Christmas Day

Katelyn's gifts from Santa. Katelyn's big gifts were: bike, changing table, baby doll, doctor's dress up outfit, and a remote control helipcopter:)

Kendall's gifts from Santa. Kendall got a bubble mower, baby doll and bed, riding car, mega legos blocks and a dress up outfit.

We were so so thankful that Nana made it home from the hosptial just in time for Christmas. Kendall helped her open her gifts--she didn't mind a bit.

Daddy opening guitar hero. He was surprised and excited.

Katelyn in her new PJ's that her daddy gave her (he always gives the girls some new jammies).

Kendall wearing her new Arial PJ's that her daddy gave her and pushing her bubble mower. She loved her new mower!!

Katelyn is about to take her new bike out for it's first run.

Katelyn in front of her new puppet theater and baby doll bunk beds from Papa and JoJo.

The girls' new dolls in their bunkbeds--how cute are they?

Chef Katelyn is ready to bake. She got this set at Papa and JoJo's. She made cupcakes for all of us that afternoon. They were yummy and she was the cutest chef I'd ever seen!

Papa and Kendall as Kendall opens her new Elmo computer. She loves it!!

Us with the birdhouse that Kevin's dad built for us. It is beautiful and I can't wait to hang it in the spring. We love watching birds at our house.

Well, this is the last post of Christmas pictures I promise. We had so much going on in December and so many fun things that I had to share them with you. Christmas day is such a fun day filled with traditions. We always wake up to see what Santa has left and then start unwrapping gifts. We do that one at a time so it is a lenghty process. Mom cooks sausage balls, and this year I added monkey bread to the menu. It was all yummy. The girls loved their new toys, and I was glad it was a nice warm day in south ga (70%) so they could play outside with their new things. My friend Jennifer, her mom, and her sister always come over to see what Santa has left, and then we load up and go to her house. It's a fun tradition that we've been doing since childhood. After the girls have naps, we head out to Kevin's parents house and do it all over again. Santa leaves some thing there too. We had a great time with his family as well. The day is so magical and fun and such an awesome way to celebrate the birth of our Savior and what He has done for us.

Christmas Eve

Katelyn holding up her new ornament from Aunt Susan and Uncle Herschel.

Opening presents with cousins.

Kendall and Carsen playing ring a round the roses.

Eating dinner before presents.

Cookies for Santa, made especially by the girls.

Spreading the reindeer food out.

On Christmas Eve we always go to my grandmother's house. It is such a fun time, especially for the kids. They have a blast together as you can see from the pictures. They are all so excited about Santa's arrival!! After they open their presents, they all go outside and look for Rudolph's nose in the sky. Every year they find it!! After going to my grandmother's house, we went back to mom's and the girls got ready for Santa's arrival. They spread the reindeer food on the lawn. We also read the Night Before Christmas and the real Christmas story from Luke. Finally we left cookies and milk for Santa. Such a fun night.

The Girls sit in Santa's lap

The girls sat in Santa's lap in Americus. There's a famous street there called "Willet Way." It is full of hundreds (no exageration) of inflatable Christmas decorations. Several houses participate, and my girls absolutely love it. We usually ride down that street most nights we're in town. Santa is usually out in front of one of the houses. Both girls were excited to sit in his lap. I was shocked that Kendall wanted to, but she loved him. They were really cute talking to him. They asked to go back and see him the next night, which we did. I love the magic of Christmas for children.

Baking with Mimi

Mimi, Katelyn, and the Christmas Tree cake.

The finished product!! Pretty amazing.

Katelyn and Mimi hard at work. Yes, Katelyn has a striped band-aid on her nose. You know that a band-aid makes everything better!

One thing the girls always do the week before Christmas is make a Gingerbread house with Mimi. Actually, Kendall hasn't joined this tradition yet, maybe next year. They also make cookies. This year, a Christmas tree cake was added to the baking. Now, let me say, Katelyn and my mom spend HOURS doing these things. Their gingerbread house is perfect. They literally spent 4 hours decorating cookies and loved every minute of it. Thanks Mimi for the fun traditions!!

Fun Times with Old Friends

Jennifer reading a story to the kids. They loved it.

Kendall decorating cookies, or licking the knife should I say.

Katelyn playing pin the nose on Rudolph.

Sydney and Katelyn. Two pretty little girls.

Another fun tradition that we have is getting together in Americus with my friends and their kids. I'm so blessed that some of my best friends growing up are still some of my best friends today. Our kids get together at Christmas and decorate cookies and have a book swap. This year Jennifer added some fun games to the party. The kids had a blast (the grown-ups did too). After the party, the dads kept the kids and the girls went to dinner. It was a fun day!!

Katelyn's Preschool Christmas Party

Katelyn and Miss Kim

Making Gingerbread Cookies

Decorating little trees.

Katelyn had a fun Christmas party at school. We did all kinds of things such as: decorated small Christmas trees, decorated Gingerbread cookies, made ornaments, and had a bookswap. It was a lot of fun. I love being in her class any chance I get and seeing the fun things they do. She loves school!

Family Gathering

What cute kids!!

Kendall loves baby Emerson!

Wow, how did I manage to get this shot? They're all looking and smiling. I love it!!

Ok, so I'm way behind in blogging so it is going to take me several days to catch up!! Anyway, I couldn't leave these pictures off. I just absolutely love this tradition we started several years ago. Six families get together and our kids change into their Christmas PJ's. They open presents and we take tons of pictures. We also have a cookie swap and leave with lots of yummy goodies. It is such a fun time with special people!!