Holiday Fun

cookies for Santa


opening gifts






Hand painted chairs from Granny Jean

coloring with Aunt Sarah

Oh what fun it is to ride



Yummy





rolling out the dough

cookie cutting

ready to bake

Lawson eating the candy off

Christmas at Our House

We had so much fun this holiday. It is sad to say it is all over and done with. We had several Christmas at different sides of the family. We still have my side but we are not doing that one until January.

On Christmas Eve we went to Papaw Mark house and had Christmas with him and Aunt Sarah and Uncle Billy. I have some great pictures, one where Lawson is eating a rib and loving it! Papaw Mark got the kids a wagon. He also decorated his lawn mower for the holiday so he could pull the kids in the wagon. The kids just loved it.

We got home Christmas Eve night, Nana and Papa Dale were there waiting on us. Brylie and I had so much fun making cookies with a little help from Lawson. If you call eating the candy off the cookies help.

Nana took some great pictures of the kids in the tub with their Santa beards. I wanted to get some pictures of the kids in the rocker my Poppie made.Several years back he made each of his seven grand kids a rocker for Christmas. In hope that one day each grandchild who have kids of their own to enjoy his rocker. I try to take a picture each year of my kids for him.

Lawson was tons of fun this year he really loved opening gifts his or anybody else. I love Christmas even more as an adult. I get so much joy watching my children and their excitement of Christmas.

Christmas memories

Matt and I were talking about traditions and memories of Christmas growing up and then this memory came to us. It was Brylie's first Christmas,or should I say the first year she really got Santa. So that year I decided to start a tradition with her that she and I would make cookies. Making cookies with then a two year is sometimes hard work. Needless to say a great memory. Those cookies were to be Christmas stars. When we got done with them they sure didn't look much like stars. She decorated them and was so very proud of herself.

That night we got them ready for Santa. We talked about how we make cookies and now how we were going to leave them out with milk for Santa. Then Santa comes and leaves us presents. She loved the idea that he too would see her cookie and then give her presents. I guess we forgot to tell her that he would also eat the cookie.

The next morning we all got up early so we could see Brylie's reaction to what Santa brought her. She comes running in not to see what she got but to see her beautiful cookie she left for Santa gone. She was needless to say very heartbroken to find he ate her cookie. I have a few pictures to recap the event. The cookie making and decorating. Then the leaving the cookies out for Santa. The last one does not do it justice. I must have taken this one before the big fit. She just looks puzzled. Sorry ,I don't have the full pledge fit picture. Now we still have this tradition of making cookies for Santa but now Santa only takes one bite out of the cookie so she is still a happy little girl Christmas morning.

The Real Deal

So on my last blog, Brylie found out that there are people called "Santa's Helpers" who dress- up and help Santa out during his busy times. Brylie has not let that go. She is a little bothered that she did not get to see the real guy. So I dressed the kids up and took them to the mall. This is the most dreaded place to be during this time of year. Brylie was so sure that Santa would not find out what she wanted unless she saw him in person. Did I tell you I try to convince her by writing him and letter and calling him on the phone but No, nothing worked. So we waited in line and we got to see the real deal in person. Oh,she was so excited! I was not sure if Lawson would have anything to do with him but he seemed to love him. Funny thing because he is going through this phase right now that he really doesn't want anyone but me. At times this hurts Daddy's feelings. So now we are excited about Christmas and believe that Santa is going to bring us what we want. Oh the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Let the Holiday Season Begin

Last night was the kids Holiday program at Little Hearts. I just love watching kids on stage. This is when some kids really perform and not all the time with the planed program. It just keeps me laughing how many kids pick their noses or completely turn around backwards to not have to look at the audience.
Brylie did really well, this is so her. She has a captive audience and she got to sing and perform. Brylie was sad she could not perform all night with every group.
This was Lawson's very first year to perform. At this age I just kept praying he would not see me and not cry. He did so good. He sat up on the stage and never cried. He also did some of the hand motions and was so proud of himself, he clap for himself after each song.
The biggest surprise was Santa. He came at the end of the program. Brylie was so very excited to see him, so she could tell him what she wanted. We were waiting in line and Brylie asked me is that really Santa? I told her that it was him. She then told me NO he is not Santa because he has Mr. Richard's voice. Oh, she got me! I had to do some quick mommy thinking and explain how Mr. Richard was just Santa's helper for the night. I also told her that Santa was just too busy making toys for Christmas. Man, she is too smart and always catches those little things.

Brylie, Lawson, and Marlee before the show began

Celebrating Jesus's birthday

My little guy up on stage.

Santa and the kids

Merry Main Street.

Oh, Wow what a fun and busy weekend. It started off with Brylie's dance performs, at the Arlington Convention Center, called the Magic of Christmas. They all were so cute and did a great job.
Then on Saturday the kids and I went up to spend the weekend at my Mother- in- laws, since the boys all went hunting. We went to Frisco's Merry Main Street. We had so much fun. There they had a tree lighting, pictures with Santa, horse drawn carriage rides, live reindeer, and ice sculptors. We took pictures with Winnie the Pooh, Sponge Bob, toy soldiers, and the Grinch. Brylie got the cutest stuff puppy but she had a horrible accident and lost the poor dogie. Brylie was in need of a restroom. All they had at the place were port-a-potties. So Nana and Brylie went in one. Needless to say the dog got away from her and fell to it's death in the toilet of blue chemicals. Oh, did we have one broken heart. We try to get her a new one but they were all gone. Don't worry Nana the next day pulled through and gave Brylie a new dogie and she was so excited.
We are so tired from this weekend and need long naps today. I hope everyone is having a great holiday season so far!