Elizabeth's Birthday

Having a birthday the day after Christmas can stink. You are tired, it has been crazy. You probably have traveled Christmas day and are pooped. You are maybe even a little tired of "celebrating". You just want to rest and figure out how all these new things work that you got for Christmas. So, yeah, it can be a stinky day to have a birthday. How do I know this.......my birthday lands on the day after Christmas. It causes problems for my family who "just saw me yesterday". I use to get gifts or cakes decorated with poinsettias. Heck, I went 18 monthes without a birthday one time. We decided to have my birthday in June instead on December. I had to call everybody on June 26 and nobody remembered. I give up!

Then I got married.............
My man understood my birthday and has always made it special. I get my favorite breakfast and the royal treatment for my birthday. This year though my man did GOOD! He surprised me with a Kindle, which is a fabulous gift if you are a reader. It goes perfectly with my Slanket that I absolutely love! I personally choose to wear my Slanket like an oversized robe ~ wrapped around me and all the way over my feet to keep them warm! (Because having cold feet is just wrong!) I love my Kindle & my Slanket! He did good.
Then as if that weren't enough, he took me skeet shooting at his Mom's. He borrowed a 20 guage to see if I would like it better than our 12 guage. I had a blast. I found I liked the 20 guage better and wasn't near as sore the next day. I was a regualr Annie Oakley that day. Well maybe not really, but I had a lot of fun! I got to see this sight ~ which I could handle EVERY day!

Baby Girl (in the middle) is retiring out at the ranch.

Baby Girl and I have had some fabulous rides together.

I got to spend the day with my wonderful family!

And do one of my favorite things....shoot skeet with my man!
Okay, I know I am not in the photos but
someone had to capture the day!

I loved this picture at the end of the day!
The other favorite thing about my birthday is looking forward to "Birthday Dinner". Rob's birthday is the 30th so we always head to dinner in between our birthdays to celebrate. I love this dinner out with our best friends. I look forward to it all year. Keri got her buddy a gift card for her new Kindle - she is the best! Happy times!

Christmas at Joyner Ranch

Christmas continues with Aaron's family. Eric & Tracy head to the ranch for Christmas with Mom & Papa Bill. Tracy got a new camera from Eric and snapped the day away. Mama was experimenting with my new camera that Aaron got me. He got me a small Nikon camera that will fit in my vest pocket when I am working cattle. He was tired of hearing about how much I wish I could of snapped a picture of that......

So here are some shots from Christmas at the ranch.

Luke got the opening present thing down this year! How cute!

Abbie loves presents!!!

Hopie loves the golf chart! See stops in to say "Hi" to Dee Dee!

Aaron & I had Bill & Mom's brand put on some vests for Christmas.

They loved them. Aaron & I were so excited.

Thrills me to see this cowboy sittin' in that fine lookin' jacket!

Happy Trails....Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2009

When I was a child, I can remember hardly being able to sleep on Christmas Eve. I am back to that again with children in the home. They bring such joy & energy to the home. We all headed to bed late as it was because we take in a beautiful candle light service at church for Christmas Eve. Then we head to our friend's home for supper & a cookie decorating game that we play every year. So hopped up on the sugar & fellowship, it is always hard to get to sleep. Once asleep the children rest all night. I, on the other hand am up every two hours, like a child! I am excited for them and the excitement of the morning.
Christmas Morning

The children were tickled to see the presents.

Luke is all about Thomas the Train.

All Hopie wanted was a "Littlest Pet Shop".

Abigail got her first real sewing kit.
We didn't get pictures but

Papa was thrilled to get an ipod from Mama.

Mama is in heaven with her new Slanket

and camera (to her surprise)!

Up the mountain we go...................

We get to my sister's for Christmas with the family.

We had a lovely time.

Mama opening more toys......the packaging will drive you nuts!

What is up with my cheesy children..........

Long, fun day of giving & receiving ~

celebrating the greatest gift ever given...JESUS!

Papa & Abbie listening to the ipod.

Not a creature is stirring....not even a Mama!

Extreme Make Over

For Christmas this year we decided to surprise the girls with re-doing their room. They have wanted a make over on their room for a couple of years. I don't know why, didn't they like the Noah's ark ceiling fan from nursery days, ballerina bedding from 4+ years ago, & a bunk bed?! I do regret not getting before pictures. So we started collecting things for this make over. We had the date set for a week before Christmas. The girls got out of school for Christmas break and their Auntie Keri picked them up to spend the night. We got to work the minute the girls left for school that day. We couldn't have done it without a girlfriend who came to our rescue that day. It was so neat to see the transformation of our little girl's room. It wasn't a zebra print that Abbie wanted but it is beautiful. The canopy scored major points! The girls were absolutely surprised! They love their room. It has stayed the cleanest it has ever been. We should have done this a long time ago! :)

We got the girls a trundle sleigh bed that they have wanted. They were so excited about their bed. Papa & Mama are excited about getting rid of bunk beds with Luke around.

It is crazy how big their room looks.

They got a new bookcase and we found the perfect place to hang a quilt that their great-grandma made them. As an update, they got a new purple boom-box for Christmas from their Aunt & Uncle.

We did good! They love it!

Merry Christmas girls!!!

Nutcracker Obsession

Abbie & Mama went to watch the Nutcracker ballet this year. It was such a treat. Abbie was so excited the whole time we were getting dressed and driving there. She had never been to anything like this. Once we found our seats, I took her down to the orchestra pit to see the musicians that would be playing. She was in awe! Once the ballet started it warmed my heart to see her eyes light up at the dances. She would lean over to me and in a very excited voice tell me, "I know is song!" She was tickled pink to be there. Needless to say, I have had a ballerina spinning around the house ever sense.

Bestest Sisters Ever

It doesn't happen often enough, so I will take it when it comes. The girls decided they were coming to be "bestest sisters ever!" It is this Mama's prayer that my girls grow to appreciate their differences. They spend most days wondering why their sister is the way she is. So on a day they decide to be 'bestest sisters ever", I will take it for as long as it will last, which is never long enough!

Formula for Fun Times

Bonfires + Family & Friends = Fun Times