Christmas 2016

So, because it's almost Christmas again and have lots to update on here - an all encompassing December post! 

The Christmas parade was actually postponed by one week due to rain but that was fine with us - because it meant that we could all go! 

Caleb loved the band the most at the parade and was excited about meeting Santa...until it came time to meet Santa.  Still crying!!!  He says he's going to smile this year...we'll see! 

Christmas Eve, Doc and Allie came and played in the leaves until it was time to make Christmas cookies.

 Caleb and Kate both enjoyed decorating but Caleb was a little more distracted by eating and was able to sneak more cookies than he was supposed to eat.

Oh, well! 

The next morning, we did Santa presents with the basketball

and American girl doll

being the presents that the kids had specifically asked for. However, I think that this animal puzzle David got for caleb was the winner.

After church and David working, we all came back for lunch and family presents.

Then that evening, Philip and Kenna came and we had brunch. 

Then we opened more presents.

I love that my family has been able to come each year for Christmas. 

Hope that this continues now that we have Eleanor and Abigail!  After David finished working, we went to Decatur. 

The kids LOVE playing with Nana and I think she was pleased with her gift!

Then we were able to go to Spring City this year to see GG.  So glad we got to go.  It even snowed some while we were there. 

A great Christmas season!

Christmas 2015

Can we say that I am SO far behind?!  It is so hard to find time to write when working full time, taking care of two kids, church, family, etc.  Usually, my free time is spent not free or napping.  Ha!  Anyway, this year my family came into town the weekend before Christmas and we celebrated with them at that time.

We did brunch again and then opened presents.

 Caleb was a little more interested but still preferred to just play.

Christmas Eve, Kate made cookies for Santa,

put out Reindeer food,

 and opened Christmas PJ's with Caleb.

  Earlier that night we went to Christmas Eve service at church.  It was interesting to say the least.  There was no church nursery, so we had to take Caleb to the service.  He did well for about 3 songs and then wanted to walk around.  I took him out to the foyer for a while, then went back in for the last two songs.  He thrilled everyone by yelling "YAY!" and clapping after each song was over.  Ha! 

Then it was time to go to sleep so Santa could come - which, of course, he did!

Christmas morning, we opened presents from Santa.  Caleb acted like he liked his bear, who is now his FAVORITE, but he was really most interested in his banana cookies!  I think he ate four!  

Kate was pretty much excited about every gift Santa brought her (except for the math workbooks...which she had specifically asked for!  Go figure!)

Santa even surprised me with an ornament that has my favorite Bible verse, Ephesians 2:10, on it!

 

After opening presents from Santa, we had breakfast. I made eggs, gluten free blueberry biscuits, and fruit.  Everyone enjoyed it.  After we ate, we opened family presents. 

David got some surprises including Jurassic Park and a smoker!  Kate and Caleb just had lots of fun opening presents.

 After we finished presents, we packed up and went to Decatur to see David's family.  I am so thankful for the time we had with them.  There were LOTS of presents!  Granddaddy got a putting green, which I'm SURE he has used millions of times. 

 

Caleb enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper and Kate was super excited about her new shoes (which are anything but new looking now!).  

Caleb also had fun with the Snoopy Christmas piano toy.  

Then they both got some good snuggles with GG and GP.  

And of COURSE, there was Mickey Mouse watching with granddaddy! 

 The next day there were more presents and we found that we have an up and coming cheerleader on our hands! 

 We had a great Christmas!  I just hope that Caleb likes Santa more next year - though this picture cannot be denied as classic! :-)

 

2014 Christmas Card

This is just the front of the card.  To see the whole this (which includes a baby announcement!), clinic here!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AaOGbJu0bN2bxw

The End of 2013 Christmas Celebrations

We celebrated Christmas with my family the weekend after.  My brother and his wife came to see her parents, so we set aside Saturday morning for our celebration.

We haven't really had any specific traditions.  We actually have had different dinners over the past few years from lamb to plov (a yummy Russian rice dish) to fish.  This year, we decided to have brunch.  It was perfect!  I think we all decided that this is our new tradition.  Everyone arrived around 10 and we chatted while I fixed the food.  Kenna even painted K's toenails.

Sylin' huh?

  We had waffles, fruit, sausage balls, and eggs.

Then we opened presents.  K got the first present...as there was no hiding it!

I asked my dad to make her a dress-up storage center.  I found one on Amazon and he copied it.  It turned out PRECIOUS!

Then, after she figured out what was going on, K was so sweet in giving "Doc" a hug.

 After that, we all hunkered down in the den and started opening presents.  K got some fun stuff.  Can't forget Princess Ana.

  Kenna gave me a really cute monogrammed chevron scarf.

Loved it!  K gave Philip and MS State keychain...he was a little dramatic

but it led to some CUTE pictures!

I think K liked watching everyone open their presents just as much as opening her own.

We got a measuring stick that we need to hang and mark K on before she starts growing more. 

Philip and Kenna ended up staying until 2, much longer than we thought.  So thankful for family and getting to celebrate with them!