The Happiest Season of All!

The past few weeks have just been wonderful! We had a blessed Christmas celebration with our family. Everyone was well, and it was such a peaceful time. It was one of my favorite holiday seasons so far! On Christmas Eve, the Hutchinson side of the family gathered at our home for sharing gifts, dinner and birthday cake for Jesus. We all attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight service, which is tradition for us...especially since Brandon has a part in the service each year. After the service, we were able to hang out at the Live Nativity of a little bit.

Christmas morning, we enjoyed reading "What God Wants for Christmas" and opening presents. Libby was ecstatic to get a cupcake maker. Clara was thrilled with her jumbo tin of playdough and accessories. We headed over to Milton around lunch time and had a big family Christmas dinner with more of our family. It was a great day!

The day after Christmas, we left for North Alabama to spend some time with the Brasell side of the family. We were able to spend several days there and truly enjoyed our trip! I turned another year older while we where there and had a great birthday. (I love that I get to be with my family on my birthday most years! Didn't like a holiday time birthday so much when I was younger because I didn't get to see my friends.) On our way back home, we stopped to try out ice skating. (Not fun. I think a child should have a better grasp of balance before trying to ice skate...or at least know how to skate in general, maybe?) We did have a great time hanging out at the mall where the ice skating rink was, and Libby thinks ice skating was fun. That's all that matters, right?!?

We spent New Year's being lazy around here and trying to get back to some kind of normal...whatever that is! It is definetly hard getting back into a routine, and we were all a bit sad to say goodbye to Christmas 2008. It was the most Hap Happiest Season of All!

Crafty Turkeys

We try to make these cute turkeys every year. They were so simple to make, and everyone got in on the fun! They are made by tracing each person's hands and feet. (Click here for directions to make your very own turkey.)

Swinging with Daddy

Clara is saying, "No hands! No hands!"

Free Chicken!

Yesterday, Chick-fil-A was offering free chicken strips to anyone wearing team logos...like your favorite football team. Brandon has been talking about going since he saw the advertisement. Well, after a rainy day thanks to Gustav, we were not thinking of heading out. We spent the day picking up and organizing the house some...to no avail, I think. Then, late in the afternoon, Brandon reminds me of the free chicken day. We could only think of 2 clothing items we owned with a team on them...a slighty too big MS State t-shirt of Libby's and a MS State sweatshirt of Brandon's. We knew these things were hiding away in closets. So, just as he was planning to just take her with him, I remembered that I had an old Notre Dame sweatshirt (why?). Then, I was thinking of something to put Clara in and remembered that someone gave her a little FL State cheer outfit. So, with kids dressed and Brandon and I burning up in sweatshirts, we headed to Chick-fil-A...both of them! (Yeah, we have 2 in our city.) It was fun gathering our free chicken from around town! I also learned that Notre Dame is not in the NFL...rather, they are a university..."Just like your shirt says, Kristen", Brandon made sure to point out. Needless to say, it was yumminess with some fun, and there were pleny of leftovers for lunch today. Thanks Chick-fil-A!!