Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I've been behind getting my posts updated, so as I sit here for a few minutes before I get dressed to go to work on this Eve of the New Year, I thought I would throw together some photos from our holidays.
We celebrated Christmas Eve at our house this year with a Mexican Food Fiesta-complete with Aunt Kathy's bean recipe.  Missed not having my brothers here, hint hint.  Maybe next year we can all do Christmas together!
 I think the most entertaining event of the night was our annual kid competetion gift.  This year I wrapped up gift cards in two plastic bowls I taped closed with packing tape, then proceeded to cover it with layers and layers and layers and layers of packing paper and packing tape until the gift ball was a little bit bigger than the size of a basketball.  Then we give the kids oven mitts and one minute each to try and get the gift open.  They keep going until the winner is the one who finally figures out the trick to packing tape.  Let's just say it took a few turns, but Parker finally won.  But with much help from the girls who realized that brute force strength was not going to get it open, but to try and find the start and end of the packing tape and peel it away!  Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of it, because I was too busy laughing and videotaping it!

The Hailes, Gunthers and Rawleys Christmas 2012

One of Christmas tress

this is just the gifts from our exchange!

Me, Mom and Kim

Ethan's pile of gifts, and a dog butt

Frankie liked Ethan's dancing sock monkey

Parker loved his new docking station alarm clock

And all his new golf shirts

Haileys new Coach wristlet

And these strange leopard print Sperrys

Merry Christmas from the Rawley crew!

 

The kids were all very happy with their gifts this year, and very thankful and grateful.  I love all my new jewelry-thanks Anthony for hooking a hubby up-and my new Bose headphones so I can start rocking out while working out again!

 



We enjoyed our annual NYE lunch today at Fogo de Chao and this year took my nephew Taylor and my Dad.  It was fabulous as usual-and fun to watch the boys flip their cards over and watch a slew of gauchos show up with their specialities!

My daughter is in Wichita for a NYE Party, the boy is at his cousins-complete with a bottle of Sparkling Red Grape Juice and a mad game of Monopoly.  Brian, the bald kid and the dogs are chillin out watching DVR'd football games, and I'm getting ready to go to work.  So, if you're going out tonight-be safe, don't drink and drive, I would hate for you to cause an accident or get a DUI, but most of all, I would hate to see you on my CT table

.I can reflect on 2012 as a most interesting year for us to say the least. A lot happened, and we had lots of family and friends there to support us. We are looking to pay it forward in 2013. If we've realized one thing this year, it's how forunate we are, and even when things looked at their worst-our laughter and positive attitudes pulled us through.

 I'm as happy and content as I've ever been today and am hoping 2013 continues to bless us.



 

May the New Year bring you much health and happiness!

 

Love,

Brian, Kari

Hailey, Parker, Ethan

Harley, George and Frankie