Christmas Memories

Wow! Christmas 2010 is already gone! It's hard to believe Christmas is over, and then again it feels like a long time ago.  :-)   Here are a few pictures of our 3 Christmas (the condensed version, since I've tried to post these 4 times now)!

Christmas: Part 1 - Home at our House

Two anxious kiddos, ready for presents!

Yeah for cars!  Every boy needs lots of 'em!

And yeah for clothes - every girl needs lots of 'em!  :-)  Especially a cute t-shirt with a camera on it (wish I could find one like this for me!).  :-)

When Clayton opened this, he said, "Ballgame!"

Clayton sitting at the picnic table that we got for both of them.

It's so funny what they choose for a favorite gift.  Clayton loved this little push broom and insisted on sleeping with it - no kidding!  I kept hearing it bang against the wall as he turned over during the night. :-)

 Christmas: Part 2 - Englund Christmas in Missouri

The girl cousins loved helping make peanut butter balls - and we all loved helping eat them up!

The boy cousins were fascinated with electronic games and the beeping from Catch Phrase.

We sure love playing games as a family - Acquire is the all-time favorite!

Happy Addy!  I am so glad her hair is long enough for curlers!

Emme and Clayton would be happy for Khara to read them books all day long!

Clayton and Kaden helping chop pecans using the "magic grinder"!

Daddy's sheep sign that I made for him.

Did I mention we love playing games?!

(We really do have more chairs, Mark.)

Christmas: Part 3 - Herring Christmas in Indiana

Clayton was so excited to see all the packages when he got up.

Hooray - a tape measure! This was one of his favorites!

He loves pretending - Cowboy Clayton here. . .

. . . and Astronaut here.  He would run around saying, "Fly me to the moon!"

Addy wanted a turn with the cowboy hat. :-)

Addy (still in her PJ's) - so excited over the nativity set.

 
So blessed . . . !

Look Who's One!

Wow!  Where did the first year go?  It's so hard to believe Addyson is already one! 

We celebrated her first birthday twice.  The first time with Aaron's parents - here she is with her own piece of a birthday cake they bought her.

She really got into it - literally!

The next celebration was actually on her birthday, December 21.  I made her a doll cake.  Clayton was so fascinated with this cake and kept wanting to touch it.  I actually had to hide it until we were ready to eat it, because he kept trying to get it.

Addyson liked her cake too - she kept waving at the doll.

A close up of the cake that I forgot to take until after I had cut a slice. :-)

Ready for my present!

Oh wow!

(By the way, I am in love with online shopping! Awesome discounts, delivered right to your door!)

Ready to ride!

The first of many rides around the circle with her faithful pusher - Clayton!

What a joy to have a daughter!!

Clayton the Angel

Clayton was really impacted by the GBS Christmas Program.  His favorite part was the angels and the tuba.  Quite the combination!  :-)  So, we've been re-inacting several parts and making up a lot as we go along.  The first thing he asked for was angel wings.  He's been singing "Gloria, Gloria" and running all through the house.  Aaron tried to get him to expand his 2-word song by adding "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest") - and yes, I had to google that to figure out how to spell it!

Garner Family

My friend, Debbie, and her children came over for a photo shoot.  We had the best time talking and laughing and letting Adley and Clayton play together.  Here's a few from the session:

Adley is fascinated with her new baby brother.

Sweet baby Lincoln.  It breaks my heart that his father has yet to see him in person.  His father is fighting for us overseas.

Little Santa Baby. :-)

Clayton had been napping (thus the bed hair), but quickly woke up when he realized his friend, Adley, was here.  :-)  Adley and Clayton are only a few weeks apart.

Snow Fun

I was so excited to see SNOW on Saturday morning.  My philosophy: If it's gonna be cold - then let's have snow.

However, I did have an outdoor photo session planned with our great friends Craig and Tonya.  So we talked and decided, why not go ahead anyway?  :-)

So glad they didn't mind braving the cold and the snow!  Even little Shane was a trooper!

On a side note . . .

I was trying so hard to make sure my kids would be warm and bundled up (since we were all going out in the cold together) that I put double layers on them, even had hats and gloves out.  We put them in their car seats with a blanket each and after we got to the park I realized I had left their warm winter coats AT HOME!  Eek!  So, the Lambeth's graciously let Addy wear Shane's coat (since he was in the picture) and Clayton was content to run around for extra warmth.  I'm glad I had them in double layers!  :-)

Thanksgiving Fun

We had a lot of fun in Indiana over Thanksgiving this year. . .

Clayton and Addyson enjoying the cool little kids table!

Yes, she's nearly one, but this was her first Thanksgiving.

The first snow of the season - we all rushed outside to check it out (without coats!).

Caris showing Clayton some tricks with his slinky.

Eating Chinese - one of our favorites!

The owner of this restaurant loves children. She came to our table and took Addyson back to the kitchen to show the other girls.  :-)

Checking out the Colts merchandise.

Even Addy sported a hat (for a few seconds).

Clayton found Cameron's little graduation gown from Kindergarten and was playing with it.

Thankful for my family!