Christmas Eve at Mat & Emily's

Mat & Em have a tradition on Christmas Eve to eat Clam Chowder, shrimp and Wassell...they invited us to join them this year!Dinner was awesome...Tom made some delicious crabcakes...and Emily's Creme Brulle (I have no idea how to spell that)...was to die for! It was so much fun. their friends, Tom & Karen and their two kids, Maddie and Jake and Tom's Dad, Jason's girlfriend, Arriana, and Aaron's parents were all part of the festivities! Mat had a great idea to do a white elephant gift exchange with items from the Dollar Tree. It was so much fun! We had all had a great time...and then it was home to bed for Santa to come...little did we know that we (the adults) would be upu until 3:30 am!

Kiddos eating dinner!

My honey!

Haden & Taylore...I told Haden to try not to look like he was in pain having Taylore give him a hug! Did it work?

Haden...not to happy about having his picture taken at the moment!

Mat, Tom, Jason & Arriana

Playing the game...

More of the game...

Mat and Aaron with their Mama!

More Fun with Kodi

All of the kids fight over who is going to have Kodi sleep with them...this was one day when Addison took a nap with him. Jocelyn put Kodi in Addison's little American Doll Baby Crib...he's pretty good to go with the punches!

Our new little friend...Kodi!

Anybody that knows my little Addie knows how absolutely obsessed with animals she is....she watches Animal Planet jus about every day...she goes crazy when she sees any animal of any kind. She tells everybody that she is going to be a "Vet...an animal protector" when she grows up. Aaron and I had kicked around a little bit the idea of possibly finding an older dog, small, potty trained dog from the pound. Well while Jocelyn and I were out Chrismas shopping on the Saturday before Chrismas I decided to go make a stop at Petco...I told Jocelyn..."we're making a stop...but don't get your hopes up...we're JUST LOOKING!" Right when we walked in they put these three little puppies in a crate...they had just arrived from where they had been taken out of a home by the Humane Society...I guess an older lady had tons of dogs already and couldn't take care of the puppies. Anyway to make a very long storty short...after standing in the pet store for an hour holding this adorable little puppy, calling several people for advice (most of which I didn't listen to) ... about 3 and a half hours later we showed up at the house with our new puppy! We've now had him for a little over a week...he is such a great puppy, he is super chill, he already goes to the door when he has to go out...for the most part, he sleeps with the kids in their beds...he is a great pal for Addison...she carries him around all day...at first we thought he hated it, but now I'm really starting to believe that he likes it, the other day when all the kids went to the movies with Mammer and Papa and it was just me at the house, he cried just about the whole time! We really love the little guy! He has a big backyard to run around in, the kids don't seem to mind too much having to take care of him...not yet anyway.... All of these pictures were taken the night we brought Kodi home!

Addison's Preschool "Happy Birthday Jesus" Party :)

One last Christmas party before all the kids got out of school...Addison goes to school at a Lutheran church...I have been very impressed with the preschool...instead of a "Christmas Party" they had a "Happy Birthday Jesus" Party. They all came in PJ's and had lunch...decorated cupcakes and played a few games...it was cute!

Taylore's 3rd Grade Christmas Party

I was able to escape for a few minutes and peek my head into Taylore's Christmas party...theirs was so calm and quite...I couldn't believe I was in a classroom full of kids...very different from Haden's party...but they still had fun.

Haden's 4th Grade Christmas Party

I was able to help with Haden's Christmas party at school. They had lots of fun...they started out with tons of food...the other room mom had the idea to bring empty stockings in for all the kids and have each of the kids bring a small item to put in each students stocking...the kids all loved this idea...I highly recommend it if you are ever in charge of a Christmaas party at school! Then we played some games...the one I got pictures of is the one that we wrapped some dumb little presents about 20 times and played pass the presents to Christmas music...It was lots of fun! Haden & his friend Aaron

Haden & Addison Opening stockings!

Pass the present game...I was so sick of wrapping presents after this!!

A Side Note...

