Christmas at Grandma's!

We have kicked off the gift-giving season with our first Christmas. Saturday we had Christmas with Clay's mom at her house. We had a very fun day with Grandma, Grandpa John, Shelby, Alyssa & Ryan. The kids really enjoyed all their gifts and have been very entertained by them since we got home last night. The next few days will be very fun and busy as we have 3 more family Christmases to enjoy and pack for our cruise! Merry Christmas everyone!
Nathan had such an expression of pure joy when he opened up this remote control Hummer.

He got some kickballs that will be a great addition to the neighborhood fun out in the street!

Abby got some pink boots that are slippers. Just before this photo was snapped. She exclaimed, "My Christmas Boots!!!" Then she promptly tossed them up in my lap. It was so hilarious!
Showing off the boots.

Abby also LOVES her princess sleeping bag that came in this duffle bag. She has been carrying it around like a back pack. She already slept in it the first night when we came home.
Clay is going to be goin' old school on our cruise next week with his Tiddies that Alyssa and Ryan gave him.

ICE!!!

My sweet sister-in-law, Alyssa works at the Gaylord. So we decided to take advantage of this perk and go to ICE this year. It was a fun night! The kids didn't seem to mind the cold at all. I think of course the highlight was the slide. As soon as Abby came down she started asking to do it again. After we went through ICE we went to eat at Texan Station inside the Gaylord.

Who would have thought a slide made completely of ice would be so fun!

This may be the only way we get Abby on Santa's lap this year.

I think Abby looks so funny walking around in that giant parka!

Uncle Ryan & Aunt Lyssa!

Sugar packets at dinner are fun for kids of all ages!

Gingerbread Houses

Last Friday Nathan's class had each child's parent come in to make and decorate gingerbread houses. Sadly, Nathan woke up that morning with a nasty case of strep throat. (That in itself is a whole different blog entry!) Anyway-our sweet friend Dana gathered up enough extra stuff and brought it home for Nathan to make one here at the house. A few days later he was feeling good enough and we tackled it one afternoon after school. He had so much fun doing it and definitely used his imagination on this project.

Abby also had to get in on the action. We found a butter box for her to use for her gingerbread house. I know I saw her put some pink marshmallows on her house, but for some reason when she was finished there was nothing on her house. Her belly was awfully full, though!

Abby at the Nutcracker

Last Sunday, Abby and I had a girls' afternoon at the Nutcracker. Our friend Meghan was in the ballet and Abby was so excited to go and see her. We went with our friends Angela, Sydney, & Sofia. The girls were great during the ballet so we went to Sonic after wards. Then they went back to being their silly selves in their pretty dresses. It was a great afternoon!

Thanks Mom and Dad!

Santa came a little early at our house last weekend. I put in a request to my parents a while back for a new camera and they delivered!!! I have been having a great time taking pics of the kids this last week. Here are just a few fun shots.

Decorating for Christmas!

Christmas time is here! We have started decorating the house and the kids are having the best time. This year at our new house, we are putting up 2 trees. The kids have their very own tree upstairs in the playroom. Monday night we got it set up. We used some candy garland that I had saved from when I was growing up. They really loved that. We also decorated their tree with all their ornaments that they get every year from me & Dee and all the fun ornaments that they have made throughout the years. Nathan & Abby also got to open their new ornaments for this year. Nathan was super excited about his golf ornament and Abby really loved her Ariel oranment. Nathan has also set up his train around the bottom of the tree and made a tunnel out of blocks for it. He has wanted to put a train around the Christmas tree for years. I'm not sure where he got the idea, but it's really cute!