Holiday Montage 2011

After another Holiday Trip we are back home!  We always enjoy our family so much and are so thankful that we can travel to see everyone, but it's always nice to be back home and back in our normal routine. I like structure! :) 

We have been home for 2 full days now and I have unpacked our luggage, packed up Christmas decor, cleaned house, done Tons of laundry, literally, and have a small birthday party for my sweet Caderade! I can't believe he is 5 years old, Tomorrow!!  Now it's time to sit back and reflect on the holidays and 2011 (what a year it has been)!

Well there is no time like the present, so let the Holiday Montage Begin!! :)

(Sorry Picture Quality is Lacking this year)

Caldwell Christmas in Waco

 All the kids! They have so much fun!

 Aunt Jen wrapped all the boys gifts in one big box, they couldn't wait to open it.

 Nerf Guns for everyone! The living room became a battle ground, and everyone was a target! :)

HaHa, Gotcha! :)

From Waco, we headed for Muleshoe... yes that is my hometown. :)  And for the first time EVER (on our many visits) we got to play in the snow... and yes it was on the side of the road about 30 minutes from our actual destination, and yes we were those people who pulled over on the side of the road to play in the snow.  And yes all we have are sweatshirt weight hoodies, we are from Corpus you know, Brennan doesn't even own a coat.

Snowy Fun,  the first time my boys have ever actually played in the snow! 

 I love that Michael and Cade are working.... Exactly the same!

Cade, my little snow leopard!

I love team work!  And check out the profile on that snowman! :)  Ok, ok... enough on with the trip! 

 Clarkson Family Christmas in Muleshoe.

You can't help but feel sorry for him love him!  Gotcha Bro!

 My wonderful Grandparents! We live so far away,  I love & cherish every minute I get to spend with them!

 Cousins, playing some games...

 Cade, was Punk Mickey!

Me with the Horses and Grandma & Grandad's house.  This is how I used to spend my days growing up!  Miss it so much, I feel like a kid again every time I visit!

Me and my Goofy Brothers! :) 

Ok, now that you are all totally bored out of your minds with my pics and silly commentary... I hope you all had a great Christmas filled with family and safe travels! See you soon!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!

For the last several years we have had a Birthday party for Jesus in some form or fashion, sometimes as a church children's party, with a few friends, or just as a family.  This year we decided to invite a few friends over and celebrate in typical birthday fashion, Balloons, Punch and Cake!!

We started by telling the kids, what the Bible says about Jesus's birth. My dearest friend Shannon did an amazing job!!

 The kids each added the character they were given as it came up in the story.

 Mrs. Shannon was talking about how stinky the stable must have been.. Brennan thought that was funny.

 Afterwards we sang, "Happy Birthday to Jesus" and shared some punch and cupcakes! The kids had so much fun and I love the happiness and joy that was shared during these couple of hours. I know Jesus was laughing and smiling along with us!

Afterwards we had some crafting fun and made our party favors!  Check out the How-To on this Hand Print Snowman Ornament.

Families that wanted to were also asked to bring an unwrapped toy to go to a local charity, as Birthday gifts to Jesus!  Tis better to give than to receive!

Does your family have a Birthday Party for Jesus?  How do you celebrate Jesus's Birthday?

Christmas Morning 2011

Each year we spend most of our Christmas Holiday Traveling to see Grandparents, Grandparents, and more Grandparents!  And we LOVE it!  I love the memories and bonds that are made by spending time with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and sweet cousins! Because of our excessive traveling, we always have Christmas the weekend before we leave, which usually also means the weekend before Calendar Christmas. We get to have a small intimate Christmas with our boys and we don't have to worry about hiding presents or hauling presents all over Texas. 

  This year December 18th was the big day.  We set out cookies, for Santa and headed to bed. (Yes, this works...by the time they begin to question our Christmas timing they will probably also begin to question Santa in general)

 Good morning!! William tried to get up at 3:00 am, but was sent back to bed.... at 6:24, He revisited the idea of getting up... and we obliged. Santa brought the boys a new tent, and sleeping bags! We can't wait to try them out in a few months.

