Why, oh why, do we pay 18.75 EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR for ONE ridiculous picture of the kids with Santa??
Probably becuase the picture turns out so darn funny!
1 year ago
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Christmas 2011
Before the Christmas Eve service!
The kids and their Christmas Jammies!!
My sweet Ri!
E!
Bedhead!
I love watching my kids get excited!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture of Emmersyn. She was truly excastic when she saw this gift: Violet, the leapfrog puppy. It's BY FAR her favorite thing she got, she carries it around everywhere (even 4 weeks later!)
In her usual spot...actually, she's normally ON TOP of the counter, but you get the picture.
Lincoln's favorite gift: Batcave!This year's Christmas was really unusal. We did nothing. We spent time together as a family of 5, but went nowhere and no one visited. It was nice and relaxing in a way, but I also missed spending the holiday with our families!! The kids had so much fun opening gifts and we probably had even more fun watching them! We don't really do "Santa" but we're not opposed either, we just don't mention much of Santa so the kids knew the gifts were from us. I have to say they made out this year!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Our Christmas in WV
I have been Christmas shopping for what seems like the entire year and I suppose I must have forgotten about a few gifts because when I was wrapping them I couldn't believe how many the kids had! On Christmas Eve Riley and Lincoln left cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. It was Riley's idea so we went with it, but we're not sure if, in the future, we're going to do the whole "Santa thing"...we'll see. The kids were up at 5:30, BOTH of them, so we came down bright and early. Riley walked down first and looked like a deer in headlights when she saw the tree. She couldn't believe there were gifts for her under the tree. Then she started running around saying "Santa, Santa...where are you?". Before we open gifts we read the Bible story of Jesus' birth because we want the kids to know that Christmas is not about the gifts, but about the birth of our Savior!
We had so much fun opening gifts and so far all the gifts are still a big hit. Riley's big gift was her doll house complete with accessories and Lincoln's was a train table! After opening the presents we made a big breakfast, including homemade donuts that my Dad always made us as a kid...I LOVE them. Too bad I was too sick that morning to eat any, but the kids love them probably just as much as I do! After breakfast Ty spent a while putting toys together, getting batteries in toys and cleaning up after what looked like a tornado came through our place!
I also have to mention that both kids open 1 gift on Christmas Eve, it's always jammies. This year Ri has been begging for "footies just like Lincoln" as she calls them. I do love winter for that reason--the kids get to wear footies because it gets pretty chilly!
The night before Christmas.
Riley was thrilled she had a present that was bigger than she was!
Mommy with her two "gifts"!
Riley's huge doll house (I underestimated how big this really was--her and Lincoln crawl through the front door of it, if that gives you any sense of it's size). Look closely and you can see two faces in the windows.
Ty putting together Lincoln's train table.
Homemade donuts
Lincoln LOVES his ball pit!What were your kids' favorite gifts this year? Now that we're a week or so out what gifts are they still playing with??
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Christmas at Gull Lake
This year was a lot different because on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day we had no where to go and nothing to do. However when we got back to MI we made up for it. We stayed with my mom at first and had our family Christmas a few days late. Here are a few pictures from our family Christmas and our time at my mom's:
Family picture (-Ty, he's in WV working :( )
The girls all got scarves.
Every year my mom gets the guys matching boxers and it's tradition that they all put them on and take a picture. Since Ty was missing, Lincoln took his place!
Kolby, Britton and Lincoln. Kol and Lincoln were like best friends while Kol was here. Lincoln was his little buddy and loved playing with him. So cute!
We played a LOT of Mario Cart Wii!!
At Jori's basketball game
Lincoln was snuggling with Lily.
