Christmas Day

     There is nothing in the world better then seeing the excitement of Christmas through a child's eyes.  I still remember so vividly what Christmas used to mean to me as a kid.  Reliving those experiences with my own children is almost like being a kid again.  Hands down the best part of Christmas was watching the joy and happiness on all the kids faces.  What fun they had!
   Ashlyn started the day by waking us all up around 5:30.  A little early for everyone's liking, but you are only 6 years old once on Christmas.  The kids all raced downstairs to see what Santa brought them.  They were all very excited with what he left them.  Ella got a Doc McStuffins checkup set and exclaimed, "That's just what I wanted!"  Ashlyn was very pleased to see that Santa did indeed bring the Saige American Girl doll like he promised at the North Pole this summer.  Each of the boys each got a Thomas the Train table.  Their stockings were full of all sorts of toys that they were over the moon for.
     After checking out the Santa loot, it was time for breakfast.  We had breakfast casseroles and the cinnamon rolls we had made the night before.  The cinnamon rolls were a definite favorite of everyone's.  After we had some food in our stomachs, the kids went back to opening presents.  They had such a great time ripping through each package to see what they got.  All of us adults, may have gone a little overboard with gifts, but they are only young once.  They were all very happy kids.
    After the kids were done opening, the adults opened their gifts.  We spent the majority of the day helping the kids open new toys and playing with the new toys.  We did stop and eat a wonderful Christmas dinner that everyone really enjoyed.  We all stayed at my parent's house into the evening when it was sadly time to pack everything up and head home.  We left about 6:00 p.m. and Dawson fell asleep about 5 minutes into the ride home.  Ashlyn was out by 7:00 that night.  Definitely a sign of a good Christmas!

Someone had a hard time waking up

All the loot Santa left

Ashlyn's presents from Santa

Ella's presents

Dawson' s presents from Santa.  He loved the train table. 

Checking everything out

Ashlyn and Auntie cuddling together

Jameson really enjoyed climbing on the table

So excited

Checking out his table

Ella really liked her big present

Trying out his Back to the Future car on his new table

Opening presents

Ashlyn really wanted a flute from Santa.  He brought her one and she was very happy!

Very excited about a toothbrush. 

Finally time to eat

The new cat was hungry too. 

He loved his cinnamon roll

Playing with his table again

For Christmas I got Joey a moose mug like the one in Christmas Vacation.  We both love that movie and he was very happy to get it. 

   As I have blogged about before, Dawson is absolutely obsessed with the movie Back to the Future.  He quotes that movie all day long and is constantly "playing" back to the future.  Joey scoured the internet for anything Back to the Future.  It is a little challenging because the movie is old, but he was ecstatic when he found a big model of the car.  He couldn't wait to give to Dawson.  Dawson was beside himself when he opened it.  He did not put that car down the entire rest of the day.  In fact, he even stopped opening presents because he just wanted to play with that car.  He slept with it that night.  That car has barely left his side since Christmas.  So funny such a simple thing can bring him so much happiness!

Checking it out

Joey also found him some Marty And Doc figurines to play with

The world's cutest one year old with his new Elmo

All his new Back to the Future stuff

Joey worked really hard on my brother's present this year.  My brother is notoriously really, really hard to shop for.  We decided to make him something.  Joey made him framed pictures for the past four years with all his races and his times.  He really liked it. 

Each year my Grandma gets Bryan and Joey a Budweiser beer mug.  She has been buying these mugs for the grown men in the family for many, many years.  Bryan and Joey have made it a tradition to have a beer out of them. 

Only on Christmas do you get to eat Cheetos while in your pajamas

My parents got Ashlyn this flutterby doll.  Its the coolest thing.  It literally floats above your hand.  This thing entertained all of us for quite some time. 

Watching it fly

It flies very high

Our Christmas dinner.  Yum!

Joey and I

Bryan drinking some egg nog. 

The kids loving the cherry pie my Grandma made.

We totally forgot to take a family picture until the end of the day.  Dawon decided he didn't want to put his shirt on. 

Christmas Eve

      We had such an amazing Christmas this year.  I think everyone would agree the best part about Christmas is spending so much time with family.  It has always been our tradition since moving out of my parent's house, to still spend the night at my parent's house on Christmas Eve.  We have even carried on this tradition since starting our own families.  Each year the family gets a little bigger, and each year we have to get a little more creative with sleeping arrangements, but I know it's one Christmas tradition that everyone really cherishes.
    The kids and I started our day very early at my parent's house on Christmas Eve.  My dad went out and got bagels and we had a nice breakfast with my parents.  The rest of the day was spent cooking, eating, and relaxing.  We have a very laid back Christmas Eve.  All of us stayed in our pajamas most of the day and it was so nice.  We had our traditional Christmas Eve lunch that we have been eating since I was a kid.  For dinner, my mom and I made lasagna, salad, and cheesy garlic bread.  We definitely ate good that day!
    At one point, the doorbell rang and we discovered our elf, Eddie Buddy on the front porch attached to a box!  What a crazy surprise!  The kids were so excited to see what was in the box.  He had brought new pajamas and hot chocolate.  They were very happy!
    Christmas Eve is the one day of the year that the kids are excited to go to bed.  We read our Night Before Christmas stories to get ready.  Ashlyn and Dawson then put out the special cookies they had decorated for Santa. Ashlyn had been working on a note to Santa earlier in the day, so she made sure she sat it out right where he could see it.  After they had everything ready for Santa, they were off to bed where they quickly fell asleep dreaming of all the excitement to come.  

