Our Christmas morning

Our Christmas morning

We had our Christmas morning today. This year, Taylor will be with Nikki the early part of Christmas day. When this happens, we always do ours early so we're all together for opening presents. We would have done it on Christmas eve morning, but since I have to be at church at 8:30 for worship practice, it just wasn't practical to try to cram everything into tomorrow morning. We surprised the kids having everything out when they woke up. They were expecting to do it tomorrow. :) It was so much fun watching their faces. We let them have all of their birthday presents from us too since all of them were big and we were tired of hiding them!! :)

(btw, the pictures are for the benefit of out of town grammy's, grandma's, papa's, poppy's and great mimi's and great papa's -- it's just a whole lot of "variations of the delighted face". lol)

After the presents were opened, Tom and I let the kids play while we took a nap. :) About midmorning we all got around and went out together to enjoy my grandma's gift to us, Christmas brunch! We were all famished by 11 so it sure was good!! We were lazy the rest of the day, playing with the kids, watching football and the like. Finally about 4 we all got up and did individual 15 minute scrambles in separate rooms to get the house all put back in order. It was fun and got the house in great shape!

As a reward for helping, Chandler helped me make puppy chow and I let Taylor make sandart cookies all by herself! It's a fun way for her to use her fraction skills. :) After dinner, we snacked on our culinary handiwork and watched a Veggie Tales Christmas movie. Before they went to bed, we talked about the movie. It was cool to know that they really do grasp the fact that presents are fun, but they are only secondary to the true meaning of Christmas. Then we carried on a tradition from my family, and turned out all the lights in the house except for the tree lights and sat around the living room singing Christmas hymns. I had to teach the kids some of words of the verses... which appalled me. lol... but I guess it does take years of exposure to get them all down!! :)

Ok, I'm heading to bed! Happy happy Christmas, everyone!

Oh just a heads up, there's going to be some GREAT old Christmas classics on the Turner Movie Classics channel over the next week or so. I have about 8 of them set to tivo. Bishop's Wife, White Christmas, I Remember Mama, Meet Me in St. Louis.... oh the simplicity of yesteryear. sigh.... You can stop laughing now, Tom... Stephanie.... :)

Taylor's first recital!

Taylor's First Recital

Taylor had her first piano recital this evening. She did such a wonderful job. She played three songs that she had memorized: Jolly Old Saint Nick, Jingle Bells and Ode to Joy. I gave her her Christmas dress early so she could dress up. She was so happy. She looked absolutely gorgeous and so grown up! Pam and Coy (Tom's parents) and her cousin Daven came to watch her play, as well as her friends Sarah and Hannah Johnson. They had a great time together. Afterwards, we all went to Posatos to celebrate her musical accomplishment. :)

I have a long rant in my head about it not seeming like Christmas and how I'm not excited... or rather it just hasn't sunk in yet that it's only 5 days away. I don't know which. In any case, it was too long and rambly to bother with.

I finally got the last of my Christmas cards signed today and 97% are even mailed! I have a handful that I still have to get addresses for. That's so annoying. It was such a big deal getting the pictures in with the cards this year and it really delayed me! I'm usually right on top of it and have them out the first week in December. Not so this year. It's irksome to me. :)

Ok, I'm done being negative. Merry Christmas!! :)

Ha! two posts in one day! lol

Christmas fun

Tonight was awesome. The movie was cute, the courthouse was great and pizza is just always good. :) And the crowning glory to the night was that Santa Claus walked down the street and let us try on his wig! lol Don was nice enough to put everything back on for the kids to see him again when we got home. The kids ran out and were so excited to see Santa walking across the yard. Our kids know the story of the real St. Nick so Santa isn't a really a big deal for us but it was still so much fun to hang out with Don and try on his costume. Thanks Don!! L(

Agh

Goings on

You know it's been a long time between posts when your husband even comments on it. lol

Quick run down of our jam packed, fun and exciting past few weeks and the pictures you'll see -- playing in the yard.. ok that was just a random pic.

Church ladies Treats and traditions -- didn't get any pictures, but what an awesome night out with the girls!!

Putting up the tree family party! Oh it was so much fun -- eggnog, puppy chow, apples and caramel, cookies, and warm soup.

ELO Christmas party. The kids had a blast with all of their friends.

Ladies Craft Brunch -- again, it happened, but I didn't get any pictures! Bummer! It sure was fun though!

Daven's 8th Birthday Party at the pizza place in Gladewater... missed you Pam!!

Taylor's Soccer -- they haven't lost one game of the indoor season! Yah, Firecrackers!

Church Christmas program and dessert party - yummy fun. :)

Couple of everyday pics and today's gingerbread decorating party with the kids. I've always loved the idea, but I'm too busy to mess with all the hassle... UNTIL I found this super cute kit at wally world! The kids loved it. I fought the control freak in me and let the kids have free rein with the decorating, and it really did turn out great! :)

Tonight we're going to a movie, dinner and then Christmas at the courthouse where our friend Don is playing Santa. :) It promises to be a great family evening! Take care! :)