It was the night before Christmas...

It was the night before Christmas...

As long as I can remember we have ALWAYS spent Christmas eve with Momma's side of the family.  So even though I am now married this is still first on the priority list for Christmas events.  Even more so now that Brad and I have children of our own, holiday tradations seem to become even more important to my somewhat old fashioned values.  All the children, now adults and married with Patrick soon to be next October, we still manage to all make it there.  We don't get to hang out near as much as I wish we could so it is nice to know we always have Christmas to count on to get us all there.  We always go to Aunt Cathy's as we did this year.  This year Christian, Aubrey and Tucker were at David's for Christmas Eve so I was a little sad to not have them there.  Sad for myself and more so for Christi.  Now that I have children of my own I understand how hard it must be to not have your children with you EVERY day. Not just holidays because I am learning that everyday is a special day when your children are there. But despite their absense we have plenty of little ones to keep the excitement going. 
Caroline can put on the show all by herself but ths year she did really good about playing with everyone, especially Ady.  Caroline loves babies and was loving trying to be Ady's mommy.  Skip and Amanda got Caroline a baby stroller that Ady was just small enough to still fit in it so Amanda strapped her in and let Caroline push her around the house.  It was so cute and Ady was such a good sport.  Sat up and went along for the ride.  I think Ady is one of the happiest, prettiest babies I've ever seen.
We got Ady a pink glow worm because Caroline and Carson were so attached to theirs at that age and Carson still is.  It must be a mother's instinct because Christi got her a blue one too!  Perfect now she has a boy and a girl of her very own.
Chase and Lia got Caroline and Carson new glow doodles that we LOVE!!  I requested 2 from past experience and it's a good thing.  They traveled with us everywhere we went for Christmas and cut back the fighting for the same toy.  Plus they could still draw in the car when it was dark!  A very recommended gift!!!!
We got Maci a leap frog animal set.  I hope she likes it as much as Carson likes his.  Maci was walking all over the place and was so proud of herself.  She would walk and then stop and smile and clap for herself.  She is the happiest little baby.  And SO beautiful. Those big brown eyes and that dark brown hair.  It is funny how opposite she looks when you set her beside Caroline, Carson and Ady.

As I look through my pictures from Christmas Eve I see how special children make this wonderful season.  God has blessed each of our families so much throughout the years and now we can pass down those special traditions to our children

Cookies and Confections for Christmas Eve

What fun we had this year getting ready for Christmas!  I was off on Christmas Eve this year so Caroline and I decided we would have a mom day and make candy and cookies for Christmas to take to all our stops.  We invited my mother over and Juliana to help.  Christi had to work so we just made plenty of chocolate for her.  So we all tied on our aprons (Caroline, Juliana and I) that moma made for us and got to work.   We had the best time!  I was in charge of the peanut butter balls and Juliana made oreo balls and ended up doing all the dipping of anything that went in chocolate while I snapped pictures.  Momma has had years to learn patience so she got the task of cutting out sugar cookies and Gingerbread men with Caroline who already can complete any task all by herself with no instruction.  Brad did his part the night before and made his famous fudge so it was already ready to be cut and put on trays.  Uncle P even stopped by after he got off work and helped ice cookies.  He did a lot better than I was doing so I let him take over.  We didn't get to make the Martha Washington balls or the sugar strawberries that I love so much but there was more candy than we knew what to do with.  In the end, all the gingerbread men were dressed in overalls and pants some with green and red hair others sporting moehawks; all the trays were spilling over with candy and confections.  There was flour on the floor and countertops and Juliana had smudges of chocolate on her face but we were all still smiling and laughing.  What a great start to Christmas Eve!

Lastly and Back Up to current events..

Where have I been?  This question should be rephrased for the month of December to: where haven't I been?  The month has really flown by in all the preperation for Christmas, Christmas has again gotten here before I realized it.  I can't wait for our family celebrations to start tomorrow!  Being so close to my family it means so much more spending the holidays with them. 

Last weekend we started our Christmas celebrations with a trip through Christmas City and Brad's family at his grandmother's house.  His brother's family drove up from Louisianna.  We had a good time.  It's been a while since we've gotten together with Brad's family. 
Now tomorrow momma and Juliana are coming over to make candy and cookies for Christmas with me and Caroline and then on to Aunt Cathy's for Christmas Eve tradation.  Next time I update will most likely be after Christmas so Merry Christmas! 

Pictures from Brad's Grandmothers:

Happy Birthday Maci!

Happy Birthday Maci!

Last weekend we not only had the begining of our Christmas celebrations but we also had Maci's first Birthday!

Second...