Eddie Buddy

Looking to see what he brought

Checking out their new pajamas

We have been having the same punch on Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember.  Ashlyn loves it and is now in charge of making it.  She did an awesome job!

Eating Christmas  Eve lunch

Feeding Daddy

My brother wanted to start a new tradition of working on a Christmas puzzle.  We quickly discovered the one we bought was very tricky.  Everyone eventually gave up on it. 

Attempting the puzzle

Ashlyn and my Grandma making caramel cinnamon rolls for the morning. 

The tree

Dawson all ready for bed

Ashlyn's sweet letter to Santa

Looking adorable in their new pajamas

Ashlyn with the cookies

Reading our Christmas stories

Cookies

  A few days before Christmas, we decided to make some Christmas cookies.  Ashlyn and I had already spent a day with my Grandma learning how to make all the cookies that have been in my family for generations.  What a special day that was.  Katy and I decided to have the kids decorate some sugar cookies.  I used a new recipe for sugar cookies and I was quite pleased with the way they turned out.  Ashlyn, Dawson, and Ella had a great time decorating all the cookies.  Their favorite part was definitely eating a cookie when we were done. 

Cutting out cookies

We made all sorts of fun shapes

Ready to decorate

They were really good at putting the frosting on

The sprinkles were the best part

Ella was doing some sampling as she decorated. 

My Birthday

  I am VERY behind with blog posts.  In my defense, I have some good excuses like Christmas, going on a week long vacation, and being 7 months pregnant.  I am going to be posting a lot of posts in an attempt to finally get caught up!
     My birthday was on December 21st.  I of course was not really looking forward to getting another year older.  Ashlyn was very excited for my birthday.  She told Joey about a month before my birthday that she knew exactly what she wanted to get me.  Ashlyn and I watch a cooking show together all the time called the "Pioneer Woman".  We really like her show.  Ashlyn knew she had a new cookbook out.  So, she decided that it what she wanted to get me.  Ashlyn and Joey went to the store one night to buy the book for me.  Ashlyn was very insistent about spending her very own money on my present.  Joey said it was adorable seeing her pay with her own money.
    My birthday actually started on Friday night.  Joey and Ashlyn had a big surprise for dinner.  Dawson stayed at his Auntie's house.  The three of us went to the Melting Pot which is one of my favorites.  Ashlyn was so well behaved the entire time.  She really enjoyed the fondue experience, and definitely liked the chocolate the best.  We had a really nice dinner.
    On my actual birthday, Ashlyn woke me up bright and early with her present for me.  She was just too excited to give it to me.  I of course was so happy to get the cookbook and an adorable handmade card from Ashlyn.  Joey and the kids went out while I was still sleeping and got my favorite breakfast sandwich.  So, I also got breakfast in bed.  We went out to lunch with my entire family to a Brazilian steakhouse which was wonderful.  I even got my favorite ice cream cake for dessert!  Despite turning another year older, Joey and the kids did an amazing job making it a very special day for me.  
   

At the Melting Pot.

Enjoying the fondue.

I try to take a pregnancy picture every couple of weeks.  I took one on my birthday at 26 weeks. 

My special girl and I at lunch. 

My favorite boy and I

Ella having fun with the tongs.

Joey and Dawson

Electric Safari

   On Tuesday night, the weather was supposed to be fairly nice.  We decided to go to the Electric Safari at the zoo.  We went once before when Ashlyn was only like a year old.  As zoo members, we get in for free.  Since the kids enjoyed the church lights so much, I figured they would like the zoo.  We had such a great time!  We got to see a bunch of the animals.  It was neat being at the zoo at night instead of the day.  The kids loved looking at all the different lights.  They had a lot of neat animal ones. 
     The best part was that Santa Claus was there. The line was very short to see him.  They had an area where you could make a list before you went and saw Santa.  Ashlyn was getting concerned that she hadn't had a chance to get her list to Santa yet.  She wrote a nice list for him. We saw Santa when we went to the North Pole this summer.  Dawson wouldn't get near him then.  We were thinking he would do the same this time.  We are very surprised when he walked right up to him, and said, "My name is Dawson".  Ashlyn gave Santa her list and he looked it over with her and then took it with him.  They had a great time seeing Santa. 
    We had such a nice night at the zoo.  We decided that we will definitely be adding the Electric Safari to our yearly Christmas traditions. 

The entrance with all the pretty lights

Ashlyn and I

In front of one of the lion lights

This light was really neat.  The elephant would use his trunk to shake the apples from the tree. 

The city views were amazing at night!  Our zoo seriously must have one of the best views in the world!

In front of the Christmas tree. 

The giraffe lights

Meeting Santa.  Dawson was introducing himself. 

Santa looking at Ashlyn's list

My angels with Santa

Ashlyn got to see Mrs. Claus too!

We saw the lions before we left.  I thought cats were supposed to be active at night?

Dawson and Joey in front of the tree.