Our Christmas 2011

I am finally getting around to update the old blog here.  Christmas seems like such a long time ago, but I wanted to document our day.

Grant woke up first.  (Like his mommy)  All he wanted for Christmas was Legos and a trampoline.  Let's just say that Santa didn't disappoint.  He was so excited and had all of his sets put together in a matter of just a few days.

Camryn woke up second, although I don't think she cared that it was Christmas morning.  She received a toy camera, a fisher price cd player and some new cloth diapers.   

Erin was the last one up.  All she wanted for Christmas was Kit Kittredge the American Girl Doll.  I took this picture just as she spotted her under the tree.

To say she loves her is an under statement!

Erin's 2011 ornament

Grant's 2011 ornament

Camryn's 2011 ornament

Here's a quick pic just before we left for church.

A family shot!  A little crooked, but a good picture anyway.  I love how sweet the kids are being in this picture.

Grant won't pose for pictures so I have to sneak one every now and then.  The only reason he consented to the ones above was that it was mandatory if he wanted to jump on the new trampoline Santa left in the backyard!

We let the kids jump for literally a minute before we whisked them away to church service.  Stephen and I expected a complete melt down from both kids, but surprisingly they consented.

After lunch with Stephen's family, the kids could jump their little hearts out.

Breakfast with Santa

I know I am so far behind on posting, but I wanted to post a few Christmas memories before any more time passes.

We had breakfast with Santa a few weeks ago.  We separated the kids into groups this year.  The kids rotated through three different stations:  a craft, a game, and SANTA!!!  This kept the kids attention much better than previous years.  We had close to forty little ones attending this year's party.

 
Here is part of our group waiting for their turn to sit on the big man's lap!   I love how Erin is holding Camryn in her lap.  I am sure that moment didn't last long!

All three kids did well sitting with Santa.  Grant and Erin made sure to tell him exactly what they wanted for Christmas.

We tried to take a group picture of the kids.  We did this at the end of the party and several families had already left : (

Christmas Card 2011

My friend, Jon, was nice enough to take our family pictures for us this year.  I love how well they turned out!  It's hard to get a good shot of all us looking at the camera.  Thank you Jon!

Thanksgiving 2011

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year!  I wish I had taken more pictures because we had a house full!!!  I think the total count came to twenty seven people for dinner.  We were so lucky to have my sister, Melissa, and her family here.  They made the long trip from Texas to Florida this year. Brian and family were also here this year.  Both sets of my grandparents were able to be here as well as all of my Uncles and Aunts!  The house was full! 

We ate etirely too much, but the food was delicious!  We have some great cooks in our family : )

After we ate, the kids and Stephen played baseball.  We also had fun checking out the donkey family that lives behind us.  They have a baby donkey that Erin has lovingly named, Methuselah.  She calls the mom and dad donkey, Mimi and Papa respectively!

My Granny Field and her boys!  How lucky is she to have three boys?  You know how boys love their mama!  She is well loved for sure!

I was able to get some pictures of my Granny Field and her husband, John.  I am so glad they were able to make the trip down to visit with us!

I really wish I had taken more pictures!!!!  I think next year I am going to force every one outside for a group picture.  They might not like it, but they will thank me for it later : )

We had such a wonderful time visiting with all of our family this year!  We are so thankful for each and every one of you!

Camryn's First Birthday

Camryn turned one year old on Friday, November 18th.  She began her big day with a check up appointment at 8:30 am.  She weighed in at 22.6 lbs (75%) and was 31 in (95%) tall.  (Erin had the exact stats at her one year check up!)  She is a healthy little girl. She is eating like a champ and pretty much wants to eat what we are eating.  She says hey, bye, dada, mama, yay, grandaddy, Granny Gay, and Bible.  She also shakes he head yes/no when she is asked a question.  This is very helpful.

She loves the phone, especially the iphone.  Her favorite toys include her baby dolls, the play kitchen, the red car and anything she can tote around like a purse.  Camryn loves to play outside on the swing set.  She squeals with delight when we go for a ride on the golf cart and she loves to visit the donkeys behind our house.

We celebrated, as tradition, with a cupcake on her actual birthday.  She was not bashful!!!  She has a sweet tooth like her mama (and daddy : )

Camryn's party was on Saturday.  We were lucky to celebrate with our family.  She seemed to enjoy herself too!  Check her out with her cake!

Airplanes and Caterpillars

This past Saturday the annual air show came to town.  Stephen and my dad try to go every year.  They usually take Grant, but he couldn't go this year.  He had a birthday party to go to that was smack dab in the middle of the day.  We decided to let Erin go because she was not invited to the birthday party. 

She had a blast!  I think she enjoyed the air show more than Grant.  (Stephen said it was so much easier with her too.)  She came home with the new career goal, "the driver of the Blue Angels!!!"  We will see what her future holds : ) 

On Tuesday Grant and Erin had their first field trip of the year.  I was able to take the morning off to accompany them to the theater.   They went to see the coolest puppet show!  The puppets performed three books buy Eric Carle: The Very Hungry Caterpillar,  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, and Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me.  The entire show was put on by two puppeteers and they did a fabulous job!  The picture above is Erin and her teacher Ms. Megan.  We love Ms. Megan!  The picture below is Grant and his best buddy.

Halloween Hoopla 2011

Halloween seriously lasted for days around here this year!  We kicked off the celebration on Thursday with Erin's school party.  I wasn't able to go this year because I had to work : (  Granny and Camryn got to go join in the fun.

Friday evening we took the kids to the local pumpkin patch.  The kids were so sad that we didn't get a pumpkin at the corn maze and I was sad that I did not get any pumkin pictures, so we made a special trip.  We got there a little later than I had planned, (Stephen had to work late) and I thought I did not have enough light to get any pictures without my flash.  I cranked the ISO settings on my camera up and got a few good ones.  They are a little grainy, but they will do!  The kids each picked out a pumpkin to carve.

We had a Halloween themed birthday party Saturday morning.  The kids got to wear their costumes and they had a great time!  Saturday night our Care Group had a Halloween party too!  It was so much fun and Mrs. Plante had a bunch of games for the kids to play.  She even had prizes for them!  When we got home Grant told me that "This was the best day ever!" 

Sunday night was Trunk or Treat!  We always have a great time with all our friends.  I love seeing all the little ones dressed up in their costumes!  Grant was the black Angry Bird.  Erin was Cinderella and Camryn was a little flower!

Camryn got the hang of this Trick or Treating thing right away.  Just beware....don't take away her candy!!!!

Monday night we did a little more trick or treating with our cousin Dixie.  I think it's safe to say that I am over Halloween : )