Merry Christmas, Happy 2014!!

Merry Christmas! Happy 2014! I have been so busy just chillin', enjoying the break my kids have from school and the AMAZING Southern California winter weather. During our three weeks off Morgans dance group had a Christmas party complete with cute snowman cupcakes....

friends hanging out....

and of course an ornament exchange. Fun was had by all. We have had two weeks off of dance and have really enjoyed our down time. Just doing whatever we feel like whenever we feel like it. Sadly all good things must come to an end...starting this Monday.

The girls and their friends next door decided to build bike ramps in our back yard area...raise your hand if you think Ryanne was the first one to go full speed, fly through the air, flip over her handlebars and land on her back. You would be correct.

The Harker girls and Loomis kids had their little gift exchange....trying to get 5 kids to all smile is really hard. I just kept snapping away hoping to get at least one. I have pictures of them at 9 months old sitting on the couch together. Crazy!

Ryanne & Lillie...T-R-O-U-B-L-E! :)

Christmas morning was super sweet in our house because Dan got both Christmas Eve and Christmas day off. I LOVED waking up next to him with the kids bouncing on the bed with excitement to open presents.

Yup' he's a gift....even at 6am. :)

I won't keep you in suspense; Legos for Morgan and a giant furry bear blanket Ryanne wanted for her bed.

We surprised Dan and got him new wheels for his race in Florida...

Macy got presents too......

But by evening the excitement had caught up with her and she was so tired she was sliding off the couch...it was low key with just our moms and a friend coming over this year. Very nice. Very blessed.

We watched our friends kiddos the other day...Kalie and Ryanne munching on cookies I was baking. We are excited about the new year. We have some fun family trips planned, excited to see how God will use each of us. I was telling a friend yesterday that I think it is sad that we don't expect great things from our God. We have let the world water down our expectations and so this is my goal this year; to pray EXPECTING God to move. To heal marriages. To deliver people from depression, to expect healing in sick friends, to pray knowing God is going to provide that baby to that couple who really wants to parent, to be a prayer warrior who GETS to be part of what God is doing. God is powerful, all knowing, wise and merciful. He wants to do GREAT things in us and through us. I cannot wait! :)