Thursday, January 1, 2015

Winter Break Fun!

Since the kids have been out of school, we've packed the last 2 weeks with not only lots of family celebrations for Christmas and birthdays, but also lots of activities just for fun! I think they've enjoyed their winter break so far, and it's not over yet! 

The weekend before Christmas, I took the big kids to a neighbor friend's Frozen themed birthday party at The Coop, one of Ella's favorite play places. Carter had never been and was dying to go, so I'm glad he got to tag along. :)
 
 Anna and Elsa came and painted faces and hands with pretty snowflakes. Ella was beside herself to meet them!

 Pretty proud of that pink snowflake!
 Most of the group

 After the party, we went back to our neighbor's house where the guys and Cole had stayed behind to smoke meat and watch football. We enjoyed dinner with them, and the kids had a great time playing until waaaaay past their bedtime. Ella and Maddie are such sweet little friends.
 The next day we joined my parents and brothers at the Superpit for a UNT basketball game. The kids enjoyed it..... Ella tried her hardest to get on the big screen, but that didn't happen, much to her despair. And Carter liked reading and watching the scoreboard, and learning and following along with the game.
 Cole in his usual spot. It has to be said, he is SUCH a good, easy-going baby. He just goes wherever we drag him, and never fusses or complains. As long as he has Momma close by to be fed by and snooze on, he doesn't need anything else. :)

 Crashed out on the way home.
 Eric's alma mater, Louisiana Tech, played in the Heart of Dallas Bowl this year, and you know Eric wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to go and take Carter with him! I think they had a great time, and LA Tech left with a win!


 cutie pie

 And the weekend after Christmas, we also took the kids to Medieval Times for the first time.
Posing with their souvenirs.
 Me and my boys

 Excited to cheer on the green knight!

 Family selfie


Again, perfect little baby Cole just went right to sleep in the wrap when we got there, slept for an hour and a half on me while I watched the show and ate my dinner, woke up to eat, watched and was pretty entertained by all the action, then snuggled up to me again and went back to sleep before we left. And of course, posed for this cute shot in his crown! Look at that face!!
 Fun with Carter's light up sword.
 brothers :)


 So much for him to look at..... he was just amazed!

 Riding home with their strobes going, it was like the Cash Cab! Eric kept thinking he was getting pulled over by all the red and blue lights in the rear view, ha!
 Fun night!

We had a fun New Years Eve! We had the Hornbacks over for appetizers, drinks, and of course playtime for the kids. 

Cuties playing dress up
 Cole hanging out with Daddy
 Big boys doing "work" :)

 The kids played so well all night long, but at about 10pm it turned into a sleepover for them and game night for the adults! Lots of fun hanging out and ringing in the new year!! 

So that's just some of the fun we've been having during winter break. The kids still have a movie and spending then night with Nana and Grandad to look forward to tomorrow, and then Grandma and Grandpa coming for a visit on Saturday! 

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Christmas Celebrations

We celebrated Christmas at my Mom's house on the 22nd with my parents, brothers, Granny Mary and Aunt Janice. The kids went crazy with all the awesome gifts they received, and they adults enjoyed watching them!

Had to check out the gorgeous sunset before gifts, so pretty!

Also first, pictures in front of the giant pile of gifts!! 
 Ella and those eyes crack me up!

 First complete family photo!
 My brothers with our Granny


 Aunt Janice, Mom, and Granny
 Love this!

 Finally, time for presents!!

  So excited!
 Soccer goal! And Ella just opened her beloved singing Elsa doll.
 Batman hooded towel

 Showing off her new Loving Family people.
 Gift of the year, right here! Darth Vader mask from Uncle Matt! Look at that smile!
 More people!

 Got a new scooter to ride to school!
 Soooo excited about her step stool! Short people problems, ha!
 Daddy's favorite....
 More Star Wars, he can't get enough.
 This is probably his second favorite toy received this year, good choice Aunt Janice!
I'm pretty sure Eric was taking a picture of the wrapping paper Ella had stuck to her bum, but I had to laugh at myself in this picture. Look at that face! Story of my life when it comes to getting toys out of their packages! UGH!
 Darth Vader awesomeness.
 Excited about her Elsa piggy bank.
 Both boys got Tennessee jerseys!
 Can't wait for him to experience gift opening next year. He's going to love it!

On Christmas Eve, we went to church and then had my parents and Andrew (Matt already went back to NOLA) over for dinner. Here are Christmas Eve pictures of everyone!

Handsome little man, 6th Christmas!
 Pretty Ella, couldn't pick a favorite!
 Christmas #4 for her!


 Favorite picture of the season!! So precious!
 Awwww, kisses for Cole.
 All of us in red!
 And Eric in green.

 My parents and their grand babies.

 Uncle Andrew with the kids.
 Ha, Ella! She's done!
We went to the children's service at church, and Ella participated in the Nativity. Carter didn't want any part of it. But, he enjoyed watching his sister and snickering at her antics along with all of us! She was a donkey, and the cutest one up there!!





 








Sweet babies in their Christmas jammies about to head off to bed.
Carter's allergies had flared up really bad that day, puffy red eyes, runny nose, all of it. He was so tired and clearly did not feel well. He was ready for bed!! 
(Side note: Do you know how hard it is to find matching boy PJs in sizes 3 month and 6?! Darn near impossible, but I did it!! Love!)
Night-night, Cole!


 Santa came!

Cole was the first one up on Christmas morning, at about 6:45, and obviously very happy about it. Carter woke up about 7:30, and Eric had to go wake Ella up. Of course, they never sleep that late!

Sweet baby.


Carter getting into his stuff while waiting on Ella to come down.
Okay, so here's Ella's reaction when coming down for the first time. What a toot!! Hoping she'll learn some gratefulness in the next year, ha!!

And, the highly revered bird cage....


 Watching the chaos ensue!
 So fun opening so many gifts!!
Carter got a big remote control truck, a remote control spider, lots of cool Star Wars stuff, legos, a few games, and books.






Ella's big gift was her doll house and all her furniture and people to go with it. She mostly just wanted that bird cage, and was happy to have it! She also got an Elsa barbie, lots of books, a flying fairy, and a couple of Elsa shirts.
 Cole watching Daddy opening up toys.
 
 Stockings!
 Carter got lots of lego minifigures in his stocking... so excited!
 Cole got books and a few small toys in his stocking.


 Cute workbench for Cole!


 ....and a few other fun toys for him, too.



 Just about done opening gifts, loving these snuggles!

 Time to play!!