Annual Lovin' Christmas Party

Our family Christmas Party was another big hit! Aaron and Natalie's house is oh so beautiful and HUMONGOUS! Our family is getting so big with so many little ones and when we are there you don't even feel one bit crowded. The food was delicious (how could it not be with cute Nat in charge!) and the company great! I love this tradition that our family has been doing for as long as I can remember.

I am very sad that I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted. Guess I was having to much fun to pull my camera out:)

Jessica, Carli and Tristin

Caden and Tanner chillaxin'

Uncle Bob and his handsome boys (missing Shawn)

Santa came and showed us all of his latest magic tricks. The kids were all memorized. They loved the trick where Santa's thumb would light up!!!

Blakley loved watching him perform as long as he stood a ways away. She would just clap and clap.

Then it came time for the kids to sit on his lap. Best part of the night:)

Carter jumped right on!

He got a really cool Star Wars light saber night light.

Cute Troyster!

He got the same night light as Carter.

Of course princess Kenli was perfect!

Bentley was a little unsure of the whole Santa thing. You couldn't tell if he was going to laugh or cry. Cute boy!

Benson does not like Santa at all, but did really good by getting on his lap for a quick picture. No smiles though.

Brooks=another pro

I don't think Clint wanted to get up on Santa's lap, but he was a good sport anyways!

I think Tanner just go done asking for a million things! But boy he sure is handsome! He got the Guinness World Records book he has been begging for.

Lela got a book.

Santa gave Tristin a book.

He gave Jessica a book, too.

They must all LOVE to read:)

This pretty much seems up what Blakley thinks of Santa this year. She did not want anything to do with him. It could have something to do with the fact that she was standing near the front door by herself when Santa busted in with his loud "Merry Christmas." She was screaming her head off and couldn't get into someone (anyone's) arms fast enough. Poor girl, hope that didn't scar her for life:(

She was happy and forgot all about him when she saw her new dolly!

Just for..........

I ran across this today:

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for the morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take you to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you

pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day..........

Hug your kids just a little tighter tonight.

I know I will.

Carter's special visit!

Santa made a surprise visit to Carter's kindergarten class during their Christmas party! The kids were so excited to get their chance to sit on his lap. Instead of the tradition "What do you want for Christmas?" Santa had each kid tell him something that they have done to help someone else this year. Carter jumped right up on his lap and said "I play with my little sister." He sure is a big help with Blakley. He loves to play with her and she adores him. Thanks Carter for helping mom out and playing with your sister.

Before leaving, Santa read "Twas the night before Christmas" to the kids. Then reminded them to be good because he would be stopping by their homes soon.

Incredible Pizza

We wanted to have a day of fun with the kiddos before we got to busy with Christmas. My mom and I scored some CHEAP passes to Incredible Pizza that had to be used before New Years so Clint took the day off work, we checked all the kids out of school and headed over there with the fam.

They have a yummy pizza/dessert buffet that was able to fill my kiddos up, as well the adults:) After stuffing our mouths we went to the arcade to play all the games we could. They had so many games. There was laser tag, mini bowling, miniature golf, go carts and bumper cars as well.

My kids loved this one. You watched a movie and the chair would bounce, vibrate, move during it. They were all giggling:)

Blakley and Bentley had fun on the three horse carousel. They were little friends. They both had to ride each horse one time. Funny kids!

The guys took the kids on the go-carts.

Tanner was tall enough to ride one by himself.

Mr. Big Stuff

After watching the guys go, the girls wanted to take them out for a spin. They were a BLAST!

I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids:)

The guys had a race of their own.

Check out the awesome bumper cars! When you bumped into each other they would spin out of control. They boys LOVED them:)

All in all it was a GREAT day....even Blakley thought so:)

The boys finished the day off with seeing

Santa's coming to our town!

Santa once again has come in style to visit us.

First class ticket on a big red fire engine!

Every year, our city has Santa come to the city hall for the lighting of the Christmas decorations. They have activities for the kids, hay rides and lots of treats! We look forward to it every year.

Tanner was the first to sit on his lap and give his long list of what he wants:)

Carter and Brooks couldn't wait to see him.

Blakley loved Mrs. Claus and got right up on her lap. She didn't care much for Santa:)

Proud Papa and Grandma

Benson was so happy till he actually got close to Santa, then he was hysterical. Poor kid!

After visiting with Santa, we got to sit around the fire with our friends drinking hot chocolate and eating scones. YUM:)

Christmas Picture Time!

My family needed some updated pictures for our Christmas cards.

My cute friend, Tori, took them for us.

I think they turned out GREAT!

Thanks Tori!

We Love you!

Happy Holidays!

Carterism

(this picture has nothing really to do with this post, but make me want summer back)

This is the conversation that went on in the back of my car last night!

Carter: Guess what, Troy?

Troy: What?

Carter: We went to Grandma Beb's (Bev) house today.

(Her house has been vacant since she passed away.)

Troy: So (they are so nice to each other, ha)

Carter: And guess what?

Troy: What?

Carter: There are still people living there.

Troy: No way! Who?

Carter: They're called Spirits.....Yeah but they don't like to work so we cleaned the snow off of the driveway for them.