Poor Riley was exhausted after opening gifts and eating a ton that she fell asleep on Kasey while watching Veggie Tales! Thank goodness I didn't have to deal with putting her to bed that night.We had a lot of time visiting with all of our family, unfortunately it's never long enough. We mainly hung out, played games, went to Jori's basketball games and ate...a LOT! It was great staying somewhere for a week and not having to cook or clean and having wonderful babysitters, I'm afraid I've been spoiled for when we go back home.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Gingerbread Houses
Every year we make Gingerbread houses, this year we left it until Christmas Eve. The kids thought they were in candy heaven and ate so much I think they had belly aches! I made homemade frosting and Riley loved helping me this year. We usually make one house each, but since the kids can't quite do it themselves we made one family house instead. It turned out...well, interesting. Riley loved piling the candy on and piling cracker upon cracker. Lets just say she won't be designing our home if we ever build one! Lincoln was no help really :). He sat there, watching and eating a TON of candy...but, he was one happy little guy!
They thought they were in heaven! 
They thought they were in heaven!FINAL PRODUCT!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Naughty or Nice?
We took the kids to see Santa at the mall, like we do every year. Riley wouldn't have anything to do with him. I even tried being the mean mom by making her sit, but I couldn't pry her off of my neck. She was literally screaming...not crying, but screaming at the top of her lungs and everyone was looking at us so I gave up. She's a strong little girl. Lincoln wasn't thrilled either, but we were able to "make him" sit on Santa's lap whether he wanted to or not. Classic. Now every time we go to the mall Riley says "I don't want to see Santa" :)!
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Does this picture remind you of THIS ONE??
Monday, December 7, 2009
Decorating the Tree
Usually we try to decorate the Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, but with us moving that weekend it didn't happen. So we waited until the first weekend in December--once we were move settled into our new place. The kids were SO excited to put the tree up, but got distracted pretty quickly (mostly Lincoln). Riley is at such a fun age right now. She understands what's going on and really is a good helper. She and Ty put most of the tree up while I took pictures and watched Lincoln. Once the tree was completely put together (yes, we have a fake tree--I'm allergic to the real ones) we went to decorate it and soon realized that we completely forgot to pack our lights and ornaments. We store much of our stuff at Ty's Grandparent's house and we forgot them there. So we took a break, listened to Christmas music, drank hot chocolate then I made a quick run to Target to get ornaments and lights. I got back, we finished decorating.
Once the ornaments were on the tree Lincoln was all of a sudden interested in the tree...but not in a good way. We wouldn't leave the thing alone. He kept taking all the ornaments off the tree and hoarding them. Every time we told him not to touch he got VERY upset. Needless to say he cried for about 2 hours straight and now our tree is only half decorated (the top, of course). Whatever works. I wasn't about to deal with him crying and undecorating the tree for 3 weeks!
Once the ornaments were on the tree Lincoln was all of a sudden interested in the tree...but not in a good way. We wouldn't leave the thing alone. He kept taking all the ornaments off the tree and hoarding them. Every time we told him not to touch he got VERY upset. Needless to say he cried for about 2 hours straight and now our tree is only half decorated (the top, of course). Whatever works. I wasn't about to deal with him crying and undecorating the tree for 3 weeks!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Christmas Day
...we met my mom's side of the fam. in Allegan at my Aunt's and Uncle's and always have a HUGE breakfast, complete with french toast, bacon, eggs, saugage, homemade cinnamon rolls, and SO much more. Everyone opens gifts and hangs out. Then we drove back to my mom's house on Gull Lake and spent the afternoon there, opening gifts, playing the Wii, and eating dinner. We had such a good time, even if we did have to sing the 12 days of Christmas at the dinner table (Kasey, we missed your beautiful voice, hope you'll be home next year to take part :)). Riley got the American doll bitty baby stroller, clothes, and much more. My mom and Jeff gave us $$ for Lincoln because he really didn't need more toys, so we're going to put that towards a car seat for him.
Ty, Lincoln and I with Kol and Britton (they just got back from their honeymoon in Mexico-LUCKY :)...they're not normally that tan :).
