I love Christmas and this year did not disappoint. The only thing that is lacking are the pictures. I remember as a kid having to stop opening my presents to smile at the camera and show what I had just opened and I really did not like my present opening being
interrupted. So this year I had Trevor take the pictures because he is much more laid back than I am and that is also why there are no pictures of kids actually looking at the camera. I need those pictures...I know it is selfish but next year there will be lots of cute faces holding up their Christmas morning treasures. So now on to the big event...
This was one sleepy,
confused but happy boy. We woke him up just after 7:00 to open presents. He had no idea what was going on but he perked up when he found a candy cane full of M&M's in his stocking.
Christmas morning came with a giant
surprise for the kids. Grandma and Grandpa
Griffitts had arrived the night before after the kids were in bed so Christmas morning there were able to surprise the kids.
It was pretty awesome. How many kids get to have both of their Grandparents around on Christmas???
Yes she is really that excited about tape. At the beginning of December I bought her two rolls of tape and told her that when they were gone she was out of luck and hopefully Santa would bring her some more. Well the tape lasted about a week and it was a good thing that Santa did not disappoint her.
I have no idea what she is opening but I just love her face.
Kyle got an airport which at the time was SOOO not as cool as the candy in his stocking but it has since become one of his favorite toys.
Emma has been asking for boots for FOREVER and this year she finally has them even if it is too warm most days to wear them!
My family has a tradition of wearing bows on their heads while opening their gifts. The girls don't like to do it but Kyle seems to enjoy it.
The only way Kyle eats oranges (I don't really let him eat the skin but he sure does try EVERY time)
She looks so grown up when she is actually wearing the dress.
Emma got a camera that promptly broke. We were able to return it and she was even happier to get to pick out her own toys at the store to replace it.
That is one giant stack of construction paper...I give it a month at the most.
Trevor got me a
Cricut. He actually went out on Black Friday on his way to work at 5:00 in the morning. He told me later that it was the easiest shopping
experience ever. He walked right in, picked up what he needed and did not even have to stand in line. I think that I might need to take him with me next year if he has that kind of luck.
This picture is so staged but we had to get one for the sake of pictures. Trevor got an iPhone for a birthday/Christmas gift, but I still wrapped up the package so that he would have something under the tree.
Kyle really likes the family present from Grandma and Grandpa
Griffitts. It is a one octave Marimba. It really sounds pleasant so I don't mind him pounding away at it.
THE gift of the morning came from Grandma and Grandpa
Griffitts. As if flying all the way down to see us was not enough the girls got American girl dolls. I LOVE their faces.
You may have noticed that they are looking at each others boxes...well there was a little wrapping mix up...
this is what happened when Emma realized that Abby had her doll.
Even hugging the box
brought joy!
I would have to say that this way his favorite gift. A little
vacuum that makes noise and lights up. (Thanks Angie!!!) The rest of the day was spent at my parents house enjoying good food and great company and playing with all the new toys.
The next day we went to my Aunt
Rachael's house to celebrate with my Dad's side of the family. Again their was more good food and great company along with a few fun rounds of mafia where my sweet Grandma ended up being the best murderer I have ever met. Then we opened few gifts. My Grandma gave all of her kids family pictures. She had several old pictures that she knew everyone wanted so she had copies made of the originals and now everyone is happy. I especially love this one of my Dad when he was younger.
This is Abby with MY cousin Jenna. The two of the could be sisters. They look so much alike that both Trevor and I
confused them from behind a few times. They are both even missing the same teeth.
They played so well together that we did not even know where they were most of the time.
My wonderful Grandma! I am so glad that we got to spend Christmas together. She is an amazing lady.
Getting ready to go home from the hospital!
1st birthday!
2nd birthday!
3 years old!
4 years old and the start of her love affair with bacon!
5 years old!
What a beautiful six year old!
Abby plays hard and sleeps hard.
Abby is never afraid to get her hands (or any other body part) dirty.
She knows how to have fun no matter what she is doing.
She has an amazing imagination. I never know what is going on in her head but she never ceases to amaze us and keep up laughing.
Lost her first three teeth before she turned 6!
Hanging out with Aunt Shayla before the last birthday party began. What a lucky girl she is to have her birthday on New Years Eve! She gets to stay up extra late.
She waited very patiently to open her presents. Trevor and I had spent the day buying a new car so by the time we got to present opening time she had been waiting ALL day.
This is an awesome gift from Aunt Shayla. It is a "Never Bored Again Bucket" There is everything a creative kid could ever want inside a bucket. There are feathers, googly eyes, colored Popsicle sticks, stencils, pom poms, well you get the picture. She loved it!
A new game for the DS...now if we could just find the cord so we could charge it and she could play!
Abby is finally into Barbie. She and Emma have played with the Barbie and the Polly Pockets for hours on end!
Blowing out her candles on her chocolate cake with strawberry frosting and chocolate chips (you can actually see the last cake from her last party in the background!) Love the cute cheeks.
We LOVE our Abby!
