Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

One thing about Doug and me: We are discovering each other’s playful side. Tatum aside, we have a lot of fun.

These pics are a fun look inside of what we are learning about each other. The best part? We have so many sides to our relationship that we are like a decagon! What has one hundred sides? A centagon? OK, all kidding aside, our Christmas was a time just for us. To truly celebrate the year of 2016 and to put Jesus in the center.  We both did this for each other with our big gift. Wait and see!

First, I had to give him a hat. He tipped it off to me as a tribute to his very first visor. It’s true!! But, honestly, why would we cover his perfect hair!?  Well, it won’t always be that way, so hence, the hat. Plus, it’s the Cardinals. Maybe it will help them somehow!?? Geez.

He had fun with me teasing me into my big gift. I did receive a spiralizer which was on my list of wants and needs. Now I can make zoodles which promise to be good? He loved on me with pics and ….

Heating pads for my hands. The sweet guy researched all over and found these cool heating gel packs.

How sweet that he got these inventive packs for me!

Ok, so his gifts? A turtleneck because every man should have one! A Nike Golf shirt, and I got him his name engraved on a leather ESV Bible. I also got him some books for us to read together along with a devotional.

For me? Well, he was pretty sneaky. First, he surprised me with some nice clothes. Then a metal rod. He wrapped it so well, I could not get it open.

 

Finally, after HE did, (note heating pad is on me since I was cold), it said that my real gift was in the stocking on the mantle. Sneaky guy.

And OOOOOHHH!

I actually wanted this, but he got it!

It’s a Roberto Coin baby cross in white gold. I had seen it in Sedona months earlier, and he found it.

SO blessed and grateful!

Now the key….It is a reminder that the HOLY SPIRIT is working in our relationship at all times. This cross is close to my heart to remind both of us!

I shall wear it forever. I shall love Doug forever. I shall have Jesus in my heart and the Lord in my life forever.

All the way from Utah.

This was to be the piece de’resistance! But first..

We had to unwrap each piece. Man, they know how to wrap with beauty!!

Dory!!!!

and all her friends!

There’s another one!!

The wrapping is enough to wow us all.

No way…no way!!! It’s a Minnie purse straight from Disney.

Only question I have is….

Where do I get one in my size?

So awed and wowed! Thank you, Johnathan, Dolly, and Thomas. SO grateful for you. We wish would could have been with you on Christmas. Maybe in 2017!

Merry Christmas family!

XOXOXO

 

Doug’s house!

This was our chance to see Austin and exchange gifts. Also, Tot was going to get her big present from Doug!! What could it be!!!????

Well first, Austin had to get his new shoes. He was in total need of some new footwear and Van’s were the answer:

Austin got us both some lovely smelling bath essentials.

Now, it was Tot’s turn!

Batman shirt!

And….wait for it

It’s… coming…..

Pumping it up….

We need you, Doug. 
And we are there!

The little roadster couldn’t get enough of this Paw Patrol machine.

Again, we are in awe of this guy, Doug. He is such gem and he loves us so much. Thank you for making Tot’s Christmas so special.

We, all dressed in our snowflakes, were ready to go to Kelly’s. The morning was chalked full of joy!

Kasey surprised Tot with a little moose, and this made the night begin.

Introducing Baby to Moosey:
Morgan, Nyla, James, and Levi all opened their gifts as we sat in our circle. We each got just one small fun gift to share.

And of course have some yummy treats.

Deno….

What can we say about Deno???? He is so good with Tot for only seeing her once a year! Tatum even named one of her “kids” after him. Also, he was the only one who was not on his cell phone staring at it. He participated in conversation and dancing!

When the sun was setting, Doug and I stole away to the roof for gorgeous pictures.  This lasted about a minute since it was quite frosty up top!

The fun did not stop once we got inside

Having a chance to catch up with Kasey, Deno, Connie, Doug (Connie’s Doug), and of course Kelly, Morgan, Nyla, Levi, and James, was such a treat. It was short but so sweet.

