Crazy Nights!

We had a few nights where we didn't get any sleep.  We had wrapping to do, last minute runs to Walmart to purchase last minute gifts, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, tape and other things that we had forgotten to get.  It was crazy!  One night got a little crazy....we had been up for over 24 hours.  Josaynd and Jackson were wrapping presents for us while we did other things.  I don't remember what they were talking about, but they were laughing so hard!  It was hilarious!

Josalynd wacking Jackson with wrapping paper!  Not enough sleep and way to much sugar!

Christmas Eve Pajamas 2010

Another tradition that I absolutely love is Christmas Eve pajamas!  Every Christmas Eve we open one present each which just happens to be new pajamas and then we open one family gift (usually a new family game or Christmas movie).

Becca is all about Tinkerbell so of course she got new Tinkerbell pajamas which she modeled with her usual fashion pose!

Holly got Little Mermaid pjs because she loves Ariel!  What a cutie patootie!

Jameson, Davidson, and Jensen modeling their new Star Wars pjs. It's all about Star Wars in this house!

Max showing off his Star Wars pajama pants.

All the boys got Star Wars pjs...even Tim got Star Wars pajama pants which he was very excited about!  LOL!

Jackson got a pair of sweats instead of pjs which is what he prefers and you can see it didn't take him long to put them to work.

Christmas Ornaments 2010

I love traditions!!!!  One of many traditions is our yearly ornaments.  Each year we buy a new ornament for each of the kids and also a family one for Tim and I to keep once the kids have all left home with their ornaments.  This year we decided instead of purchasing already made ones that it would be more fun to go together and make ornaments at a local paint your own pottery place.  Tim had the day off so it worked out wonderfully that we could actually all go together. 

The man working there was so sweet working with a family our size.  It takes a lot of time to pick colors and then get the paint trays filled.  He was so nice and the kids were wonderfully patient.

Maxwell picked out a candy cane. 

Jameson entertaining us while we were waiting for the paint trays.

Morgan working on her tree ornament.  She is so artistic and loves doing stuff like this.

Morgan finishing her tree ornament.

Johnston working on his Santa ornament.

Johnston put lots of details on his Santa.  It turned out great!

Becca made such a cute Gingerbread ornament.

Justice working on his snowflake ornament.  He used his favorite three colors.  Green, pink, and grey!

Holland was so pleased with her butterfly ornament!  She was so proud of herself.

Jameson insisted on putting a cross on his fleur ornament.  He said he wanted everyone to know that this was a cross like where Jesus died.  Precious boy!

We had to find an ornament big enough to write all our names on. I painted it with my favorite bright cheery yellow.

Tim put a beautiful cobalt blue on the cuff of the mitten.  It was a joint effort!

I forgot to take pictures of the ornaments before we packed up our Christmas stuff a couple days ago.  They all turned out so wonderful and the kids LOVED it. I wish I had gotten some after shots...sorry everyone...you'll just have to believe me that they are beautiful. Good memories and good times were had by all.

Christmas Pictures 2010

So a yearly tradition in our house is to get pictures taken with Santa.  It's something fun and enjoyable that we do a couple weeks before Christmas.  This year with everything happening after Gabe's accident we just didn't have the same Christmas "spirit" I guess.  We did get a lot of or Christmas decor up and we got all the kids home (which is rough with two adult children who work and one of them lives in Atlanta) at one time and off we went to get our pictures taken.  We were so excited...until we pulled out of our subdivision and Jameson puked all over the back of Tim's seat.  LOL!  It was just so perfect...I mean...it's just one of those things you have to laugh at or you'll just cry.  LOL!  So after he was done puking...he looked at me and said he felt MUCH better.  So home we went.  We got everything cleaned up, Tim got all the kids a fun picnic dinner in the living room while they watched some of our yearly Christmas shows, and I took the opportunity to run to Buford for some Christmas shopping with Josalynd.  Large families have to learn flexibility with their schedules. We have pretty much mastered it! ;)

A couple nights before Christmas we decided since we were all home we might once again try to get our Christmas pictures done.  It was so much fun and the picture turned out great!  No mishaps....just a lot of fun!

 

This picture was added to the mantle with all our past Santa pictures in a wonderful new frame the kids picked out.  It's one of those things that I really love each year...to add a new picture to our collection.  So much fun!

Our only sadness was that Gabe was not able to join in our fun.  He was so looking forward to this first Christmas with us.

Gabriel Lofgren Jeffries

 It's amazing to me to look back on November 22, 2010 and remember how it started out so normal.  How it was full of laughter and smiling and normalcy. I remember my last morning with Gabe and I'm so glad it was full of laughter and smiling.  I'm glad that there was no bitterness, anger, or unmended fences between us.  I'm so happy that the last text message I sent him was telling him how proud I was of him and that I loved him.  I love seeing his reply back that he loved me too.

There's much I have not written about the kids that we love and are raising.  I have not told Gabe's story.  I know some day I will.  I know that his story should be told.  If his story can help other children and adult children that are being abused then it would be his wish for it to be told, but today is not the day for me to write about his story.

