Merry Christmas Ya'll!!!!

I love Christmas! I think what I love the most about Christmas is spending time with our famililes! This year Carrie and Andrew were so excited about Christmas, which made it that much better!

A tradition that Michael's family has had for years is to go to his Grandma's house on Christmas Eve night and we all eat dinner together and open gifts. Both of his aunts and their families are there on that evening, so that makes it a lot of fun to be with all of them. Grandma has us play some sort of game, which is usually absolutely hilarious and then we all open our gifts, one person at a time....usually takes forever, but it's nice to see what everyone gets. I enjoy spending time with all of Michael's family!

Matthew, Jonathan, Me, and Jason

After the gifts were opened

We slept until about 7:30 on Christmas morning...we were actually awaken by the phone ringing, my dad had called to see what Santa had left for the kids...so we woke up to find the gifts Santa had left. Carrie and Andrew were very excited to play with the new toys. Then we had lunch with Grandma, Grandpa, Matthew, Christina and Colt and had Christmas all over again with them.

Carrie's Santa

Andrew's Santa

Carrie showing off her new robe

Andrew showing off his Cars

Uncle Matthew and Andrew

After lunch and a little rest we headed to my dad's house where we spent time with my brother, my dad, step mom and step sisters and their families. We had a great time out there. My brother overdid himself this year and gave the kids both handheld gaming systems...thank you, Chandler!

My dad and my brother

Michael showing off his gift Chandler gave him

Carrie showing off her Nintendo DS that Uncle Chandler gave her

Overall, we had a great time with family! I miss our family dearly and every second we can spend with them is a joy!

Cookie Swap

This year a friend of mine, Kathy Meadows, asked me if I was interested in helping her with a Cookie Swap. I immediately jumped on board...I've never attended a Cookie Swap, but I've seen and heard about them and to me it sounded so much fun!!! We all baked 6 dozen cookies..that was a job, I baked Shortbread Cookies and they were yummy!! At the end of the Cookie Swap you left there with about 6 dozen cookies, but of different kinds...there were Chocolate Crackle Cookies, Pecan Balls, Nutmeg cookies, Peppermint shortbread, Jam cookies, and a couple of other kinds, they were all delicious!!!! The best part to me about the Cookie Swap was getting to visit with ladies that I don't see on a regular basis, it was a lot of fun! Already looking forward to next year's Cookie Swap!!!

Jill Stockton and me

Getting ready to get our cookies!

Kathy showing off the wonderful cookies!

Amy Giles and Erin Caudell picking out their cookies!

Christmas Programs

I've had 2 different Christmas Programs to prepare for...one with the Adult Choir, which I sing in and one for the Children's Choir, which I direct. I've been very busy over the last few weeks, it was well worth it, but now I'm pooped!

Michael and I both sing in the adult program, which we performed two nights. It went very good, honestly I was a little concerned about the adult program, but I ended up liking the music and I think it turned out really good.

The Children's Choir also sang 2 songs in the adult program and then this past Wednesday, December 16, we had our own program. I think the Children's program turned out very well. All Children's Choirs were involved and I think it was so sweet! I'm not sure it could have turned out any better! All the choirs worked super hard on this music and it really showed. I really enjoy directing the Children's Choirs...I always get teary eyed at the end of a program...and this program wasn't any different.

Here are a few pictures from the last few performances!!!

Michael dressed up in his bowtie for our Christmas Performance...I must say he looked so very handsome.

Children's Choir performance Dec. 16...there were over 60 kids in the 1st-3rd grade combined choir! God is good!

Carrie's Choir singing and Andrew's Choir is playing the Maracas

Dear Santa...

In Carrie's bookbag yesterday was a letter to Santa that she had written, I just had to share it!

Dear Santa,
I love the presents you give. Andrew hasn't been good, but I have. I want a rainbow castle with princesses, a my Little Pony and a Barbie house. My brother wants a race track. I want to surprise Mommy with mittens and I think my Daddy wants a new truck!
That's all.
Carrie

Of, course I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time as I read this letter...first off I find it hilarious that she says Andrew hasn't been good...too funny! But I find it so sweet that she wants to surprise me with mittens!! I also love that she mentions all of us in HER letter to Santa...she really is a sweetheart! I just had to share her letter...so cute!

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

This is one of my favorite Christmas Carols...I love the words and the message of this song!
Our church praise band did this version of the song in our Christmas Musical this weekend, I must admit I hadn't heard this version! Well, I love this version as well!!! Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!!!

Let the basketball begin!

Last night was the first game of basketball season for Michael's 8th grade boys. It was a pretty good game, we ended up losing by 6, which was sad. Michael, of course, blamed himself for the loss, but he learned from some of the mistakes he felt he made! They had another game today, which they ended up losing by 8, but Michael said his boys really played great, he was proud of them today! He feels like maybe they've found the groove and it'll be better after today's loss!

I enjoy going to the games, but I'm having to learn about basketball!! I really like getting to know the kids and let me tell you it is so nerve wracking watching these game...I get too intense sometimes! I'm very proud of my husband and I think he is an awesome coach!!! The next few months will be nothing but basketball and then immediately following will be tennis! It's all sports in the Keown household!!!!!

The Christmas Season is here!

I am so excited that the Christmas Season is here...however it has really gotten here fast! I love this time of year, it's so much better now too that we have kids to enjoy it! The joy in a child's eye and the excitement when they get what was on their "Christmas List"from Santa is awesome! This time of year also brings back tons of memories of the great Christmases that I had as a kid. One of my favorite memories is when me and my brother would wake up to see what Santa had left and my dad's entire family (my gran-gran, grandaddy, Aunt Carol, Angel, Mike, and Uncle Doyle) were there to enjoy it with us, I miss that a lot!

