Our Christmas Day

This is how we spent our Christmas day.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your families.

Livy all ready for Christmas morning church.

Opening gifts Christmas morning.  Daddy got mama a KitchenAid. Mommy was very excited :)

My Burden family Christmas morning at church.

We got to spend Christmas with cousin Elianna this year.  Isn't she precious?

Livy and Juju all tuckered out after opening presents.

I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone.  Ready for a new year.

Christmas Candy

Last week, Livy and I made lots of goodies for some special people.
The first one was from Pinterest, of course;)

                                                Cowgirl Christmas Cookies





                                                It was a messy little project, but we had fun.



This morning we delivered them to some of our local businesses in town. We got some exciting news from a friend as we delivered her goodies:) The trip was well worth it just to hear the news.
We are enjoying this week of Christmas fun. It will all end too soon, so we're savoring each day.

Enjoy your week, friends!!!

Starting New Traditions

Saturday we woke up and headed to Daylight Donuts. A maple bar sure started my day right;)




We went and visited grandma and grandpa and grandma got me this Paula Deen cookbook. She's a sweetheart. I love me some Paula Deen.




We then set out to find a Christmas tree. Derick asked me if it'd be okay to start a new tradition and cut a tree down every year for our bedroom. They used to do that as a family growing up and he wanted to experience it with Olivia. I was thinking a small tree....




It is kinda big...





See, it almost knocked Livy and me off the 4-wheeler




I let Livy and her cousins paint some ornaments for the tree




We strung popcorn and berries. We did the the tacky garland and tinsel. We have the huge colored lights. It's a sight to see...




But, it's our favorite tree! Go figure;)
Livy enjoyed the garland.




Making and starting new traditions. Love it.

Christmas Cookie Cousins

Today we invited Tatum and Titus over to decorate Christmas cookies. We had lots of fun. Lots of icing and sprinkles;)
















Enjoying the holidays. It's coming so fast!

One of those days

Today was one of those days where my patience was thin. I've been in a lot of pain with my back and it's very frustrating. Derick wanted me to cook dinner and make a pecan pie. (Some of his co-workers came hunting after work, so he wanted them to eat dinner too).

Anyways, I cleaned all day and mopped my floors in the afternoon. In the mean time, Livy finds a FULL Febreeze bottle and squirts away the entire can. Oy.

My house smells so fresh and so clean....thanks Livy.
Then, as I'm cooking dinner I hear a crash and an UH-OH from the guest bathroom. Livy went outside and filled her sand pale full of sand. She decided she needed water in the pale too. She dropped the pale full of wet, sandy mud all in my bathroom floor(that I just mopped)! I got onto her for bringing it into our house. She loses it....Livy has a very, very, very tender heart so she gets very upset when I get onto her.

Later, we get the men fed and I do the dishes. Derick takes Livy to the grocery store with him, because Derick informed me that a guy wanted 2 pecan pies by tomorrow from his work. It's 8pm when I find out this information. It's now 11:37pm and my house is clean(with the smell of Febreeze looming in our house), my pecan pies are finished, and my soft bed was awaiting me.

As I'm walking to our bedroom, I peek in Livy's bedroom. She is sleeping peacefully and I just stared at her. I put my hands on her little face and I just began praying. I began thanking the Lord for this CRAZY day. In the midst of it all, it was a wonderful day and I shouldn't complain.

How could I complain with a face like this staring at me every day??

Christmas Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I want a green hula hoop, pink baby doll, play dough, a princess tent, and a pink shovel.

Love,

Livy

(I've been extra nice this year.)

Bargain-Running Races-Christmas week

I've taken an interest in couponing. It started in June. I.CAN'T.STOP.  It's a fun little challenge each week.  Clipping them, scouring the internet, and matching up with the sales paper.  We get the paper in the mail every Tuesday and that's when my fun begins.  I figured this week would be a good sale,(Thanksgiving week) so when I checked my mailbox Tuesday morning, I was shocked to NOT see my sales paper there. I kinda panicked. Seriously? I panicked. I even went to our local post office asking if they had any.  They didn't receive any that day:( Low and behold, Wednesday morning, a paper made it's way to my mailbox. I may have done a happy dance and made up a couponing happy song... Ridic..I know. 

