Christmas at Mammie and Gran's 2009

Another fun year together. We enjoy the Christmas Eve service at church before we celebrate. I really was touched by this year's message of "Love Never Fails". The very essence of this message speaks to us in different ways. Love is not selfish, love is not envious, love is unconditional......love is caring and giving at all times..... being kind and tolerant of one another , ultimately, brings us closer and makes for peace within families and mankind............. what better way to end one year and start another........by being in a peaceful and happy place.........................

We then enjoy dinner. And onto the gifts! Griffin hit the jackpot with "trains".....Thomas everything! He loved it and the older kids enjoyed a neat surprise as well!

Then it's onto the house and getting ready for Santa! Late night for sure but a blast and a fabulous memory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting ready to celebrate on Christmas Eve! Family pictures a must!

Glorious Grandkids Gold!

Love the cute and funky Christmas stocking socks to hold the coins! Mammie found these cuties at The Mason Jar, our newest shop in town! Adorable stuff and always a friendly face inside!

Shiny Christmas!

Whoa!!!!!!!!! This is outstanding! Another surprise! Mammie and Gran , you are the best!

We hit the jackpot!!! Gran and Mammie gave us many, many gold dollars! How unique and we are proud of these!

Rocking horse........go faster..........go higher...........bouncier!!!!!!!!Griffin loved his new "pet". He even "nays" and eats carrots!

UMMM! Thinking about a hot drink, maybe a cappuccino??? You got it~!

Our "new" "old" cappuccino machine! Which is now housed up in Preston's room?????

Cozy fire and brother's lap! How fun!

Icicles for breakfast anyone??? Just hanging, me , my and my brothers during the holidays!

Christmas at Grandma and Papa's House 2009

Dear Sweetest Parents in the World,
Thank you for the wonderful Christmas and fun memories this year! I am digging the new tradition of a "take out" meal, aka, Spanish Inn enchiladas, what more could we want????? Plus easy clean up and onto the gifts for the little ones! And big ones!! Mark and I can't wait to pick out our new camera, clearer and faster! What a wonderful thing! The boys all loved their gifts and the day was awesome!

My sweet boys and I.........love those grins!

My sweet brother and his beautiful family!

Best Buds!

Love the new boots Bryce!

Love the new "flannel"!

Love this little Christmas angel!

Grandma and Papa's famous "snowman" picture site! A yearly tradition! Here are my cute nieces proud of Christmas gifts!!

Polar Express Extravaganza!

Here are two of my "favorite guys" !! Ready for Polar Express at The Ritz! How fun! We will make this a yearly tradition!

Does this sound like a "Mommy" repeat??? Here I come Santa!!! With my binky, my spinning top and my pj's!!!!

Mommy! Where are you????????????

OOOOOHHHHHH! This is really Santa!

So be honest my fun blogging buddies.......who's curls are more gorgeous???? Santa's or Griffin's???? They look alike!!!!!!!!!! How funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TRAINS! TRAINS! TRAINS! Santa , can you understand me?? I think he did........

This was such a fun memory with Griffin! Cold weather, pj's, Polar Express, and yummy warm coffee from The Manhattan! What a wonderful morning!

Winter wonderland.........................

We woke up Christmas Eve morning to a beautiful surprise! SNOW! And lots of it! Little did we know that this was the perfect beginning to a beautiful and wonderful "perfect" Christmas................very still, very peaceful, very humbling, thank you Lord for this special Christmas gift!

Here I come!!!!!!! My spinning top, my binky, my new monster gloves,my blond curl, and I.........

Griffin you silly baby! Dare devil deluxe!

Hold on Griffin!

HERE!

WE!!!

GO!!!!!

Bundled up and having a blast! My nieces are in from Houston and came over and built 2 snowmen in the yard..........way to go girls!

Christmas card pictures 2009 : A challenge........

So why do I punish myself.................????????????? Today is the day I decided every boy put on your new "red" shirt and get in front of the tree, it's CHRISTMAS CARD PICTURE TIME! Groan, complain, I don't like this shirt, etc........


After a morning of cleaning a baby that has taken off his a.m. diaper and messed his bed with "naughty", and then tee teeing on my kitchen rug, not to mention pouring the milk "out" of the bottle, not "in", I decided to do Christmas pictures! Why oh why????

But it all turned out just fine, just like it always does, says my sweet significant other, and we made it through another fun filled day! Here goes...............






No Christmas blankies/ Santa rockers/ binkies/ allowed.......................

Christmas picture meltdown 2009!

Griffin please look at the camera......................

A snowman PEZ bribe......hey a Mom has got to do what a Mom has got to do........

Middle man not happy about the red shirt......................Thanks Preston for the great smile!

Little man not happy......................Thanks Preston for the great smile!

Toss up! I like this one too. So cute..........aren't they adorable???

The winner! Not bad for a 10 minute thrown together photo shoot by a so-so Mother photographer with a slow camera............thanks guys! Now the real work begins...........writing in Christmas cards.............fun, fun! But I sure love to receive them and ooohh and aaahhh over my friends families and kids....so here goes!

Christmas cupcakes! Yummy IN My Tummy!

First things first........lining the muffin tin for Christmas cupcakes..........Griffin's exclusive job!

I'm going to help this thing along...............STAND BACK!

Ready, ready, ready????????????????????

Stirring, whirring, stirring, whirring.....................

Are they ready yet???

Careful, careful, be very careful.......this is a big sticky cupcake! Way to go Griffin!

Yes, Santa............I Believe.............................

After all.............isn't this what it is all about? Believing that Jesus was born on Christmas day, believing that family and friends are a blessing, believing that smiling, sharing and being kind to others does make a difference, believing that this world is a good place and by being happy in it we can change others and spill out hope and goodness.........this season is such a magical time to reconnect with others and slow down and enjoy the "magical" moments of wonder.........Happy Holidays to all and to all a goodnight!

Long story short............I finally got the tree ornaments on..........someone in town asked me one day how do you do it??? I can see your tree lit from the busy street......how do you manage with a toddler???? I said.......nothing on it and nothing under it...............but he is a doll and is leaving it alone so far........no presents yet.........Yikes....that reminds me........I had better get it together and fast.............panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!