Happy New Year!

Before things get too crazy here at home today, I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Let's hope everyone's 2011 is even better than 2010. I wish health, happiness, prosperity and health (you can never be too healthy!) to all of our family and friends in the new year! Happy 2011!!!

Christmas Rocked!!!

Christmas morning, we woke up to this!!!
Santa came and filled Jackson and Jordan's bags to the brim! They couldn't contain themselves and ripped into the gifts.




I think his expression says it all...

After opening gifts and playing with the new toys Christmas morning, we headed to Aunt Gayle's for an Italian Christmas feast. It sure was yummy! After lunch, there were MORE PRESENTS!!!


Jordan got a McDonald's drive-thru set... needless to say, all the girls, big and small loved it!

We are so blessed and thankful to have such great families during this special time of year. And Christmas really did rock this year!

Christmas Eve 2010

What a whirlwind! We had a great Christmas! Good food, good family... it was all good!!! My nephew Reed stayed with us Thursday night. Jackson and Reed are like chocolate and peanut butter... they just go together and love spending time playing with each other. Friday started with us packing up the car and heading to EC. BUT, we had to prepare for Santa first. We knew that we'd get in late that night and that Jack and Jordan would be sleeping. So, first thing... put out the reindeer food.


Next, put the cookies out for Santa and carrots out for the reindeer. Yes, the reindeer are very well taking care of at our house.

And, next, put our bags out for Santa. That way Santa knows exactly where to put Jackson and Jordan's loot!

Okay, we were all prepared for our visitor Christmas Eve night, and then headed to EC. After dropping of gifts and visiting with family, we headed to Nana and Papa's to get ready for Church. Here are the kids before Church begin silly.


After Church, we headed back to Nana and Papa's for the Stock Christmas celebration. A fun pic of the cousins.

The kids couldn't wait to open presents. They asked ALL DAY LONG!!! Jordan got dress up clothes among lots of other things. Jackson got Paper Jamz! He jammed all night long!


Peyton got a microphone stand... Here are Jack and Peyton jamming in the garage!

Christmas Eve was so eventful and magical. Every year it gets better and better.

From Our House to Yours...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We wish you peace, love and joy this Christmas Season.

We also hope that Santa brings you everything you wish for! ~ha! :-)

**Just a quick shout out to my wonderful husband... He wrapped EVERY SINGLE GIFT that we have given or will give this year. With zero compaints. He also wrangled our kids while I finished my holiday baking today. WHAT A GUY!!! Love you, Ken!!!

PreK Christmas Program

Jackson's first Christmas program at St. Laurence was held Wednesday morning. It was so stinkin' CUTE! There are 3 classes. Each class performed 2 songs and then they did 3 songs together. Here's Jackson waiting for the program to begin.

The first song his class did was Silent Night. Not only did they sing it, they sang it while using sign language. It was very impressive. After Silent Night was a more energetic Jingle Bells.

Once the three classes combined, they performed an act with bells and movements taught by their Motor Skills teacher. I was so impressed with how well the students stayed together. They did so very well. Look at Jackson just ringing away.

He had so much fun. He finally spotted us towards the end of the show.

Jackson, you did such a great job! You made Mommy and Daddy very proud! We love you so much!

Santa is Batting .500 at our House

So the opinion of Santa is split this year at our house. Jackson LOVES him! Jordan HATES him! Don't get me wrong, she likes him okay from afar, but don't ask her to get near him. She'll want nothing to do with him. Friday, Jordan had her Christmas program at school. She was a candy cane and sang very well with the rest of the kids. But as soon as Santa came in, she was ready to go home. She asked several times... but after alot of begging and pleading to sit on his lap, we went home.

Then, Sunday, at Aunt Alene's Family Christmas Party, Santa came to visit again. Jackson - loved him! And told him everything he wanted.

Jordan -- not so much...


And when asked if she wanted her other gift, she said no.

Well, the rest of the day went without a hitch. The kids had a blast playing outside with their cousins and riding the golf cart, Power Wheels truck and scooter. They also had fun going to see the goats and chickens on the farm.

St. Nick Came to Visit

Well, we, uh, I mean St. Nick was a day late this year, but J & J didn't know the difference. :) Jordan got an apron with a chef's hat, wooden spoon, cookie cutter and recipe cards. She was sooo excited! She also got a necklace and bracelet that she HAD to wear to school that morning.
Jackson got some Nerf bullets for his Nerf guns and a small Star Wars Lego set. He was beside himself with the Lego set. It was the first Star Wars one he had gotten. I'd say St. Nick did a pretty good job this year.


Ignore the skirtless tree. It was out getting monogrammed... It came back looking fantastic!!!

Everybody Loves a Parade

Thanksgiving Day we headed to downtown Houston and watched the HEB Thanksgiving Day Parade. We were running late, so we found a little spot in a puddle and sat and waited and waited and waited. Here are the kids waiting. Luckily, they didn't get too impatient.


You see a little bit of everything in this parade. There were balloons like Macy's has in New York.



There's also lots of local bands and drill teams, fire trucks and Shriners. Jackson just loved the little cars!



The local sports teams were represented also. The Aeros cheerleaders were handing out tickets and we got 4 tickets to one of the games. How cool is that!?!?! Then, on the way home, I asked Jackson what his favorite part was and it was these guys.


I couldn't help but wonder if these guys do this as a hobby... Oh well, the kids loved it. The parade was concluded with the Big Man himself!

We continued the day at Aunt Carla's for a super yummy Thanksgiving feast. What a fun beginning to a great Thanksgiving Day!

Speaking of parades... Jordan and Kenny went to see the EC Christmas parade last week and loved it. Jack couldn't go, but we won't talk about that. Jordan's favorite part... Santa on the firetruck, of course!

Family Photo Shoot 2010

I've been meaning to post these pictures for some time now. The talented Sara Macha of Sara Macha Photography took our family photos a couple of months ago. This was my parent's anniversary gift in Oct of 2009, so it was a long time coming! Sara grew up down the road from us, so we've known her forever. It was nice to have a friendly face behind the camera.

We have been wanting to have family pictures for a while now, but we waited until the kids (mine) were bigger. They did really well for the most part, and we're all VERY pleased with the results.