The Gate Cometh Down!!

Freedom!!! I feel like a ban has been lifted off our household.  We are able to move about freely, come as we please and stride without hesitation.  I'll tell you what-it is the small things in life that make me happy.  December 31, 2012 -was the perfect day to take down that tedious impediment-THE STAIR GATE.  My big boy Johnny Jay has mastered his ascend and descend allowing us the ability to be FREE!!! 

"BE FREE, MI FAMILIA!"

Coming down the stairs with confidence.

Johnson Christmas Showdown

ENTRY:  DECEMBER 2012
This year we spent Christmas with my family and Grandma Carol, Grandpa Gary and Uncle Caleb did not disappoint.  The house was turned into a Christmas Wonderland, endless meals had been shopped for and prepped, sleeping accommodations were graciously established (my parents gave us their master bedroom), Santa made his classic appearance and my Mom had numerous activities for the kids to do.  They went above and beyond to make this Christmas extraordinaire and I love them dearly for it.

THE AWARD WINNING CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINERS OF 2012

Christmas Morning

Visiting with (my amazing Grandma) Great Grandma Betty

Family Photo-Christmas 2012

Opening gifts from Great Grandma Betty

Mrs Claus

Ginger Bread decorating

Christmas Shrinky Dink baking

Movie watching with Kennedy and Avery...and then 

Peaceful naps being disrupted by younger brothers.

Wake up BRO!!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Playing games Christmas Eve.

Isaiah was very attentive to the computer screen...

he was tracking Santa delivering his gifts all night.

Uncle Caleb starting off the limbo showdown.

A visit from Santa makes Kennedy a probing follower.

Jonathan still not having it...(cried with the mall Santa too).


MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012

   

A VERY DOXIE Christmas

Anyone who knows me, knows how in love I am with my Dachshunds...Quincy and Nugget.  They were my first "baby boys."  As they are starting to get older-Nugget, 7 years old, is starting to gray and not want to play as much while Quincy, 8 years old, is showing signs of arthritis and is having difficulty going up and down the stairs. It breaks my heart to see my spry, playful pups slowing down, but I came across the perfect Christmas gifts for my "old men" this year-ORTHOPEDIC BEDS!!!!!  They absolutely LOVE them!!!

MY AGING BABIES

A testament of  my devotion:  No way was I leaving my pups behind for Christmas.  Quincy and Nugget were on my lap in the front seat when I snapped this picture of us pulling out of our driveway traveling six hours to my parents house for Christmas.  
THANKS MOM AND DAD FOR TAKING IN ALL SIX OF US!!!!

Fourteen months & Christmas Trees

 Jonathan was all over our Christmas tree this year.  The glittering ornaments, dangling string beads, and sparkling white lights awakened all his toddler curiosities- which meant he wanted to touch, feel, and taste ALL OF IT.  For the first couple weeks it was a battle guarding our Holiday decor, but by the time we had reached my parents house for Christmas Eve look at what a Model Citizen he had become.

Christmas Family Portraits

Entry:  December 2012

One of these years I'll have it together enough to have our family of four dressed up in coordinated outfits, sipping hot chocolate by the fire for A SPECTACULAR Christmas photo-op, but this year I was all about the Mall's photo booth.  You can't even tell I hadn't showered or put on any makeup for the day...or does the hat give all that away?  MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TORRES FAMILY!!!

A Pure Country Christmas

ENTRY:  DECEMBER 2012

I'm as "country" as they come when it comes to dressing myself.  Granted over the years I've tried to step it up a notch or two, but when you are raised in a town of 1000 people and ALL anyone ever wore were jeans and T-shirts it easy to revert back to how I was comfortably raised.  THANK GOODNESS I HAD BOYS...it is so much easier to get away with dressing them in this laid back manner.  But on this particular afternoon we were headed to a Christmas/birthday party and I knew we needed to step it up.  Rummaging through their closets I came across two brand new Christmas sweaters (courtesy of Jaime's mom).  They looked so incredibly RIDICULOUS (plus it was to late to go shopping now) ..how could I not take them out into the public and share all their "Christmas JOY" with family and friends? 

"OK Mom, One picture."

"Seriously, MOM?!?!"

Isaiah is paralyzed by my madness while J insists the photo shoot is OVER.

Taking it straight back to the SEVENTIES, Son.

"Climb Every Mountain..."

Entry: December 2012
Jonathan has proven to be the ultimate climber.  He loves to climb into drawers, into cupboards, into the fireplace, up onto the window sills...the list goes on and on.  His most recent successful endeavor (at the mere age of 14 months) has been to climb up onto our kitchen bar stools.  Instead of eating breakfast in his high chair he has been adamant to join us up at the bar and he will DO IT HIMSELF-thank you.