Family Time.

We decided to go visit Tysen and Toni and the girls before the New Year.  

Because of our unseasonably warm weather the passes have been nice and we were able to make a plan of it.  It has been 6 months since we have all been together, so it has been a fantastic time.  

I am so thankful that we get to have this one on one time together.  Our kids have fun together and we get to develop those relationships as our children grow.  

Merry Christmas!

 Christmas morning we opened our stockings before we went to church.  

 After we opened our stockings, we got our Christmas attire on and went to church.  What a blessing it was to be able to worship Sunday morning with our church family before celebrating with our other family.  

 The 5 cousins

 Our family....

Merry Christmas all! 

Christmas Eve!

We are that Christmas Eve opening kind of family, and since Christmas Eve was on a Saturday this year, the kids woke up with the birds to beg to open "just one gift"... so we caved and let the open just one in the morning.  Tim was thinking it would be fun to have them open one an hour, but decided we would keep the tradition and open them in the evening, which ended up being when the Seahawks game was over.  

 I know, they don't look like they are enjoying it at all.  

In the evening we opened the rest of the gifts and had a great dinner together.  We were able to read the Christmas story and have a little Advent celebration together. It was a precious time as a family and I am so thankful that we get to spend it together.  

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!  

Merry Christmas!

May you each seek HIM as you celebrate this special day!

"And the angel said to her,"Do not be afraid, Mary, for yo have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end."  Luke 1:30-33

Christmas Program

This year's Christmas program was a couple of weeks ago.  TJ was a wise man, which he loved and Avarie was an angel.  Lylah came out with the 2/3 year old class and just stood there staring.  The kids did a good job.  They were extremely serious about the whole process.  It is great to see all the kids worshiping the Father in this special way.  

Merry Christmas...card

Merry Christmas....

...From the Fries'

For those of you waiting with bated breath for our Christmas card, I am sorry to dissappoint.  My husband is a fuddy duddy (as he will gladly admit) and thought we should not send Christmas cards this year.  His reasoning...1. Why? 2. It costs money 3. People throw them away.

Throw them away...WHAT???  Nonsense!  

I am certain that each and every one of you who has ever recieved a Christmas card from me have it framed and sitting somewhere of prominnence...enjoying the picture I painstakingly got of my family.  I mean I keep all of yours in a special box right next to the crazy I keep around.  

In all seriousness, doing the card this year was just low on the priority list and so I write this virtual card...and hopefully those of you who see this won't take me off of your Christmas card list.  Because honestly....

  I LOVE CHRISTMAS CARDS!

If you are the individual that gets the mail for the day at our house you had better watch out, because I will rip those cards out of your hands and I don't care if I take your fingers with it!  I love to read about what has happened in the last year with my friends and family, even if I see them all the time.  I love to make fun of my friends and their silly pictures they send.  I of course would never giggle at family.  But I love it.  I love getting them, I love seeing them at other people's homes, I love reading them and I love sending them.  Even if you are going to just throw them away.  

There is some sort of nostalgia that comes with Christmas cards.  In a generation where EVERYTHING is virtual, to get some mail that isn't junk is so much fun.  

So in the spirit of Christmas cards and just so I can say..."what, you didn't get our card?" I present to you....The 12 things I would tell you, in a Christmas card if I sent you one, that happened this year.

ahem....

1. This year we have settled into our new home and have done more construction that we ever thought possible.  We love it and are so thankful for God's provision in this home.  

2. When flying stand-by, try to chose a location with multiple flights or you will end up sleeping in an airport and still not get to your desired location.  However, when your mom is babysitting and gives you free tickets, finding another destination is an adventure you will remember for life.  

3. Being married to the one person that is perfect for you for 10 years is a blessing not everyone gets and I am so thankful to have it.  

4. ADVOCARE. What more can I say, we love the product, love the business plan and love that it is changing our lives.  

5.  Our children grow way too fast and now that they are 8, 6 and 2 I can't imagine how fast the next decade will go!  What a blessing they are to us.  

