Christmas Gathering

We found out some friends of ours were going to be at home by themselves Christmas day, so we had them over for dinner. I was glad, once again, to be able to enjoy the holidays with family and friends!

Dinner

lively conversation:)

attentive listening:)

Bananagrams broke out once the food and dishes were cleared!

Good times!

Christmas Morning

Christmas breakfast- always yummy!
(Eggs and Grandma D's yeast rolls)

Carys enjoyed the toys that didn't need opening

my sister's behind that "D":)

Can't wait to go to Oliver Garden for dinner!!!
Thanks Keesha!:)

Corey actually opened a present -
he usually hands them to me:)
Hot sauce and spicy popcorn were perfect gifts!
Thanks Pynes!:)

Christmas Eve Gathering

I put together Cheeseburger Soup and a few hors D'oeurves in the morning and we made last minute plans to have over our friends from our small group. We combined efforts with them and some other friends to "adopt a family" over the holidays. So we got together, ate food, played outside, wrapped presents, played games and then two of the daughters and I delivered the gifts in drive-by fashion.

We were at home on Christmas Eve and Christmas this year since Corey's brother, Anthony, came up the week before. I so enjoyed being able to share the holidays with friends!

wrapping gifts

Carys enjoying the wrapping paper:)

I'm not sure the boys ever stopped throwing snow at Corey,
even though it ended up with them being thrown in the snow...
that's probably what they wanted!:)

Carys trying to see what the guys are doing outside -
she always wants to be in on the action!

A few more joined the fun!

Christmas Eve at the Moka

We couldn't pass up a chance to hang out at the Moka on Christmas Eve.

Presents are Fun!

Christmas at Corey's parents was the first time Caedmon seemed to understand about presents...and was all about them! We had to remind him a couple times there and at home that it wasn't yet time to unwrap them. This is what I found Christmas Eve morning.:)

I didn't catch him in the act,
but he was using the long gift
as a golf club with the smaller package.

Christmas with the LeCureuxs

gettin' some grama time in right away

Caedmon the Reindeer:)

Can you see the face????
Wanted NOTHING to do with the snowmobile!

Hangin' out in bed -
I planned to stay in bed as long as possible,
with or without the kids!:)

They're watching Papa plow a "road" through the back yard to the woods so he could get to his wood pile - it snowed before he could get it all in. Papa drove the plow truck and Corey drove the truck that had to keep pulling the plow when it got stuck. It was quite hilarious to watch!

Caedmon was a big helper!

Caedmon wasn't the only one who enjoyed the cat!
(the cat didn't stick around long!)

he's not after the presents... can you see the cat?

Uncle Anthony and Carys making mischief!

This was as good as it got for a Christmas portrait

Someone took a picture with me in it this time!:)

Papa is so good with the little ones!

Sledding with cousins

they both loved the garbage truck!

Carys was all about the gifts -
it was hard to keep them intact -
she's persistent!

Caedmon got an inch-worm (caterpillar in his words)
(it wasn't yet assembled - it has wheels and he loves it!)

Carys was capable of unwrapping her own gifts!:)


It was great to have Anthony with us again for Christmas!
Time spent with family is what the holidays are all about!

Yummy

Corey was eating an apple and let Carys lick it...she kept going back for more.
(12/17/09)

Wheeeeee!!!

Christmas Party

We were invited to a no-kid Christmas party this year. After much thought about who to ask to watch our children, we finally asked a 16 year old friend. This was a big step, for me anyway. We rarely leave our kids and this is the first time we've done so with someone so young. We were right up the road and I planned to come home and put them to bed, so I figured two hours wouldn't be too much with two children. Little did I know that my daughter would scream for the full two hours!!! :/ She was about 6 1/2 months at the time and already experiencing separation anxiety! Yikes! She continues to be a mommy's girl!

Sam did a great job, juggling a screaming baby and still making it fun for Caedmon! She probably read half of our book collection!:)

And we had a great time - should get out by ourselves more often!:)

Cheerios!

It's been waaaay too long! This photo dates back to Dec. 11th! Cheerios are wonderful!!! I'm pretty sure I started them sooner with Carys than with Caedmon and I KNOW I give them to her a whole lot more than I did him! She loves them and they keep her happy!:)

Keeping Up With Big Bro

She got in by herself AND back out again, at opposite ends as well!