I know it has been AWHILE since my last blog, but it is time to get back into the swing of things around here!!! We had a great crazy month of holiday celebrations this year. To kick it off, we had Thanksgiving with both of our families. Thanksgiving Day was spent with my side and the Saturday after we have our Goetz Thanksgiving. It really makes the day soooo much more relaxing when we do not have to bounce around from house to house! As a family tradition (a long time running) all of the Goetz siblings and Grandma and Papa head to the Christmas tree farm the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We always have so much fun picking out the "best" trees together and playing football between the rows. The kids love running around and trying not to get sand burrs stuck to them. NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL!!!! It was fun this year being able to watch Isaiah run around with his cousins and enjoy our special tradition. I look forward to getting our tree picked out and up as soon as November hits!!
This year we started something new...... usually my husband and all the siblings and spouses draw names and exchange gifts for Christmas. We all talked it over and decided we didn't need anything from each other. Instead, we all had our First Annual Goetz Sibling Progressive Dinner!!!! It was so much fun! We were all kid free for the night! Did I mention how much of a blessing it is that we all live so close together and that almost both sets of parents (for all the siblings) are within 20 minutes from us??!!?! Makes it nice when you need a baby sitter!! Anyways, so we all meet at Luke and Michelle's house first. We loaded up in the 14 passenger van and headed off to Ben and my house. At our house we had appetizers and played a game. Then it was off to Noel and Kristen's for soup! The 3rd course of our meal was salad at Brian and Janelle's. Did you know that you can move an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth with only your facial muscles?!?! YOU CAN, AND YOU SHOULD TRY IT! MADE FOR SOME GREAT LAUGHS!!!! We all loaded back into the van and headed to Matt and Janel's for the main course of salmon, veggies, and macaroni (my husband's favorite). Janel put together the 12 Days of Christmas Singing Game. Since there were 12 of us total, we each had a line from the famous song. Luckily none of us can sing so it made the game very..... entertaining!! YES IT IS ON VIDEO!! Most of the time we were unable to sing we were laughing so hard! Our last stop was at Nate and Anne's house where we toasted up our own creme brulee. First time I have ever had it, and it was good!! We all had a great night together celebrating Christmas as brothers and sisters!!!
Lastly, we had a few Christmas celebrations like we do every year. My mom and dad hosted Christmas this year. It was fun pigging out on great food and playing a few games she had prepared! Yes I was a top winner tying with my aunt! We draw names to exchange gifts for each other, so it was fun seeing every one's reaction to their new treasurers! By the way Mike, I LOVE my blanket!!!! Before my grandparents had to fly back to Arizona (poor babies in their warm weather, I know!), they were able to come see our new house! I love showing it off to our family and friends because they know how long we have dreamed of owning our own home in the perfect location! We then had Christmas with my husband's family on Christmas Eve. It has always been a tight squeeze in Grandma and Papa's living room, but we make it work!!! Pretty soon their walls will be busting at the seams!! The kids are always anxious to open their gifts, so this year they all had to chant "I love Papa" before we could begin! Then it was Christmas at our house with Ben, Isaiah, Piper, and myself. We had fun watching Piper open her new bone and treats, and Isaiah not caring about anything but his basketball and Mickey Mouse couch! Since my dad's family all lives in Ohio, we head over their around New Year's. Again, it makes it very easy to not have to bounce all over in one quick day. The young kids get gifts from everyone, but us 'old mature adults' do a white elephant! My cousin James was thrilled to try on his new snake skin pleather leggings!!!! He and Ben made a cute couple when Ben opened his gold and black sequin zebra belly shirt!!!! We always have a blast in Ohio and it is nice seeing our family that we do not see very much!
We are very blessed to be able to celebrate the holidays with our family! I missed my brother Luke and his family this year (they are in Montana) but I can't complain too much because we had them for 2 months this summer!!! While we often get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas decorations, gifts, parties, cookies, and family get togethers, we have to slow down and remember that WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST THERE IS NO CHRISTMAS!!!! We all celebrate His birth this time of year, but we have to also focus our minds on the reason for his birth; Jesus was sent here by his Father to die on the cross for our sins, to save us and give us eternal life in heaven if we accept him into our hearts, believe in him (not Santa!), and put our faith and trust in Him! I was thrilled to start our advent calendar tradition this year. Each night we read scripture about the birth of Jesus and the REAL CHRISTMAS STORY! I pray that as this New Year begins, we can all focus our minds on Christ and God's love for us! Accept Him in and watch your life change forever! Grow in Him and your relationship with the Lord!!! I will leave you with my favorite verse...
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father, except through me."