 The boys dumping their stockings.

 Cade got a new Star Wars Leapster Explorer Game... and everyone loved it! They sat in this huddle for at least 10 minutes.

 William was so happy to get this shirt!  We are a little Star Wars obsessed around here!

We had a wonderful day!  Now we are gearing up for a week long trip around Texas!  Waco, Dallas, Muleshoe... Ready or Not here we come!!

Christmas Tree Topper: A Family Tradition

Growing up I remember several tree toppers.  A garland star with a multitude of colored twinkle lights, and  a glowing angel with really bad hair top the list of tree toppers that came through our home at Christmas.  Don't get me wrong, I loved our tree and looked forward to putting it up each year. However, the first year I had my own tree I couldn't wait to top it with a beautiful bow or bouquet of gorgeous feathers... but to my surprise what I got instead was so much better than I could ever imagine.  As Michael and I decorated our first tree I mentioned going to get our tree topper a little later in the day, while we did some Christmas shopping.  Michael looked at me in great disappointment and confusion and said, "No, I'll be making the star!"  Uhhhmmm ok.. I thought.  Then he began to gather supplies; which included cardboard, aluminum foil, and wire.... I know you are now thinking what I was... Seriously!  We have this beautiful tree and there is no way we are putting some sort of kindergarten aluminum foil craft on top of it! 

Well, 9 Christmas's later that same beautiful star graces our tree each year.  I love it and I love that Michael's parents have an aluminum foil star and one day maybe our boys will be making aluminum foil stars for their first Christmas with their new bride. This foil star has come to be one of the prized possessions in our Christmas boxes because of the simplicity and sense of family tradition that it holds.  

What tops your tree?  Does it have any special meaning?  

Snowman Hand print Ornament

I love simple crafts and little hands!  Which is probably why I love this Christmas Craft so much!!

1. Gather your supplies!

• medium-large shatterproof ball ornaments 1/child, green, blue, or red work best.
• white craft paint, make sure it's washable
• black, orange, and silver fine tip permanent marker
• coordinating ribbon
• paper plate
• 1 inch paintbrush

2. Tie one ribbon through each ornament  to use as a hanger on the tree.
3.  Pour an ample amount of paint onto the paper plate. This makes for easy cleanup!
4. One at a time, ask children to hold the palm of their hands open wide and brush with an generous amount of white paint.
5. Place a single ornament in child's hand and have them grab the ornament and release...
6. Have child wash hands while you write a name and year on the ornament opposite the hand print.

7 Hang by ribbon to dry or place paint side up in the package to dry.
8. Repeat with each child until all hand prints have been made.
9. Once ornaments are dry, instruct children to draw faces, arms, scarves, or hats on each finger making them into snowmen.  You may want to do this part for the smaller children.

10. Hang on Christmas tree and enjoy for years to come!

This makes a great class project, party craft,  or homemade gift for grandparents!  Have fun!!

Ornamental Christmas Fun: A Family Tradition

Last week I mentioned that we have several Family Traditions that we look forward to during the Christmas Season.  One that we all look forward to is... The Great Ornament Hunt.

William's letter tube.  We keep all their letters from years past in this tube! I loved looking back at the letters and pictures that have been shared through the years.

Our Christmas tree is not one you would see in a catalog. It's not color coordinated and beautified with feathers, ribbon, and vintage glass ornaments.  No, our tree is actually a bit random. I would describe it as a misfit tree... definitely a personality of it's own... with each characteristic being special and unique. 

Some trees are beautiful but after you have looked at them for 2 minutes you have seen everything there is to see, not our tree.  No, our tree is one you can look at for an entire month and still see something new and special each day.  It's a tree that hold so many memories on it's fake polyester branches that I get sentimental goose bumps each time I pass by.

