Christmas 2007 In Pictures

Right before Christmas Eve Church!Home after church.....not bad for the camera's timer! Food for the reindeer......do you think they'll like it?
He Came! Thanks Santa!
Christmas Morning 2007
Rockstars!

A Leapster!
"Mommy....where's Santa?"
LAX sticks for the girls

The Pickle Prize - HOT POTATO

Blue Eyes

Craig and Allison's matching Christmas attire
I love it, Nana! Yesssssssss! Oklahoma Rising!
DAD!

What's more fun than playing in the wrapping paper???

B and Giggy having a good time getting dinner on the table!



Misti and the boys were using the Soulja Boy tutorial off I-tunes!

Emma sneaking food before dinner

Merry Christmas 2007

I know it's been a long time since I've posted a new blog entry....but it's because we've been having such a great Christmas here in the Lowell Home!!!!

We had Steve's Mom, brother and sister-in-law here for Christmas and for a few days before. Steve's Mom, Gene, has a birthday on December 23rd, so we even had a little birthday dinner right before Christmas. Then on Christmas day we drove out to my parents and got to spend the afternoon and dinner with my parents, B and Giggy and my brother John, his wife, Misti and Zoe and Mackenzi! (You might remember a post about Mackenzi when she was born a little early....she's so sweet and was able to withstand the "Hurricane Audrey!" There is a reason our Audrey will be the youngest....she doesn't get "gentle with the baby!"

We had some fun times leading up to Christmas. Our Church hosts Christmas In Bethlehem each year and the Confirmation groups play all the characters. Our group were the Roman Soldiers. Adam spent most of him time guarding Caesar. Dennis Lee and Nana Pudding were there and all of the choirs from the church performed. There was a live nativity and a petting zoo outside. And you can't have a live nativity without a camel, which the girls rode with me. It was really windy and freezing cold!




We were able to go to a very fun Christmas party hosted by the family of twins from Audrey's preschool class. Audrey talks about them all the time so she was so excited to get to go their house and celebrate Christmas. Santa and two of his reindeer were there and the food was wonderful. It was a perfect party for both the parents and the kids and we had a great time.

I promise to post our Christmas pictures soon. We are on our way to a birthday party for a friend of Emma's!

DECEMBER 15th.....Happy Birthday BUBBA!

Happy 13th Birthday Bubba!

Clayton turns 13 years old today - December 15th! I can't believe it's been almost 14 years since Dr. Elmquist confirmed that we were expecting our first child......the beginning of our family! It was April 18th....my grandmother's birthday and the day before my Dad's. We'd heard all the stories of waiting until your second trimester to tel anyone and it sounded reasonable to us. We'd wait a few weeks to share our excitement with the world. (They probably wouldn't be able to tell from the constant smiles on our faces!)

By the end of the day we cratered! We went to the store, bought a "Happy Birthday Grandpa" card and headed to my parents. I remember that my parents were a little confused at first.......Grandpa? But then they got it!

This was the beginning of a "new family" for them, as well. The first grandchild. Boy or girl? All of the relatives were in the same boat with Clayton....the first grandchild....the first great-grandchild for 3 great-grandparents....they first niece or nephew.....it was a lot of responsibility for this little one who wasn't even born yet!

Clayton is such a great kid. He's a wonderful son and the best big brother to Adam, Emma and Audrey. He always has been. Emma gave him the nickname Bubba.....now she calls him "her king". The minute he walks in the door from school she comes running to give him a big hug and knuckles. It's the sweetest relationship.

Right before we went to the hospital to be induced! (We were babies ourselves!)

My favorite picture!

Easter, 1995....what a little man!

Already a Cowboy fan! Halloween in The Philippines....

Clayton's first girlfriend, Mirabelle. She's a princess and he's a spider.
A boy and his dog. Scarlet was only a few months old.

Indian Guides Camp out with Dad

Clayton's first Cowboys game
First Grade!

Goofy Jr. and Goofy Senior!

Drum Line

Happy Birthday, Clayton.

I love you very much!

You are very special to me....

you made me a Mom and

I can't thank you enough!

DECEMBER 15th.....Happy Birthday BUBBA!

Clayton's Birthday Blog is under construction! He is so old that I have NO BABY pictures of him on my computer...they were all taken the old fashion way.....with film! I'm heading to the scanner tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Baby!

What Shall I Give?

I love shopping for just the right Christmas gift for people. Someday when I have more time, it will be easier and I'll start in January. I truly love giving more at Christmas than receiving. I'm shipping off the gifts for my sister's house today. They need to be in Australia by Christmas morning, so they really should have been at the post office earlier this week. But it's not as fun delivering them to the post office as it would be to watch my niece and nephews open the gifts themselves. Will they like them? What will they think? Will they be excited?

I got the following email from the pastor of our old church in Plano. He's such a great, down-to-earth man. Made me think.....you will too!


Extravagance by Don Underwood (www.cumc.com)

The other day I was driving down some of the old country lanes in Cooke County. These were some gravel and dirt roads that I had never been on before and it was fun to explore them. Unlike many of the "country places" that one sees in that part of North Texas these days, these homes and trailer houses were very modest, and many of them were run down. And yet I was struck by the fact that many of them were decorated with outside Christmas lights and ornaments. One or two places were truly extravagant given the circumstances.

In our neighborhood there are some fantastic outdoor Christmas displays. Occasionally I have seen whole crews of young men working to decorate a yard and house. Sometimes I'll load the family into the car and drive down to Highland Park and other prime areas of Dallas just to see the phenomenal Christmas decorations. If you have ever done this, you know that sometimes there are real traffic jams as cars line up to see the most extravagant homes. I'm not sure what it is about us, but we love these displays and I'm sure that those who go to so much time and expense to put them up are gratified by the cars that slow down to appreciate them.

