am"
• Elmo is a favorite
• And she can tell the biggest stories and you cannot decipher but one or two words of the monologue.
• She has started counting which amazes me..I guess because she hears us doing it during school and we read a lot of counting books.

She really can say anything she wants. She is such a blessing to our home and definitely the darling of all the older kids. They adore her and spoil her rotten. Which is good, because maybe when the new baby comes she will just continue to hold the center of their attention.

Thanksgiving at the Ranch

Our journey continued as we headed north to the ranch. We made a stop to see Grandma Chick. She has had a really rough year and I felt bad that I didn't even recognize her when I saw her. My kids immediately did and I was so proud of them. For some kids a nursing home can be scary..but my kiddos would just talk to whoever was talking to them. 
I was so proud of Katie..she broke the ice by going up and immediately complimenting Grandma on her sweater and then quickly moved to favorite colors and such. Katie is my child who always tells others how nice they look and picks something they have on and lets them know she likes it. So it was a great time to see Chick and thank the Lord for sparing her life after a horrible fall.

At the ranch we got to meet up with the cousins...and boy were my kids excited. Cousins at the ranch means lots of time outside (even though it was freezing), dirt, riding 4 wheelers, horses, bikes, anything that moves. I love to watch them play together. They all get along so well and Carson and Spencer are so good to include Katie and Josie in whatever activity is going on. This was a great visit as I got to catch up with Kacey more than we normally do. I always enjoy spending time with her and Bob. We played a mean game of Yahtzee and it got REALLY loud! :-)

Here are a few fun pics from our time together..

The Holt Family

Spencer, Kyra, Josie, Carson, Katie & David

One more Chesser kid that LOVES horses

Goofing off..this was a mix of silly and showing off their "guns"

My Sweet Girls & Big Enough

Okay this was hilarious..they were posing and giving us their GQ look. Katie was cracking me up as she would strike a major pose every time.

Thanksgiving 2011

1 Thes 5:18 "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

We are a blessed people with so much to give thanks for. I am truly humbled when I think that God placed me at the point in time in history, in the country, in the family that He did. I am so thankful for all He has given me, the things He has withheld, the times He protected me that I didn't even know it..He is good!!

We had a great time of family and food at my parents on Thanksgiving Day..here are some family pics.

Paw Paw and the Kiddos (minus Josie..she was napping)

Ms. Rynlee - isn't she precious??

The Girl Cousins- TaLynn, Katie, Shelby, TaBree, Kyra, Rynlee & TaNess...Josie was still sleeping

Welch Women

My Handsome Men...Love these guys!

Carlsbad Visit

On Wednesday we went to Carlsbad. The weather was beautiful so we took the kids to the Living Desert. That evening I got to celebrate my 38th Birthday with a yummy dinner with my parents and my brother and his family.

Meeting the Reindeer 



Flowers from my awesome Hubby



Katie & Uncle Mikey

Nana & Jo watching the fish



David and Mikey