Wonder & Joy

Life has been full of *Wonder & Joy* at the Ruley house...

hope it's been the same for you!

The Nights Before CHRISTmas

Smiles for Smores

A fabulous four
Nana & Grandad's Christmas
Yummy dinner was had

Gift opening is rad

a personalized goal for O

Abby w/ her cousin Zo

Sweet dolls unwrapped...Ella like

Grandad reveals Abby's new Bike

"Pretty in Pink" is the Bike's cute name Will's new Ripstik...out it came!

Favorite gift received this year

Time for OU gifts...let's cheer!

Nana received lots of *Bling!

Our 1st iPad made us sing!

CHRISTmas Eve at Mimi's

Some of my Ruley Kin

Uncle Brad with little men

Ella gives Aunt Cindy homemade art

Singamigs warm everyone's heart

Toys that harmonize like a team

Feathers must be this year's theme!

Holiday Locks of Love

Today was the day!

After many months of growing her hair out, my Abby Lou decided it was time to say goodbye.

We measured one last time before heading to the salon...
Yep! We've got at least 10 inches!
(the Locks of Love minimum requirement)
Not only was this a super busy time to decide to do this (the week of Christmas), but this Momma was soooo sad to say goodbye to Abby's gorgeous mane! She has the kind of hair that I work very hard to achieve via products & a flat iron! :-)

We arrived at the salon and asked for "Nish" - the sweet gal who cut Will & Ella's hair over Thanksgiving...I knew she could do a great job!

She measured and then gave us a visual...

I hooked Will up with the video camera while I handled the still photography...

Oh my...here we go!!

Chop...Chop...GONE!

Thankfully Nish kept some hair out of the ponytail up front so that Abby could have

a swing style bob (HIGHLY recommend doing this!)

At this point, I'm still super nervous seeing how absolutely short the back of Abby's hair was...breathe Katie...breathe.

Abby gets her 1st look at her new 'do...can't tell for sure if that's a fake smile or not.

Thank you Nish for doing such a great job!

Once home, Abby went straight to the bathroom to play with her new style...

then one last pic with her donation.

Packaged and ready for shipment...

I think some little girl is going to be very, very happy :-)

And this girl...well, let's just say, she loves her new hairstyle so much that I'm not sure she'll ever grow it out again! :-)

Locks of Love Website:

http://www.locksoflove.org/

Wordless Wednesday

Perfect Pairings ~ Nehemiah 8:10

The girls at our Sunday School class annual

*Birthday Party for Jesus*

They were full of *JOY as they danced & pranced all night long....

celebrating the Birth of our Savior!

For the Joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b

(one of my all time favorite scriptures!)

All I Want For Christmas Is...

I got such a kick reading my children's Christmas Lists this year. I actually think it's the first year the girls have even made a list. Now Will, on the other hand, always meticulously gets a list together...but, that's just how he rolls!

Check out how super organized it is...and it was of course, his list was e-mailed. He's all high tech and stuff. :-) I was totally cracking up at his #7 - guess I know what to put in his stocking this year! ha #9 is also comical since we don't even own a Mac computer.

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Will’s Christmas wish list (age 11)

1. RipStick Caster Board, silver - $59.00

2. NERF N-Strike Stampede ECS-50 Blaster - $44.00

3. The Lost Hero, Rick Riordan, Book - $11.39

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the ugly truth, Book - $8.37

5. Sony MDREX33LP/WHI Sweet Little Buds Silicone EarBuds, White - $14.88

6. Epiphone SG-Special Electric Guitar, Black - $169.99

7. Essence Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Stick – around $5.00

8. Flash Furniture Mesh Back Computer Chair, Black - $55.00

9. Apple Keyboard with numeric keypad - $49.00

10. North Face jacket/coat - $70.00-150.00

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Next Up - Abby's List (age 9)

It was a far cry from her older brother's...first off, it was bound with pink ribbon. Second of all, the list was numbered to #71...although she could only think of 53 things. She pretty much wrote down everything but the kitchen sink! Then, she went back and scratched out things she either changed her mind on, or she thought wouldn't make the cut (including #29 - a "Pet Dog-Yorkie").

#25 Justin Bieber CD - oh yeah...and, I even got her a matching groupie tee to go with it! She's gonna love me!!

#48 - Coca Cola (This is a super fun thing I started 3 years ago. Since we don't allow the kids to have caffeinated beverages, but they have to watch their beloved Daddy drink a Coke every day...this is the biggest high of their Christmas day! I get each of them an old fashioned glass bottled Coke...and they get to drink it with lunch. It's truly a magical moment!)

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Ella Bella's Letter to Santa

(she wrote at school; age 6)

To decipher the end for you: "You are so nice. Thank you for the presents. Do you really fly and do you like chocolate? Love, Ella" Priceless!

My precious baby girl is so dang cute! All she wants is a desk for her room. Truly. She has been dreaming of having her own little work space to do all her arts & crafts projects. She said she didn't really even want an iPod...just a desk. Only problem is...how does one wrap a desk??

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And, last but not least...Owen's Wish List Stocking (age 4) he made at pre-school.

Apparently, he glued on whatever he could find in the magazine...which wasn't much! He's not even into Star Wars! lol His two loves are cars and sports...and his room is already overflowing with both. Had to get creative thinking of what to get the boy. What he would choose over anything? A wrestling match with his big brother and Daddy!

Flashback Friday

Ahhh, it's been too much fun going back and looking through old Holiday photo's.

The following are from Christmas 2002

This was from the day we took our Christmas Card pic...entitled *Wishing you a LATTE love this Christmas* - Starbucks had just made it's way to Tulsa...in Utica Square of course!

Abby Lou on Christmas Morn
The homemade blankets Aunt Cindy made each of the grandkids
Nana & Grandad's Christmas - always a magical time!
A Holiday Party - Will (3 1/2), Abby (18 mo)

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness."
~ Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian.