Christmas 2014

Christmas was good this year.  Except for the fact that right before Christmas... AGAIN... I got sick and had to go on antibiotics.  This happened last year, too, and I'm hoping that it won't become a trend for me.  Luckily I got over it just in time for Christmas, but poor Jenna woke up with pink eye in both eyes on Christmas Eve.  Thankfully, it was Christmas Eve and not Christmas so I could take her to the doctor and get a prescription.  She didn't love the eye drops but they cleared it up super fast.  Owen, on the other hand, LOVED the eye drops.  I've never seen a two year old like eye drops.  He even went so far as to ask for them for days... silly kid.
Usually we go to Mom's house on Christmas in the afternoon, but this year we didn't.  We got snowed in.  It was nice to not have to rush out the door and the kids took all the time they wanted to enjoy their presents.  We ended up being able to go the next day, thank goodness! We, of course, spent the weekend (and then some, because of the weather).  It was a good time.

The kids enjoyed decorating the tree this year.  Usually I end up doing it by myself, but they stuck through the whole time this year.

 

Jenna was terrified of Santa.  It was really sad because she started out being the most excited to see him.

Group picture after opening our jammies on Christmas Eve.  Then it was off to bed.  We had some very excited kiddos.  I must admit that I was pretty excited, too.  I love the anticipation that Christmas Eve brings.

This trike has been stashed for Owen for the last 7 months or so.  We were excited to give it to him, and he LOVES it!

Daddy and Jaxton comparing stocking stuffers.  They both were pretty happy about the iTunes gift cards and back scratchers.

Jenna got a comforter for Christmas.  Also something that has been stashed forever.  She loves it.

Jaxton and Kayla both got matching NERF bow and arrow sets.  They were SO EXCITED!  They are pretty dang fun.  I'll admit that I like when Jaxton offers to let me have a turn.

Uncle Mike got the girls a make-it-yourself princess crown and jewelry set.  They have so much fun with it.

Figuring out how the bow and arrow set works.

Snowed in!!! Owen loves the snow this year!

At Grandma's house having some great fun with the gifts she and Grandpa gave.

Owen turned 2 on Dec. 27th.  We took some birthday pictures.

Owen is loving his birthday cupcake!

Cuddle time with Uncle Mark is the best.  These two have their cuddle time every time we visit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As usual, Mom and family came out to our house to celebrate Thanksgiving.  This year was a little different, though, because Cynthia was able to come out and so was James.  James hasn't been with us for Thanksgiving in forever and Cynthia usually spends it with her significant other's family.  It was extra nice this year.

These two and their shenanigans... trying to get into my pies!

We caught Owen trying to sneak some snack food.  He did a pretty good job getting into it.

Jaxton made this little booklet in school of things he was thankful for, so he led us in prayer this year. It was so cute.

Random Happy Moments

I love when I get a random happy moment with one of my children.  As always, my children were playing way to loud and way to hard in the house while I was making some dessert after dinner.  All of a sudden Kayla comes into the kitchen, very sad, and said that everyone was being mean and no one would play with her.  She was devastated!  Since I was just done making whipped cream I said to her, "I guess you get to lick the bowl then".  She got the biggest grin and was so happy to be all alone, not competing with anyone for whipped cream.  She was so content just to sit there by herself and keep me company.  And being the sweet Kayla that she is, she saved some for them, as if they were never mean to her to begin with.  I love this girl.

Happy Halloween!

This year we went to my Mom's house since Halloween landed on a Friday.  Mom wasn't there (she was in AZ with my sister), but James, Mark, and Grandpa John were. I am so glad that we got to experience some one on one time with them.  It made my heart so happy to see Grandpa John go trick-or-treating with the kids.  He would do it with us from time to time when we were kids and I was so happy that he got to do it with my kids.  I think it made him equally as happy.  We spent the whole weekend there, so he got some good quality time with them.  They baked together, and played outside together, and he got them coloring books.  And I got to spend some quality time with James and Mark, which was nice.  It was a good weekend.  The kids looked oh-so-cute this year.

Pumpkins

We had heck of a time this year.  For some reason, our pumpkin patch was out of commission.  Granted, we went later than usual to pick pumpkins, but certainly not so late that it shouldn't have still been up and running.  They had some in a box and were small, but since we had no other pumpkin patch to go to, we got some small ones and the kids loved it!  They were just their size to carve.  We helped, of course, but the kids really got into it this year.  It really was fun.  I usually am not a fan of carving pumpkins, but the smaller ones weren't too terrible.