My Favorite Time of the Year- Christmas!!!

To me, Christmas is the best time of the year! Through the years, my parents did such a great job showing me that Christmas means spending time with family, showing others you care, making time for each other and spending quality time as a family. It wasn't about the gifts under the tree but togetherness!

Making cookies/treats, decorating the house with decorations galore, and making sure every branch on the tree had an ornament no matter what the condition of it was b.c it had a memory.

My favorite Christmas' were the ones where we made things for each other. Another favorite was the year Troy and I each received our very own puppy (mine was Candy/Troy's was Clyde) and a pair of skates. That was it! It wasn't the amount of gifts but the meaning behind each gift that mattered.

Ever since Adam and I have been married, we have tried to continue traditions of both of our families and to make our own family traditions.

                                                              What a beautiful sight!

                  Little Miss Personality!!! She actually made Santa's nice list this year! We were a bit worried!

                                                          They are the best of buddies!!!

                                                                      HAPPINESS!

                                               My homeys!!! I love each of you with all my heart!

       Our family tradition- PJs, hot chocolate and cruis'n around Platte City to check out neighborhood lights!

                                     QT has the BEST hot chocolate! Now we're ready for the lights!

                 Cali chose a QT slush this year! It was in the teens, brrr! That's our girl! Loves to be different!

                  Acting silly while making our sugar cookies! Daddy kept us laughing the whole time!

                                                Cader and Cali's hands- PRECIOUS!!!!!!!!

                                                                      Love my kiddos!

                                                        Those little hands are God's gift!

Cade's 5th Grade Concert

It's amazing to think that Cade is in 5th grade and soon to be in middle school! It's bittersweet! I thought we needed to make sure we captured just how handsome he looks when he does dress up! Cader we are so proud of you! You amaze us daily with your kindness, gentleness, and calmness! Notice how Cali insisted on being in the pic! Gotta love little Liu!

                                                                     I LOVE this pic!

WE ARE THANKFUL!!!

When I think of November, I think of what I am thankful for... GOD
                                                                                              FAMILY
                                                                                              FRIENDS
                                                                                              HEALTH
                                                                                              HAPPINESS
                                                                                              LOVE
WOW! God is amazing! He works within us in ways we didn't know were possible!

We were so fortunate to spend Thanksgiving with our family! We had a lunch with Pop/Boca (Mike/Cheryl) and dinner with Grandpa/Grandma (my dad/mom). We feel so blessed to be able to see both families on holidays. It was so nice to be with the ones we love!

                                                                   Bubby and Cali Liu

                                        Boca, Cade, Cali and Pop enjoying their new sun room!

                                           Daddy and Cali hanging out at Grandpa/Grandma's

                                                                   McGinness Crew!!!

                             Lindsay, Cali, Austin, G.pa, G.ma, Cader, and Cody (What a crew!)

                                                       Grandma Taylor, Joel and Audrey

                                                                       Pure Happiness!

                                                          Geri, Boca (Cheryl), and Glenda

In love with the ALLURE!

This month, thanks to Cruise Holidays, Adam and I were able to head to Ft. Lauderdale and take a trip on the biggest cruise ship in the world, Allure of the Seas! It was my 1st cruise and it was AMAZING! We were able to enjoy  the sights and entertainment of Ft. Lauderdale prior to boarding the ship! Thanks Adam for making it a special time!

                      Yes, this is it! We stayed on the 7th floor with an ocean side deck view! Pure JOY!

Up on the top deck as we deported Ft. Lauderdale

                                                                Enjoying time together!

                                                                      Captain Adam

                                                           It was like a city on the sea!!!!!

                                 Taken just after a parade on the promenade (notice the Chinese dragon)!

                                                                Relaxing at Central Park

                                                               Looks like a lifeguard again!

                                                  I can't get enough of this ship! It's a beauty!

                                     We hope to return with the kids soon!!! What a fun time!
                                                     THANKS for the memories, Adam!

What a "Spook-tacular" time!

Happy Halloween to all! Cali is the cutest witch ever! She called herself a PIRATE WITCH (note the orange and black). Cade is getting to the age where he just dug through his costumes of the past and found a little of this and that to make a great costume! Thanks for joining in on the funny, Cader!

                         Adam attended a Chamber Halloween gathering! He makes a great cowboy!

October Happenings

WOW! October has been such a BUSY month! We want to show you all the fun things we have been doing throughout the month! Cali went to her 1st Cheerleading Clinic! You have to look closely to see her in some pics! Her ponytails helped spot her in the midst of the crowd. What a fun event for Cali Liu!

Cade turned 11 years old on October 6th! He amazes us each day! He is such a great little guy! He makes us proud! This year he celebrated his party with one of his best buddies, Noah, who turned 11 on October 5th! We had a "party divided", KU (Noah's team) and MU (Cade's team). It was hard letting the KU decor  into our home! We had a great group of boys over for a party! I hate to admit it but there were more KU fans than MU! They even "tried" to coax Cali into turning into a jayhawk, ugh!

Platte County celebrated Pirate Homecoming. I have pics of Cade and some buddies! Of course, little Liu jumped in some pics too! She loves her Bubby and his friends!

Adam and the kids moved our firepit closer to the house! It is perfect for us to enjoy small fires and smores! Cade and his buddies enjoyed a campfire for his birthday!

Last weekend we went to Pumpkins Etc., our favorite pumpkin patch! The kids enjoyed the maze, jumping the hay, searching for kittens to hold, and picking pumpkins! What a fun time for the whole family! We will add pics soon!