Christmas Day 2010

On Christmas the girls got up ready for the day.

Well M didn't, we had to coax her out of the bed, but once we did she was ready for the day.

First R and M had to check to see if the reindeer really did eat their food.

They were quite happy to find out that they did.

Then they checked out what Santa brought.

Here are the girls with the things they got from Santa.

R got a skateboard (although Mommy said no), zoobles, pixos and

lots of fun goodies in her stocking.

A got a backpack purse that she loves, a pottery wheel, a new comforter for her bed,

and lots of cool things in her stocking.

M got a Baby Alive (that does tt and poo), a play dough table, a small princess castle,

and lots of fun things in her stocking.

Then we opened gifts from each other and ate breakfast.

Grammy and Granddaddy came over to see what the girls got and brought stockings

from their house that Santa left there.

Around 3 we headed to Mimi and Poppa's house for another round of Christmas.

I don't have any pictures from that night. We got in a bit of a rush because snow was in the

forecast, and we all wanted to be able to make it home.

We left around 7 so that we could make it home before too much snow stuck.

We certainly had a WHITE CHRISTMAS.

It was beautiful and we had a great time with our family and friends.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Thank you for all our many blessings.

Merry Christmas 2010

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas from our family!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve we start out with our Candlelight Service.

It is always a beautiful service and I love hearing my aunt sing "O Holy Night".

Here is A in front of the angel/poinsettia tree.

R too (I know, dark shot, but that is what I got).

And M with cousin T.

Some of the 15 Great-Grands before the service.

Notice the girls dresses. My Aunt Marilyn made them for all the girls.

The little girls have them that say BELIEVE all over. The older two are green and gold.

She did a fabulous job and this is something the girls can have for their own daughters.

After church we head to my Granddaddy's house to eat dinner and open presents.

There are 38 of us.

Yes, that is a lot.

Yes, it is loud.

Yes, it can get crazy.

But it is AWESOME.

This is what I have done every Christmas Eve for all of my 34 years.

I love it.

My family is very close.

It takes a lot to get used to (just ask B), but once you do you are hooked.

After we finish at my Granddaddy's house we head to my parents.

Here I am with the girls in front of my mom and dad's tree.

I hardly get in front of the camera, so I had to use this one.

We open gifts with my parents, brother and his family, sister and her family.

The kids are so much fun to watch.

All 6 grandkids ready for bed (oops, I mean presents).

Aren't they so cute?

Then we head home and put out cookies and milk for Santa and reindeer food for his reindeer.

Then it is time for bed so that the man in red can pay us a visit.

Gingerbread Houses

Yesterday my sister and sister-in-law brought

the boys over to make gingerbread houses with the girls.

They had a great time decorating the houses.

R and M getting ready.

K and B getting ready to decorate.

A and M are ready too!

All 6 are ready!

Unfortunately we did not get finished pics.

They did have a great time doing this, we may have started a new tradition.

M's 3 year old Preschool Christmas Program

M had her Christmas Program at school yesterday.

She was so excited to get to stand on the risers and sing for everyone.

She looked so cute.

Here she is going to town on "Jingle Bells".

This is her best friend K.

Her dad grew up with B and I, so it is so cute to see these two together.

M with her teachers.

They are fabulous.

They think M hung the moon.

M is learning a lot and having the time of her life.

DISNEY 2010

My parents Christmas present to us was a family trip to Disney.

We went the weekend before Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful time.

Here are all the cousins on the first day at Animal Kingdom.

My mom had matching shirts made for them with numbers by birth order on the back.

This was an easy way to make sure we had them all with us at all times.

R, M, A, B, K, and M.

Here are the girls getting Goofy's autograph.

Day 2 at Magic Kingdom.

A and R walking down Main Street.

Mommy and M on Main Street.

The girls in front of the castle.

Picture with Mary Poppins.

Aunt Cassy with K, and R, M, B and A enjoying "It's A Small World"

M sitting with Daddy loving "It's A Small World"

Taking a break to enjoy ice cream and milkshakes with Grammy.

Day 3 at Magic Kingdom.

M waiting for the princesses to put on a show in front of the castle.

Oh, the princesses.

Mickey and Minnie!

Picture with Ariel.

A went to Hollywood Studios on this day with Grammy and Granddaddy.

M enjoying one of the parades with Daddy!

Day 4 Breakfast with Characters before heading home.

A and M with Pluto.

A and M with Lilo.

R with Lilo.

R woke up this day running about a 103 fever.

She was not feeling good at all, but was a trouper anyway.

Yea Mickey!

And finally Stitch!

We had a wonderful time.

The girls rode every ride they wanted at Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom.

We got to see lots of princesses and characters.

This was our favorite family trip!

We cannot wait to go back someday!

Church Christmas Play and Santa

Our church had the Christmas Play and Party Sunday night.

All 3 girls had parts in the play.

A was a wise person and did a scripture reading.

R was Mary and did a scripture reading.

M was an angel (or fairy is you asked her - we are working on it).

They were all so cute and did a great job!

Here is R doing her reading.

A doing her reading.

Here is Mary as she is joined by the Angel Gabriel.

Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.

I did not get a picture of A delivering her present to Baby Jesus because it was just the

backsides of all the wise people and she was in the middle of a group.

After the play we enjoyed a visit from Santa and dinner.

Church members shared memories of Christmas' past.

Each person came home with an orange, some nuts and a soft peppermint stick!

It was a wonderful night telling the birth story of Jesus

and spending time with our church family.

A's Chorus Concert

A joined chorus this year. She has been going in to school early

one or two days a week since October to practice.

Last Thursday we got to see all the hard work put in to performance.

The children did a fantastic job.

They sang several holiday songs and were wonderful.

A made sure not to look over at us the entire time.

She said it was because she was supposed to watch their teacher,

but I think it is because she was afraid we would embarrass her.

She is probably right!

Uncle Jimmy teaches at the school now, so he was able to take part in the Teacher's Chorus.

They sang a couple of songs with the children.

Here are the girls with a few of their friends.

A, K and A were all in the chorus and did a fantastic job!

We look forward to the Spring concert!