A "little" fun!

Over Christmas break a dear family came to visit.  Lauren and I met when she was still pregnant with Emma (aka snowwhite).  Stephen was a sweet, wiggly 9 month old - and now look at them!  I look forward to so many more pictures like this!  Thanks Johnson family for the visit! We miss y'all!



Flashback....

Every time I do a "year in review"  I tell myself that I am just going to pick one picture from every month.  I honestly try, I promise.  But some months just needed more!  So enjoy, I know I did!

2012 was a great year to say - "What a difference a year makes!"  

A good handful of times throughout the year I said to myself and others, "I am done with 2012, please bring a happier 2013"

But, now that I look back on the entire year, and I stop being a grumpy gus and truly look at all the things that happened, I would have to disagree with myself!

Yes, we had a few bumps (I could have gone without the broken arm....but then again, I got to spend three weeks with my mom and her amazingness!)

B/c really, in 2012 we started the year by.... selling our house! Really, who could complain about that.  We had been working on that one since Abby was a baby!!

Cecilia taught us so much, especially that she is a determined, hard worker.  She went from barley moving around too running and talking!!!  Thanks be to God!!!

My children had the opportunity to really get to know their grandparents on a daily basis!  That is a true gift for them and my parents and Alan's mom!  Not many grandparents and grandchildren get that relationship!

I trained and ran in my first Half-Marathon

Stephen started school, that's pretty exciting!!

And did I mention we bought a new house!!!  One with more room than my children need to play outside, woods to grow up in, and some of the most amazing people living in the SAME neighborhood.  You just don't get that anymore!!

Alan now only travels 20 min to work, on most mornings he gets to see at least two of the children (where before he was out of the house before anyone woke up!)

I could go on and on, but I will stop.  

/The point is, in the midst of all the crazy happenings we had this year, we also had some amazing moments!  

So many memories were made.  Little lives have grown and developed awesome personalities, and I know I have grown!

Goodbye 2012, we had a great time.  Everyday is a blessing and we pray for another year of healthy children, and a growing family!

Thank you for being apart of our lives!  God Bless you!!

(the finished Christmas picture, if you did not get a card, turns out my list had a good handful of old addresses.  Sorry!!   I will contact you soon!!)

help!

Hello blogging friends!!!  I can not upload pictures!  When I hit the picture icon, and then select the upload option, it does not give me the option to browes for pictures on my computer!!! 

Anyone else having this problem?  It's been going on for a few days now :( 

Thanks!
Jess

Eagerly anticipating

 I woke up this morning knowing that Our Lords birth is right around the corner.  I didn't feel the anxiousness of the past few days - my new found phrase "myriad of things to do" did not cross my lips, and I snuggled with my Abby

 Stephen's school party was over and the 655 dozen cookies that I baked where gone!  I finally finished some projects that I knew would take time and lots of love, and gifts are wrapped.  I'm feeling peaceful!  (That could have something to do with the Grace I received through the Sacrament of Reconciliation!) 

 And did I mention today is my Nephew's birthday?  Yep, and I get to see him!!  That could also account for the peace and joy!

So this morning, The Maddox family will continue to prepare our hearts and our home to receive Our Lord on Tuesday!  We are in full eager anticipation!!

OH Cinnamon rolls, how I love you!!

 When we first looked at this house I walked right into the kitchen and imagined myself making these yummy Cinnamon rolls on these wonderful long counters!

 Like all good things, I had to wait until the right opportunity and the perfect helper!

 Once Advent came around, I knew I must get these delious rolls made and ready for our first Christmas morning at our own house.  These rolls are amazing, freeze well, and are so easy to pop out and warm up for any occasion!  These Cinnamon rolls are the Pioneer Woman's recipe - and they are unforgetable!!!  Like I told my friend yesterday "if I can do it, anyone can do it!"

What I love most (ok, second to the yummyness) is that this recipe makes a ton of rolls, enough to freeze, hand out, or just keep pulling them out and eating them up! 

 Of course, how could I fill the house with this amazing smell and not let the big ones dig in - but the rest of the crew will just have to wait until Christmas morning for the rest!

Happy Advent!!  Christmas is just around the corner and this family is ready to Celebrate Our Lord!!!!  God Bless!

Because everyone needs a laugh!

Still waiting on our Christmas card?

Hope you get it before Christmas :)

 

My hope was to get our cards out early so everyone would have our new address.  So if you need our new address, please facebook me, email me, or text me.  God Bless!!

I promise, I haven't "run" away!!

 Ok, Ok, I know it's been over a month since my last post.  But I promise I have a really good excuse.  See a little over a month ago we bought a new house!!!  Whoo hoo!!!  The downfall....we just got Internet.  I won't go into that horrible story, but just be glad I did not have Internet and the ability to blog about it!!

 To say the least, like usual, the Maddox family has been busy!!!  I finished the race (thank you again for everyone's support and prayers) we bought a house the next week and then two days later Stephen brought the flu home from school. 

 All that being said, really I am so happy.  We all are.  It's been a great transition for the kids.  They love the new house, and of course the big 5 acres of yard to play and dig in!!  Please don't let me get started on how much our dog loves it!!  He was made for the country!

 I dont' know if it's the swing set that Cecilia has to climb up everyday, or the feeling of stability, but something has really changed.  She has made major progress!!  I am just so thankful for all the words that come out of her mouth, her movements, the little things!!

I promise, I will do my best to get back on the blog train.  I miss keeping all of you up to speed on our wonderful, crazy, loud life.  God has blessed us in so many ways.  I will up date you on the new house and all the fun that has gone on.  And of course, I will give you some funny Christmas picture "trials" haha.  Getting this group to sit still for a picture is truly entertaining!! 

 

Until next time!  Happy Advent!