Exciting Changes for Friends!

Since I was hosting January bunco it only seemed fitting that

it double as a night to celebrate our friend Nicole.

They are moving to Kazakhstan for work

in a month or so and we are going to miss

this sweet family dearly.

Over the years 

 It is hard being an outsider to a

group of friends and families that are already

so close-nit. There have been many times we

just wanted to give up and go elsewhere, but God

seems to want us to stay put.

Joe and especially Nicole have always done

their best to make us feel welcomed and a part

of this group. We appreciate that more

than they probably know.

SO

We celebrate Nicole the only way we know how!

With some food, some friends, some goofy pictures, and some bunco!

(Excuse the poor lighting. Somehow batteries for the flash didn't make the

Wal-Mart list that week.)

These three sisters impress me so much.

Each of them in different ways, but I admire so

many things about each of them.

 All of these ladies bring

so many different admirable qualities. Ability to kick back and take goofy

pictures is tops on my list! :)

   

 

 

Though I do not plan to ever learn Russian, ( good luck with that Nicole),

I would love to visit this family in Kazakhstan in the future. Big adventures

await them.

-----------------

 

And Shell Shell is hearing wedding bell bells

I've known this girl for a while now. She is one spunky hot potato and I am tickled pink

that she has met her man.

Jimmy is great and I am so happy for this girl.

Talk about one chica that deserves her happily ever after.

We hit up the bridal fair a few weekends ago and had a blast. 

I've never opted to 'work' the bridal fairs for my business, so it was

neat to talk to some that do, and to see their displays and package options.

One thing about it, the business of weddings is big business!

Mercy, there are tons of venues and options to choose from that is for sure.

I offered to do her pictures, but Shell Shell is insisting that I wear a blue dress and be in her wedding. I'm excited about it. and so happy for her.

Last iPhone Dump of 2013

Well if this isn't a pile of complete random craziness 

I don't know what is.

I did the monthly iPhone dump to the computer and realized

I had a few goodies to make note of for memory sake... (mine)

Above we took my dad his birthday gift.

We love love love our POPS

---

To his dad and I this was a 'cut' but it was actually a

trim and shape up. We just love his hair long.

All there is to it. and yes I've dropped my phone so many

times it only half works. boo

---

Jon's mom makes fudge and sugar cookies each year around the holidays and

we all enjoy eating until our heart is contently full of sugar!

We have kind of made this a tradition for her to come over

and help us make cookies. This year it was a little rushed

but Kellen enjoyed making shapes and had a fun time.

He made a long oval one and called it 'the bean' .

I wont say what Gramma and I thought it really looked like

:)=  

---

Next we have another fun play date with

Graham and Liam. These three together

are too funny.  

They love to play, love to eat, and love to play

WHILE they eat. ha Above they think

it is hilarious that they are putting their

pretzel sticks in their straws and trying to

drink out of them.

KIDZ 

----

Next our boys are loaded up with new Nerf vests

and new Nerf guns to add to the  household

collection. At the Davis house you will

find nicks on the walls, paint chips, the occasional

something broken, scuffs, etc etc..

We enjoy our indoor Nerf wars a little too much!

:)

Gallery wraps, panels, tin, all of the latest and greatest

photographic art is amazing and catches my eye.

Unfortunately now is just not the time to invest

bookuu bucks into them. So fortunately I came

across this as an alternative idea. I can not take

credit for the idea. Some friends had done this

for some business art, and also some home

large prints. I just decided I would try it as a collage.  

Very inexpensive DIY option to produce the gallery wrap

look.

Really loving the way it turned out.



The hubs and muah had NYE to ourselves.

Our littles enjoyed a slumber party with their cousins

and we had a kid free night.. what did we do you ask ??

Stayed home and watched movies.

awwwwww, piece and quiet!

:)  

We got 2014 off to a great start with some outdoor b-ball fun.

Kellen is an outdoor kid and would

stay outside if we would let him, but Jax can get way too caught up in electronics.

We try to encourage outdoor fun and play, just like when

he is not here. Jon had us all running laps and doing drills!

