Christmas with Family

One of the best things about our visits home to Oklahoma includes having the kids and the 'old cousins' together. When Frankie was growing up she and BJ were the only grandkids in Jon's family, so they did a lot of things together. BJ stayed with us, went to church with us, church camp with us etc.

Later Jess came along, then Caleb and finally Abigail. Jess and Caleb are the same age and they too spent lots of time together. During the summers the kids were usually together and I loved having a house full of kids! When we first moved they would say how they missed their 'old cousins.' I love being the doting aunt over the boys!
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This year Jon and the kids headed to Oklahoma so all the old cousins could be together at his Mom's house to open presents! I was disappointed in not getting to make this trip, but a root canal yesterday derailed my plans, that are another story!

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Granny and the girls made a pineapple upside down cake for the occasion! One of the best gifts was Granny and Donnie bought Abigail a pink Red Rider B.B. Gun! The kids took target practice in the back yard and had a blast! There were lots of St. Louis Cardinals paraphernalia for everyone.
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It sounded like they all had a great time! I hated to miss it, but was glad not to have to board Padme', so it all worked out well. By summer Jess will be able to drive Granny to Plano!!!!!

God is present in the company of the righteous. 

Evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge.

Psalm 14:5-6

Abigail's 11th Birthday

Eleven years ago today, baby Carolyn Abigail joined our family!  Our family tradition has been breakfast in the bed of the birthday person with presents.  However the kids twin beds don't really accommodate all five of us and the dog.  This morning Jon carried Abigail downstairs and plopped her in our bed where the others joined her for breakfast.  It's a fun way start the day.

During the day today Abigail made a birthday cake for her birthday and mine.  My side of the cake has Winnie of the Pooh and Abigail's side has Mikey!  Love you, baby girl!

“The LORD bless you, my daughter,”

Ruth 3:10

Pillow Hospital Pet

I have a dear friend who is headed to the hospital for abdominal surgery.  She has young children and was deliberating over how to explain to them her upcoming surgery.  That gave birth to my latest craft project, a Pillow (Hospital) Pet. 

I have a satin shirt that was too big so I used it to paint the digestive system on, I wanted a child friendly painting and not too technical.  After completing the painting, I rubber stamped the organ names on the shirt.  I finished the art work with several coats of scotch guard. The painting measured about 9"x 7". 

Next I purchased a butterfly Pillow Pet, and then proceeded to cut a 10"x8" flat centered on the belly of the butterfly.  I also backed the painting with a second layer of satin to ensure softness.   I used satin blanket trim to finish off the edges of the flap.  Next I laid the blanket trim out on my artwork to ensure that I maintained the 10"x8" hole.  Next I inserted the drawing and hand stitched it in place.   I did include 2 small pearl buttons to secure the flap.

My thought is it can be a good talking point with kids, or a reference point when having a conversation with doctors, or even something to soften the seatbelts impact against an incision.  When my Dad was in the hospital following bariatric surgery, the doctors encouraged him to hold a pillow against his incision when coughing those first few weeks following surgery. 

Caleb saw me working on this and said, 'you can tell you homeschool, who paints the digestive system on a kid's toy.'  Abigail came in right when I was cutting the belly of the butterfly out and repeated the great line from ToyStory, 'I don't think that kids ever been to medical school.'

Next, I'm thinking the respiratory system on a Car's Mater Pillow Pal! 

The man with two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said,

‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

Mattew 25:14

 

Christmas Morning

Here is the short version of our Christmas morning, I have video tape, with audio of the kids opening their gifts that is hysterical.  The banter between the kids and grown-ups cracks me up.  There's a chance we should have moderated their exposure to sarcasm, but it is too late now.  The video above is just still shots set to music where the sweet cherubs are seen and not heard! 

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 

T'was the Night Before Christmas 2011

The evening before Christmas is always a busy time.  This year the gifts were all wrapped and we spent part of the day at our traditional movie, this years selection was, 'I Bought a Zoo'.   Uncle David drove from Arkansas to share in the joy of the kids at Christmas.  Funny thing is, I think the last movie we saw together was 'Zookeeper'.

Towards the end of the day the kids rolled sausage balls for breakfast Christmas morning.  Of course we all had pankcakes for breakfast and were now out of Bisquick baking mix.  The silliness and giddiness of Christmas began to take over!  It was a fantastic day, I don't think I've laughed so hard all year as I did today!

In 2008 and 2009 I wrote my own Kirkwood Night Before Christmas, Abigail has begged me to write a new poem each year, so here you go Abigail:

2011 Kirkwood's Night Before Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas and all thru the house,

The children made cheese balls for me and my spouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

The kids were up past 10, which was quite rare.

