This is Abbie's soon to be Uncle Ryan holding her while she sleeps. Ryan and Whitney are getting married March 9th! WAHOO!!
After eating our traditional Chinese food and reading the Christmas story together as a family (and taking family pictures) we opened the traditional Christmas presents such as family exchange gifts and pajamas.
Christmas morning I totally forgot to take pictures of the kids opening their gifts, I only took video, so I was glad I got some shots on Christmas Eve. Plus, this gift I think may have been the favorite of all. Susan knowing how obessed he is with two things - dragons and legos - she found him a lego dragon. PERFECT!! And she also got a super cool book on dragons - she knows how to get to a kids heart!!
The grandkids all in their PJ's from Grandma and Grandpa!
Our tree Christmas night after Santa came and put them all there.
The kids were all snug in their beds.
Abbie in her Christmas dress a friend bought for her. She looked so precious!!
This was Hayden's gift from Grandma - dress ups. Hayden was dressed to the nines!
We played a lot of Wii - mostly Dance Revolution 3 that Grandma and Grandpa got for the family. Here they are on Grandkid duty so the rest of us could get our dance on.
Abbie passed out.
Carter with his Christmas haul. It was very much a Star Wars themed Christmas.
Hayden got a Kitchen with lots of kitchen stuff, dress ups, a water baby and the most important thing...
KEYS!!! This girl is obsessed with her keys. Bonnie had wisely observed Hayden's obsession with a set of spare keys to our Pathfinder. I wasn't a huge fan of her playing with them, but there was no way to keep her from them. So Bonnie had a great idea of getting her, her own set of "real" keys and they are so cute and colorful!!
Some of Abbie's Christmas items.
Carter quickly went to work on his Dragon Lego. He was determined to get it done all on his own. So my 5 year old followed the instructions and built his own dragon that was made for 7 yr olds and up.
He was very proud of himself! This picture was taken just a few minutes after he finished it and almost immediately after the picture, he dropped it and pieces went everywhere. He was crushed! Poor guy!!
Below are a bunch of videos that I took over the Christmas Holiday:
I grew up where it was tradition for Santa to leave your stocking at the foot of your bed so that if you woke up in the middle of the night, you could see if Santa had come yet and what he left in your stocking.
Here's a video of the kids coming down to see if Santa came:
I know you can't see this video very well, but just for preserving memories I needed to include it. The kids were OBSESSED with dancing to "This is Halloween"! My kids still ask to watch the full length version of that song they have on youtube.
The best part of Just Dance is watching the grown guys doing it!! I'm so disappointed that I didn't get them dancing to Robin Sparkles "Let's go to the Mall" - CLASSIC!!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Santa Clause and My Parents Came to Town
Here's my attempt at getting caught up on my blog. The first weekend in December my parent's came into town to meet little Abigail. While they were here we thought we ought to go to down town and do some of the Christmas activities they have down there.
Our first stop was to see Santa's helper. I didn't want Carter to get confused by all the different looking Santa Clause's out there so we told him that they were Santa's helpers.
Here's the whole bunch of us. I find Hayden's face pretty funny here since she and Abbie are making almost the exact same expression. I was just shocked that Hayden would sit on his lap at all!! We saw another Santa the following weekend and she wouldn't even get close to him.
This place where we saw Santa was called Santa's Toyshop and it had lots of fun play areas.
Then we went over to the train restaurant that Dad took us to about a year and a half ago. Train's come and deliver your food to you at your table. Hayden was at the perfect age to think this was absolutely magical.
Then at another place near by, they have an excellent display of model trains. But wouldn't it be our luck that they were already closed by the time we got there. Oh well.
Our first stop was to see Santa's helper. I didn't want Carter to get confused by all the different looking Santa Clause's out there so we told him that they were Santa's helpers.
Here's the whole bunch of us. I find Hayden's face pretty funny here since she and Abbie are making almost the exact same expression. I was just shocked that Hayden would sit on his lap at all!! We saw another Santa the following weekend and she wouldn't even get close to him.
This place where we saw Santa was called Santa's Toyshop and it had lots of fun play areas.
Then we went over to the train restaurant that Dad took us to about a year and a half ago. Train's come and deliver your food to you at your table. Hayden was at the perfect age to think this was absolutely magical.
