my new favorite picture

i've been patiently waiting to get a copy of this...

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.  Psalm 127

i'm still on a family high from this last christmas ;) 

a little extra . . .

cousin time was needed before they all left!

so since they made a special cake for their uncle richard...

...and since my brother's family hadn't headed back home yet, I was able to snag a couple cousins to come to over for a night!

camryn and bailey 

they loved playing with you jack!

we could not stop saying how much you are just like camryn, from the puppy eyes, right down to the thumb sucking, calm buddy you are.

when we took them back the next day, i think you were ready for a dose of the boys...

you were so happy to see them in their "booball" jerseys.  plus the fact that the boys do not pick you up nearly as much as the girls... 

i have absolutely adored watching you play with your cousins,  it's like you know they are yours... instantly!  it is so sad to see them head back home now because they are almost all out of state.  we just hope and pray we can try our best to let you have some good cousin memories... you have too many cousins to miss out on any of them!

A Very Merry Christmas!

we hope you all had a beautiful christmas with your family and friends!   we sure did!  it could not have been more perfect for us.  God is so good! 

we were so happy to have the peseks at our house a few days before christmas... including our anniversary ;) it really couldn't have been any better. we got to enjoy last minute shopping and late night talking, the kids were so much fun to watch together!

emma

isaac

baby jude

 we were able to carry on our traditions with all 28 family members on the mickan side all at gramps and granny's house.  christmas eve mass (with no one going to the cry room may i add..) and celebrating the whole night together.  it was so perfect! 

all 16 grandchildren

sweet Sydney

                                                                                                                  

Braedon, Joey and Luke

some cousins were able to pull off surprising each other at the front door!

  

                   

so happy chad came down from north carolina with his family!  love him!

 the kids put on the nativity play before we opened gifts.  emma playing the role of the "star" sang  her solo "gloria"

 

erika, taylor and michaela

  our baby girls are all stylish teens now 

camryn and her babies 

couldn't be happier to have all my sisters with me!

gabrielle hasn't changed a bit ...love her!

yum

yum

yum!

apparently to all the neices and nephews, this is one of their favorite traditions... movie night in the garage.

 waiting for santa to come!!

before breakfast we sang happy birthday to jesus!

gramps and his boys, with one more coming in march. it should be enough for a family football team right?

 then christmas morning we packed up to host christmas at our house for the pagels  for the 3rd year in a row.  uncle albie surprised us at our front door... it meant so much!

Tyler, Ashton and Jack

this christmas we realized how blessed we were to have such a deep and rich faith and a happy family!  we pray this new year ahead of us only brings us closer to Christ as well as one another! 

yes this may have been a picture overload, but it was such fun to capture this christmas to remember.

xxoo