The Noehren's

We made it home from our trip before Christmas, so we were able to have a yummy Christmas Eve dinner at our house.  We invited the missionaries and our friend Caroline (who is in scrubs because she had to work at the ER that night) and my parents.  My dad provided his fabulous mashed potatoes and green beans again.  Yum!  Per our tradition, we read the Christmas story by candlelight, and then open one gift.  So, we made sure the missionaries and Caroline had something to open too!  They are good sports.    Christmas day for us is all about lounging in pajamas, opening presents, and eating leftovers.  Haley couldn't believe the $50 itunes card from Mimi.  She was bonkers.   The kids used some of their Christmas money to buy Keva blocks.  They've played with them for hours at some museums we've gone to, but now they have their own box.  They are a hit.  So simple, but so fun.  We might be some ...

Three years ago we started a new family Christmas tradition.  Instead of getting tons of presents, we decided to take a yearly Christmas trip instead, and it has been amazing!  We are able to splurge a little, create memories and relax during a very busy time of year for our family.   I try to find good deals on big resorts.  First, we went to French Lick Resort in Indiana.  Then we went to the Opryland Hotel in Nashville last year.  This year I found a good deal for the Homestead Resort in Virginia, close to where we used to live in Lexington, Virginia.  First, we spent 2 days with some of our favorite people - The Clarks.  We became fast friends over 13 years ago and it is always like no time passes when we get together.  It was so fun to visit our old town, drive by our old house and mostly to just laugh and laugh with the Clarks.    The kids played so nicely with cute Gabby.  She calls Haley and Grant her big b...

Over the last year or so, I have helped my friend Joy do a few things for her custom drapery business. I usually help her install, and occasionally help with the rough cuts and other odds and ends.  It has been such a huge blessing and I have loved working with her.  Plus, she's a fellow mom and works the same hours I do - from bus to bus.   She works from her home and is amazingly talented.  She works for a local design firm and makes whatever they give her to make.  Here is her website if you would like to see some of her work:   www.sewjoy.com .   Well, this fall she got a huge rush order job for a whole entire house - 33 windows - for a president's house of a small university in Kentucky.  Plus, nearly all the windows had custom built cornices, which takes even more time.  So, rather than working here or there, I worked everyday from 9 - 2:30 at her house for most November and December.  We worked our tails off and got it al...

Taking family photos for our Christmas cards is one of my family's least favorite things to do.  I love it, they hate it.  I plan it all out, get excited, they complain a bunch, and then I get angry.  I like to think that's what is really going on behind those glowing pictures on everyone's beautiful cards to make myself feel better.   So, to avoid the drama, this year I kept it quick and easy.  We used my parents brick courtyard as our backdrop and had my mom snap a bunch of pictures with my camera.  It honestly took 15 minutes tops and nobody got angry - even me!    I love this one of Haley!    I think we used this one on the card with Brian's shoe cropped out  They might not be professional, but everyone was happy and that's good enough for me! We decorated the house,   Played dreidel,   and went to my dad's holiday chorus concert. I also helped plan and decorate our war...