Christmas 2022

Our Christmas in photos....

Family pic at church on Christmas Eve

..love this funny out take 😂

We went to moms after church and hung out with my fam...

To all a good night!! 

Merry Christmas!! 

Matthew ordered Evelyn Taylor Swift coasters. They didn't arrive in time so he made her some for until the real ones arrived. 

I was spoiled this year for sure!! 

We had our traditional "The Gresham Morris fam and Mary come over for the afternoon and we have so much fun we never take pictures" and enjoyed every minute, as usual! I did mangage two pics this year tho..haha!

On New Years Eve we drove to Dallas to enjoy Christmas with the rest of Doug's family. I managed a few more pics there. Lots of fun and silliness to be had... 

 Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Winter Happenings

 

This week we did all the "winter things" that we try to do before Christmas. 

We went to the lights at city park....

Did a puzzle that my sister sent for the kids... so fun on a cold day!

Matthew was SO pumped to get football cards as a gift! 

And we had our first snow of the year....yay!! It didn't stay long but it was sure pretty!

Things Pondered, Part Sweet Sixteen

Dear Evelyn Joy, 

Today you are sixteen. 

SIXTEEN!!

I don't know where the time went, but I do know that watching you grow into the lovely young lady you are has been a privelege and a joy. 

You are smart, well spoken, a deep thinker with a big heart. You are loyal, dependable, and oh, so funny! You are a lover of music, you enjoy texting/spending time with friends, you love reading, love to laugh, and you are the best big sister. You are so much like your dad in so many ways, but I also see sixteen year old ME in you as well (not sure if that is a good or bad thing...haha). 

I hope you felt celebrated today... here is a recap for you to remember 😊

This was waiting for you when you woke up...

You and Heidi were so sweet to help in the nursery this morning at church. 

You wanted to make your own cake for your party..and it turned out SO good! 

Gingerbread house decorating contest about to commence...

Dad and Matthew judged..haha!

You wanted to go to MOD Pizza for dinner and then do some shopping at Cedar Mill Crossing before coming home. 

On our way...

BUT.. on our way we noticed Beaverton Christian was having their Christmas Winter Wonderland event and you and your friends said "Let's go!!" 

We had the BEST time wanderting thru the lights...

...and petting the live nativity animals! 

...and meeting Elsa :) 

We then headed to MOD where you girls chatted and laughed... A LOT!😀

You hit up Ulta before heading home, too...

We got home, you opened presents and we had cake!

Required orange chair pic with Juliet (of course) :) 

A couple of last pics...

The girls convinced you to take a photo with Santa at the Christmas event at church...you really didn't want to. But, honestly, they turned out so cute and I am so glad they made you do it!

We are so grateful for good friends that know and love you well, Evelyn, and the joy that was seen and heard tonight made my heart swell with happiness Such a fun night celebrating YOU!

We love you so much, Evelyn Joy! You make life fun, you make the world a better place, and I am so proud to be your mom. 

May this be your best year yet, baby girl!

Happy 16th Birthday!!

".. and Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" ~Luke 2:19

Annual Birthday Dinner with Grandma and Grandpa

 My mom and her Doug always like to take the kids out the week in between their birthdays, so tonight we met them at Hops and Drops. It's a relatively new place in town so it was our first time going. It was SO yummy and we had a super fun time!

Thanks for a fun evening, mom and Doug!

Matthew is THIRTEEN!!

 

How is our baby boy a TEENAGER?!?!?!

Today our kindhearted, loving, funny, and football loving kid turns 13.

He is our joy boy. 

He is our deep feeler. 

He is our hard worker. 

He is all about justice. 

He is a good friend. 

He completes our family more than words can say!

Sadly, he is sick today. BOO! He had plans to have a couple of friends over after school to play video games, eat pizza and just hang out. He was crushed that we had to cancel those plans. 

But we pivoted and made the best of his special day. 

We made sure things were ready for him when he woke up, as we knew he wasn't going to school. 

He requested chocolate chip pancakes with pineapple and melon for breakfast. 

On the red plate. Of course!

Even tho Evelyn was at school and Doug was in the office, they said he could open presents over breakfast, much to his delight!

Evelyn got him a mug that is black until you put hot liquid in it, then it shows a funny cartoon. He LOVED it!

He napped, read, and played video games and card games thru the day. He asked if we could get McMenamins for dinner and have banana splits for dessert. Of course, we obliged!

Matthew's good friend Dayton (who was supposed to come over today after school) stopped by with a porch drop of Crumbl cookies!! It was so thoughtful of him and made Matthew's day for sure. We are so grateful Matthew has found some really good friends this year!

Banana split loving kid! 

Finished his birthday off with some Marvel movies... which he loves. 

Matthew, you are a delight to us, and to your Heavenly Father. As you enter your teen years, I pray you will keep seeking Jesus and remain as thoughtful and kind as you already are. We love you so very much!

Happy Birthday Matthew Donald!