All of this got me to thinking about those modest little homes on the country roads of Cooke County. Those roads are so isolated that they are rarely traveled by anyone except the people who live there and the occasional garbage truck or county maintenance crew. Why do they go to so much trouble to decorate when, for the most part, no one else will see or appreciate their displays?

I don't yet have this season fully figured out. But I do know that it brims with mystery and love and music and fantasy. And I know that there is something about it which embraces a touch of irrationality: we buy extravagantly expensive perfume for a loved one or a rocking horse for a grandchild that is not yet old enough to ride it. Could it be that, somewhere deep within our souls, we really are a bit like those wise men of old? Maybe we really do understand that God's extravagant gift of Jesus calls forth from us a bit of irrational extravagance as well.

"The Reindeer Games" Champions

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Originally uploaded by shoalman01

Clayton's Lacrosse team won all 5 of their games this weekend at the 2nd Annual "Reindeer Games" in Kingwood. It was fun listening to some of the other teams talk about our boys. One guy was standing behind me talking the team and he didn't know I was from The Woodlands. (I'm surprised he didn't notice me because I had a SCREAMING two-year-old attached to my hip! This was not Audrey's best weekend....obviously she hasn't figured out the "you better not pout, you better not cry"....especially at the Reindeer Games!) Anyway, the guy behind me was talking to another parent and he said, "well, it's not worth it to me. They may win all the time, but they have to practice every night, year-round!" Um, no we don't! We hardly ever practice! I love watching Lacrosse but could not do it every night!

Congratulations Woodlands 8th Grade Lacrosse Team! You are the best!

Clayton's #55

Clayton is the tall guy on the left, #55. He plays defense and had a great tournament! Lacrosse is such a fun game to watch....and it looks like it's fun to play, too! (Although it's probably one game that I'll never play!)


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Originally uploaded by shoalman01

Shoot, Clayton!

Clayton plays "long stick" or defense. As you can imagine, that means he doesn't have many opportunities to score. But this weekend, he scored! He got the ball close to our goal and carried it all the way down the field and looked for someone to pass to. When he didn't find anyone, he scored! He was pretty excited! Mom, Adam, Emma and Audrey, however, were bummed. They had just left the tournament to drive back to The Woodlands for Adam's Lacrosse practice!

Way to Go, Clayton!


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Originally uploaded by shoalman01

I was just talking to a friend this weekend and we told each other how exhausted we were. Sometime as Moms, it feels like we are doing EVERYTHING to get ready for the big day. Everything to make Christmas a special time in our homes. Everything to make sure that our children and families have wonderful memories in the years to come.

Then I read the following on a Proverbs 31 site! Hello? Did I listen? It's the season on my life.....hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


Super Mom Has Left the Building
By Marybeth Whalen (www.marybethwhalen.com)

I just have to insert something in the midst of this busy season we call Christmas:
"You can't do it all."
And I don't think I can say that enough.
I found this entry in my journal from years ago, and I thought you might like to read it...

Someday...

• I'll remember to order those cute Christmas return address labels for my cards.
• I'll bake real gingerbread houses like Martha Stewart instead of buying those cheap, cheesy kits.
• I'll finish my shopping early instead of waiting to the last minute.
• I'll hand make gifts for all our neighbors, teachers, postal carriers, and garbage men.
• I'll wrap presents that look like the ones in the magazines, not like a kindergartner did it.
• I'll actually do all those service projects that look like a worthy thing to do.

Someday... is not now.

Whatever season in life you are in this Christmas, embrace it.

There will be other times to do all those things you want to do. Or not.

Whatever your situation is, trust that God is sovereign and He ordained for you to be where you are at this time, for His purpose. There is something to be gained from every season in life. The trick is to find that piece of wisdom God has for you in the midst of each season.

The first step in embracing every season is to let go of our own expectations--even when it means learning to love our limitations. Whether you are struggling with illness, or lack of energy, or a marriage situation, or money problems, or family issues--whatever it is, that is where God has you.

Stop trying to be Super Mom or Super Woman and trust a super God instead.

Next Oprah Book Club???

I haven't been excited about a book in a long time. The books I've been able to read lately are parenting advice books or a cookbook that tells me how to prepare a quick, healthy meal for six in under 15 minutes!

But this one is different! A new book is due out in January from one of my favorite bloggers....Kelly Corrigan. I have a link to her site in the column on the right of this blog....she ALWAYS touches me and ALWAYS makes me think. That's why I'm so excited about this book. Here's a link to a little tease of what's to come (kind of cracked me up because I watched it today after returning home from a weekend of Lacrosse :)!

http://www.kellycorrigan.com/themiddleplace/videos.php

Watch the video and then go pre-order the book at your favorite book store! Oprah.....are you listening?

Thanksgiving Feasts at the Preschool

Every year the girls' preschool classes have a Thanksgiving Feast, complete with chicken nuggets (as close to turkey as we can get for a preschool feast), fruit, goldfish (????) and cookies! Parents are invited and it a fun day for the kids. This year our feasts were overlapping a bit, but I made it to both with very few complaints from the "feast participants"! :)

Emma at the "feast table", a tablecloth on the floor of the Fellowship Hall

What a beautiful table setting! (is this really considered a table????)
Audrey's class got to sit a real table and all she wanted to eat was the fruit (just like Bubba!)
Audrey is sitting next to Kaitlyn, Lawson, Adeline and Charlotte
"Mr. Turkey, Mr. Turkey, Big and Fat, Big and Fat!

I am going to eat you, I am going to eat you!

Just Like That! Just Like That!"