Amber's adventure

Amber leaves in the morning for her new adventure! She is now a traveling Physical Therapist; with her first stop being in Mt. Shasta, California!  

When we celebrated her 30th birthday just a few months back, I couldn't believe she was that old. I still see her as my "little" sister. How could she be 30? By the time I was 30 I was already married, had two children, and sadly enough, divorced. When I looked at it that way, "little" sister is not quite accurate anymore. She has grown into such a outgoing, adventurous young woman with literally, the world at her feet. 

Amber, I am so proud of you. It has been exciting to watch God lay out this path for you over the last several months. The doors have been opened, your heart was humble and ready and God provided just what you wanted at just the right time. And just as He prepared your path to get there, I have no doubt He has prepared the hearts and lives of the people you will touch in California. They are getting a very special girl!! The boys and I will be praying for you daily and going home to see mom and dad and Sonja will not be quite the same without you there. But remember no matter where you travel, eventually, we will come see you and enjoy whatever mountain or beach we find you on.

I love you!

Sonja's Birthday

Sonja's birthday is at the end of this month, but with everyone's crazy schedules, we ended up celebrating a little early. 

The theme: happy new year's...except my mom switched all the word 'years' to decade since Sonja is entering a new decade, her 60's!!  How is this possible?!?

We had party hats and beads and noise makers.  We even had a champagne toast! The menu was a classic New Year's menu with ham and black eyed peas. 

One of Sonja's gifts was the next part of the party.  Mom put together a party folder with tabs. When she opened it she was only able to see the first tab, which told her we were taking her somewhere and to get ready! Before we left she opened the next tab which revealed the first stop, and we were off for our girl's night progressive party. 

We went to four different locations and had a little something at each place! In her folder, mom put a place for a picture at each stop, so here are our pictures!

Amber was able to come to the first stop, but then she had to get to her work Christmas party.

We ended at the Melting Pot where we got two chocolates they lit on fire.

We had a great time celebrating Sonja as she enters into a new decade!!  

My 2014 word

I love the new Jonathan Thulin song Architecture, and it was the inspiration for my word this year. As I thought about the words in the song I thought the word architecture was such a peculiar word to put in a song, which lead me to think about the meaning of the word, the art of building and constructing.

So, I jotted down what I imagined our family to look like, the architecture of it.  I had God at the bottom as the foundation, Richard and myself were next, then the kids and then God again on top, with His covering.  But, when I drew it I had one extra level in between Rich and me and the children that I didn't initially have an idea of what went there. As I thought more about it the word legacy came to mind. 

Nichole Nordeman sings a song which states "I want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things?  I want to leave an offering, a child of mercy and grace that blessed your name unapologetically and leave that kind of legacy." 

I desperately want to leave something in the children that is pure and eternal and I believe that the legacy Richard and I cultivate within them is a part of our family's architecture. We can not do it without a firm foundation in Christ and also His covering, because I know we will make mistakes, but I want this year to be about establishing a legacy in this new family we've been given. 

Ringing in the New Year

This was our second season to work the fireworks store during New Year's. The boys love it...because what little boy (or grown man) doesn't love fireworks and Baylee hates it because she always feels like she is missing out in what her friends are doing. But we had fun working the register together for several hours and she was so helpful!

Roy and Lynette ended up taking the kids around 9 to do their own celebration, which I know they appreciated.

Sales were really good this year and, as always Richard and I had a lot of fun working together.  Richard's best friend, Charles, also helped a ton. These two had a blast together the last two weeks wheeling and dealing! 

I really enjoy working the register and getting to visit with people in the community for a brief 30 second window.    In slower times, Richard would come and be my bagger. We make a good team!    

At midnight, we cleared the store and set off one big firework to ring in 2014.  Happy New Year's!!

Kids pic!

Before Tara goes back overseas we had to get a picture with all the kids! The last time we did a children's picture there were only 7 little ones!!

And now we have 11 between us!!

The picture was a little hard to get, but I think overall you can see everyone's face and no one was crying, so that equals success!!  Love these girls so much and I am so thankful God has blessed us all with so many happy, healthy children!

Aquarium visit

Every year my mom babysits the boys and takes them somewhere fun. This year the boys specifically asked to go back to the Aquarium because they enjoyed it so much. So we loaded up the car and all headed to the Aquarium. They saw all the same stuff but acted like it was the first time all over again. They were so excited!!  There were so many cool things to see and I loved how it was all so kid friendly with different tubes and bubbles for them to get inside to be closer to the fish.  It was a great afternoon activity that we all enjoyed!

Christmas at the Pippen's

After we got home from Richard's parent's house we got everything ready for Santa; his cookies and milk, Elfa's cookies and they sprinkled the reindeer food outside...then it was off to bed!!

Christmas morning they got up and opened their stockings and then it was off to my parent's house...

 

where there were more stockings to open!!

And then we opened gifts!!
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I am so grateful for all the wonderful things we all received and for the great weather that allowed us to go outside and play and for all the time we were able to spend with family!!

After gifts, we ate.  Mom made these cute little Grinch fruit kabobs!  Very creative!  It was a perfect first Christmas for our family and we are so thankful for all of our loved ones that help make it so special!! 

Christmas at the Hollingsworth's

On Christmas Eve we went to Richard's parent's house. His brother and his family came in and we were able to meet their newborn, Maysen. Lynette cooked a Mexican fiesta with tamales, chips and dip, taco bowls, and fresh tortillas.

 Before the package opening begun we had our annual scratch off time. I think several of us won at least $1 and I think Richard was the big winner with six whole dollars!

We all had fun playing with Austyn!  She is at a very fun age and is very social.  Teague had to photo bomb our picture!

And then we started opening presents. 

They all got a mixture of clothes and money and toys of some sort.  Here is Teague with his remote control car.

 

 

Richard and his brother played Santa by handing out the gifts and picking up the trash so they got to wear the Santa hats.

Lynette and Roy with all the kids, minus Auri who was spending time with her other grandparents!  A good looking crew!  Thank you Hollingsworth family for a Christmas Eve full of great food, fun and family!!