Christmas Day

After a great party for Grammy, Santa found us!

All the kids woke up happy and excited.  Julie was so good about helping Sadie with her gifts.

We left their new bikes out on the porch. Andy walked right by them, but thenhe freaked when he noticed his.

Goofy boy with his marble run.

Sadie wanted to wear her new slippers but couldn't get the on over her jammies. So she stripped!

Julie got right to work on her Legos.

If you want to see a baby jump, teach her to play Perfection! So entertaining, but great for small motor skills!

Of course the kids had to try out their new bikes!

Silly Sisters!

Memere, Uncle Justin, Auntie Audrey and Lauren all came over to have Christmas as well. We had such a great time with them!

Sadie and Lauren went outside to collect the eggs. With a little help of course.

Uncle Monster and Auntie Kay stopped by and enjoyed the sunshine and some gifts. Sadie loves long boarding with Uncle. We are so lucky to have so much family around, Christmas makes that more and more clear.

Cousins in their jammies! I love all their messy hair and faces!

Christmas night was wrapped up eating left overs with Great Grandma Hazel. I was over taking pictures by that point. But it was the perfect way to finish Christmas. The kids playing with their toys, showing everything to Grandma. Then, as soon as they were in bed, John and I took down the tree and put away all the inside Christmas decoration. It always feels like a job well done when the tree is put away and the lights are down until next year. I hope your Christmas was just as merry and bright as ours.

Gammy's Birthday/Christmas Eve

Before all the festivities started this year, I wrangled the kids together to take at least one family picture! And we got one! Julie is making a goofy face, she's not upset about anything, just a goober.

Then we got one of just the kiddos.

And one silly one.

Sadie was super excited, though, I don't think she knew why!

Then Grammy, Pop-pop and Sean got here, and the kids were all excited.

Grammy got to open her gifts first since she was the birthday girl. But then the kids got to dig in. Sadie has barely stopped wearing her puppy backpack!

All 3 kids got new helmets which they desperately needed.

Andy got Legos! He is in love with Legos right now. Actually Julie is pretty into them too.

Soon, the rest of the family showed up.  The place got loud and crowded fast, just the way we like it.

Cousin Carter stole a few snuggles from his Papa amidst the chaos.

Julie with Uncle Ted and Aunt Sharron.

Sadie really wanted Carter to sit on her lap, but he is just as big as her. So Andy obliged her, and we got the sweetest picture out of it!

All the cousins cooperated much better this year and sat nicely for a picture!

Andy takes his science stuff very seriously!

Happy birthday Grammy!! I always swear I am going to take more pictures of the grown ups and every year, I don't! Maybe next year.

On a side note, I got the shirt John is wearing as a gift for him when Julie was born. I hid it in the suitcase I packed for the hospital and gave it to him after she made her appearance. I love seeing him wear it. It says "Proud Daddy" Swoon!

Sadie liked sharing her boat with Uncle Ted. I think he enjoyed her as well.

More cousin pictures. These 4 are so fun right now, all getting along and so loving.

The big sisters club!

We are lucky to have such sweet, smart, sassy, beautiful girls!

As the party wrapped up, the kids went to bed and Santa made his rounds! Happy Birthday Anne!

Santa!

Well, it has come to our attention, that Sadie, is not a huge fan of Santa.

Julie and Andy thought he was a-okay!

But when we got home, Sadie was all smiles again!

Maybe next year she will give the jolly man a little more of a chance!

Winter Fun!

We are all so lucky we have such great friends to be goofy and enjoy the season with!

With these big grins, these two look alike!

Happy happy!

On a hay ride around Margarita, Christmas Caroling to the older folks!

Doesn't get any better!

Me and my hunky man!

Love her!

Sweet Boys!

Love these faces.

Class Parties Highlights

Yesterday I was lucky enough to crash the big kids class parties. They were loud and full of candy and crafts.

Andy was so surprised, and maybe a little confused to see me in his class. But I got to hear him sing the cutest song, "Snowman Soup" and then have a visit with Santa. He got up there and had a serious conversation. Andy told him to "surprise him with a gift because I am sure I will love whatever I get for Christmas"  He is the sweetest boy, always easy to please. And he looks way too big in this picture!

After reading a story in Mrs. Lewis' class, she lined them up to sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Julie was one of 2 students that led the class in sign language.  She did such a beautiful job and of course I am so proud of her. I had no idea she was lading the song, so I was doubly glad I got to see it!

Now they are officially on break and stayed in their jammies all day!

Cambria Pines Lights

John and I decided we should check out a new holiday celebration in Cambria. We got there and were totally blown away by the amount of awesome lights! The whole thing was beautiful.  We walked along the path and ooh-ed and aah-ed at the lights.

Here are the kids in front of the "waterfall".

We even got to see Santa! Julie and Andy were super excited and loved him. Sadie, not so much. She didn't even go into the little house under her own power. But that's ok. Maybe next year.

We found a few gingerbread cookies and then found a great band playing Christmas Carols! It was so fun!

Big smiles in front of the tunnel of lights! It was all so beautiful, we closed the place down!

Oh look, I was there too! Photo credit to Julie.

We can't wait to go back to the lights, which we will, soon! It was the perfect type of holiday fun. Not a lot of people, not loud, we could go at our own pace. And, the kids were all asleep before we left the parking lot!!