6.  Homeschooling our children, though never in the plan, has turned out to be one of the best experiences of our lives.  I cannot imagine anything different and for now, am so thankful that this is the path God has led us down.  

7.  Tim continues to work with HLA as a PLS (it's fun to use initials) and only had one major accident this year, which required a trip to the ER and an official broken finger. 

8. We are so thankful for our church body, we learn from, grow with, and experience life with these precious people.  We are so thankful to call them our family. 

9.  Family vacations are more fun when you drive to the desired location.  Spending uninterrupted time in the car as a family is priceless. 

10. Watching our children have relationships that are sweet with their grandparents is so special.  Knowing that my children know their grandparents, and even their great grandma's is something I believe they will cherish their entire life, as I cherish it in mine.  I thank the Lord that He has graciously given us this blessing.  

11.  Though our home is not always spotless, it is clean and comfortable and open to any and all that want to sit a spell.  We love to have others in our home, and hope one day you will be able to join us. 

12.  The Lord God has given us all of this for now, and we are so very thankful for HIS provision, guidance, instruction, discipline, and LOVE without which we would not be who we are today.  We are thankful beyond words and pray that each of you experience His love in a genuine way.  

May the Lord bless you and keep you as you finish out this year, and look forward to the next.  

Tim, Tyffany, TJ, Avarie and Lylah Fries

TJ+Treadmill=Trouble

So the story goes....

Tim was working out and Avarie was walking slowly on the treadmill when TJ walked in and decided to jump onto the treadmill with her.  However, just as Tim said "NO" and TJ jumped on anyway, he tripped and fell creating these wonderful burns on his back.  He has a couple on his elbows too. 

 Thankfully Avarie was listening and pulled the cord right away or it could have been so much worse. 

 I am thankful that Tim was there, and that Avarie was listening.  TJ has learned that listening is important and that when dad says no, he needs to obey.  It has been a good lesson for him. It also will be a while before either of them are able to go on the treadmill again. 

eey-ouch

Beautiful

Have I mentioned how much I love living here?

Under Attack

This is what happens when you have an almost 9 year old who loves Lego and sees the opportunity to take over a community when the villages get put up.  You see, the "bad" skeleton had taken the community hostage and the ninjas (who are good) came to protect them.  See how the one skeleton is face down.  He has been DESTROYED... So if you come to visit, keep your eyes out, there is quite possibly some kind of take-over/rescue happening somewhere in my home.  

Even the Nativity is not immune....

Posers

One thing our children are NOT is shy in front of the camera.  Lylah was playing with these sunglasses so of course I thought it was cute and whipped out the camera to take a picture of her.  The older kids could not resist posing for pictures as well.  Aren't they the cutest things ever! 

 Our friend Christun put this feather in Avarie's hair.  She LOVES it and is looking forward to adding some more.  One day soon she may look like a peacock.  At least she won't be alone as mom has 2 in her hair as well. Tim continues to remind me that I am not 12 and should most likely remove them from my hair. :)

I can't get TJ to take a picture without using some kind of hand gesture.  His favorite to date is without a doubt the "hook um horns", he is his father's son.  

Under the Christmas Tree

The day after we put up the Christmas tree I found Avarie sitting under it just looking up.  She was watching the lights and the ornaments.  After a little bit I noticed that not only had Avarie spent a good deal of time under the tree, but Lylah had joined her and they were just cuddling looking at the tree.  Such sweet memories our girls are making.  

Happy Thanksgiving...

We went to Bob and Velma's for the afternoon on Thanksgiving day.  We ate a scrumptious dinner and played a rousing game of Bingo.  I didn't get many pictures, but we had a great time! 

In the evening Jon and Erin joined us for dessert, so Lylah and Pax got to spend some quality time together. As usual Lylah chose the activities they would play....