What Santa Almost Forgot

Hidden away in the computer room under a blanket was a surprise that Madilyn had forgotten she asked Santa for. Dad asked her if she got everything she wanted and she said yes. But then Dad said I think Santa left something else for you. After uncovering it she said "It's just what I wanted, how did Santa know?"

This is Madi riding her new bike Christmas afternoon. It is a little big but with some practice she should do just fine. Santa didn't want her to outgrow it to soon.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning finally came as Talli came shyly down the staircase to see if Santa really did come. Isaah was up bright and early because Santa's jet engines (to help the reindeer pull the sled) woke him up. So at 4:30 the party began.

What did the kids get well,...

Madilyn is showing off her new Hanna Montana hair, which she was so excited about. She also recieved a Barbie piano and microphone so she can practice up to be Hanna one day. Santa brought her everything she wanted, when asked if he forgot anything she said no.

Talli and Paige got "Big Girl Carseats", they have been wanting these for months now. They also got sparkly shoes that Paige wouldn't take off and Talli wouldn't take off her new boots. The girls got a cute little vanity that they can do their own hair and makeup at.

This is part of our mess. Aren't you glad you don't have cleanup duty? We tried a new way of enjoying Christmas morning by having one at a time open presents starting with the youngest and rotating through. I think everyone enjoyed it because we all got to see what it was and who it was from. Though at times it was very hard to wait our turn.

Dad and his new Lithiom Ion Drill. What else could a guy want? He also got accesories for his MP3 player and 2 way radios.

Isaah is sporting his new snow goggles. He is hoping for a miracle... Enough snow to play in at home. Good luck!!! Actually Santa heard he might take up skiing and thought he could use these. He enjoyed the morning putting together his new lego sets and flying his laser helicopters with his dad, all while listening to his clip (a small MP3 player) Santa brought for him.

You might be wondering where I am this morning, well I was on cleanup crew, breakfast duty, and open this duty. So the camera man wasn't fast enough to catch me. I had a great christmas and recieved some shoes I have been wanting and some clothes. Santa must have known what I wanted. Though for next year Santa I want to sleep in a little.

Christmas Eve Cont.

So to continue on with the night we went inside and made christmas trees with the neighborhood kids plus Dawn's three. Yes we are a little insane, but that's why we bought the large kitchen table for! I think there were about 11 kids there getting a sugar high on frosting and hot chocolate.

After the sugar high Briella decieded to show off a new skill she has been working on. She started walking across our living room! It was the farthest she had walked. She loved the audience.

She would walk to Isaah and fall down and just start laughing. We were all just cracking up at her and cheering her on. The kids thought that it was so much fun to watch her and get her to try and walk to them. She was such a ham that night.

My and my hubby enjoying the night!

Poor Chad, all tuckered out! Must mean it's almost time for Santa to come.

Talli enjoying her christmas tree!

Paige and Carson working hard.

Our Christmas Eve the Beginning

This was the start of our Christmas Eve, which we celebrated on the 21st since Chad had to work on the 24th and 25th. We decieded to have a fire in our garden. (Don't worry it's my garden's off season). Dawn and her kids came to join us for the festivities. We started out by singing christmas carols while the fire kept us very toasty.

Carson and Madi enjoying the songs.



Mom and Talli posing for a quick photo

We didn't do the marshmellow thing this night. We really didn't feel like cleaning up that mess when we knew we had a bigger one coming.

school projects

This was Madi's Christmas Tree. Yummy!

Isaah made this awesome gingerbread house and yard at school. It has everything

Carolers!

Sunday night we were graced with a wonderful rendition of Christmas Bells are Ringing by some of our great friends!

Here are Dawn and Jeff and their cute little family, Carson, (Madi is going to marry him she tells us), Bryton, and Briella. You'll notice one extra, Paige couldn't resist joining in the fun.

We rewarded their hard work with some yummy Christmas candy!

Candy

The gang took Sunday afternoon and made Christmas candy for our friends. The kids all loved putting on sprinkles and eating leftovers.

Don't you love this face Madi is making!

Dipping candy is hard work. Look at the concentration and tongue work.

Paige and Talli took dipping pretzels into Almond Bark very seriously. They loved it and were actually not to messy.

Soccer in December?

Notice Isaah's new hair style... This wasn't his choice of the day. Darn wind anyway.

Yes, we were playing soccer in December. Saturday morning it was pouring down rain (Texas style). So we were hoping it was going to be canceled. Nope, The rain let up and the sun came out. So did the winds though. This was a Winterblast 3 on 3 tournament. Luckily only 20 min. long games.

Mom and the girls skipped out on the first two and made it to the last 2 games. Wrapped up in blankets we watched in 20 m/hr winds at about 50 degrees and sloppy wet ground. Needless to say it was a tad bit chilly. Thus the name of Isaah's team "Chill", how appropriate. Dad was a trooper though and was there for all 4 games. Isaah scored around 4 or 5 goals and though his team didn't win he had lots of fun!

Christmas Lights

These pictures are for my cute niece Jazzy who wanted to know if we had lights out in front of our house. I told her I would put a pict. on the computer for her. They aren't as good as Grandma's but here they are Jazzy. I love you!

leaves

Playing in the leaves this evening with Madi's friend Jillian.

Ooops

Talli and Paige were having a picnic in the living room and Paige was mixing up something very yummy for Chad and I. Soon I hear a little voice saying Mom, Mom, Paigy got this stuck. Super Mom came to the rescue and untwisted Talli's hair from the beaters. Isn't it amazing what Super Mom can do? Anyway, Dad told Talli to look really, really mad in this picture. We had to have a little talk about what we use the beaters on. But in the end our picnic turned out great, we had vanilla ice cream, banana's and pickles with syrup, eggo waffles, I think Talli had fries and peas and Dad had a hamburger, minus the bun, all of this on a pink princess blanket in the living room floor.

O' Christmas Tree

Finally, the our Christmas tree is complete, (it went without a topper for a few days). We all love it and are couting down days till Christmas!

This is what Talli and Paige call Team Work! They loved it and were all cheering them on.

The Christmas Tree

Don't you love how we put the tree topper on?

Notice Isaah's tongue in the one on the left. Pure concentration.

Early Saturday morning, okay so not so early, it was around 9:30 we headed off for our 28.5 mile trek to a christmas tree farm that we had never been to. Isaah has been wanting to cut our own Christmas tree all season. So we went over the river and through the woods and finally found the farm. What a fun time we had. Not only did we get to spend our time together as a family sizing up and down christmas trees but we brought home a tree we all agreed on. You may not think that is a big deal but remember there are 6 of us and Some of us have some strong personalities. Our whole family loved this Christmas tree farm and all want to go back.

Madi had to be the photographer for a few shots and this was one that I thought turned out pretty good.

This was our choice, finally.

This is the wagon that took us to the tree field to pick out our own tree to cut down. After we cut the tree it pulls the tree and us back to the main area were we were able to go through a little petting zoo and see some exotic birds that talked back to us. We also got to see a special someone. Though it all can't be fun, we do have to have a little melt down here and there.

The girls waiting for the ride to start.

The gang by Santa. Madi hasn't been this close to Santa in years. She has a fear of Santa. Paige told Santa she wanted something she already has and Talli wouldn't talk to him, I had to tell him for her.

Chad and Isaah being the cabouse on the Jingle Bell Express.