Our Daily (G)races

Training to be the best wife, mom, runner, and person I can be each and every day....

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Our Favorite 2013 Moments

I asked the kids this morning what their top 3 moments were from this past year.  Knowing that they would probably pick things that happened in the past month I reminded them of some of the things we did this year.  Each child had one thing in common. 

Emma's top three were:

Going to Disney

 Scoring a 9.7 on vault at South State

Her 10th Birthday party at the American Girl Store


For Jonah his top three were:

Going to Disney





Our surprise trip to Galveston for Labor Day weekend




His 8th birthday bowling party

Samuel's top three moments were:

Going to Disney




Going to the USS North Carolina

Playing baseball




Elena's top three were:

Going to Disney....big surprise



Playing with my cousins this summer




Going to the water park



I had a hard time picking just three moments from a year filled with some pretty amazing memories.  As a family we did some really fun things together and took great trips as always.  Drew and I had the opportunity to spend a week in Australia....that was an unexpected trip!  And, despite all our crazy daily busyness I love all the normal day-to-day moments with my four crazy kiddos.  Being their mom is the greatest gift and all my great memories include them or Drew....always!

I did have some favorite pictures from 2013 in no particular order....

Swimming with my kiddos

Elena and Leah on a pirate cruise

All the cousins in Oriental at the harbor

Emma and I being PSU loyal always

Drew and I in Nashville

Drew and I at the WVU-TCU game

Emma qualifying for South State

Annual trip to see Santa and take some festive pictures

Christmas Eve at church

Samuel graduating from preschool

Elena and Samuel playing at a splash pad

This little boy...Jace...asking Elena to dance

Exhausted children after a very, very long and wonderful day at Disney

Jonah without the thug look!

Hanging out at the dock in NC

Hanging out at Kristin's house

Samuel at the Rodeo

Swinging with my kiddos

Emma and Elena on the playground at church

Easter Sunday

Taken in March of Yuenling and she died in June...miss her still

Jonah and I at one of his meets

And, my very favorite picture of all of us was taken last January...almost exactly one year ago.  We were in Nashville visiting Lara and her family.  She took this picture of us and I love it!


I pray that 2014 is as good to us as this past year was....


Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning is always crazy, fun, and full of energy.  Thankfully, everyone slept until at least 7a which is a present unto itself.  I made our traditional breakfast scones and then lots of present opening.  Since we do not visit family at Christmas we have lots of presents under our tree courtesy of all the aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  The kids are in heaven!

Getting ready to open Santa's present

Happy with the North Pole delivery
We always start with Santa's present followed by stockings and the presents from me and Drew.  I think everyone got what was on his/her list except for Emma.  She wanted a phone...not happening!  Everyone gets one big gift.  This year Jonah got a Kindle which he also used as a mirror.


Samuel got a train set and he loves it!  It is the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Emma was given a beam
Elena received a Leap Pad

a happy Elena
Elena loves her new easel
Drew is always a puzzle when it comes to gifts.  So, in an attempt to be creative we got him a hammock.  He loves them.  I think he was surprised!







I wanted a nice watch and a JJ Watt jersey. I also found this very cool wall hanging at Hobby Lobby and texted Drew a picture of it.  They got me that and I cannot wait to hang it.  I LOVE IT!   Drew listened very well!







Marathon training does not stop just because it is Christmas Day.  I had 10 miles to run today, but I was able to wear my nice, comfortable new socks!  I am pretty sure the kids did not even know I was gone.  They were too busy playing.


Christmas would not be complete without some family pictures.







After weeks of shopping and wrapping, this and a huge pile of boxes is all that is left. 


Well, not really because our family was quite generous to us and there are lots of new toys in our house.  We definitely had a very blessed Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!!