Christmas Eve & Day 2012

We sure did have a fun filled Christmas.  I was so busy helping the kids with everything that I feel like I barely got any good photos.  We celebrated Christmas Eve at Mimi & Papa's house and opened presents with everyone.  The girls got their Next Generation dolls with carrying cases and a white horse they promptly named, Arabelle.  It was an amazing evening and we had so much fun together.

Then it was back home to get ready for Santa's arrival.  

Here is our Christmas tree all decorated, waiting for gifts to arrive underneath.

Santa left 2 bikes for Reese & Ryan and a new Jeep for Ryder.

They were SO excited!!

 Ryder was still waking up.

Then we headed to Grandma & Grandpa's house for an afternoon of fun.  We went on a long bike ride, ate Mexican food, and opened up all our gifts.  The highlight of the day for me was getting the Vitamix blender I have been drooling over.  To say I was excited was an understatement.  Best. Gift. Ever!

Elves love chocolate

Cottie & Lilly got into my stash of Ghiradelli chocolate squares.  Big trouble for these two.  Nobody messes with Mama's dark chocolate!

Reading buddies

Cottie & Lilly thought it would be fun to read one of our Christmas books together.  They have good taste.  It's a new Pete the Cat book we got this year.  Pete the Cat Saves Christmas.  The kids love the book and now it looks like C&L do too.  I love having two elves.  It's just too darn cute.

Cottie & Lilly's Joyride

Cookie Time!!

I love making sugar cookies.  It's so fun to bake, decorate, make a huge mess and watch the kids cookie creations come to life.  Auntie Jess & Mimi came by with the boys.  We tried to take a photo of Mimi with her boys but Will & Ryder weren't getting on so well.  They love to fight over her attention.

Time to get started!!

 I have so many awesome helpers!

 Especially Captain Underpants.  That face and those eyes slay me.

 This was serious cookie business.  I really had to concentrate.

 Typical Ryan was all up in the mix.  She loves to help but she is such a monkey on the counters and it freaks me out.  All of our kids are like this but she & Ryder take it to the next level.

 My little oven helper.

I didn't take any photos of the finished products.  Mostly because they came out of the oven and we frosted them immediately, then ate them even faster.  Believe me when I tell you there were some beauts that the kids made.  Sugar overload for sure!

Applesauce & baby Jesus

Teddy Bear Tea

We did our annual Teddy Bear Tea at the Ritz Carlton and it's so fun to have this as one of our annual holiday traditions.  It's so nice to get dressed up and enjoy yummy tea, hot chocolate, scones & sandwiches.  It's a great way to get into the holiday spirit!

Alexa & Lexington came into town and joined us for the first time.  Lexington was a great age for it and she got her money's worth eating the sandwiches.  I tell you that little girl can eat!  She is too cute and Reese & Ryan love her to pieces.

Sweet little Ryan.

Sweet little Reesey.

Aunt Marilyn brought Cambrie for the first time.  She had fun but was terrified of the big teddy bear.

The kids gathered around to hear a story & sing Christmas carols.  Ryan was really into it!  Jingle Bells was her favorite.

All of us together.

Can't wait for next year!!

PJs from Cottie & Lilly

Cottie & Lilly were so thoughtful and left new Santa pajamas for the kids just in time for PJ day at school.  I love the leggings that look like candy cane stripes.  The kids were beyond excited when they woke up to find the elves had left a present for them.  

 I guess I should say the girls were thrilled.  It's morning so this photo really captures Ryder's excitement.

Ryan is really woking her I love Santa pose.

Not sure what Reese & Ryder are doing in this photo but for some odd reason I love it.

Cottie & Lilly's first shenanigans

 Our little elves are usually pretty good but they started off with a bang this year.  They found some mischief in the Alpha Bits and decided to blame Reese & Ryan.  We thought it was hilarious.  Ryan saw it and immediately decided to eat her name so the evidence was gone.  I was rolling on the floor laughing.

Thanksgiving 2012

We had a fun, relaxing Thanksgiving this year.  We started off at Mimi & Papa's house around noon and the kids played on the trampoline. We ate outside because the weather was so gorgeous.

I still got a little cold even though it was 80 degrees.  I thought it was cold in the shade :)

Mimi's turtles joined us for dinner.  They are too cute!

Reese took photos of Ryan.

Ryan took photos of Reese.

I took photos of Ryder with his crazy face.

We were trying really hard to get a photo of Mimi & Papa withe the kids by the fireplace but it was a no go.  We did snap one cute photo of Mimi & Ryan together.

And one of Mimi with the grandkids minus Will.

Then we headed over to the Whytes to eat some more turkey and dessert.  Cory's grandparents were in town and let me tell you that I just love Gigi & Great Poppa.  We helped Gigi set up her Gmail account on her Ipad.  I hope when I'm almost 90 I will still be emailing people and using my Ipad or whatever latest gadget is available.  She is so awesome and I love her to pieces.

Ryan, Jasmine, & Haley posed for us.

Then Reese jumped in.  The girls performed a Winter Wonderland show for us and I didn't get any photos because I was too busy smiling and watching the show but it was the cutest skit I'd ever seen.  They are the four sweetest girls I know!

Cottie & Lilly arrive

We knew our elves were coming soon but we weren't sure when.  The doorbell rang while the kids were in the bath and when we opened up the door there were two boxes wrapped up for our family.  It was all very exciting.  They tore into the boxes to find our old friend Cottie & our newest elf, Lilly.  

 She is adorable with earrings and a skirt!  Very fancy.  

 Their faces were priceless.  I wish I could bottle up that excitement and save it.

Ryder was checking it all out.  He took a bit longer to warm up to the idea of Cottie & Lily.

It's going to a be a really fun year with our elves.  Really. Really. Fun!