Family, fun and holiday cheer

Every year on the first weekend of December we get out the Christmas decorations.

I can't believe it's that time of year again!  Every year seems to go by faster then the last.

The kids were so excited to decorate the tree.

They each wear a Santa hat, and we play Christmas music.

It was a little challenging with Sawyer.  He kept wanting to take the ornaments off of the tree instead of hanging them up!

It was so cute watching the excitement in their little faces.

The next day we met at Papa Bob's nursing home with their Uncle Brian and cousins Beth and Hunter.

We helped decorate their Papa Bob's door for the annual decorating contest.  Everyone's family can come out and decorate their doors for a contest.  The sad part is that no one else really comes out to help decorate.  Brian had the great idea for us to decorate everyone's door in the wing where Papa Bob lives.

So we made a whole day out of it!  Everyone got decorations, a mini stocking and a bow on their doors.  Plus we had some extras to hang in the common areas.  Beth brought a few friends to help, and it became a family affair, that will now become a tradition!

Not only did it make the eldery folks happy to have their door decorated, but they loved visiting with all of the kids.  One of the nurses told Brian that it's been a long time since they have seen everyone come out of their rooms at the same time.

I think we should start all going over and decorating for all of the holidays and seasons for the folks there.  It felt so good to see them smile, plus it was a great family day.

I feel so lucky to be a part of this family.

I am an only child, but Russ's brother feels like a true brother to me. 

I love my niece and nephew like they are my own children, and would do anything for them!

They are both such great kids and I am forever proud of them both.

Sunday evening the kids posed for their Christmas pictures in front of the tree.

Again I feel so honored to be the Mother of these 3 wonderful children!

I can't imagine life without them.  

I am so excited for what the future holds for them, and what they hold for this world.

I can't wait to see what great things they will do with their lives.

We decided to try a group dog photo in front of the tree as well.

This is as good as we could get!

Even thru all of the hardships we have endured this year, the good still outweighs the bad.

We could choose to focus on the negative, but what good would that do?  It won't change anything.

I can feel that our hard times are only temporary.  Things will continue to get better.  We choose to take it day by day.  To still smile and enjoy the little moments.  Life is way too short to do otherwise.

Peace and love.....