New year, fresh start. Though we have gotten off to a 'everyones been coughing

and feeling sick start, we have high hopes for what this year will bring

regarding health and hopefully a move!

woot

Another thing I'm going to work on in 2014 along with

my own health and wellness is giving

my friendships a little TLC.

Life moves fast and with everyone going in their own

little routes sometimes way too much time can

go by before we cross paths.

I've realized that I have a very long list of 'friends', but

my list of close friends in my circle is pretty small. 

I've always believed that if you mean enough to people

then they will contact you, get ahold of you, reach out to you..

but sadly if I set back and waited for this to happen, I wouldn't

hear from very many people :(

Maybe reaching a point in life where I realize I want Kellen

to know true friendship and be able to remain lifelong

friends with his childhood playmates, is making me realize that I'm going

to have to be proactive in ensuring that this happens for him. 

Leading by example and not just hope he does things differently.

All too often I get my feelings hurt way too easily for feeling

left out or not a 'part of the group'

I can not control if my friendship is not reciprocated. All I know is that

life is too short to hold so many grudges, fill yourself with

animosity, and find it so easy to disregard people.  

The list is long and varying on the

groups and walks of life that we've met, but

I do cherish friends and plan to make a point to make

sure they are each aware of it.  

 

Here's to a fresh start to a new year

2014 we are ready for you!

 

 

The Day After Chrstimas Celebrations

We had so much fun on Christmas that we decided to keep

it going through the following day!

Jaxson got here for his visit and

got to open his portion of gifts from everyone.

He seemed pleased.

 

and in the spirit of hosting a party, giving dirty santa gifts,

celebrating the holiday with Jaxson here... Uncle Chris and

Aunt Dana invited us over for a shin dig.

Not to mention our on going 'those aren't real crab cakes'

with the Maryland man himself and his long standing

statement of saying he will make us some REAL

Maryland crab cakes.

:)

Well, after 6+ years of saying he will make

us these delicious cakes.... he FINALLY did!

We wined and dined with fancy china and enjoyed

a full course meal that included crab soup as well as

crab cakes. It was fabulous.

We loved it.

Job well done

Kudos to the man from Maryland for talking a

big game and then following through.

:)

p.s., the kids sat at their own little table and ate Chic-fil-a.

My kind of partaay

The Paul's were excellent hosts, and not only did

they serve a fine meal, but they included lots of

presents and prizes and goodies.

We played dirty Santa, but the gifts were beyond

generous and catered to each of us. fun fun

We played Charades which is interesting

with three boys that think they need to win every

game and 2 - three year olds that are a hoot and a half, not to mention some

competitive adults.

At one point Jaxson was trying to lay on the ground and conform to the shape

of a donut... Dana was picking Strawberries in a field and getting them out

of her teeth, Caden was trying to be Scooby-doo, and I had to mimic thunder and lightning!

Aunt Dana had a card in her hand and was trying to help Kellen on his turn

and she leans over and shows him the card and says, 'can you act this out?' 

ummmm, well he can't read, so I'm guessing he's not going

to do well on acting that out Aunt Dana! :)

lol

So he gets up in front of everyone and kind of stands there

and we're all like 'can you act out what you're trying to be?'

and he says, ' like Superman?'

it was too cute.

The next turn she took  him to the other room to tell him what his word

was and how to act it out and he was 'hit a homerun'

so he was mimicking hitting a home run and running around the living

room...

PRICELESS

I was messing with lighting on my camera this night as well as

using a lense I hadn't gotten out in a while, so these pictures

are what they are.. but even better than the pics are the memories

made and moments shared. good times with family!

We decided we need to work this in as one of our yearly holiday

traditions.

Happy holidays to spend with the ones you love!

 

 

 

 

 

One Rockin Davis Christmas

The great S.C. brought our little rocker the guitar that he asked

for. He was thrilled and ready to rock out!

2013 was an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas for us.

All the bobbles and sparkly trinkets were out the

entire month of December and I made sure our home smelled

like fresh baked-something at all times. (praise the Lord for candles.)

:)  

However, all the jazz

and fluff is not what made Christmas so amazing.

The simplicity of our small home and our little family

laughing and playing made for holiday perfection. 

