7,6,5,4,3,2,1....Happy New Year!!!

I don't have pictures because of course I forgot my camera, but wanted to tell you a little about our New Year's Eve. Natalie, Madison, a friend for each and Xander hung out at home with Grandma. Natalie spent her own money on napkins, plates, a table cloth and some junk food. They watched some fun movies and danced the New Year in with Grandma cheering them on the whole time. Xander was up until 1:30am the girls just after 2. Wow! They were amazing!

Josh, Chrissta and Benson headed to our friends the Smith's to ring in the New Year. They have a son just a year older than Benson and so they had fun together. Also, our friends Darren and Karen Hyatt and their daughter Taylor and her friend Ali were there. We enjoyed panini's with my new panini press (thanks Uncle Kyle), veggies, and snacks of all kinds. We had a tournament of games. We shot pool and free throws, played Guitar Hero and Singstar, board games Apples to Apples and Scattergorries, and threw darts. After each event we were rated from 1-10 and awarded points accordingly. Stan and Jill, our extraordinary host and hostess, even gave out prizes. I won a movie gift card and some movie candy (which I used the next day when Jill and I and our friend Lynn went to see "Juno"). WOW!! What an event. We rolled in about
3 a.m. Haven't done that since the last chick movie night where we saw Becoming Jane and then went to "breakfast". Josh and Benson got up at 9 on New Year's day and went swimming in Barton Springs, an outdoor swimming area that is part of the Colorado River. They loved it and want it to be a new family tradition...the jury is still deliberating on that idea. Xander, on the other hand didn't roll out of bed until 11:30. Sweet!

It is a good time to celebrate the year past and look forward to what lies ahead. Oh yeah, and kick it up a notch or two with some new goals. Happy New Year Y'all!!

All is Merry and Bright!

I consider myself the "Anti-Martha"{Stewart}.I have nothing against her. In fact I think she found her sense of humor while incarcerated. She has talents without number, more than the sands of the sea. I, however, have none of them! I don't iron my sheets. I don't have a garden of Eden in my handmade kitchen window box. I don't have candles in decoratively cut paper bags lining my driveway. There is no turkey sitting in a 24 hour brine bath in preparation for a huge Christmas dinner. And once again my Christmas cards did not get sent to all the people I love the most (or even to anyone I don't like that much.) I also probably won't send out many hand written thank you cards for all the wonderful gifts I have received from kind and generous friends and family. (Please accept my apologies in advance.)

However, I did want to write a few thoughts as well as attach this picture Uncle Kyle took of us Sunday after church. It was the only time in a while all of our hair was combed and clothes pressed at the same time. Carpe Diem!

Just in case anyone wonders, the Hinze family is Christian. We celebrate, this time of year, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We rejoice in His birth, His life, His atonement, His crucifixion and His resurrection. We celebrate the fact that we are an eternal family, and that we will be together forever, even after this life. We strive to live like He did: loving and serving others. To you, our friends and family we wish you a Merry Christmas and a new year full of joy, prosperity and peace! Not just peace in this tumultuous world we live in, but true peace in your hearts. The peace that comes from knowing who you are, knowing you are loved by that Jesus spoken of, and living true to that knowledge. We love you all!

Sister, Sisters, there were never such devoted sisters!

Xander, Brandi, Chrissta and Jeni


Somehow this picture that includes Jeni was left off my post about visitors from Seattle. Thanks to a conversation with my friend Kristen I realized I neglected to add this photo to the others. Not a great picture of any of us and our 7 chins, but wanted it up here anyway.






Brandi, Chrissta, Tara

I wanted to put this one up again cuz we actually don't look hideous!

I have cool sisters! Sure love you gals!

Zion Storm Morgan

On November 16, 2007 Mr. Zion Storm Morgan, our newest nephew was born to my sister Tara and husband Byron. He is a cute bug! We love him!

Grandpa Steve and Grandma Gwen

We had some other special visitors recently. Grandpa Steve (Josh's Dad) and Grandma Gwen came to visit. They went to Cabela's with Xander and Josh, Christmas shopped with Natalie and Benson, we all enjoyed some yummy TexMex at Chuy's and of course BarBQ at Rudy's. They got to see Benson play Basketball and of course brought the kids their Christmas Advent Calendars they give them every year! It was great to see them. Ironically they came the same time Brandi and Eric came so we were sharing our time between them, but we had a great time none the less.

Visitors From Seattle

My sister Brandi and her family (husband Eric, kids Amara, Sullivan and Finnigan) came for

2 1/2 weeks. It was amazing! I stayed up later than usual and we talked and talked. The kids wore out the trampoline. The cousins absolutely loved each other. Fun was had by all. Enjoy some of my pictures from this FANTASTIC visit! In the beginning my sister Jeni was here too. What a blast!

District Champs Again!!

Once again Benson's football team went undeafeted this year and have been crowned District Champs!! It has been so fun to watch him play (#65 left side front row) and see them all improve. They were good last year, but they improved so much. My prediction is that in about three years when these guys are juniors in High School we will be traveling to state tournaments. Way to go Jags!!