Cookie Decorating Party

A few days before Christmas we had a little cookie decorating party at our house for a few friends.
We first played musical chairs. We had never played that before and the kids really enjoyed it!

Then we decorated cookies and had lunch! I had a mini hot cocoa bar too but didn't take a picture of it. Just a few toppings to put in their hot chocolate. I think the kids had fun, I know Cooper did!

The girls worked especially hard on their cookies. I think my boys pretty much just ate all of their toppings!

Our attempt at a group photo: Kayson, Eliz, Ashlynn, Cooper, Ben, and Jackson. They all look jolly don't they! :)

First Christmas

We had our first Christmas this past weekend with my side of the family. The boys are so excited for Christmas this year so it was fun to get started early!

Here they are in front of the tree at my parents' house with their Christmas outfits on.

Another one. My typical boys!

They played BINGO for some fun little prizes during the day.

Elizabeth is a great reader so she read to the kids while the adults got dinner ready.

Our annual photo in front of the tree.

Every year a tradition is to do poppers and put on the crowns. The kids thought it was funny!

Laura made a Mickey costume for Jackson. He was in heaven. We only had Minnie ears at my parents house so that's why there's a bow. We have Mickey ears at home. :)

Laura and her family with Jackson. Don't they look great with three kids??!! He he.

"Christmas morning" we got up and came over to my parents house early for presents. The kids are posing in front of the presents wearing their "flying hats" they got from Ben and Eliz. They love them.

The kids took a break from present opening for a little snack.

I love how excited Cooper gets about presents!

A favorite present-the scooby doo goo house.

Jackson also got excited this year.

This was one of his favorites-a Mickey rocket.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!

Finally, Leaf Pictures!

The leaves have finally gotten pretty here but it's been rainy so we haven't gotten to play in them! We finally were able to last week and boy were the boys excited. The pictures speak for themselves!

Emily, Allison, and Everett Visit!

Our friend Allison came to visit us last week! She used to live here in Texas and moved to CA last year. She's back in town to visit her family for Christmas, but was able to come stay with Laura for a few days to see all of her friends.

This little guy Everett was born after they moved, so we hadn't met him before. He's ADORABLE and SO SO good. I don't remember him ever really fussing!

Cooper, Emily, and Ben. Emily is a year younger than Ben and Cooper.

Jackson jumped in the picture! Elizabeth was at school.

Here's Allison and Everett.

Emily was serving us all cookies. Jackson loved that! :)

We had a great visit, just wish you guys lived here!!!

The Nutcracker

My mom and dad took the kids (minus Jackson) and Laura and me to the Nutcracker last weekend. My dad actually stayed with Jackson so I could go.
My mom set the table really cute for lunch before the ballet.

They each got their own nutcracker. Cooper LOVES it.

The post-show pictures! The kids did such a good job, I was impressed at how attentive Cooper was.

I had to get a picture with my Cooper!

Before we went home we walked around downtown and saw this cute stand that Santa was sitting on. It was decorated with pictures from the nutcracker!

This has nothing to do with the nutcracker but I wanted to post a picture from a playdate we did recently. This is Cooper's good friend from school, Luke. He has so much fun playing with him, I'm so glad he's made a nice friend!

Christmas Fun

We had our friend Henry over to play a few weeks ago and we made some ornaments together. I didn't get a picture when he was here but I got a few pictures after he left of my kids making the ornaments. Somehow I deleted the pictures of Cooper making the ornaments! He did make some though :).

We went to breakfast with Santa awhile ago as well. The kids LOVED it. Jackson wasn't too sure about Santa though. He had spent the night at Laura and Tom's and did not sleep very well (poor Laura!) so wasn't his most rested self. He was SO excited waiting in line to see Santa but when he got up there he would not sit by Santa, he just cried. I eventually had to sit with him and then he took the picture.

There were lots of games and face painting at the breakfast!

A cute photo op!

The breakfast part of 'breakfast with Santa!"
A fun craft.

We met some of our friends there so we got a picture of some of the kids!
It was so cute how Josh had his arm around Jackson!

After breakfast with Santa we went to G & G's house for a St. Nicholas Tea party. I had to leave the kids there so I didn't get any pictures of all the cuteness. But I came back with Ryan to pick them up a few hours later and we went over to our friends' house (janet and chris) for their annual holiday party. Here are all of the kids at the party.

The ladies at the party.

It was a busy but fun day!