Christmas Eve

We have a few Christmas Eve traditions. For dinner we make deli sandwiches on croissants (easy but good), and I attempt to make my Mom's potato salad (everyone's favorite). We read the nativity and act it out and then we get to open one gift, which is... of course, pajamas. We included Jason's family in on the traditions...

Weston, not quite sure what it means when we say... "Santa is coming!"

Avaree as Mary (this girl loves to role play, we've been acting this out all month!)

Griffin as Joseph, Weston as baby Jesus, Avaree as Mary, (nothing like silky blankets as props)

Baby Jesus (Avaree insisted we use the bin as a manger)

Josie (Jason's lil sis) as the angel

Look at my Christmas Eve present!

Cousins in matching PJs

Josie, Linda, and Paulette (Jason's Mom and sisters) in their PJs

This is SO classic because we LOVE Dr Pepper in this household, especially Jason. In fact a little too much. Jason picked out the PJs himself, but guess what his New Year's resolution is... NO MORE DP! And he has a lot riding on this resolution. He bet his friend $1000 bucks, so I'm not going to let him fail. The problem is I'm not ready to give it up, but he has to. It's not good for him and his high blood pressure. I'm going to be so proud if he can do it!

more Christmas jammies

Baylee and I got cute sweat suits that we could wear EVERYDAY in this cold!

Christmas Party with my Gals!

I'm back... The past couple of weeks have been crazy and I have a lot of blogging to do to catch up. We hosted ALL of Jason's family for the week of Christmas. It was so much fun but a little hectic! Baylee and Griffin start school tomorrow so I am slowly getting back in the swing of things. Before all the family got in, I had a Christmas party with my 4 best friends. I look forward to our party every year. I love these girls! We've been friends since Jr High and Highschool and we've had a Christmas party every year since we graduated. Every year our party grows... with husbands and kids that is!

Francine, Hillary, Janet, Azy, and me

Francine and Adam Wright

Hillary and John Horn

Janet with 2 of her boys, Luke and Ben

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Today my Mom would be turning 54. She was named Karol because the first night my Grandparents brought her home from the hospital, Christmas carolers came to their door. I love Christmas time! I love the spirit and feeling of Christmas. I love the excitement. I love how we have a WHOLE month to celebrate Christ's birth, to focus on him and his sacrifice and to try harder to become more Christlike. I also love Christmas because I feel so close to my Mom... as I think about her and her birthday and as I try to carry on the Christmas traditions she raised me with. I have so many good memories of her at this time of year. For the past five years, I have not made it through the song "Christmas Shoes" without crying. The song just hits too close to home. It's about a little boy who is buying his Mom a pair of shoes because he wants her to look beautiful in case she meets Jesus that night. There is a line in that song that says "Mom always made Christmas good at our home, most years she just did without." That was SO my Mom. She always made Christmas time so special. And when I say went "without" she really did. She would sacrifice anything for her children. She was the most Christlike person I knew. I feel so blessed to have her as my Mom and that I have her example to follow, as well as my Saviors.

These aren't the best pictures because I don't have a scanner, so I just took a picture of them with my camera but wasn't she a cute little girl?? I LOVE this picture! Can anyone see Avaree or Weston in her?

This picture was taken the day before she passed away. She was really beautiful, even with no make up, a bandana and an oxygen tank. Oh... how I miss her!

Addresses

Yes, I am still trying to get out my Christmas cards. Please email me your address at karlinkess@comcast.net Thanks, and I LOVE all the cards I have received so far!! It is one of my favorite things about the holidays. (by the way, my Christmas cards didn't turn out too HOT. Next year I am hiring a professional!)

Weekend Pics

Weston pulled on the adapter to our lap top and broke it. I've been going crazy without a computer the past few days. Jason just bought a new adapter (over 100 unexpected bucks later). Kids! It is good to be back in business though! I hope I don't bore you with all the pictures...

Friday night was date night with the hubby! It was so fun. I don't remember the last time we went out, just the two of us. It reminded me of the good ol' days. We did a little Christmas shopping and grabbed some dinner at a steak house (0f course).

Baylee's piano recital

Pizza at Gold Medal (John & Hillary Horn's restaraunt)

Weston showing off for the camera

Ice cream at Scoopology...yummy but cold

Jason had to knock all the icicles off our roof so they don't break the raingutters

Christmas dress

The view from our deck... breath taking!

family pics

Sunday Dinner

This is dinner at my house every Sunday, I have ALL my single brothers over and their girlfriends/fiances (I guess that makes them not single, just not married then) and I do ALL the cooking. Who is going to do it if I don't? It's so fun to get together with everyone and these boys need a home cooked meal at least once a week. I just wish my Mom was here to help me and she'd love spending time with all of us! (the only person missing is Ligia, Brady's fiance, she is off to Mexico for Christmas) I'm not trying to sound like super woman either. I'm just telling you how it is and I really don't have a choice.

Happy Birthday Suzanne!

Suzanne is Jason's sister. (yes, we have a lot of family) Suzanne currently lives in Texas and is such a sweetheart. She is so thoughtful. She is the one person who consistently wrote Jason while he was on his mission and she now writes her little brother who is in the Marine Corps. She has a 5 year old son named, Jason. He is so cute and she has done such a great job raising him so far. She is a hard worker, unselfish, sincere, and has a contagious laugh! We love you Suzanne!

Suzanne's son, Jason, with Griffin and Avaree when they came out to visit over the 4th of July.
Baylee, Griffin, and Lil Jason in the jacquzzi

Happy Birthday Susan!

Susan has been married to Jason's Dad for 21 years. She is Jason's second Mom. Susan is such a strong lady that has endured a lot in her life. I just want to share some of things she has endured... when she was 19 she fell while rock climbing and was told she would never walk again. She now walks with a limp. It is truly amazing everything she can do and has done with this disability. Right around the time my Mom passed away from cancer, Susan was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer in her colon. She went through chemo and radiation treatments. We are so grateful that she is now cancer free! Then in 2005, she lost her oldest son at the young age of 25. She loved Darrick so much and was a good Mother to him. Through all this, she has truly stayed positive and looked for ways to serve others through her experiences. She is an inspired writer and has always stayed true to her religious beliefs. We love you Susan, Grandma, and Mom. We are so thankful to have you in our lives!

Jason's Dad, Brandon, Susan, and Sarah
Grandma Susan with Avaree on her birthday