Christmas Morning!!

We got to talk to Travis' brother Brandon who in on mission in India at 2am. It was awesome and I loved every minute of it! But....morning DID come very early. I felt tiny cold fingers all over my arms and legs and woke up so confused until i realized it was my 2 oldest children's hands and the clock read 6:25am. Ugh. Travis and I were so tired. He said to me, "We should really take a picture..." and I looked all the way across the room from my comfy spot on the couch and said..."Uh-huh" and didn't move. So we didn't get a lot of pictures of the kids actually opening anything, but it was a very successful Christmas! Above is Ethan with his race track. Ethan got a nice remote control car that so far has been indestructable and a dino matchbox car race track to attach to his other race tracks he already has.
Mika got a kitty piano and a purse from Santa. I think her favorite toy was her kitty piano and foam book.

Kaylin was one happy girl. She asked Santa for a giant stuffed lion that could fold out to a huge pillow or fold up to be the animal. She also got a baking center. The rest she got from mom and dad--Santa can't be the favorite! :) (I learned this from my sister Tami!)
Christmas Morning choas. I had everything spotless clean, and it was destroyed in a matter of minutes. But it's alright we had fun.

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve

We headed down to Macon to see my sister's family and my parents. It's so good to be with family over the holidays. It's all I wanted.

We went to a Live Nativity! Here is Grandma Wendy and Ethan, read for it to begin.
Afterwards you can go and pet the animals. Here is Mika petting the donkey.
Here is our Christmas Eve group! Andrew, Angie, Lily and Henry is over on Grandma Wendy's lap, Grandpa and Kaylin, Ethan, Me, Travis and Mika. We were just about to drive home so the kids all got into their PJs.
These are all out of order...oh well. We made sugar cookies for Santa and the kids frosted and sprinkled them. They also got to eat a few. :)

The cookie makers! :)

Me and my adorable newphew Henry. He's so big, I love to hold him!

After a fun day down south, we headed back to the Clarkes where we had a cousin gift exchange, a family tradition. It was fun, first time we saw Breezy and Troy and heard of the news they are expecting. We shared fun memories and something we've learned this year, along with gift giving.

Sunday Best

All dressed up in our Christmas attire!Cute kiddos

Mika is such a cutie at church, she loves her class and her teachers all tell us how cute and funny she is. We sure love that cheesy face!

Snuggling. The next picture Travis took, her eyes were closed. So sweet.

Last Day of School for 2 weeks!

It was the kids last day of school for 2 whole weeks! They came home with a ton of stuff and a lot of homemade ornaments! These were their favorites! Ethan had a book exchange and he got 2 pretty cool books. One had punch out super heroes that he's been playing with since he's been home. It was pajama day too, so he got to wear his cool new Pjs!

Mika loved sharing in all the spoils! Here she's laughin at her silly mama behind the camera....

I have no idea what we are going to do with all this free time! Sleep in, take naps, relax....yeah right! Seriously only in my short lasting dreams. Any suggestions would be great!! :)

Baby Bronson

Travis' cousin Devon has been here for a month or so with his awesome wife Heidi and there little babes Bronson. The kids adore him, well at least the older 2 do. (Mika has found someone that doesn't bully her, and therefore bully's him...)
Kaylin always lets him pull her hair. She makes funny faces at him and he smiles and laughs. Ethan always makes sure he has toys and is happy.

He had a messy diaper and needed a new air of PJ's so we put him in our Fox Sleeper. Travis got this for Kaylin and all 3 of our kids have worn it.--and now so has Bronson!

A habit of comfort...

So Mika has been putting her hands down her pants for some time now. Just one hand. She doesn't scratch, she doesn't pick, it's just there--for comfort?? So we found her asleep like this....nice.

The Gingerbread House that stood...

You probably don't remember our last year's attempt on this gingerbread house thing. Ours would not stay standing and was a pile of rubble shortly after it was constructed. The solution? buy a PRE-BUILT house and just add frosting and candy! It takes total concentration! And it's a good thing there are two parts of the roof and 4 sides, so the kids could have a whole side to themselves! That was pretty important.

Meanwhile...Mika the trouble-maker was laying on the table watching all of this happening. Helper or Candy Stealer? You be the judge. Don't forget to check her hands and that big finger swipe on the table....

ALL DONE!! We were all happy with the final product although both of the decorators starting decorating the other's side at one point and then couldn't remember what side was theirs to begin with.

I love Christmas time!!!! Such good memories!

Pony Tail!

I have to pull her bangs back, but her hair fits in a pony tail! I think it's so cute. I love babies backs of their necks. She thought she looked "so pretty". She went upstairs to show Grandma and Paka too. It was so cute.

Troll Baby

Aidrian was being so quiet...I had to see what she was up to. I look over and she's poking her tummy and pushing real hard. ??? She had found one of Kaylin's art gems and was putting it on her belly button. I thought it was so funny! I told her to get it on there and I'd take a picture....she was very determined! Do you remember those Troll dolls with gems on their belly's?

Christmas Ward Party

We had a great time at the ward Christmas Party. We were summoned by Jerusalem...it was a sweet idea. We all brought blankets to sit on and went around the "market" and "bought" food. After dinner we had a small performance that reminded us all of the true meaning of Christmas. Paka was on of the Wise Men...