This is what I get for letting my brother give Riley ONE piece of chocolate and not watching her every move. She had it all over her clothes and especially all over her white sweater! (THANKS KOLBY)
The following weekend we went to my Dad's side of the family for the weekend. The kids always have fun there playing with the girls and this weekened was no exception. As I've said before Riley loves calling and playing with Papa, she had so much fun with my dad and actually kept wanting him to change her diapers (which was fine by me!!) :). Riley got the cutest tea set and now loves having tea parties--she is quite the girlie-girl!
We had a wonderful Christmas and have so much to be thankful for. It's always a very hectic and busy time of the year, but so enjoyable and every year is memorable.
CHRISTMAS POSTS DONE :)!!
Christmas Morning at home
After a LONG night of putting gifts together, getting batteries in toys and last minute wrapping we finally got to sleep around 1 am. We still haven't quite decided if we're going to do the whole Santa thing or not with the kids. We want to, but at the same time don't want to make it a huge deal because we want them to know what the real and true meaning of Christmas is. We never really told Riley about Santa this year or said "Santa's watching, so you better be good...", etc. We've got another year to decide what we're going to do, but this year gifts were from Mommy and Daddy.
We woke up (when I say "we", I mean the kids...I would have slept in until 9:00 if it were up to me), bright and early at 7:30 am. Riley and Lincoln actually woke up within minutes of each other so it worked out perfectly. We have a tradition we started when Riley was a newborn. We get the kids a new pair of jammies and they open them on Christmas Eve so they wake up on Christmas with a new pair on. Anyways...we woke up and the first thing Riley saw was the Rose Petal Cottage all put together--it was love at first sight. She almost didn't care to open anything because she just wanted to play in the house!! But we coaxed her into opening the rest of her gifts. She thought she was in heaven because she got to open almost all the presents. Lincoln obviously can't, so she thought ALL the gifts were for her. She was so funny and we loved seeing the look on her face when she opened her gifts. Lincoln didn't care much, but did enjoy playing with the wrapping paper that was all over the place. This year we had a lot of fun shopping for them--especially for Riley.
'Twas the night before Christmas...
Right before they started digging in.
"This is my kind of morning..."
YIKES! No shower or make-up, but it is Ty's rule: wake up, open gifts, eat breakfast...in that exact order. NO SHOWER or makup :)...ugh :).
Ri and Daddy opening presents.
Riley in front of the tree with Elmo Live!
Some of the things we got Riley this year were:
1. Rose Petal Cottage: LOVES IT!
2. Rose Petal Cottage lounge chair: LOVES IT!
3. Rose Petal Cottage sink and washer: LOVES IT (and hides everything in the washer: Jennie, I found your missing tissues in it :))
4. Elmo Live!: (LOVES IT)
5. Mega bloks piano: Likes it when she watches Elmo on TV. Elmo plays a song in most episodes on his piano, so she plays it on her new piano.
6.2 Elmo videos: LOVES them, of course!
7.LOTS of Gap clothes :): She threw the clothes aside and went to the next gift :).
8. Bath crayons, letters, water-color changing things: Loves them all, but especially loves the letters and crayons. I'm teaching her to recognize the letters now that she knows her alphabet.
9. new sippys
10. Baby Alive learns to potty doll: Likes playing with it, but is probably a little too young for it. I was thinking it would be good for potty training, but I think she'll like it when she's older.
11.Graco baby "accessories": came with a stroller, high chair, car seat, etc: Haven't even opened it yet...maybe we got her too many things??!!
12.Aquadoodle: Loves everything aquadoodle.
13.Random stocking stuffers
Lincoln got:
3. lots of new nippers
4. Tad
6. Random stocking stuffers
7. Mega Bloks musical piano (it was to Lincoln and Riley)
8. CLOTHES Galore!
9. a few more things, I just can't think right now....
We totally know it's not about the presents, but man it's fun to watch them open gifts and see their sweet smiles when they've gotten somthing they love! After all gifts were opened I'd usually make a big breakfast, but we were rushing to be out of the house by 10:00am to go to my Grandparents in Allegan...
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