I am really excited about our new stove!! I have been wanting a new stove since we moved in this house 4 years ago but it wasn't something that I HAD to have right then. Several reasons for wanting one and NEEDING one were 1) when we first bought this house we discovered the hinges on the oven door were broken, Vince offered to get some replacements then to fix the problem but I hated to spend the money on hinges when the stove wasn't my pick in the first place. 2) I had gotten really spoiled to my previous stove in the fact that it had a time bake option, which I loved when I couldn't be home to turn the oven off but wanted hot food when I arrived, as well as it was self cleaning which also comes in very handy when you have a nasty oven, which is what my previous stove was!!!! 3) I had never had a gas stove/oven before and I wasn't sure how I'd like it and when I did get a new stove if I would want gas again or electric. Since I have decided that I LOVE GAS - it heats up so quick and now when I'm at my moms and think her stuff is never going to boil, I miss my gas! 4) Since the hinges were broken, it took great talent to either prop the door on a chair to get the contents out, OR prop the door on your knee while you removed the HOT food all at the same time trying not to burn yourself and/or spill the food. This is partly b/c if you didn't know you had to do this before hand, then the door would slam on the kitchen floor which is tile and there went the handle... so lately, not only did you have to prop the door up you also had to open the door at one particular end of the handle b/c if you did not then the whole handle would fall off. Needless to say, it was time to purchase a new stove. Thanks Sears for your recent great sale that I got an awesome stove that we all LOVE!!!
The new stove!!!
the old door propped oven and the MESS inside
The old stove
Mari-Todd, Emilia, Pressly, Carson, & Jack
My "gifts" from Vince
A special gift from my dad, I didn't even know he knew what this stuff was!!!
A pretty princess with a bow...
Sweet hugs....
My Daddy
THE pyramid!!
Just a sweet boy, with a new BB gun..
A pretty girl too
We had a lot of fun on Christmas at our house. On Christmas Eve we have started a tradition of having a family over for supper that is from out of town and rarely gets to spend the actual holiday with any of their immediate family. This year, Vince grilled the most awesome steaks and we had the best time. They bring their kids in their pj's and I already have mine in theirs and we just enjoy the "night before Christmas" Then I love to plan/prepare our Christmas morning breakfast, which is always a little more than we normally have. This year, Carson and Emilia begged my parents to spend the night and we graciously welcomed them. They seem to help get the kids in the bed and keep them there so Santa can come early! Of course, we were awoken around 6:45 but who can deny an excited child from getting up early to see what Santa brought???? So here we went. So much fun. We looked at all that Santa had left, then we ate breakfast casserole, sausage balls, monkey bread and fruit pizza. Then we all got dressed and enjoyed opening gifts from each other. Then it was NAP time, what I had been looking for. After a good nap, we made homemade Chicken Noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for supper and then were off to the movies. Another tradition we started about three years ago. This year to see the CHIPMUNKS!!! So cute. By the time this was over, it was time for bed and much needed rest. I have to say, we had a GREAT CHRISTmas and are so thankful for Jesus' birthday and the opportunity to celebrate it! 
