Merry Christmas 2010

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It's Always Fun When Papa and Grandmonny Come.

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You'd think somewhere in the midst of a four-day visit with

Grandmonny and Papa,

our schedule would slow, or stall, or somehow make room for leisure and laziness.

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Not so.

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Our good {grand}parents survived a week (and weekend) of pure chaos, but weathered it with patience and love. Just the way they always do.

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Between running to and fro to meetings, appointments, field trips, snow-days and seminars, they snuck in a few fun family moments.

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Grandpa treated the girls to Gunther Toody's and snuggles.

Grandmonny & Papa playing a wicked game of pictionary,

and made the kids laugh until they were nauseous.

Then, of course, Mere just sat around and relaxed and....WHAT?! What is that?! Is Mere actually DOING MY LAUNDRY on her week off?! Despite my most desperate pleas to NOT do anything that resembles work?!

Oh, Mere. You saint. I love you for catching up that big-ol' batch of laundry. Thank you.

Sunday finally offered us all a moment of peace. We were dressed in our peaceful clothing. Perched on our peaceful doorstep. Smiling our most peaceful smiles.

And, then, the peaceful moment was gone.

Thankfully, memories of the trip

will linger a lot longer than the peaceful moments did.

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Thanks for the visit, Grandmonny and Papa!

We Love You Both So Much!

Volunteerism.

Since starting on Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover last August, we've made some serious changes--and some serious progress--in our war against debt.

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The program has given us a hope and excitement that we've never before experienced when it comes to getting our finances in some serious order.*
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Saturday offered us an opportunity to give back (just a bit) when we worked at volunteers at Dave Ramsey's live event. It was a pleasure and delight, and we hope to do it again next year.
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Upon arriving, we were trained in the ways of selling Ramsey goods, then set free to organize our product tables. John, of course, was a masterful table organizer. Bethany and I got to work Will Call, and I gave free tickets to these guys in the green shirts.

(How GREAT is that?!)

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If I could be a mom and work Will Call on the weekends, I think I'd be the happiest person in the wide world. That job rocks. (This may also be due to the fact that Bethany and I pretty much rocked the job. We so crayzee.)

It was a long day, but a really, really, really good day.
We got T-shirts.
We were fed lunch and dinner.
We got to sell books with two of our favorite people.
We got to bless a few families by giving them some great books.
We got to meet Dave Ramsey
(and by "WE", I do not mean "I".
"I" was in the bathroom when he made his rounds.
Curses!)
We felt honored that Mere & Lar would take the time to attend the event
(and help us watch our kids),
and we got seriously re-pumped to be DEBT-FREE!

Just call us the Gazelle's.

Clap-Clap-Clap. Clap-Clap-Clap. E. F. Y!

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April 10-11 offered John and I the opportunity to sneak away together.

For EFY Session Director Training.

With dear friends Jamica & Bryan watching our crew over the weekend.

It was a whirlwind 36 hour getaway.

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15 of those were spent in meetings

8 of those were spent sleeping

4 of those were spent commuting

which left 7 sexy hours to spend together

at the airport.

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Sexy, indeed.

Among other sweet experiences, we cherished the opportunity to see fellow EFY mate, Jason Hall, and learn of the recent birth of his miracle son, Cole. Read his story here.

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Congrats Jason & Kolette!

The Bassett's

A wee bit more on the visit from our newest British friends,

Nathan's fine sis Emma, good hubby Ryan, and adorable children

Gabby & Oscar.

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The Jones's were good enough to share their visitors with us, and we enjoyed them immensely. A few of our favorite highlights included...

Oscar turns two!

After a rollicking good time at Pump It Up,

we returned to our house for cake & presents

(and, perhaps, a bit of that weeks episode of The Biggest Loser)

We enjoyed dinners,

and chatting books, and sports, and life.

Above all, we enjoyed learning that there are a few other people in the world with our same wackastic sense of humour...

Long live the United States of Sarcasm.

(And dear friends, new and old.)

Meeting Gabby.

Friends Nathan & Bethany shared their visit with adorable English niece, Gabby, with Alyssa. Within an instant, they were the best of friends and enjoyed two weeks of playing, visiting, and tormenting Yoda.

Plans are already on the table to have Alyssa join their family as an exchange student in her mid-teens. Until then, she plans to enxchage lots of letters, and hopes for another visit very soon, from her best British friend.

Easter

Genereal Conference weekend offered us an opportunity to tie-dye eggs.And boy! Did the kids get creative.

Which offered mom an opportunity to get creative.

After all, there's only just so many ways you can use 24 boiled eggs.

The creation, however, didn't end there! On Easter Sunday, Andrew made Armenian Easter Bread for dinner. The recipe called for a mere two cups of butter, a cup of milk, and five eggs. And Monday morning called for an extra-long trip to the gym.