Each year our tree gets a new set of ornaments. They don't replace the old  but to add to the story they tell.  The funny memories they represent, the happiness that is felt on the night each ornament is hand picked and carefully carried home and added to the collection of memories that already find refuge in it's branches.

Cade's choice this year... He is our animal lover!

One evening during the Christmas season, the whole family piles in the car, and we head to dinner.  After dinner the hunt is on.  We usually hit one or two stores that have a mass variety of ornaments and each person grabs up an ornament of their choice.  Sometimes it represents a milestone hit that year, or a developing interest; and then again sometimes it's totally random and we all get a good laugh!

Brennan likes the sparkle ornaments.

Wreck'em Tech... Michael's pick.

This is as close to vintage as we get... ornaments from Michael's Kindergarten school crafts 1985, and my Kindergarten school craft 1987.

Some of my Favorites!!

  
 Because without the cross, you can't really appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. (Stained glass cross made by my parents preacher... gifted to me by my father.

 Christmas Nail gifted by my sweet sister-in-love, Kristi)  I love that after all the fun and laughs that come with each ornament, with just a few small mementos we are reminded of the glory and joy that brings this holiday to our life. Merry Christmas to you all!  May your traditions bring you joy and goodwill as you focus your family on the wonderful miracle of Christ's Birth!

Clarkson Christmas 2010 - Muleshoe

After our time in Fort Worth with the Caldwell's we headed to West Texas to my hometown for a little time with my family.  This was the first time in three years that my family and my brothers and their families have all been together, so it was pretty special.

Below is Memaw and Grandad (my parents) with all 8 grandsons. From L to R (Back): Colton and Wesley (Front): William, Taylor, Grandad, Brennan, Taylor, Cade, Memaw, and Trey

Memaw and Grandad playing Santa.  They had such a great time.

The boys Roasting marshmallows with Granddad's new Gift.

And last but defiantly not least, we got to spend some much needed time with my grandparents! Here are all the boys with Great Grandma and Great Grandad Hawkins.  We love them so much and I absolutely love to watch them laugh at all the funny little boys in the family! :)

On our way home, we decided to break up the 10 hour drive with some sweet time. So we had some of this....

And a little of this....

and some of this.... (This pic cracks me up)

We made it home and have now had time to celebrate two birthdays (Cade and William)... Posts coming soon!! :)

Caldwell Christmas 2010 - Great Wolf Lodge

This year for Christmas, my in-laws, treated the whole family to a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge! Which means 14 of my favorite people for two days of fun and adventure! If you have never been, you should plan to go... it was our first time, but hopefully not our last! We had so much fun... Great Wolf Lodge is equipped with an indoor water park, interactive video game/scavenger hunt(through the entire hotel), restaurants, and "log cabin" area complete with bunk beds in each room.  The kids loved it!!

Picture of Granny, Papa, and the 7 grand kids in the Lobby. It was beautiful!

The whole family after breakfast one morning! From L to R:  Alyssa, Aunt Kristi, Grant, Cole, Uncle Greg, William, Emily, Cade Michael, Brennan, & Me. In back L to R: Papa, Granny, & Aunt Jen.

Back to the room. And yes that is a Christmas tree!! Granny and Papa are awesome and thought of everything!

Throughout the day, you can meet at the Lobby Clock Tower and the animals come to life and sing and tell stories. Because it was Christmas they also had a snow machine that blew all over the kids watching the show, Magical!! Brennan loved the "Reindeer" :)

I didn't take my camera in the water park for obvious reasons, but this is a shot of a couple of the slides that come outside for part of the ride. I was pretty much a weeny and didn't ride much, but everyone else rode to there hearts content... the big Cone in the back is called the Tornado, I was told it was awesome by more that one family member:)

Saying farewell one of the Great Wolf statues and to our sweet family, and leaving for the next trek of Christmas 2010!