I got SUPER behind on blogging...the next five or six posts...up until Thanksgiving were done in the car on a trip down to Lumberton to visit Becky and her family! Not that I'll ever forget blogging for four and a half hours in the car....but I thought it would be good to document...and also a reason why some of the post seem kind of bland! Just glad that I've almost finished the year and can start on my books! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Looking forward to the New Year...I hope the new year is as GREAT for us as the past year has been!

My New Favorite Thing...'Nuff Said! ;)

Addison's 5th Birthday *TEAR*...Going to see Aubrey in Scrooge!

This is the first year that Addison has fully appreciated the idea of breakfast in bed...she loved it...her breakfast of choice...breakfast burritos, orange juice...and you can't forget the donut holes! On Addison's birthday we got to go up to Flowermound and see Aubrey perform in her school play...Scrooge...It was very cool!

Here we were waiting for the show to begin! April had just fed us a delicious lunch and I think everybody was stuffed!

After the show we went to congratulate Aubrey...

And Addison was very excited to get to mee "Tiny Tim"...and take a picture with him!

After the show we went home and had dinner...and opened presents...

And had birthday cake!

Happy Birthday Addison...we love you! I can't believe she is 5 years old...Addison turning 5 was SO MUCH HARDER than me turning 30 (which was really no big deal)!

Birthday Cupcakes @ Addison's school

Addison was able to bring cupcakes and have the class sing her Happy Birthday on the Friday before her birthday...she thought that was pretty cool...and apparently kept asking the teacher the whole day...what if she forgets...she was very happy when I showed up with the pink cupcakes! I wish I had my camera when I went back to pick her up that afternoon...all of the kids had dyed hands and faces from the pink frosting...luckily it didn't ruin anybody's clothes (beware when buying cupcakes from Kroger...at least our Kroger!)

Haden's 4th Grade Christmas Program

Because elementary school ends in 4th grade...Haden had his last elementary school Christmas Program this year...although we still have many years of those to come as Addison starts Kindergarten next year! The program was really cool...the music teachers did a great job with the music...lots of Christmas music!

Aaron & Haden after the show...(my two boys...aren't they cute!)

I looked over to where Aaron and Addison were sitting and this is what I saw...I haven't watched the video yet...I'm afraid I might get sea sick! :)

Santa Breakfast @ Willie Brown Elementary School

We were able to go visit Santa and have donuts and milk at the kids school...they also had some vendors with shopping....SO EXCITED THAT I FOUND SOMEONE THAT CAN MAKE BOWS....(I attempted that and failed...well I made a few...but I'd rather spent a couple of dollars to buy one...not worth my time and frustration!) Anyhow...it was fun to get up early on a Saturday morning and go hang out with the kids. (Jocelyn didn't go...she was at a church function...and we missed her)!

Addison's Christmas Program @ Preschool

We attended our very last Preschool Christmas Program for one of our children *tear*...It was very cute watching Addison and all the kids up there singing...Addison looked adorable...as usual! Mat, Emily and Kyle joined us for the show! After the show we went to No Frills...a local restaurant for dinner...it was a good night!

Addison in her Christmas dress.

All four kids before the program started.

Mat & Em...waiting for the show to begin. Addison looking as cute as ever on stage!

Enjoying a little snack in her classroom after the show.

Taylore's 9th Birthday!

Taylore woke up to our traditional breakfast in bed and being sung "Happy Birthday"! Her breakfast of choice was McDonalds Sausage McMuffins (2), a hash brown and orange juice! Aaron, Addison and I were able to go have lunch with her at school on her birthday! For dinner Taylore wanted to go to Chuck-E-Cheese...Mat, Emily, Jason, Kyle, a couple of Jason's friends, and Taylore's friend, Brooke, joined us. The kids had lots of fun playing games! When we got back to the house I realized that I didn't have my camera with me...Jason and his friends were nice enough to go back and find my camera for me! Taylore LOVED the boots that she got for her birthday...she hugged them and danced around the house with them...literally! Happy Birthday Taylore! We love you!

Taylore enjoying some breakfast in bed!

Taylore and Addison in the lunchroom @ Taylore's school.

Enjoying lunch with Addison

The whole gang at Chuck-E-Cheese for Taylore's birthday dinner.

Taylore and her good friend, Brooke. Aren't they cute!