Now that I realize I just posted the same Santa pictures that I already shared I will move on through the month. Second was our venture with Christmas card pictures for this year.  Let's just say that it's like looking for a dress when you have pictured in your mind EXACTLY what you want but when you get to the store you just can't find that perfect dress you want.  Well that's kinda how pictures are with Caroline and Carson.  If I am just snapping pictures cause I think my kids are the cutest in the world those end up being the cutest ones and the ones I try to get just right never turn out just right.  Out of the 50 or more attempts some of my favorites ended up being the ones when Caroline and Carson were just being themselves.  As you can tell by the end Carson was done taking pictures and Caroline was playing mother hen and trying to make him all better.  We ended up with some really cute ones to say Merry Christmas with. Enjoy!

By the end both kids were tired of the momma paparrazi!  HAHA!

First there was our visit to Santa

December is so busy!  Let me play catch up for a minute to get up to the current time of this busy month.

 First there is our visit with Santa this year.  How did that go well let's just say these aren't Phil's pictures but I am just happy that neither of them were crying.  Carson and Caroline were all about going to see Santa until it was our turn.  Carson wiggling to get down was all ready to walk up there until he realized he didn't know the person he was walking to. 

Caroline played the shy card which she is definately not and then Santa somehow "knew" that she was suppose to be working on not sucking her thumb and made a deal that she would work on that and he would bring her a bike for Christmas.  Needless to say that didn't get him in best friend points.

  In the end we ended up with a picture and neither was crying nor were they smiling.

Even Sock Monkey's Need Mommies!

Had to share this sweet little picture.  Last night when I got home from work Caroline was dressing her sock monkey up in her pj's instead of herself. 

Brighton Christmas Parade

Look at that face! 

Anticipation! 

We had such a good time at the Brighton Christmas Parade.  I love parades but the last couple of years we haven't made any in person because it is just too cold to have little little babies out in.  But now that my children are getting a little older this is a tradatition we will be starting.  Caroline rode on the Showstars float this year and had the best time being a "big" girl and waving and yelling Merry Christmas.  I walked beside the float mainly because she is just 3 and I wasn't sure how she would do.  I think this was more for my comfort than hers.  She loved it!  I got so wrapped up in watching her sweet little face as it lit up and watching those little eyes dance that the rest of the parade seemed to fade into the background.  As you can tell I only got pictures of Caroline on the float!  Anyway that was our part of the christmas parade!

My FIRST haircut!

Yes I said 1st!  I know Carson is now 18 months and was starting to look a little shabby but I just didn't want to see that baby hair go.  A little boy changes drastically with his first hair cut from a baby to a little man.  No more cute or pretty but now handsome.  I've been fighting with this decision.  Brad would be glad for a crew cut but I am just not having that.  I did give in sadly because I just knew that once we cut off those baby curls it would turn stick straight like Brad's and Caroline's.  To my delight the curls stayed. 

Time for shots again!

I seldom have time where it is just Carson and I... but Thursday I changed the rules.  Carson had 2 doctor's appointments so instead of fighting with both of them all day I took Caroline to Mrs. Gails and Carson and I headed out for a day just me, him and Nonnee' for some visits to the doctor and Christmas shopping.  We had such a good day!  Only having one child to juggle is really a blessing that you never realize until you have 2.  And my sweet little Carson many times is the one that gets sat to the side because he is so good.  I know that sounds strange but he doesn't require the fuss.  He is such a happy go lucky baby.  I was really glad to have the special time to spend with just him even if it was just for doctor's visits.  Hence the pictures...  Seldom do I get pictures of our doctors visits because it takes all my attention to be sure both kids aren't falling off the table (or jumping)

First stop was for 18th month shots.  Carson was a good sport though I almost don't have the strength to hold him down anymore.  After we got over our tearful episode on for shopping and and then for our second doctors appointment.  We had to go see a pediatric urologist.  I felt silly going but his pediatrician has mentioned a couple of times that he may have to have his circumcision redone.  Sure enough that is the case.  I am really dreading the surgery.  I hate to see my sweet little boy in any pain.  So keep him in your prayers.

Pictures with Santa 2009

Friday night when Brad got home from work we decided to take the kids to see Santa.  In years past I have always taken them by myself because Brad is usually picking up extra work.  This year we were fortunate enough to get to experience this together.  This year Caroline has really started to pick up on the Santa thing.  Everywhere we go she sees a santa somewhere and is tickeled that she  sees him.  Naturally I thought it would be a sinch this year...

So why is it that no matter what you try Santa pictures never turn out as you envision them?  Caroline has talked about Santa nonstop this year so I thought surely THIS year she would run right up to him... Well not so much.  She did walk right up there but still wasn't so sure of the whole process.  Carson started out with all good intentions, but turned around in midstride.  He was tickeled that I had put him down to let him walk and was all for that but when he realized there was someone other than his mommy waiting in front of him it was time to turn around.  We eventually got them both sitting beside Santa for a quick shot and as I've become okay with the idea that our Santa pictures are just not all smiling faces right now.  At least they aren't both screaming and terrorized.  Anyway glad Santa was a good sport and smiled good for his pictures.  Enjoy our attemps!!!