Christmas celebration

It always happens...I post an event a week after it happened, so I just touch on the highlights. Better late than never though, so here it is!

We started off Christmas Eve day with making cupcakes for Jesus! You have to have a cake for everyone's birthday, so this was a request by the kids! Nothing too special, but the kids helped all the way through and seemed to really enjoy themselves!

We also baked and frosted some cookies to put out for Santa. I think this was actually the first year we did it, since Brookston is of the age of really getting into things! (We've done cookies every year, just not placed them at the fire place for Santa.)

Just before bed! Then we placed out cookies and milk. And Daddy read "The Night Before Christmas" to the big kids.

Unfortunately around midnight we saw Brookston, as this is when he got sick, twice. Poor buddy! We obviously knew that the family Christmas would be cancelled at this point and were very glad we didn't talk up the family get together earlier in the day. I was very sad for the kids to miss Christmas with their cousins. But I knew we'd still make a great day out of it!

Christmas morning, Kaisley sees that PINK scooter that she asked Santa to bring to her!

And Brookston got his blue remote control race car!

Sutton seemed to have a great time on Christmas morning!

The kids got a Jeep, but Kaisley was a little hesitant at first!

But Brookston and Sutton LOVED IT!

Daddy got a Keurig...and got a little jittery from trying so many cups on Christmas day! :)

Nana, Papa, and Yiayia arrived a little after lunch time (from out of town). The kids were so excited to see them and we were especially excited to have the company since we had to cancel our family get together.

We ended up cooking a modified Christmas dinner. Our normal family holiday meals include everyone bringing a couple dishes. But since the get together was cancelled at our house, we didn't have everything. I think we made the best of it and had a decent dinner in the end!

After dinner with the 8 of us (Me, Richard, Brookston, Kaisley, Sutton, Nana, Papa, and Yiayia), we opened presents from Nana, Papa, and Yiayia, as well as the gifts from the family! (Richard drove by to drop off our stuff to the family and pick up the stuff for ours.) So, we got to do presents all over again!! But we really missed the family and all of the excitement of seeing everyone! :(

Brookston opening a present

Kaisley loving her umbrella

Sutton LOVED this toy!

And to wrap up Christmas...Grandpa made a special delivery on the 26th to deliver their present. WOW, how exciting to get this HUGE present. It was an outdoor playhouse, which is already getting some great use!

2nd place again!

Every year our neighborhood has a Christmas lights contest. We won 2nd place this year!

We really didn't do much in terms of decorating outside/lights until we thought maybe Brookston was old enough that he'd enjoy the view. So, in 2008, we started decorating.

2008 - We didn't win anything! So sad. I know I was a little insulted because ours looked much better than 3rd place, for sure! Haha! So we bought some extra stuff after the season was over, with our minds set to go "all out" next year.
2009 - We won 2nd place...yay us! 1st place was a house that decorates the entire roof and has something in every square foot of the yard. So we were pleased with our 2nd place win! Picture
2010 - No outside decorations since we had a newborn in the house. We felt a tad bit guilt about this, but decided a 2 day - 4 week old was a good reason to slack.
2011 - We won 2nd place again. Wahoo! (that's the picture above) We actually did a little less than in '09, but that's because we had a few items worn too much by the weather.

Introducing Teddy, Kitty Cat, and Breezy

This was our first B.uild a b.ear experience! At first, Brookston didn't want to help fill his bear, but by the time it was Sutton's bear, he was all about helping. Kaisley didn't really care all that much, she just wanted her Kitty!!! And Sutton is absolutely in love with teddy bears right now!

Brookston helping the lady fill the bear

Sutton giving his Teddy a hug

Kaisley at the bath station for her kitty

All 3 kids with their new friends, ready to go home!

Breezy, Kitty Cat, and Teddy getting some love!

Breezy is a Saints football player, Kitty Cat has her own PJ's on and Teddy stayed without clothes, since Sutton liked him just the way he was! :)

Sweet sibling moments & mean virus

I just love sweet moments like this. All 3 kids playing together. This is enought to just melt a mama's heart! L-O-V-E!



I'm hoping to get our Christmas pictures up here soon. Unfortunately I'm a little behind due to a nasty little virus that attacked our house last week. Kaisley fell first, followed by me, Sutton and then Brookston on Christmas Eve. It was a tricky little virus, as we had been 48 hours free of any symptoms in the house (which had me very excited that Christmas plans could/would happen). I cloroxed everything on Christmas Eve day, we had just finished preparing the house for the family's get together on Christmas...and I heard Brookston cough, cough, cough over the monitor. It was midnight on Christmas Eve and I knew this was exactly how the others happened...Brookston got sick! Luckily that was it and he was feeling good for Christmas. But, it meant we had to cancel the family get together since the virus was obviously very mean and lingers. My parents and grandma arrived on Christmas day from out of town. So, no big shocker...now they are sick. Oy! I'm sure they are loving their little Christmas vacation!

Christmas Party #2

Kaisley had her Christmas party on the same day, but luckily it wasn't until noon. They enjoyed pizza for lunch (Sutton joined in, even polishing off Kaisley's cookie) and each got a new book. Kaisley waited so patiently to receive hers and she was THRILLED as she ripped off the paper to see an Olivia book!

Christmas Party #1

Brookston's class had a breakfast Christmas party. Donuts, yogurt, and fruit! Yum! Ms. Stacy read the Polar Express. The kids got a present (provided by mom & dad). And Santa came to visit! Fun morning at preschool! Oh...and it was PJ day!!

21 questions to ask your kids

My friend Katherine posted these the other day, so I had Brookston answer the questions. I will see if Kaisley will participate after nap today. Here are Brookston's answers:

1. What is something Mommy always says to you?
Be good

2. What makes Mommy happy?
Don't do anything bad

3. What makes Mommy sad?
Hitting

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
Tickling me

5. What was Mommy like as a child?
Made funny faces

6. How old is Mommy?
31

7. How tall is Mommy?
42 inches

8. What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
Cook dinner (haha, not even close...baking maybe) :)

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?
Cook dinner or go somewhere else

10. If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Because you're a mommy

11. What is Mommy really good at?
Spelling words (haha, maybe because we are doing words like Dad, cat, and ball) :)

12. What is Mommy not very good at?
Cleaning rooms (so true buddy, so true)

13. What does Mommy do for her job?
Cooking dinner, cleaning rooms, cleaning dishes, washing clothes

14. What is Mommy's favorite food?
Everything, pizza

15. What makes you proud of Mommy?
Doing happy stuff

16. If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A queen

17. What do you and Mommy do together?
Dance

18. How are you and Mommy the same?
We give each other hugs

19. How are you and Mommy different?
You're big and I'm small

20. How do you know Mommy loves you?
Because we are a family

21. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
At the ice cream place

Christmas Tree Farm Field Trip

Brookston's class visited the Christmas Tree farm yesterday. Kaisley, Sutton, and I also tagged along for the fun...along with about 12 other parents!! :) We started the morning off with a hayride around the farm. Last hay ride Kaisley violently refused...this time she was all smiles. Phew!! I think being with the big kids and excited to tag along helped!! Next was hot chocolate and muffins (Sutton polished off his, and the left overs from my other two!!). Then we walked around and sawed down a tree for their classroom!! Fun morning!! :)