Christmas fun

Last week, we got to do some fun things together before the big day!  Skippy left us a gingerbread house to make.  The kids had a blast. 

 Stuffing, labeling and getting Chritsmas cards ready

Attending the advent services in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  I am a bit partial, but these two melt my heart.  They are beautiful inside and out.  

Olivia couldn't stand it any longer.  Once night she came down and brought me the present she made at school.  She decorated a plate that now sits in the kitchen on a stand.  She was so proud of her plate and I am so proud of her! 

Baking with friends....   I love Amy Corbin time!  We both eat Paleo and we have found that we enjoy cooking together.  This year we baked at our house because she sold her house.  We had an extra helper, but we had a lot of fun.  I love how patient and great she is with both of my kids.

Christmas card out takes

I mentioned that it took 127 pictures to get 1 good one.  We started outside with a cute sign.  They successfully tore the sign up.  Here are some funny pictures when we just needed the 1.

I will just take this off and that off.....

Now run! 

Easton, whatcha doing back there?  

It looks like whoever hits the buzzer first gets a point for their team.

Hey Easton, you see that?!  Look down.  

Pardon the fella for a potty break!

My sock!  The seam on his sock was bothering him.  I was the exact.same.way!

Sit, stay and smile!  1,2, 3....ok, we will try again!

Yes!  Now print and GO! 

Christmas 2015

Christmas is a time filled with busy schedules, family, whiny and tired kids, food that I should NOT eat, and fun.  This year, we really tried to focus on the fun of the season.  I soaked up everyday.  Each season I get to go shopping with dad.  He hates to shop, but we manage to laugh and have fun.  Our first shopping trip out we never made it out of the car from the parking lot where we met.  Bust.  We went the next night and got mom's present.  He then wrapped it himself (which I usually do all of his wrapping.)  I love when dad is silly.  He wrapped it in several boxes only after giving her an air conditioning grate and a faucet.  She got a new ipad!  Way to go Buppy.  He is one of a kind and I am so lucky he is my dad!

The season continued to fly by and before we knew it, it was time for Christmas at John's moms' house.  Olivia and Easton unfortunately shared their funk they had had and now Nana had it.  She didn't feel well, but had us all over and fed us and then we did presents. (she wasn't contagious!)   I had some very happy kiddos.  Their cousins on this side are all adults (except 1 teenager), so my kids get away with a lot of there.

Amber, Olivia's oldest cousin, has a heart of gold.  She and her husband are always so thoughtful and do way too much for our family at Christmas.  Olivia loves "Hamburger."

This kid LOVES music!  He was so excited to get this!  Way to go Amber.  

Yep, this happened.  No clue, but 10 seconds later.....

....life is good again!

Olivia was super excited to get the horse for her American Girl doll.  Little did she know that a few days later she would be getting her new AG doll! 

 He has quite the personality!  Here he is pointing to Chase saying, "I love lou Chase! I love lou Chase!  (over and over)

He's baaaccckkk!

 I haven't done a great job at documenting Skippy our elf this year.  He has had many adventures and has been nice!  He has hidden in the tree, built a snowman, hidden candy canes, roasted marshmallows, made donuts, taken a spa day, brought a gingerbread house to build, flown from the fan, drew on a map picture,  and was found riding on the reindeer.  Olivia jumps up each morning to find where he is.  A few days she thought he didn't show up.  Her behavior has been fine, but Easton has good days and bad ones.  

Easton....did you do this?!  Look at that face!

No Easton, it's ok, Skippy did it!  

 It's hard when Easton doesn't quite understand not to touch the elf.  He knows now!  He gets close and says, "Hi skippy! No touch!"

We came home from our last day of school before break and Skippy had left us a note.  They had to find 12 hidden candy canes.  Olivia had a blast!

Even Oscar joined in helping look for the candy canes. 

Christmas trees

We decorate our trees here at home, go to mammy and buppy's to decorate theirs and also help with Nana and Mickmick's.  Unfortunately, we found that angels and nutcrackers don't bounce, they break into lots of tiny little pieces.  Mammy handled it really well, but packed her ornaments away this year in boxes of 'kids can help' and 'don't touch, kids'.  Adeline would check to see if they would break by throwing them on the floor and then let us know if it "blakeded" or not.  Easton got wind of what she was doing and chucked an angel across the room.  Isn't he a laugh a minute?!   Luckily, that one didn't break either.  We had fun nonetheless, and all trees looked gorgeous when finished!

Yes, that is our Christmas tree skirt around Olivia.  Based on her shirt, this was also the day we made our Chirstmas card picture.  It only took 127 pictures to get ONE good one.  I think I will post some out takes of the pictures.  Whew!