Then at another place near by, they have an excellent display of model trains. But wouldn't it be our luck that they were already closed by the time we got there. Oh well.While my parents were here, my Mom helped me with my sister-in-laws wedding shower plans and my Dad was Mr. Fix-it man around the house. It was awesome!!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Carter Learned How to Ride His Bike!!
Today was a GREAT day! Carter learned how to ride his bike and he and I are so proud him!!
December 31st (another great weather day) he decided he was done having training wheels on his bike and worked on riding on just two wheels for a bit with Dad.
December 31st (another great weather day) he decided he was done having training wheels on his bike and worked on riding on just two wheels for a bit with Dad.
Yesterday, he practiced on a neighbor's Strider bike (the little bikes with no pedals) and then today he decided he was ready. We had more beautiful weather and so we went out and on his 2nd try I just let go and didn't tell him and he was totally fine. After that he had the confidence he needed and was cruising up and down the street.
Then when both the girls were down napping, we both got on our bikes and rode up and down together. Today was an awesome day to be Carter's Mom! Being part of this huge milestone for him is such a high for me. I love to see the accomplishment on his face and to be there to share in his excitement - so SUPER AWESOME!!
The first video below is the first day they took off his training wheels & the 2nd video is from today:
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Carter's 2011 Preschool Christmas Program
December 19th
This was an emotional Christmas program for me. I think a lot of it was that it was Carter's last one in preschool. How is my boy growing up so fast?!?
But also, the spirit was there so strong with all of these little spirits together singing praises to the Christ child. The program started out with one of their Pastor's saying a prayer (Carter goes to a Baptist preschool). The prayer was so sweet and so special, I got teary-eyed right away! Then the precession started with all the children in their nativity costums and they were so reverent and so beautiful. You could not help but feel the Spirit of Christ's birth.
We had angels, wise-men, shephards (that was Carter) and the adorable little animals.
This isn't the best picture, but it gives you a better idea of this church's beautiful sanctuary.
Carter in his moment of goofing off.
My Shephard Boy
What a handsome newly 5 yr old!Here is a video of the kids' favorite song. Carter had been singing it around the house for weeks:
Of all the things that I did this past Holiday season, I think this was my favorite. It got me more in the Christmas spirit than anything else I did. Children truly are God's special gift!
Of all the things that I did this past Holiday season, I think this was my favorite. It got me more in the Christmas spirit than anything else I did. Children truly are God's special gift!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Abigail at 6 weeks
It's crazy to think my little newborn turned 6 weeks yesterday!!
When I went in for my 6 week appointment today, they weighed her for fun and she was 10lb 1oz. Seeing as she started at 6lb 8oz, I would say she's done pretty great to have gained about 3 1/2 lbs in 6 weeks. You can tell by her double chin.
And yes, she totally does have Dad's Chia Pet hair!!
She decided to reveal to the camera what she does for most of her day, and that is spit up - TONS of it!!
This afternoon, I heard Abbie crying in her room earlier than she should be so I went running up the stairs hoping to calm her down and then I see Hayden prancing out of Abbie's room with Abbie's stolen binky in her mouth. Then I look at Abbie and I see that Hayden tried to be nice about it by leaving her a toy instead. I always tell Carter or Hayden if they want a toy the other is playing with, to see if they will trade for a different toy. Abbie is one easy kid to trade a toy with!!
Abigail in her milk comma. What a cutie!!
When I went in for my 6 week appointment today, they weighed her for fun and she was 10lb 1oz. Seeing as she started at 6lb 8oz, I would say she's done pretty great to have gained about 3 1/2 lbs in 6 weeks. You can tell by her double chin.
And yes, she totally does have Dad's Chia Pet hair!!
She decided to reveal to the camera what she does for most of her day, and that is spit up - TONS of it!!
This afternoon, I heard Abbie crying in her room earlier than she should be so I went running up the stairs hoping to calm her down and then I see Hayden prancing out of Abbie's room with Abbie's stolen binky in her mouth. Then I look at Abbie and I see that Hayden tried to be nice about it by leaving her a toy instead. I always tell Carter or Hayden if they want a toy the other is playing with, to see if they will trade for a different toy. Abbie is one easy kid to trade a toy with!! 
Abigail in her milk comma. What a cutie!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)