This was my view on Christmas morning.

I am the most fortunate and happiest woman alive.

 

 

Apparently our table was too full of boxes and

random other junk because we left Santa his milk and

cookies in our living room by the tree. 

I got a good laugh out of the fact that Santa didn't

'take a bite' out of one of the cookies and leave

it for K to see.. Santa didn't leave ANY of the cookies

for K to see.. He ate ALL THREE COOKIES and

drank ALL the milk!

sigh, that Santa's a total mess :)

Kellen slept in our bed and we all kind of woke up at the

same time. Jon said 'Merry Christmas' and K sat up

wide-eyed and smiling and said 'I wonder if Santa left

any presents?!' I of course, had to slow his horses

as I was like 'wait until I get my contacts in and grab my camera!'

We would say open this or get this one first and his reply to every thing was

'okie dokie' .. but pronouncing it with a drawl. it was cute.

Then he told us Santa was rockin because he brought him the bomb gifts.

Just a fun little Christmas morning. Only thing that could have made it

more perfect would have been SNOW on the ground outside for

my beloved white Christmas I long for. ha

We actually got snow two days before, so missed it by 2 days.

pout

owell.

... and Santa left mom a Santa sack as well ??

Seriously, Santa is a mess.

But K had fun opening my gifts after his.

He was equally as excited to see what all Santa had

brought his Momma.

 

----

 

 

Backing up to the night before, Our annual Christmas eve

spent at my brothers house was a good one.

My brother was sick with the flu but tried hard to

participate even though you could tell he felt like

total crap. ha

Thankfully Ashton and Josiah were willing and

able to chime in on some fun pics with

the crazy hats Mimi brings.  

The food was yum as always, and in typical fashion Cameron and his

girlfriend Ashley made out like bandits in the annual

Dirty Santa game! ha

Little Schemers!

and we traded the dance party in for some karaoke this year..

Lily's new karaoke machine was a hit for these two.

The only song K new was the ABC song, but he

belted it out with pride.

It was one of my highlighted holiday moments from this year.

Warmed my heart to see him and my niece singing their

little hearts out :)

luv  

 

Hopefully next year Brittany, Chris and Zander will

be there to join in on the good times.

--------

After we open presents at home every Christmas

we go over to Gramma's in our pajamas.

We have a big ol classic breakfast and enjoy

coffee while the kids open too many gifts. and when

I say kids, Jon and I are included in that!

:)

 

 

 

Everything is in magical abundance at Gramma and Papaw's

house each year. We all rack up on tons of new goodies and treats.

 

Kellen painted a butterfly red/pink and gave

it to Gramma for Christmas. Here it is on her tree.

 

Speaking of her trees, they are just too awesome.

There are usually four of them and their placement

changes each year as well as sometimes the design and color.

A magazine would do themselves a favor to visit

her home during the holidays and capture

these things. Not only are the trees immaculately

decorated, but the boxes and gifts wrapped under them

are placed to perfection and match to an art.

It is highly impressive.

Every time we go over during the holiday season I

enjoy walking around looking at them and

admiring new ornaments I missed the time

before.

Jon's mom has that gift of putting things

together, and mixing old with new in a way

that it all looks new.  

---

Later in the day we went to Mimi and Pops house.

Note that K is still in his pajamas.. oops ha

My parents got us a Keurig and we are tickled pink.

For two people who drink more coffee than possibly anyone you know,

this was by far a rocking gift that we were so excited for.

Needless to say it AND our old coffee maker are both

out on the counter and staying.

:)

She surprised my dad with a wii this year.

Kellen and him decided to bowl all afternoon and

then we all got into a baseball competition.

Man my husband can talk some smack. lol

Just an overall enjoyable holiday spent with the people

we cherish and love.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

B-E-L-I-E-V-E

B-E-L-I-E-V-E

How about we believe in God, trust in Jesus with all of our hearts, and just enjoy Christmas and have fun pretending there's a big jolly guy named Santa... shall we ??

 

Giving thanks to God for all that we have in this blessed life.

 

Kellen and his cousin Brody.

I think these next two were my favorites of the Paul boys.

Happy Holidays to YOU!