As I was browsing through the ads, I realized this was a VERY good sale.  I opened my coupon binder up and started matching it with the paper. ( I may have made up another song because I had so many good coupons for this ad). And if it doesn't get bad enough, I raced to Homeland(30 minutes away from my home), Wednesday night after church.   I loaded up and made my biggest haul yet. The cashier even clapped for me and said I did great.

Yes, she clapped, and I loved it :)

Tulsa's Route 66 marathon is this Sunday. Gonna give it a whirl...sure hope I don't hurl :(

Launi and I attended the Christmas Gathering at Tulsa BattleCreek's church last night. We had a good time and got some pretty cute ideas for Christmas.

We have a busy weekend ahead of us. Looking forward to meeting some goals and eating my coupon food:)

Cousins- For Love and War

Livy is so blessed to be surrounded by most of her cousins.  She lives right across the field from Tatum and Titus. I'm sure there will be a worn out trail from our house to their house in the next few years.  Livy and Tatum are 15 months apart and they play so GOOD together.  Tatum has matured so much this year and she's so good to Livy when they play. They remind me of sisters.

When Jennie told me she was pregnant in October 2008(a month after Livy was born), we were so excited. I hoped for a girl so Livy would have a girl cousin on my side of the family. The Lord blessed us with a little Blair girl, Miss Julia. 

These 2 are a pair!!

 

They can love on eachother like no other, and BOY, can they SNAP at eachother in an instant!

 Livy is an only child and Julia is a little sister to 2 big brothers.

 You do the math;)

 Julia has had to defend herself for 2 years and well Livy has always had her own toys and space all to herself. The combination of these 2 can be scary, but OH SO FUN.

 They both teach eachother so much.  It's so exciting to see them interact together.  It's so neat to watch my sister's daughter(my best friend) and my daughter grow up together.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  I know in a blink of an eye, they're going to be all grown up and be the best of friends like Jennie and I are now.  

Thankful for all of Livy's cousins!

 Keith, Jack, Tatum, Titus, Eli, and Ellie.  We are blessed!! 

Silver Dollar City. 3rd Annual Christmas trip.

For the past 3 years, we have purchased season passes to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.  I had never heard of SDC until I started dating Derick.  I went with his family once and I fell in love with it.  Once you step into the park, it's kind of like you step back in time.  Love it.  We usually go 3-4 times a year. My favorite time to go is Christmastime.  The park is covered in trees and lights.  And of course, all those Christmas shows:)

We like to go in November because it's not too cold and all the Christmas is out the first weekend in November.  This year, we went with Phil and Dianna(who have season passes as well).  We had a great time.  Livy did so good.  She loves the rides and she saw Santa in the Christmas parade. Her face was priceless when she saw Santa.  I just kept watching her face instead of parade.  Oh to see Christmas through a child's eyes....nothing like it. So thankful for these special little trips.  It gets better every year.

Here we are in AR.  We saw this little shop on the side of the road.  Of course, my Father-in_law had to pull over to check it out.  He carved this out of a tree.

Aren't you impressed? ;)

Silver Dollar City.

                                             Nothing better than a Merry Go Round ride

                                      Apple Dumpling with Vanilla Ice-Cream.  TO.DIE.FOR!

 Have you ever been to the fish hatchery in Branson? It's a really neat place to take kids. 

So thankful for this little family getaway trip with my family.  Making memories during the holidays. Nothing better!



6 months=A lot of changes.

A lot has happend these last 6 months.

 In April, we found out I miscarried a pregnancy.  We were devastated.  My body had been through a lot that month.  After everything, I decided it was time for a change.
In June, I decided to download an app on my iphone called MyFitnessPal. This has been a lifesaver for me.  I started counting calories and went from there.  I started my Tae Bo, 4 week boot camp.  By July, I started seeing some results.  When I see results, it motivates me more!  I continued my counting calories and working out the rest of the summer. 

