Christmas 2011

To say we had a wonderful Christmas is an understatement!  Our time in Dallas was a blast and I'm really sad it's already over!  We were spoiled to date nights, shopping, Six Flags, play dates with friends, some serious Wii playing, and quality time with the fam!  I am so blessed to have a family that is fun to be around and who so graciously welcomes us home and makes our time there special!
It was so much fun watching Parker really get into it this year.  The tree, the lights, presents, baby Jesus...the whole nine yards!  I think one of the highlights of our time there was watching him at Holiday in the Park at Six Flags!  He and Leah were so big and rode every ride in Looney Tune Land!  It was adorable!  I didn't take near as many pics as I wanted...

So excited about all of the presents!

 This is so cute...while James and I were out shopping one day, mom and Parker made a gingerbread house!

 Just making sure it tastes ok!

 Arriving at Holiday in the Park...it was frigid!!

James took Parker on his very first ride!  They rode the big trucks!

The whole gang!

This was right before we split up.  You see, we have the roller coaster riders and the weenies.  I am in the weenie group and proud of it! 

 Me and my boy...he was obsessed with all the lights!

 Leah and Parker rode the tea cups all by themselves!

Lindsey and I took Parker and Leah on the carousel!

 It's a tradition, even when I was a little girl and came out here, we always ended the night on the carousel!  

 Waking up Christmas morning to walk down the hall and see what Santa brought!

 A new tool bench!  Parker was in heaven!

 Still trying to wake up.

 He also got a drill and hammer set.  I'm thinking he might become a handy man!

 Leah and her new Barbie doll...the cutest!!

 Merry Christmas!

In full swing!

Wow!  It's amazing how fast the month of December flies by isn't it?  We have been super busy with Christmas shopping, parties and even a trip to Dallas thrown in there for the Michael W. Smith Christmas concert!  We also hosted a craft play date at our house where we made darling handprint Christmas ornaments!  The funny thing about this group is that they are ALL toddler boys!  There is one baby girl  (Sophie) who graces our presence, but she's so quiet, you'd  never know she's there! In the midst of all the busyness, we've been sure to remind ourselves and Parker what this season truly is about!  

 Monday morning at the Galleria mall!  Neesie got Parker his very own chicken nugget happy meal.  I was taking this pic to show James.  I kept asking Parker..."show daddy what you are eating".  Meaning, hold up a nugget for the camera.  He showed me alright!  ;)

 Love that big tree in the ice rink!  

 It's a tradition that mom, Lindsey and I meet up with Jane, Ann, Olivia and Liesl for the Michael W. Smith Christmas concert!  It's always such a fun night!

 We flew home Tuesday morning and quickly got to work on preparing for our craft play date that was at our house!

 Parker helped me make green rice krispie treat Christmas trees!

 One of our little creations!

 Parker's friend, Jack, gave him some yummy hot chocolate mix for Christmas.  Since it was a cold and rainy day, I made him his very first cup of goodness!  He LOVED it!

 For our craft, I mixed up some flour and salt dough, cut out circles and had the kids press their hands into the dough.  I baked them in the oven, let them cool and then the kids or moms got to paint them!  I loved the way they turned out!  I found the idea on Pinterest of course and you can see the recipe here.

 Parker's gold ornament!

 Layne with Clay and Lindsay with Seth.

 Jack Hickman

Clay with a mouth full of M&Ms!  A good time was had by all!

Baby it's COLD outside!

"Burr rabbit" as I like to say!  It is so COLD outside...like wind chill of 8 degrees cold.  That translates into...a fire in the fire place, warm fuzzy blankets, movies, chili in the crock pot, games and arts and crafts!  I'm so thankful it snowed, if it's going to be that cold, we might as well have snow on the ground!  Thank you Lord for the moisture, no matter what form it comes in!  :) Here is a glimpse of what Parker and I did on our snowy day...

 A peak out the side patio window...didn't even want to open the door!

(Don't ask me how that plant is still standing upright, I'm pretty sure it should be shriveled up and dead by now).

 Snuggle time with Waco!

 We busted out some cotton balls, I mean snow, and made a snow man!

 I was brave and even let Parker handle the glue...he did great!  He loves doing arts and crafts!

 We talked a lot about baby Jesus and what his "bed" (manger) looked like.

Parker stopped drawing long enough to let me snap this picture!  The manger is two popsicle sticks we colored brown and the straw is raffia that I just cut up and let him glue down.  It's been so much fun watching Parker start to "see" Christmas for the first time this year.  The lights, the tree, decorations, and hearing him talk about baby Jesus is the sweetest thing!

And here is our crazy dog hiding under the dining room table while resting her chin on the chair.  She likes to be near us but at a distance at the same time.  I think she's afraid Parker is going to jump on her back and start riding her or something! ;)

Stay tuned, I think our high tomorrow is a balmy 25 degrees...we'll be doing more of the same!