Christmas Day in Photos

Momma's House in the morning. We had our tradition of breakfast casserole and Camryn ran the opening of presents. It's like she gets it honestly from her family!! LOL!

And here is who stole the show this Christmas...it's a rat?...No...a squirrel? No...it's Gabe...Camryn's new Yorkie! Santa was good to her this year. The video of her opening the box with him in it is priceless! Below he is sporting a Christmas hoodie. That is just how he rolls! Well, except when his mom and "older mom" (my sis doesn't want to be a grandma) try to put bows in his hair. Oh my! However, my personal favorite look is the mohawk he sported for a while that day! Welcome to the crazy, Gabe!

Then Christmas afternoon we went home and had our Christmas together.

That evening we went to a CR gathering at one of the leader's homes then went to watch a movie with our friends, Mark and Pam.

Christmas was a great break...I took off work from the 17th-27th...a nice long relaxing break with friends and family!

Kerr Family Chrsitmas Vacation

Oh dear...our Kerr Family Christmas has several characters. If you follow me on Facebook, back on December 18th...you saw that Cousin Eddie (Keith and Family) and The Grinch (Pat and Family) showed up at our family vacation. LOL!!!

For the last three years the Kerr's meet up in Branson. This year was great...I took it easy (by that I mean left the "directing" up to others...That job will not be mine again...yeah!), slept late, no schedule, visited a lot with nephews, nieces bothers and sister-in-laws. It was wonderful!

Here are a few pics...

The boys always give each other gag gifts...one of the highlights of our present opening time:

Zak, Robert, and Kristi enjoying being together

Grayson
Avery

Present Time (Saturday Night):

Lauren brought a friend along this year...they bought matching glasses for each other!

Keith's got GRILLZ

You turn 18 in our family and you are no longer exempt from gag gifts...problem is he liked them...see photo below!

Even Dad is not exempt...he got a SpongeBob SquareTie!

This gift to Pat took the cake this year...Anti-MonkeyButt Bathroom gift set!

Told you he liked them...

One of Grayson's nicknames is Master G...well he used Keith Grillz to complete his look!Fun was had by all! Love to all my Kerr Family...I've been with you all for half of my life! WOW!

Wonderful Break

We had a great Christmas this year. We got to spend time with both of our families and time with friends. I will be putting posts up about our Christmas this week. For now, I will be under a mound of emails and work that I need to catch up on because of being off since the 17th!

Oh Christmas Tree

Since this post was already about our Christmas Tree (which is my favorite decoration this year) I thought I would join the Christmas Tour of Homes with The Nester.

Welcome everyone and enjoy!

Finally got these pictures posted and they really do not do the tree justice. It is really glittery and sparkley...just the way I like it. If you know me...you know I like bling!

I give you the Kerr Christmas Tree 2009:

See even our new tree topper is blingy!
Since we changed up the theme and the stockings we had were from college days...here are our new stockings. Only thing lacking is Gus' pictuer in the star on his new stocking!

Merry Christmas from John, Alison and Gus Kerr!

25 Questions about Christmas

Since I haven't had time to upload our Christmas tree pictures...I thought this little Christmas questionnaire looked fun...feel free to copy and use when you need some blog fodder!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper! I love to see gifts wrapped under a tree.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Pre-lit artificial…love the real tree smell but a lot of work!

3. When do you put up the tree?
We try to put it up the weekend before Thanksgiving. I mean I like to enjoy my Christmas decorations for more than 4 weeks

4. When do you take the tree down?
Depends on when Christmas falls…it in the middle of the week and I don’t have off…the weekend after Christmas. If it falls on the weekend…then usually a day or two after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog?
No, I’m not into “milk” that is so think it stays on the sides of the glass…BLEH!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I’m gonna go with the trampoline. It may be the memory of my sister realizing what is what and JUMPING into my arms with excitement that we got a trampoline (I know there is a picture of this)!

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Teenage nieces and nephews…that is why I don’t buy…just give them money!

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Hubby

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Oh…I love to make Christmas cards…but haven’t the time the last few years…so then I usually don’t go out and buy cards. I love the personal touch of homemade cards.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Hmmm…I’m pretty easy to please. I guess the only thing I can think of is the year that my mother-in-law bought all three of her daughter-in-laws the same jumper dress that was got the previous year. She was always a sucker for sales...she bought things all year round. I guess she REALLY liked those jumpers.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Oh man I LOVE Christmas movies...can't pick just one….well we start of the Christmas season with “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation”…then must-see movies are “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with Jim Carrey, “The Family Man”, “A Christmas Story”, "Miracle on 34th Street" (newer version), "It's a Wonderful Life"…then I'm a nerd about Christmas movies so I try to DVR all the made for TV Christmas movies and watch them as I have time!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Couple of weeks before.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No…not that I can remember

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Breakfast Casserole at my Mom’s house Christmas morning!

