Christmas Fun

Blogging and I have been on the outs this last year as I'm sure you've noticed.  I haven't really taken the time to analyze what's up with that except to say this year has been a year of change for us and sometimes I just didn't want to/know how to share all of that. 

We've had a great year, don't get me wrong.  But a lot of change.  Some of it has been indescribably beautiful.  Some has caused pain.  But it has all been a Holy Spirit-led ride that we don't want to get off!

So.  All that to say I haven't been blogging.  (duh)  But Christmas with family, friends, snow, and sickness has given me some blog material!  Here goes.

We traveled to both sets of parents's again this year.  Makes for lots of packing and unpacking and figuring out sleeping arrangements but I really wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Asheville still had a ton of snow and we were all excited to get to play! 

                       

                       

My silly husband in Becca's Snuggie

                        

                      

This is the only pic I got of our nephew R (with sis-in-law L).  He's seriously the happiest baby. 

                      

Granddaddy reading to the kids (Hayes and Cousin N)

                      

We went to my parents' house Christmas Eve night because we were nervous about an ice storm coming that night messing up travel plans for the next morning. 

Christmas morning

It was a Star Wars themed Christmas for Hayes.

He woke up feeling bad that morning and this was him by mid-afternoon.  He wouldn't look at me for the picture.

Perked up a little to open more presents. See the theme?

Playing in the new tent.  See the rosy cheeks?

Nephew T in his new chair.  I forgot how difficult it is to get a 1 yr old to look at the camera.

See?  Even the dogs were looking!

Annual get-together with my best friends from childhood.  THIS photo shoot was an ordeal.  All 3 husbands were taking pics and Ashleigh has this problem with closing her eyes when you take a picture.  AND we were late for a family party so we were in a hurry.  You should see the outtakes.

Ok, I'll show you some.

 

Finally Daniel was just snapping pics.

All the kids, minus sick Hayes.  This was hurry-up-and-take-it-before-the-baby-runs-away.

 

Sorry for the never-ending post with all the pics but what do you expect from somebody who blogs every other month?  Who knows when I'll be back?

 

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Cards!!

  

I'm participating in Faith's Christmas Card Carousel today.  I LOVE Christmas cards.  It's so nice to get something in the mailbox besides bills and junk! 

Let me apologize in advance for the quality of my picture of our card.  I took a dozen pics of it and couldn't get it to focus well at all!

                   

Believe it or not, this one was the best one, even with the glare from the flash!

It says:

"Joy to the world!  The Lord is come!  May your heart be filled with the JOY of knowing Jesus came to the world for YOU!!

Merry Christmas from The Bridges"

 

Head on over to Faith's to see more cards!

 

Merry Christmas!!!

If You Came to My House Today.....

I'm joining the party over at Kellie's blog.  (Thanks to Meredith!)

 

So, if you came to my house today, here's what you'd find:

Just inside the door you would see where my husband fixed the floor going into the office.  He had to glue a piece of wood down and then put two heavy bags of I-don't-know-what on top while it dried.  It's a great look.  Very classy.  Ahem.  Moving on.

You'd also see pictures, a towel bar, toilet paper holder, trash can, and a table in the dining room.  We painted the powder room yesterday and haven't put it back together yet.  Nice.

(See, we're putting our house on the market next week and we're doing little fix-ups around the house.) 

You might also see some happy kids playing outside.  Very happy because they've been stuck inside ALL WEEK LONG.  Sickness plus rain, oh the rain, adds up to bored kids (and mom!) with cabin fever!!  There are rumors that the sun has come out today, but I'm not sure I remember what it looks like. 

If you'd come a little earlier in the day, you would find me talking to a friend about home schooling.  She's getting ready to take the plunge and is looking for encouragement/ideas/support.  And since I love to talk about our preferred method of education, I was more than happy to have the chance. 

And before you leave, I'd love to serve you some sweet tea or even some coffee.  I bought Peppermint Mocha creamer today and I'm dying for an excuse to use it!! 

I might even encourage you to come back tomorrow.  And it would have nothing to do with it being Work On The House Day.  I promise! 

 

Want to join the carnival?  Check it out HERE.

Happy Fall, y'all!

It's been so long since I've blogged I might need to introduce myself!!  Hello, my name is Jennifer and I've been a bad blogger.

I knew it had been a while when my mom, who can't even email, said, "You never blog anymore!" 

Yesterday was quite the family fun day around here.  We started out the day at the circus with Becca's soccer team.  Kind of an end of the season celebration.  With clowns.  (Have I ever mentioned that I dislike clowns?) 

Forgot my camera.  I did take one pic of a clown with my phone to send to my friend Chad.  To torment him really.  He likes clowns even less than I do.  But it didn't turn out very well, because 1) my phone doesn't take great pics, and 2) you didn't expect me to get very close, did you?

Next we went to 2, count 'em, 2!!  fall festivals.  Cause we are very into the candy family togetherness. 

Here's our little Clone trooper, Commander Rex (apparently the Leader of the Clone troopers, I'm being told right now.  This is from Star Wars, if you aren't in the know.)

                                

And our Brazilian soccer player. 

                               

This is also known as "doesn't really want to dress up but doesn't want to sacrifice the candy."  And no, she didn't have two buckets.  One is Hayes's. 

Here's my costume.

                       

This is called "Mama doesn't do dress-up."  Besides, aren't big cocktail rings in?

The following pictures are known as "taking pictures in the car of kids hopped up on sugar."

                       

                       

                       

                      

There's my sweet girl.

And I'll end with a funny from Hayes.  (If you're a FB friend, sorry for the repeat.  But it's worth repeating.)

We were driving in from picking up our babysitter Friday night and I guess Hayes felt the need to let Shelby in on new stuff going on at our house.  He says, "We have a magician chicken on the door!"  People, it's a turkey with a pilgrim hat!  

Oh bless.  I just love that little guy.  

                       

What's that song? "I Left My Heart in Brazil"?

Ok, maybe that's not it.  But I DID.  I think we all did.  I don't even know where to begin to blog about it.  You can go HERE to see what we blogged while on the trip. 

I think I'll just let pictures do the talking for right now. 

                     

                     

                     

                     

                     

                      

                       

Remember her?? 

                       

                       

                        

Look how much Daisy has grown!!

                          

And do you remember stories about Baby Wendi HERE and HERE?

                        

                        

Look at her now!!  I KNOW!!

                          

                         

                        

                        

                        

                         

                         

                          

                          

                          

                          

                          

                            

                          

                          

                            

Souls were saved, relationships were made and strengthened, a roof was raised, and GOD WAS PRAISED!!  Glory!!