Whittle's Wine Tasting

The Whittle's went on the weekend getaway that we gave them for Christmas. They went to a bed and breakfast in College Station and visited Messinahof Winery. So this weekend they offered a fun wine tasting night at their house. 

We all brought a bottle and tried some of theirs. 

Everyone brought food. I made grilled pizza and Jamie made a delicious spinach, artichoke dip, the Schillers brought strawberry shortcake. 

Drew lead us in learning the techniques of fine wine tasting. 

The ever so classy decanter.

Chocolate truffles are a must at any sophisticated wine tasting. 

The Schillers brought the most delicious Strawberry dessert Wine.

It was a very fun night of DANCING!

Super Bowl Watching Party 2012

Our annual Super Bowl party is always at the Whittle's house. But this is not an official Life Group function. The Super Bowl party is a time to chillax and kick back. New friends and old friends come to hang out and we throughly enjoy ourselves. 

Jen Rosene made these delicious oreo truffels 

We had so much food! But the fondu was the biggest hit!

We did not have sitters at this event like we usually do at official Life Group meetings so the kids were on their own to roam free and wild. 

 Rats and kids make the party complete. 

Serious men watching the game.

Their silly wives talking and giggling. 

We picked Super Bowl squares blind. Then Drew and Grayson drew the numbers. 

Girls texting each other while sitting right next to each other. 

The boys hangin' out. 

The baby girls.

 I love how all the ladies in this picture are not even looking at the game. 

The big girls put on a play upstairs and at half time made us all come up to watch it. 

There is something so odd about a 50 year old cheerleader, but Madona rocked it.

Everyone stops what they are doing to watch the half-time show. We just genuinely enjoy each other's company and spending down time together. 

The final results of the squares game.

Another fun night had by all even it was unofficial. :)

Guy's Night!

The guys decided to get together for a fun night of food and well, more food.  First, fresh made guacamole and salsa appetizers.  Then Longhorn burgers and home cut potatoes slices.  Throw on some chili and homemade pork-n-beans and have your best made man meal.  Not to be outdone without dessert which was a decedent hazelnut flavored cheesecake with 50 cent whip cream on top.  Here's to guys night, the most succulent tastes of the year!!!

Thanks John for getting us together to talk about music and make some inoffensive jokes. 

 Posted by Max

Girl's Nigh Out - Casserole Exchange

Sorry, I totally forgot to take pictures on this night, but it was fun. We met over at Erin Stubbing's house. It was Mandy, Erin Stubbing, Kristy, Sulayne and Erin Cryer. I'll tell you how to do a casserole exchange incase we want to do again and we forget. :) Basically, each person makes 4 casseroles/easy to put together meals (could be sloppy joes, hearty soup, bbq chicken, etc..). Everyone brings the 4 casseroles with them to the exchange and you leave with 4 different ones. You could make 5 and keep one for yourself. They need to be in disposable tins—enough for the biggest family to eat. So in a 9x13 or 8x8. Print out recipe and instructions (whether it’s ok to freeze or not). At the exchange, each casserole is assigned a number, and you write that number down 4 times. Everyone will draw 4 numbers and take those casseroles home. This eliminates everyone picking one and leaving one so no one’s feelings are hurt—unless there are allergies.


An interesting topic we talked about though was when our kids begin to mature and change. Our Life Group watched the Mary Flow video addressing the issues of how important it is to not make the topic of sex taboo or body changes shameful. Talk about it openly and honestly. Some good books that were suggested are the American Girl books, Ready, Set, Grow!: A What's Happening to My Body? Book for Young Girls by Lynda Madaras and Linda Davick, The Care and Keeping of You by Valorie Schaefer, The Care and Keeping Collection (American Girl) by Dr. Lynda Madison, Is This Normal?:Girls Questions, Answered by the Editors of the Care and Keeping of Your (American Girl).


It was a fun and enlightening discussion and it's nice to not be alone while we figure out how to help our kids as they grow and change into the tweens and teens God wants them to be. We are able to help each other as our role as parents shift and change from less of a nurturer to more of a guider and helper.

Christmas Party

Each year we have our annual Christmas party on New Year's Eve because we are all so busy before Christmas. :)

This is Drew, our leader. I kind of imagine him saying in a slow, soft, Spainish accent, 

"Happy New Year, my friends. I am the most interesting man in the WORLD."

Dinner at the Engmans!

We missed those that couldn't make it, but they were having fun on vacation with family. 

Gift Exchange!

We just wrap something up that we find around our house that we don't want or need anymore. It is always funny to see what gets opened.

What a fun and silly night.

And last, but not least, we presented our leaders with a Christmas gift from the entire group. There anniversary is in December, but they never celebrate it in December so we gave them a Groupon for 2 nights stay at the Crowne Plaza in Dallas, movie ticket vouchers, and gift certificates for us to clean their house and babysit their kids while they are gone for the weekend and 1 meal the delivered the day they return home. They are so deserving. They have been opening their home, sacrificing their time, and investing personally in each member of this ever changing group for 5 years now with not much in return. It was about time we did something for them. They have got to be mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted and just need to get away to recharge. We pray you feel loved and appreciated by all of us this year, Whittles. Sorry it took us so long. 

Merry Christmas on New Year's Eve from The Whittle Life Group!

Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.


It was the gift God gave us that night that we gathered together to celebrate on this night.

Cookie Exchange

Instead of our usual lesson during Life Group this week we had a children's story time and cookie exchange. 

Jenni brought some books to read to the kids.

Drew read to the big kids in the front room. Doesn't he look like Saint Nicholas rocking in the rocking chair with his glasses on and children surrounding him?

The mom's took turns reading to the younger kids in the living room.

Jenni also brought some many different nativity scenes for the kids to play with. 

Rhett and Charlotte are the group's resident 2 year olds. 

Cookie Time!!

Baby Hannah did not get to enjoy any cookies. 

 

We ate every last crumb and still got to take all this home!

Because we meet at 4:00 on Sunday afternoons The Whittles always DVR the Cowboy game for us. Here are the men watching the game. 

The ladies are always talking in the kitchen.

And more girl talk on the couch. :)

                 Merry Christmas!!
Yet another festive time filled with fun, food, and fellowship.

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3