Annual Christmas Party 2008

Have a Merry Little Christmas from the Arbuckles!



For the past few years we have hosted a Christmas party. It is just our family and the families of our closest friends from church with whom we do Bible study. It is just good food, good friends, good times and everyone looks forward to it as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. Here are a few pics of the night. Hope you are all filled with the wonder of the birth of our Savior.


Since it was officially my birthday, My sweet Marty got the store to put a birthday message on the dessert for the party. It was dark chocolate covered cheesecake....does he know his bride well or what?????!!!




Me with the girls...Gretchen and Raquel




Me, the girls, and our posse. Ha!




Jack, Cole, and Taylor were hiding up in Jack's room (aka the Man Cave) most of the evening doing manly things like video games and Bakugan. However we bribed them with dessert to get them downstairs long enough to snap this picture. Aren't they handsome?



This was a fun spontaneous moment where Kinley, Molly, Gretchen and Sofie were enjoying some girl talk with chocolate Santas on the stairs. So sweet!


Too pooped to party! Lily decided she was all partied out and snuggled on the couch with her favorite blanket to watch Frosty the Snowman and Olive the Other Reindeer.

My Starbucks Birthday Party

Marty is an amazing husband, but he really outdid himself for my birthday this year. Weeks in advance, he arranged for some of my closest friends to meet me for a surprise birthday party at Starbucks. He told me that he wanted to take the kids for hot cocoa and that there were going to be pics with Santa at 8:00. So, even though I thought he had lost his mind (anyone who has met Sofie at bedtime knows what I mean ), and we jumped into the car and drove to my favorite hang-out. Upon arrival, I was stunned to find Angela, Gretchen, and Kathy waiting for me, and soon after Ann joined us. And not forgetting even the smallest detail, Angela had already purchased my favorite....cafe' mocha. Marty had a chocolate cake and birthday napkins and plates which Gretchen had grabbed on the way. Together, they pulled off a surprise I will never forget. I am such a wonderfully blessed woman to be surrounded with so much love. For those of you who wanted to be there but couldn't because of obligations or miles, know you were missed and that you are very loved. Mwah!

Me and the gals....

He Did It!

It's official...Jack is a camo belt! We are so proud of his determination. He has come so far and has grown so much since beginning in July. At this new level, Jack will begin sparring. Needless to say, that makes me nervous, but he is completely psyched! Jack was especially proud because his instructor Mr. Morrison told him he looked sharp out there tonight. Now onto Green!







Jack receiving his belt. It is ceremonial that the instructors tie the belt onto the students for the first time because it is a shared achievement.

Lily in The Night Before Christmas

Lily was the first ever girl Santa in the annual first grade production of The Night Before Christmas...and boy did she ever ROCK! Here are some moments from the fun. Ho, Ho, Ho!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Snow Day

We woke up a bit late this morning, but it was just as well. We quickly discovered school had been delayed for 2 hours for the kids and for me. After we celebrated that tiny victory, we soon after learned that school had indeed been cancelled for the day for us all! We spent the morning in our PJ's and had a lot of fun snuggling, watching Frosty the Snowman, and slowing down with the gift of an extra day of family time. Here are some pics of the fun we had. My favorites are the ones where the girls decided to put on a show for me in the living room. They would tell me songs to play for them and they would perform...so cute! Enjoy! Let it Snow!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday Honeybug!

Our Christmas elves have been visiting us from the North Pole and surprised Sofie with a breakfast birthday party this morning. She was thrilled!

Leaf Pile!

Last Sunday Marty put the kids to work helping rake leaves in the backyard. Of course, they did a little raking, a little playing...enjoy the fun!






They definitely earned their keep...but it was worth it!

Lily's Recital

On Saturday, December 13th, Lily performed in her first ballet recital. Her class danced to the tune It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. She was really nervous at dress rehearsal earlier in the day, and even shed a few tears. So, I just told her to imagine Mommy trying to do all her moves only tripping. Ha! And to calm her nerves, I took her to Starbucks after the rehearsal for some hot chocolate. That seemed to help her find her smile...and at the performance that evening, Lily was all smiles, grace, and beauty. We stayed for the more advanced dancers presentation of The Nutcracker and Lily was absolutely mesmorized by the Snow Queen. We have a few still photos of the evening, and I am waiting on my friend Gretchen for action shots. She had better seats and a better camera than me. One of the most precious moments was when Gretchen waved to Lily and Lily waved right back..not missing one step. Marty and I cracked up and knew exactly what was happening, as Lily is Gretchen's split apart. Ha!

After her performance, we awarded her with flowers and her very own Nutcracker. She was thrilled!


Posing after the show...





Enjoying the rest of the show with Daddy and Sofie.










Ballet Slippers....$20
White tutu with poinsettas...$35
Watching your daughter in her first recital....priceless!

Jack's Tournament-Yellow Belt

Jack participated in his second Taekwando tournament this weekend on Saturday morning. Though he was pretty droopy from his alllergies, he insisted on competing. Marty cheered him on since I was home getting ready for Sofie's birthday party. We were excited to hear he got 3rd place in his one steps again. Great job, Jackman! Hiyah!

Jack is setting his sights on his camo belt, as testing is December 18th. He has all his stripes and is now just perfecting his form. We are so excited for him to reach his goal.

All I Want For Christmas...

Lilybelle FINALLY lost a tooth. In fact, she lost two of them in the same night! She was thrilled to finally get to use her new tooth fairy pillow, and looks adorable with the big whole where her two bottom teeth used to be. I especially love the lisp she now has when she talks. So cute!

Before....



After...

Sofie's birthday party

Sofie had her birthday party a bit early this year (it is tough competing with Jesus), but we managed to pull off a great time despite the many distractions of the season. A few of Sofie's friends from school and our dear friends Michael and Ava celebrated with her and it was big fun. We had a Mickey Mouse theme party, as requested by the birthday girl. After jumping on the trampoline in the backyard, creating fabulous play-doh sculptures, and making party sticks with popcicle sticks, curling ribbon and stickers, we had cake and presents...then more fun on the trampoline, this time with bubbles. Ha! Needless to say, everyone left smiling and very tired. Ha! Enjoy the pictures. Wish you could have all been here to celebrate with her. You were all missed!


Fun on the trampoline...


Sofie is working very hard on her project. Great art takes great concentration. Ha!




Blowing out the candles...make a wish!



Sofie had a little cake with her frosting. Ha!