White Christmas Comes True

Wow...when is the last white Christmas that you remember, especially in surrounding areas of Muskogee, Oklahoma? I can't remember, but we sure had fun enjoying the snow, most of us did anyway!

I don't think he knew what to think of the cold, mushy substance under his feet & on his hands after he fell. But the girls, (Audrey, Christalynn, and Raelee) had no problem getting in it and being the angels that they are! ;)

Of course, there isn't any fun until the four wheeler is out and a make shift sled is made! Chris gave rides to Granddad (Jody who thought he was 12 again), then all the kids including Crystal and James' children. They all had fun!

Hope you all enjoyed the White Christmas and had your memorable moments in the beautiful rare snow!

Merry Christmas

What a great, fulfilling, complete Christmas it was for the Green Family! Had fun with both sides of the family! Starting with the youngest to the oldest, here is how our immediate family enjoyed Christmas...
With Ryan being so young and just now on the move, this is what he found enjoyable.

Jackson received a CozyCoupe from his Grandma and Grandpa Green, which was a hit. He has even been found playing in it after being told to go to bed. Sneaky little boy!

Here the girls received these cute gifts in their "stocking" and of course made for a cute pose!

I was surprised with my family ring here...Chris always does a good job of getting good gifts for me. I was expecting something different since he claimed that the family ring I had requested was more suited for a Mother's Day gift. I was well pleased!

I on the other hand didn't too to well in hiding the gift that I had gotten Chris (I left the receipt on the computer desk after printing it and having to run after a kid, therefore forgetting about the receipt left for Chris to see). Either way, he was happy to receive the gift regardless.

Our Christmas Eve started early with opening gifts from our immediate family, then off to my sister-in-law's for the extended Green family gathering, then off to my grandmother's for my side of the family gathering. The church candlelight service was of course cancelled due to inclement weather, but all together we had a very blessed Christmas!!!

Hope you all had a great Christmas as well!!! Now wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Ryan 4 months old

It is so hard to believe that Ryan is already 4 months old as of December 21st. How time has flown by. So what is a few things that Ryan is doing these days? ...
* rolling over from back to stomach and vice versa
* moving around in the walker

* smiling and cooing with people, becoming more and more interactive
* cutting two front bottom teeth barely noted here

* already learning how to play with the kids...Ryan is laughing at Sissy as she is pushing Ryan back and forth in the walker making funny faces at him.

* "inchworms" around the floor, if he could figure out how to lift his belly off the ground and put his knees and hands on the ground...he would be crawling. But he can get around from one end of the room to the next by just rolling and inching!

*now have the okay to begin solid foods...had his first feeding of rice cereal and not a big fan of it!

At Ryan's 4 month dr apt, found that Ryan is 50% in height and weight...other 3 kids were 75 and above on their height and weight. Is Ryan our runt? Runt or not, he is loved and adjusting quite well into the Green Family. There is definitely no giving him up! He has two older sisters and brother who adore him and are becoming more and more involved in caring for him because Ryan interacts with them. The older kids get so excited when Ryan laughs or coos at them when they are talking or tickling Ryan. It is so fun to watch all the kids play together (without arguing)!

Hang on Ryan...take everything in and learn from your older siblings how to get away with things, be tough because your siblings aren't always delicate, and most of all know you are loved!

Awards and Parties

The last day of school prior to Christmas break included awards and parties! I have such a sense of overwhelming disbelief and pride swelling inside me. Reason for this feeling...my kids are growing up entirely too fast and my kids are great kids!

To start this fine Friday morning, Raelee received an award for self-control during a short awards ceremony. Mrs. Spriggs, Raelee's teacher wrote a nice testament of why Raelee received her award. A little bragging...this is her second award in the first half of the school year! Chris already noted that he didn't get any awards, so Raelee is already ahead of him, but I did receive awards...so Raelee is like me! :)



Then we had Christalynn's school party that is open to parents at her school. The Learning Tree has been a great start for the girls and they gain their foundation as well as their creativity. Creativity is Christalynn's drive, I think...she tends to change her mind at times. She shows more enjoyment in doing their arts and crafts, is content to sit and color or doodle, and has no desire for much physical activity. It is so crazy how children from the same parents have different interests and personalities.

Here is Christalynn doing "Ice Fishing" at a station during their Christmas party.


The whole family, plus Grandma Lyle attended Raelee's award ceremony. Sometimes this can be chaotic, but the boys were very well behaved. The more we have all of us out at once, the better we all act it seems. Practice makes perfect! The boys attended Christalynn's party along with Chris and I, which was nice as they attempted to include Jack in some games and snacks.

Again, it's so overwhelming to look at what God has blessed me with in my children. They are so loving and so loved!

O Christmas Tree

"When can we put the Christmas tree up? When can we put the Christmas tree up? When can we put the Christmas tree up?" This is what we have heard for about a week prior to the Christmas tree going up...it almost didn't get put up because Raelee and Christalynn wouldn't quit hounding us about it (just kidding)!

We definitely had plenty of assitance with decorating the tree this year as you can see below, Chris had plenty helpers!

Here is the girls posing while putting their ornaments on the tree. Jackson was taking them back off, which I didn't get a good picture of. But take my word for it that Jackson is quite onery in the fact of things we were putting on and he was taking off, needless to say he was wearing Chris and I patience while doing this joyous task!

I did attempt to get a picture of the kids in front of the Christmas tree after decorating! As Angie noted on Facebook where I posted this picture, my kids don't have clothes on. Yes, at home they tend to run around in a shirt quite often! The other noted factor in this group picture is that Jackson's expression is much the same...not wanting to participate! Got to love candid photos even when meant to be posed!

This year, "All is well with my soul" is the old hymn that keeps coming to mind. I have a deep complete and content feeling in my soul. One, for the reason for the season. If it wasn't for Jesus' birth I wouldn't have the promise of a heavenly eternity, nor would we even be celebrating a Christmas! Two, my complete family with Chris and the kids! What blessed my heart the most was when we were asking the girls the meaning of why we have Christmas, the star at the top of the tree, and why do we give gifts. Raelee & Christalynn both knew the answers..."Jesus' birthday, the star lead the wise guys to Jesus, Jesus is our present". Then to top it off, the girls were ecstatic to place the nativity scene up.

God blesses in small ways, especially through the kids, confirming in my soul that Chris and I are doing the right thing presently with our direction in raising the kids in a Christian home that is pleasing unto the Lord. Here is the nativity scene the girls put together!

God is good...all the time! Thank the Lord for sending His son to come to this sinful world, become one of us, to die on the cross for our sins, all in order to allow us an intimate relationship and heavenly home with Him.