Christmas 2011 Part 2

After church we came home and the kids quickly changed back into their pj's. Everyone wanted to be very comfortable for the "opening of presents and eating" that was about to commence :) Madison put on her new penguin robe.


We had a quick brunch of homemade biscuits and ham before Hope, Chris and Quinn arrived. She is such a cutie!


The massive amount of presents, it was ridiculous and we had even cut back from last year! They wouldn't all fit around the tree!



Madison behind her pile of presents!


Pops got a new laptop since his had finally died and Matt had not been able to revive it.


Taylor got a pretty new clock for her room makeover scheduled for this spring!


Hope and I bought Nana and Pops a large canvas of the grandkids...it must have been a hit because Nana cried!


Madison got squinkies!


And Matt surprised me with a gift....the knife set from Pampered Chef!

Madison

Lately Madison has been both driving me crazy and cracking me up! She is still my little side-kick! I very rarely get out of the house without her. Most times I don't mind but sometimes I wish I could get out and run errands without her. If I do get out without her it is after numerous hugs, kisses and "I love you's". Also she has to wave to me from the deck when I leave. She says some of the funniest things and today was no exception. I knew I needed to write them down before I forget.

On the way home from school she said "mom, we talked about this little brown boy today. did you know brown people had to drink out of a different water fountain than white people a long time ago. that wasn't fair was it mom?" I told her I didn't think it was fair either, that God made all colors of people and that we shouldn't treat people different b/c of the way they look.

We had a few stops to make after I picked her up from school. While at the Dollar Tree she asked if we could go to Menchie's. I told her not today because I wasn't feeling to great (I have a cold). Once we got in the car she informed me that one of her nose's was runny but the other one was stuffy! Last time I checked she only has 1 nose so I think she probably meant nostril :) LOL I thought it was so cute though and want to remember the cute things she says.

Christmas Morning 2011

Christmas fell on a Sunday this year which made things a little more interesting. We normally have Christmas with my sister and her family before Christmas since they are normally with her husband's family. This year they were doing Christmas with his family before Christmas so would be back home for Christmas here. We ended up having Christmas with my whole family on Christmas night. We got up and the kids were able to see what Santa brought and open their stockings before we got ready for church. The kids were happy with that (though Caleb really wanted to open all his presents) and agreed to wait until after church when Hope, Chris and Quinn would then come over and we open all the gifts as well as have dinner.

The tree and gifts before the kids came in


Caleb checking out his new Spiderman blanket and lego set that Santa left


Checking out their stocking loot


This kids after church


Madison got a new robe from Santa...it had penguins on it!


Somehow we got not one picture of Taylor looking at her presents from Santa...new paints and brushes as well as 10 new canvas's! She was so happy :)

UT Men's Basketball Game

The Tuesday before Christmas Caleb had the opportunity to be a ball boy for the UT Men's basketball game. They should be called towel boys instead b/c they never actually touch a ball anymore. Caleb had a great time. We had to be at Thompson Bolin Arena at 5:30 and the game didn't tip off until 7:00. He was able to meet the team and watch them warm-up and he got to meet Smokey! He even got a special shirt to wear though it was more like a dress on him. He was so excited! It was the first game I had ever been too. Matt and I had a really good time watching them play...at first we weren't doing so hot but finally took the lead with about 10 minutes left in the game and ended up winning! Caleb enjoyed all of it and asked if he could do it again! Hope and Chris attended the game too and Chris was able to get some good pictures too...I gotta get their memory card so I can download those pictures.

The team warming-up


Sitting down under the goal waiting to wipe the floor


Wiping up the sweat!


This was his favorite part...getting to use the mop!


Santa made an appearance sporting a beautiful orange suit (he needs to put on a few pounds though)!


Smokey

Santa at Creekside Nursery

Each year we go and visit Santa at Creekside Nursery with the Tomlinson's however this year we went on Saturday with Quinn b/c we wanted to get a picture of all the kids. Madison and Quinn had matching outfits which Madison thought was great. This is always a really good experience and the kids love that Santa has his sleigh and reindeer with him! The owners go to church with us so we normally see lots of people from Laurel. The staff at the nursery serves cookies, hot chocolate and cider...this year they even had hot dogs!

Quinn wasn't the least bit scared


All the kids


Madison telling Santa what she wants


Caleb's turn...he asked for an ipad (insert my laughter) which was better than the baby brother he wanted to ask for (I told him Santa doesn't bring babies or live animals)


And finally my Taylor (wonder how many more yrs she will sit on Santa's lap)


Quinn went home with us afterwards while her parents went to the UT Men's basketball game and dinner. The following picture Caleb took of Quinn clapping while we were riding home and he thought it was "blog worthy" :)

November 2011

We have been so busy this month. Taylor's tennis matches are over with her team at school but she still has tennis 2 days a week. This is the 1st winter that we aren't taking a break but instead of Monday, Thursday and Saturday it will just be Thursday and Saturday. Caleb is still taking but is going to take a break for 3 months. Madison is looking forward to starting tennis in the spring.

Taylor and Madison are both in scouts now and are gearing up for cookie sales which start in January. This is early for this region...normally it is February. Caleb isn't involved in scouts this year. We haven't been able to find a good den for him...I am going to keep looking though as we think scouts is a good thing for the kids to be involved in.

We have been in enjoying the warm weather...I know the cold is coming. I remember last year this was how fall was and we had a pretty bad winter so I am preparing myself. There are so many leaves to rake but the rain has put a halt to it for the time being...just too wet!

Caleb missed the only 2 days of school they had the week of Thanksgiving. He said his throat hurt and turns out he had strep. He know will be seeing an ENT on Friday to talk about taking out his adenoids/tonsils. We knew this was probably going to happen eventually and probably should have been done before now but we had kinda hoped he would grow out of it. Hopefully we can get it scheduled for the week after Christmas so he won't have to miss school.

I have been using my camera on my phone to take lots of pictures and don't know how to load them to my computer. Madison finally lost her 1st tooth! She was so excited. Sadly, I have misplaced the tooth so the tooth fairy hasn't visited yet. We may have to put a note for the tooth fairy under the pillow but Madison really doesn't want to do that. Matt pulled it Thanksgiving morning and we put it in a bag and I figure with all the company coming that we have just put it somewhere safe...now if I can only remember where :)

We had 2 Thanksgiving dinners on Thursday. First with my family and then later that evening with all of Matt's family. It was fun...I didn't get any pictures on my camera except at Matt's family gathering. Quinn looked adorable as a turkey and if we are friends on fb then you saw the picture.

Don had the best shirt..."Does this suit make me look fat?"


We enjoyed playing cards all weekend and eating. Sunday after everyone was gone we put the tree up...well the tree and lights. The kids went to bed early so we weren't able to decorate it. The kids got homework done quickly so they could decorate it Monday evening. And this year I let them do it all. I didn't even go back and fix any ornaments after they went to bed. The presents are already spilling out from under the tree :)

My helpful elves...






Please ignore the lack of pj's on the last little elf...she has tons of cute pj sets but only wants to sleep in a t-shirt :(

How To Cook a Turkey by Madison Aytes

First, I would go to the farm.

Then I will catch it with a net.

After that, I would take him home and put some ketchup on it.

I would put some sauce on it and some salad.

Then I would put him in the oven for six minutes on hot.

Then I'll eat him with a fork.

Side dishes...apples, green beans

Dessert...cake

She illustrated this with a wonderful picture of herself catching a turkey with a net :)