Well, we went yesterday to find the perfect tree for our house, since we have been living up here in Clayton we have yet to go cut our own tree down like we did in Thomasville, so this year we decided we'd find a place where we could cut our own tree...we trekked up towards Sky Valley (up the mountain) in search of a Christmas Tree farm....well we NEVER found the place, so we trekked back down the mountain to a roadside Christmas Tree stand and picked out the perfect tree (or so Carrie said). We got it put in the house and then headed to Downtown Clayton where Santa was roaming the streets, we had to get a glimpse of him. We found him and Mrs. Clause right away. Carrie didn't mind a bit to go hug Santa and have her picture with him, Andrew on the other hand was terrified...so Mommy had to have her picture taken with the Clauses too!

Today we decorated our tree. Michael had to go buy new lights for the tree because we didn't have enough and he took Carrie with him. They came back with colored lights (which I'm not a huge fan of) and a new yard decoration (a lit puppy dog) that Carrie had picked out....a tradition we started when Carrie was born was to get a new yard decoration each year, you'd think we'd have 5 by now, but nope only 2 several have broken...go figure! Well, Michael and I got the lights on the tree and he headed outside to put the lights on the house and the yard decorations out while me and the kids put the ornaments on the tree. That was work! We had a great time talking about the different ornaments (another tradition we have is getting everyone in the family a new ornament each year). Carrie did good putting the ornaments on the tree, Andrew on the other hand got very upset when I placed his Harley Davidson ornament from last year on the tree, he wanted to play with it, and then he dropped a glass ornament twice before it finally shattered!! Well, in the end we had a blast and the tree looks beautiful(even with the colored lights)! I love being able to enjoy this season with my family, I am so blessed!!! I am looking forward to a Merry Christmas!!!

Another favorite part of Christmas is putting out my nativity scene. Ms. Berta Davis gave it to us when we got married and it is one of of those items that I cherish dearly! I love to look at the pieces and think about how the each person involved (shepherds, wisemen, angels, Mary, Joseph) felt that evening. Thank you God for the greatest gift of all, Jesus!

Another tradition we started last year for our family was the Elf on the Shelf, if you don't have one you need one! Each night he flies back to Santa and tells Santa how the children behaved for the day and he also tells Santa what the kids want for Christmas. Every morning the kids wake up to find the elf in a new spot, it is really a fun tradition we've started! Our elf's name is Donald, Carrie named him!

Well, I am so excited about Christmas this year! Carrie is really into it this year, Andrew still doesn't understand too much, but I know it's going to be so much fun this year! Can't wait to see what Santa brings them!!!

Our stockings were hung by the chimney with care!

My sweet babies, they had a blast decorating the tree!

Thanksgiving fun

Today is Thanksgiving and also my mom's birthday! We decided this year not to go to Thomasville for Thanksgiving, which really was a hard decision for us to make, but since it was my mom's birthday we thought it'd be nice to spend the day with her. My brother, Chandler, was also going to come up (which actually made the holiday easier for me since he was going to be with us).

I began cooking yesterday and we had a spread of food...I was actually pretty proud of myself for fixing everything on my own!!!! I baked a ham, made creamed corn, butter beans, green beans, mashed potatoes, dressing, chicken cassrole, rolls and a chocolate chip pound cake...everyone enjoyed lunch! My brother is still mad at me for making the pound cake because he can't seem to stay away from it :)!

I am so glad that we've been able to spend time with my mom, my step dad and my brother...that doesn't happen very often and we have truly had a good visit!

Now I'm resting up to go do some shopping....

Cousins

This weekend Matthew, Christina and Colt decided to pay us a visit. Carrie and Andrew were thrilled when we told them that they were coming up, they couldn't wait to see "Baby Colt." We haven't seen him since he was born, and well with all that happend with Andrew (going to the hosptial for a day and a half) we didn't get to see much of Colt.
They arrived super late on Friday night, but all day today (Saturday) we got to spend with them. Christina and I took all 3 kids shopping for a while...that was exhausting, but fun!
After shopping for a while we brought the kiddos home and we decided to take some pictures of them together...we got a few good shots! It's sort of hard to make sure all 3 of them were looking in the same direction! After supper and baths my kiddos were put to bed (they feel asleep in about 3 seconds flat) I got to love on baby Colt a little more, he is a precious thing!

We've had a great visit with them all, hope they'll come back up real soon!

Fall Fun

The fall is so beautiful here in Rabun County. I love the many colors and the cool, crisp air! Today we went outside for some much needed fresh air and the kids decided they wanted to play in the leaves, so I swept up the ones that were on the porch and they had a field day jumping in them...I"ve promised I'll get out and rake some one afternoon this week and they can jump in them again!

Playing in the leaves, having a blast!!

Some beautiful colors

Halloween Time

Last night was Halloween and even though our household wasn't feeling 100% we decided to dress the kiddos up anyways and go to a couple of our neighbors homes. The kids got a little bit of candy and had a blast dressing up!!!

Carrie dressed up as Hannah Montana

Andrew dressed up as a future UGA baseball player

Aren't they cute?Here is one without the Hannah Montana wig, which she didn't like wearing!

Pumpkin time

Here are a few pictures of our pumpkins that we carved on Sunday afternoon. One of them Michael carved using a pattern, the other one is his "free-handed masterpiece" see if you can figure out which one is which!