16. Lights on the tree?
Absolutely…we like the white lights

17. Favorite Christmas song?
“Oh Holy Night”

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Both…we have a Kerr Family Christmas trip to Branson the weekend before Christmas…this is the 3rd year…it is lots of fun! We “travel” the 35 minutes to my mom’s on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (depending on my niece’s schedule). Hubby and I always open our presents to each other at home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen and Rudolph

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The pace that Christmas season can bring if you don’t take time to enjoy.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
My favorite…oh, you are asking the wrong person here…I love what I call the “traditional” tree…meaning you use all different types of ornaments that you have collected over the years.

I love me a theme tree. This year (post is coming) we are going with a new theme. Didn’t think I was going to like it but hubby did great on picking it because I think it is BEAUTIFUL!

I personally would have LOTS of trees if I could. I just love ‘em!

24. Favorite memory of Christmas?
Oh…I can’t pick a favorite. I have many great memories of Christmas.

When my sister and I were little she got up early and found our big teddy bears from Santa…she came and woke me up and asked if I wanted mine. When our parents woke up they found her in her bed with that teddy bear.

The Christmas of my senior year of high school when John asked me to marry him.

All the crazy gifts the Kerr brothers buy for each other…many laughs with those.

Just spending time with family and friends.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Oh…I don’t know…I’m sure I’ll think of something.

Show Us Your Life - Pet Edition

I see that Kelly's Korner is having Show Us Your Life-Pets edition and I thought I might get in on the action.

Here is Gus!

We have had him for over 6 years...One Saturday afternoon (Valentines Day in 2003) I made up my mind I wanted a dog and went the our county's adopt-a-pet day. I had it narrowed down to two dogs one that would be a big dog and this little guy:

He had been hit by a car and his leg was broken. He was really sweet and just ended up capturing my heart. John was not thrilled with the idea AT ALL! (which is why the below picture is funny...this was the day we got him...he took to John quickly. What is funny to me is that this picture is the normal relationship between John and Gus now, but then it was HILARIOUS!)

He insisted that he would NOT sleep with us at all, and for about 2 months he did not. Then it was time for John to go on a fishing trip...he said "When I get back, I don't want Gus to be in bed with us"...not 30 minutes later that night before he left, HE brought Gus to the bed and he as been there ever since! SUCKER!

It really is hard to imagine life without Gus. He is the perfect dog for us. He is quiet and enjoys sitting right beside you on the couch or curled up snoozing in the bed.

He rounds out our little family. Love you Gussie Boy!

It's All about Choices

During this time of year, it is extremely easy to become discontent and ungrateful...I mean, every stinkin' commercial on TV is showing us something that we "need" and at a great discounted price!

However, we can make two choices today...

1) We can choose Contentment - In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul shows us the secret of being content..."I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". How is that the secret to contentment? Because at this moment Christ has given me everything I need to live out the purpose He has for me...for right now. Everyday He gives me strength for that day. That is the secret to being content. Will you choose today to rest in that promise?

2) We can choose Gratitude - Proverbs 15:15-16 "For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast. Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil."
Do you know what the #1 most visited house is in the United States…the White House…the second? Graceland…Elvis’ house. On the outside Elvis had everything…money, materials, fame, but at age 42 he killed himself with by overdosing. He has been quoted saying “I would give 1 Million dollars for ONE day’s peace." That is a heavy statement.
We can choose to be grateful...to God, for others, for our spiritual journey, our church, etc.

When we fall into discontentment and un-gratitude, it is like telling God, "After all you have done for me I could care less, because it is not enough for me."

Let's start today by making good choices; to be content and grateful.

Update on Mary

Message received about 8:30 last night:

"...the surgery went great........doctors are very pleased with everything........and Mary doesn't even have to stay in ICU tonight - her breathing is great and she got to go to a private room already! WHAT A PRAISE!!!! Everyone's prayers have helped and I'm sure she has felt them. Keep praying for her recovery! Will keep you guys posted. God is so good!"

Today is the Day for Prayer

Remember a few posts ago when I asked for prayer for my friend Mary? Well today is the day of her surgery. Please be in prayer for this whole situation! Thanks!

He Heals and Restores

Praising the Lord this morning for allowing me the oportunity last night to share what He has done in my life!

He took me from:

~ a person full of selfishness and pride

~ a person who with low self-image and very little self-love

~ a person so wrapped up in pleasing others

~ a person who had an extensive "mask" collection

~ a person with no boundaries

~ a person bound by fear

And as I became willing to give Him EVERYTHING (bad and good) He has restored to me the Joy of my salvation

By finding a place where I could learn to be the real me in front of God and others and I could work through the Biblical principles of recovery (through Celebrate Recovery), He is "restor(ing) the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25).

I came into recovery like He says in Matthew 11:18 "weary and carry(ing) heavy burdens" and He "gave me rest"! I rest in Him and live in His will for my life. What FREEDOM!


"Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow." Psalm 25:4

Trick Or Treat

Oh my lands...I got these on an email from a friend. I hope you get a kick out of these like I did. I wonder if Gus would allow this????

John would probably like for Gus to dress up like this:

But my personal favorite and I have been saying for years that Gus should dress up to be Aslan from "The Chronicles of Narnia"....maybe I can show him this picture below!