I started running in July as well. Don't know if that was the smartest thing, being that our summer was smoking hot! By, July I had built up to 3 miles. 

August rolled around. Launi and I entered into a 5k in Tahlequah. The balloon race.  We finished in 31 minutes. We were excited we completed a very HILLY 5K.

Then September rolled along....We ran the Holiday Run in Tahlequah.  I ran it just under 30 minutes. I was getting faster.

Then, I got a crazy idea to enter Tulsa Warrior Dash. I made Jennie do this with me.  A 3 mile run with 12 obstacles.  We had a blast and we finished.  This was actually on Livy's 3rd birthday.  I don't know if I was in more pain on her actual Birth Day or this day...3 years later....;)

In the beginning of October we increased our miles to 6 miles.

This was our 1st night to complete it on our back roads in Rose.

 Then, we increased our miles to 7.  This was a very stromy and windy night. But we finished STRONG.

We did a 5K this past Saturday in Salina. The Spooktacular Run.  We ran our best times. 28 and 29 minutes.  We dressed up since it's almost Halloween.

So, as you can see. We've been busy these past few months.  I'm so happy where I'm at right now.  I've lost 21 pounds and I feel the best I've ever felt! I'm sooooooooooo incredibly thankful for my sister-in-law, Launi.  She has pushed me the entire way and really has been my inspiration to do this. I married into a very athletic family. They have all pushed me to better myself.  I want to be healthy for myself, but also for my family as well. 

We are running the Tulsa Run this Saturday. 15K=9 miles.  I can honestly say we are READY for this run. We've worked hard to increase our miles and I can't wait to cross the finish line with my BFF.

Pumpkin Patch. To like or not to like?!

There once was a little girl who went to a pumpkin patch.  She wasn't quite sure if she liked all this pumpkin business!

 But then her mama said "pumpkins are great fun!"

3 Years.

We made it! 3 years!

Happy Birthday to my sweetheart. 

You were an answer to our prayers. 

You gave us so much joy when we were broken hearted. 

You have taught us so much in these 3 years. 

We love you, Olivia Mae Stokes!

The Birthday Girl

Strawberry Shortcake Party

My Nanny Bea was able to come in for Livy's birthday party.  We were thrilled!

Stokes' Cousins

Marcia and Ellie

See!!?? Doesn't this look like a fun birthday party? ;)

Scripture for our children

I've been teaching Livy a new memory verse every week.  My mother-in-law picked these books up for Livy and I LOVE them.  They are perfect for teaching your kids simple bible verses.  I find no greater joy then hearing Livy recite scripture.  Moms, I encourage you to get these books for your children.  It is money well spent. 

Hope everyone has a great week:)

Good Decision

Derick and I threw around the idea of sending Livy to Wee School this year....

 Livy is very shy when meeting new people.  She had the hardest time at church for about a year and a half.  She never wanted to go and would cry every Sunday/Wednesday.  It was heartbreaking.  I was so sad because I LOVE going to church and I wanted her to enjoy it.  In the last year she has matured so much.  She has made a major turn around and LOVES going to church.  Her eyes light up when I tell her it's "church day." I prayed and prayed and prayed over Livy asking the Lord to calm Livy's fears about church.  HE did just that. 

So, Livy turns 3 in about a week.  She is still shy, but I can see her coming out of her shell slowly.  I enrolled Livy in a Wee School with her cousin Tatum.  As it was getting closer for school to start, I started feeling uneasy.  I talked with Derick and prayed about it.  We decided to keep Livy home one more year with me before we send her on to school.  I'm sure she would have loved school, but I'm enjoying this last year with her.  She is maturing into a sweet little girl.  I'm truly enjoying every day I have at home with her. 

Hey, if she wasn't home everyday with me, I couldn't capture these fun shots in her toyroom ;)