Thank you again, Jesus for this day. Was there more to come? YES!

Christmas can be overwhelming with the commercialism of it all. There is the pressure to go to parties, concerts, decorate everything, and of course carry a gift with you at all times so you can give your hairdresser, cleaner etc a little something for appreciation. It’s all so good! BUT, it’s easy to forget the beauty of that little baby born in a manger for US. Because HE loved us so much to send a savior for US! Geez, it’s so easy to forget.

My mom and I made sure that Jesus was celebrated in the midst of all the gifts. When Tatum came downstairs, we prayed for a joyous morning putting Jesus in the center. Sounds good, right?

Well…….. The tree exploded,

and it did get a little fuzzy what this was all about. Here we go!

Peppa Pig was sure to please. Santa did not forget.

She also asked for Paw Patrol watch, and it had an extra surprise. Lighting up anything makes all the difference. 

My dear mother made sure her Christmas was complete. Mr. Robot and all. He shoots disks out of his month. This made the morning quite hilarious as he would say, “I’m Mike! Let me dance for you. Wait, I’m not ready.” Seriously? 

Tatum enjoyed giving Mama her a microphone charm to symbolize the fun performing Tot does. 

More? Vintage Snoopy clock. Maybe this will help her know 7am better.

The dollhouse rooms made her play for hours. This house is so fun now!

She also got a Shel Silverstein book from Mama with new poems. 

A throwing opportunity.

Clothes. With ears and all…

And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a gift for Coti.

We played and played until Doug would come over and take us to Kelly’s for Part 2!

The best part of the morning? Laughing and being with my family. Thank you Jesus.

Don’t you love waking up knowing you have no agenda? There is nowhere to be at no particular time. Christmas Eve, being on a Saturday, was today. Rainy, cloudy, and cold, we were set for a day of camping indoors in our jammies until we needed to go to church in the afternoon.

So, Tatum decided to put Bella in school. (The school is in the closet). Supposedly she was crying, so she needed her binky and many hugs. Tatum is good at this. It was also picture day, so Tatum had her ready for the big shoot. Like it?

We then played kitchen, mommy and daddy, clean up the kitchen, and help mommy wrap presents.

Doug was to come over and pick us up for church. It was pouring lions and tigers outside, so we had to rush to the car without getting our hair all messy, right?

Good thing when we got to church, Santa was there to have a picture. Tatum was really worried that he would be drenched tonight along with his reindeer. This year, she had no fear. She plopped right onto his lap and smiled pretty. After 2 and 3, I was hoping at 4 she’d be ok. Yahoo! (Hey, I didn’t know Santa wore black rimmed glasses and wore a gray pinstriped undershirt. Oh well)

But seriously, the service was phenomenal. Jesus. Hope for Humanity.  The message brought me to my news virtually and made me so grateful of my life and for the life and LIGHT Jesus brings us all.

We arrived home with a hot turkey in the oven and goodness gracious, thank you, Tatum for sporting the mitts to help us!

Doug carved away with the dullest knife on the planet, so actually we had turkey shreds, but no bother. It was “delicioso” honey. Rosemary-herbed and all!

Tot told knock knock jokes at the table and we were all cracking up. At one point, Doug was looking down more than normal. OK, now, I see what he’s up to. He’s goggling “knock knock jokes for  kids” on his phone, the sneaky dude! Hey!! Next thing you know he’s rattling off his sagacious punny jokes. It worked even though he cheated! heehee.

We enjoyed  a great dinner of turkey and all the trimmings along with many laughs. 

Since it was so late, we rushed her upstairs since Santa would be coming soon. Doug brought a special treat, however:

He read her The Night Before Christmas as he has done every year prior for Austin. It was so fun for him to get to do it now for Tot. He has it down!!

We kissed and loved on her good night, and after our prayers, she was out! I wonder if the reindeer will be heard tonight?

All I know is that Christmas tree is going to explode full of gifts tomorrow!  Jesus, we celebrate you!!!!