Christmas Day 2010

Christmas morning was spent with just the three of us at our house. Santa came, of course, and Jack had a good time opening his presents. He's not all that big into ripping and tearing, but once open he will not put whatever he gets down. Santa brought a "laptop" and a building set- I guess he knew that Jack will not leave either of our computers alone! I try to limit the Santa gifts to one or two- we must remember that "Jesus is the reason for the season" !

Good Morning!

Jack opening a Santa present 

Playing with his computer and driving console 

Then we were off to Gigi's house for brunch and presents. After a while, Jack said " NO PRESENTS!" I guess he grew tired of the whole thing. 

Until he got a car to drive around in.... 

which he never got out of! 

Daddy opening. 

After Gigi's house, we headed home for a quick nap and clothes change. Then,  it was over to my grandma's house for our annual white elephant game, dinner and presents.

Great Grandma and her great-grandchildren playing the drums. They all had a blast, especially Caleb- he hit the cymbals like a champ!

Chris and Jack 

My Wolf side Family....well were missing 10+ more people, but we had a great time! 

I got all the way through Christmas with NO picture of the three of us! I guess I will need to get one before I take down the Christmas tree :) We had a great time and a great Christmas season. We are so blessed and thank God for our blessings daily. Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!!! 

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve, as always with the family out at my Aunt Jackie's house. The three of us went to the children's mass at St. Ann's at 5pm, then it was off to Jackie's for dinner and presents. My cousin and his family came in this year, so Jack was able to see his second cousins and get some good playtime in- the last time they were in for Christmas, Caleb was about 8 months old and I was days away from having Jack.

Ashlynn, Angie and Jack being silly for the camera

Jack and his Tuna 

Caleb and Jack playing with their goodies 

Taking a break 

Playing 

Christmas Cookies

A couple of days before Christmas we made some cookies for Santa with Jack. He had a great time and made a nice big mess consisting of a ridiculous amount of flour all over my kitchen floor and a blue frosting face. Several trains, bells, Christmas trees, snowmen and stars later- we were worn out!

Momma and Jack rolling out the dough

Getting ready to cut a cookie 

Decorating 

Enjoying a few bites...

 

Jack's hand print 

He and Tuna finished the evening with some Polar Express 

Twins

Let me preface this post by stating, for the record, and my husband, that I did not set out to dress them alike. Brian has had this shirt for a few years and seems to wear it all the time- he just loves it. Well, imagine my surprise one day, walking around the dept store and low and behold....it's long lost, Jack sized , matching twin! I just couldn't resist and I must say I'm glad I didn't- they look SO cute! We got several double takes at church on Sunday :)

I don't care what Brian says, he enjoyed being "twins" with his boy!

The "Trailor Ride"

Last weekend we were invited by some friends to go on ride through our neighborhood to look at all the Christmas lights. A local church provides the trailer or hayride of sorts through our neighborhood for all to enjoy. I was a little apprehensive with Jack and his unpredictable behavior lately, but he had a BLAST!

Jack and "ophent" aka Elephant (his favorite "aminal") getting very excited before the "twaiwor wide". He was ready to go, go!

Jack and daddy waiting in line. Yes, my child has on Sophie's reindeer antlers. He found them the other day and will not quit wearing them.

Jack and Lainey having a little "chit chat" while waiting in line. They are so cute....

Jack could not wait to get on the trailer, and once we were on and going he was mesmerized with all the lights and people. He announced, no less than 5 or 6 times to the entire trailer full of people that he was "widing twaiwor looking wights". Pointing out  all the colors, Santa scenes, trains, etc. We all, including dad (who was not sure about this), had a great time.

Our first hayride as a family. I think we will continue this tradition :)

A Christmas Tradition

We have a perfectly, not so perfect, Christmas tradition for our tree. I love to look at others perfectly decorated and perfectly placed ornaments on their tree. I have wanted that "look" for my tree as well, I must admit. However, that would mean removing some of my most precious moments... For as long as I can remember, my mother and I have gone every year to whatever craft show was in town in search of the dough ornament people- no specific group in particular. We got an ornament for our tree with everyone's name on it to commemorate that year. Well, my parents continued that tradition for years and I can look back at every dog, cat,  family or homemade ornament for many, many years. I LOVE to look at the years past. We have continued that tradition with our tree as well.

My parents got this ornament for us the year we got married, our very first ornament as a couple. The tradition has varied over the last couple of years. We get the dough ornaments of course, but we will also get one if we go on a special trip or vacation from that particular spot.

A few of our "year" ornaments 

An ornament for each of the girls 

A trip we took in 07' 

A team we support 

And, one of the best ornaments I have ever purchased to commemorate a most special event! 

So, our tree, although it is not decorator perfect, is perfect for us and our family.

Jack's MDO Christmas Party

On the 16th we had Jack's MDO Christmas party. The kids had pizza and cupcakes and most of it all over their faces! We made a snowflake ornament and the kids gave us the most adorable cookie plates they made for Santa. He had a great time with his "feends".

Jack and Elle

I know it's fuzzy, but I rarely get a smile. 

Here he is telling me it's time to go to the car. I can't believe when we go back to school, I will have a 2 year old! Yikes!!!



The ROCK

You will understand the picture once you read. I headed to pick Jack up from school the Thursday before last, as usual. When I got there, I was a little early so I decided to head in and sign him out and then go pick him up. So, as I am walking back toward Jack's classroom, I hear this child screaming behind me "Mommy, Mommy!"- It was Jack and the director of the program running after me.

Apparently, my little lovely, decided he needed to shove the rock in above picture up his nose just before my arrival. He had been sitting with the director in her office until I got there. Well, we headed to the bathroom to check out the goofball and his nose... he tried blowing, nothing.... I tried to push it out, blood - he had jammed it up there VERY well. So after grabbing his belongings, off to the doctor we went, with Jack screaming " No doctor, no rock", the entire way.

Thank GOODNESS for Dr. N and his staff!!!! They had us in a room and looking up that nose in NO time. After assessing the damage and realizing that just the two of us were not going to be able to hold Jack down, he left and said he'd be right back. He returned with an extra set of hands and some surgical "tweezers". It took two of us holding him down so Dr. N could work and before I knew it- the rock was out!! We thanked everyone for getting us in so quickly and dashed home for a salvaged nap. What a mess! ( I know this will not be the last)

We discussed the next week, that if he found a rock at school, he was to either put it down or go take it to a teacher- we'll see how long that lasts!

Jingles, the Elf on our shelf..

The terrible two's are fast approaching...ahem, correction, they have arrived! And in an effort to curb some of Jack's, oh so ever increasing tantrums, I got us the "Elf on the Shelf" book. We elected to name our little guy Jingles, not because that is what Jack picked out, but mainly because that was the only name that wasn't received with objection. Jingles has been making his way around the house to "look after" Jack and see what he's up to so that he can report back to Santa. I must say I was hoping he would take ole' Jingles a bit more seriously, but as of yet Jack has been none too impressed. So, GET TO IT, Jingles!!! Either way, I love the idea behind it and I hope Jack, as he gets older, will have a better understanding. And for now, I'm having fun finding a new spot for Jingles every night (when I don't forget)!

Family Pictures

We drove up to Lubbock in October to have our pictures taken on campus for our family and  for Christmas cards. Wasn't sure which one I would use, so your just now seeing all of them. I was told by several to use the first picture below for our Christmas card, but I just couldn't send out the pic of my kid picking his nose...didn't seem fitting with my biblical quote on the inside. However, it is one of my FAVORITES! 

These were taken by my multi-talented sister, I thought she did a fabulous job!  Thanks Ang ;)