The children were not nestled all snug in their beds,

We were out of Bisquick mix you use to make breads.

Jon browsed the web to Google and in a snap,

A DIY Bisquick recipe available on his App. 

The banging of pots began to clatter,

As we mixed our own Bisquick batter.

Soon the kids added cheese and began to smash,

Next the sausage and continue to mash.

Excited about tomorrow, their cheeks all a glow,

With the sausage balls on cookie sheets all in a row.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

To bad it’s all done, I was going to volunteer.

It was Uncle David with a mind that was quick,

Said having the kids mix it was the very best trick.

Next the letters to Santa they wrote by the flame

With requests for a puzzle, a book and a game.

With accents so Southern, I guess I reckon,

There’s no denying their all Texan.

Little do they know that Mom’s on the ball,

I did my shopping at Grapevine Mills Mall.

I asked them to read their letters to the big guy,

Which I video taped, because they’re not shy.

Who would think the baby want a pink B. B. Gun,

And Granddaddy’s rifle for the ‘chosen one.’

Past Padme’s bedtime she gave a ‘roof’,

The dog is in charge, there’s your proof.

Up the staircase they ran with a bound,

Abigail pounced Sissy making a loud sound.

Now only if in bed they can each stay put,

It’s been a long day I’m tired, exhausted, caput!

I heard Uncle David upstairs, as he moved out of sight,

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night.”

When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
  the light of my face was precious to them.
Job 29:24 

Dear Santa

One of Frankie's favorite Christmas traditions is writing her letter to Santa Claus.  I have her letters saved since 1991!  She knows the truth about Santa, but I make a big deal about it.  Frankie does it to not give the 'truth' away to the younger kids.  Caleb and Abigail participate so not to give away the 'truth' to Frankie.  Jon says they do it just to keep me happy, and that's OK too.

Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
   From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalm 22:9-10

Merry Christmas from the Kirkwood Family

I produced this video to share with my children at some point in the future of what our Christmas in Texas looked like. Someday I will forget where gifts came from, or who made which ornament, but hopefully this will serve as a reminder. Many friends have visited our home over the holidays and hopefully this will serve as a fun reminder. Merry Christmas from the Kirkwood family!

I thank my God every time I remember you

Philippians 1:3

Christmas Lights 2011

Christmas lights, what's not to like?  They sparkle and shine, they're like jazz hands for your house! Every year at Christmas we enjoy looking at the beautiful lights.  We enjoy the music and synchronized lights on elaborate displays.  My children's favorite displays always seem to be the yards with inflatables with a boom box blaring, 'Silent Night.' 

Nascar Santa & Harley's

Usually when we look at lights I hand the camera off to the kids so they can snap pictures of their favorites. This year they clicked off 161 photos!  I insist on Christmas music playing in the car and we all sing, OK, Jon & I sing and the kids mock us, when they were younger they sang along!

2011 Favorite Yard

they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD

Isaiah 62:6

Christmas Photo Cubes

Christmas Photo Cubes

Family Pics

Abigail's Pics

Caleb's Pics

Frankie's Pics

 

One of the greatest things about family traditions is they usually don't start out to be a tradition. One that our family stumbled on was our Christmas photo cubes. I usually send out family photo Christmas cards so I originally purchased the cubes to preserve the family photos. Over time I added some retro family Christmas pics.

Here's the fun part, my three children have so much fun with these cubes. When no one is looking each of them take turns rotating each of the cubes to a photo of themselves. I have always kept the cubes eye and hand level for their age and they love seeing themselves. And at anytime you can walk past the display and see 'all Frankie pics' or 'all Abigail pics'.

These photo cubes can be picked up in any store that sells picture frames, mine came from Michael's. They are sold in glass or acrylic (a.k.a. plastic). I have the acrylic version and couldn't be happier. The glass ones are much heavier and because the kids play with them so often, I don't have to worry about them breaking the glass.

Because we live in Texas and our summer's get so warm this is the only Christmas decorations that I store in the house and not the hot attic or garage. Otherwise the heat and humidity would melt the picture to the plastic.

And they observe many other traditions . . .

Mark 7:4

Pictures with Santa

It's that time of year, time to visit the big guy in the red suit.  Time to whisper in his ear those Christmas wishes.  This year we took Padme' and the kids to visit Santa at PetSmart.  Santa made a stop off at PetSmart to 'paws' for photos with his furry followers. 

Not to be left out, the kids posed with Padme'!  Of course Padme' goes everywhere the kids go, so it was only fitting that they followed her for a change. Padme' was just perfect, she sat up tall, got her picture taken and then pranced off! 

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy

Psalm 126:2

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