I am so happy that the last 8 months of his life were the most happy months of his entire life.  I am so glad I can look back and see how much he had healed from the abusive life he had lived for 21 years.  I will remember the day he asked Tim and myself to adopt him and to choose a new name for him always.  September 15, 2010...the day his adoption was finalized....how proud he was to finally be known as Gabriel Lofgren Jeffries and to shed more of his hurtful past.  Each day watching him grow and change.  To see him growing closer to the Lord each day.  To know he had made some amazing friends who loved him for who he was and didn't look at his differences.  To see the peace that was on his face the final months of his life were priceless.  I loved seeing him so involved in church, work, friendships, and helping others.  His heart was so precious.  His love of others was so evident.  He was such an example of selflessness.  For all he came through in his life...he never put himself before others.  He was just an amazing young man.  He lived each day to the fullest as God intends us to.

I realize now how precious every second is with those you love.  Even though I have moments of every day where I ache to see Gabe's laughing eyes and hear his joyful laugh....I know that he is in perfect peace and rest with our loving Father.  I cannot be selfish in my own wants when I know that he is whole, not in pain, perfect in every way and I rejoice! I miss him so much, but I know I will see him again!

McDonalds at Midnight!

Fall Festival 2010

A few weeks ago we went to a fall festival with friends from church. 

(Absolutely love this picture of Jameson and Rhema!  The kids were waiting to get on one of the many bouncy thingys they had.)

(Jameson playing on the bounce house)

(Jensen and Holland playing!  Holland looks a little scared...hmmm?)

(Holland looks much better! LOL!)

(I love seeing them having so much fun!)

(Johnston about to jump over the last hurdle!)

It was fun, but I have to say the three hours we spent at McDonalds was much better.  We aren't really McD's kinda people, but it was the best choice we had at 9pm to grab something to eat and we were really hungry.  The restaurant was pretty much empty the entire time we were there and so we spread out.  Parents/Holland at a booth, older teen girls at a table, the youngest two boys at a table near us (gotta keep an eye on those two rascals!), and this group pictured below did their own thing!

The kids ate and then ran off to the indoor play area.  I being the germ freak that I am usually I don't let the kids play in the play areas...gross....but it was late and we were having such a good time talking with the Cooks.  So off the kids went for two hours.  They had a blast, I kept handing out Germ X and we were all fine! :)  Rachel was so sweet to take lots of pictures for us.  I love having pictures to look back on and remember these times in our lives.

(Holland dressed up as a ballerina!)

(Becca being crazy!)

(Jameson - I love this little guy!)

(Sweet smile on my sweet Holly girl!)

(The Three Muskateers! Jensen, Jameson and Holland)

(This tree is full of some cute stuff!)

(LOL....I just don't know what to say about this picture!  Jameson is one of a few kids in our family that has a gift of making people laugh, smile and just wanna hug him!)

(I'm assuming he is using his Buzzlightyear laser?!?!?  LOL!)

(Morgan and Max doing something that was making Lil Miss Holly laugh very hard)

(The whole gang...minus our oldest three who were off doing adult things like working!)

(Justice doing...I'm not quite sure what)

(Wow...I don't think Becca fits...)

When the kids went in to play in the play area McDs was empty.  They had the play area to themselves the entire time we were there.  Looking at the pictures I am so glad they did! LOL!  I'm sure if other kids had been in there my well behaved kiddos would have not been doing half of what is documented above.  At least I can hope this would not have been happening.  :)

(I'm thinking he might be doing some Spanish dance here!  LOL!)

(Lots of pictures of Becca and Rhema!)

(And even more pictures of Becca and Rhema!)

(Wow....they sure jumped a lot!)

(Johnston causing a slide jam up pile!)

(Davidson in his Ninja costume!)

(Max and Jensen....so much jumping!  Max got some good height though!)

(Jensen had to jump as well I guess.  He dressed up as Bob the Builder...he's missing his accessories!)

(Morgan getting some air herself! Glad to see at 14 she doesn't think she is to cool to be silly with the little kids!)

(Holly taking a leap!)

 (Johnston not to be left out!  It makes a lot of sense as to why most of them fell asleep on the 30 minute drive home.)

(Jamesons precious little face!)

(Who can resist this face?)

(The gang plus Rhema!)

(The boys!)

(The girls!)

(All the girls!  Morgan, Rachel (our wonderful photographer!), Rhema, Becca and Holly!)

(Morgan and Rachel!)

While the kids were off playing in the kids zone we were able to talk with David/Glenda cook.  It was fantabulous!  We heard the kids having fun, but until I saw the pictures above I had no idea how much fun they were in deed having.  I remember having fun with my friends when I was 14.  Spending the night with two of my dearest friends.  Staying up all night and dressing up, doing our hair and makeup and posing for pictures.  Running around and sledding in the snow at midnight or hundreds of other things.  I love seeing my kids making memories with new friends.  When they are my age they can look back and laugh at these memories.