Christmas Eve Eve

Tonight was the first night the kids had seen presents under the tree. They were trying to figure out what was in each package. They were surprised there were no name tags on the gifts this year. Each kids has a different wrapping paper...

Buddy & Snowflake decided to hang out with the hermit crabs today.

Bobby & Morgan decided to give each other tattoo's with Morgan's new tattoo machine she got from her daddy for Christmas.

DIY Christmas Present

We decided to go help mom today. She was planning to build the girls bunk beds for their American Girl dolls for Christmas. We headed to my grandparents to build them in my grandpa's building.

The first one took forever, but after they figured it out they started going quicker. We ended up getting 2 of the girls finished before we ran out of wood & my body ran out of energy. We will finish the other 2 after Christmas dinner on Monday. They turned out really cute. Mom is making bedding for each bed also.

Christmas At School

Tomorrow is the kids last day of school before Christmas break. My mom or grandma always make something for Morgan & Spencer's teachers for Christmas. They have done this every year since Morgan started school. This year grandma made the gifts & they are adorable. The kids got the bagged up & ready to take to school tomorrow.

Spencer is hoping he is able to go back to school tomorrow. He doesn't want to miss his Christmas party. He has been out the last two days with some type of funk. I've cant seem to get rid of it in our house. They keep passing it around. He has been coughing and had a low grade fever Sunday & Monday. He was mad because I wouldn't let him go to school today. He will be fever free for 24 hours at 4:30pm. If he stays fever free he will go back tomorrow.

Pinterest Inspiration

Today I set out to create the kids an ornament I had found of Pinterest last year, but never found time to make them. Mom hand paints ornaments so she brought me some, along with her Cricut. They were pretty easy to make. I used a lot of trial & error until I got everything the right size.

The back letters are 1 3/4"; the front letters and the circles are 3/4". Now all they need is a pretty bow.

Christmas Ornaments 2012

Every year my Grandma & Papa let everyone pick out an ornament.  My mom personalizes them for each person.  Here are the ornaments we got this year.

Morgan's ornament 2012

Haylee's ornament 2012

Gracie's ornament 2012

Spencer's ornament 2012

Harley's ornament 2012

My ornament 2012

Bobby's ornament 2012
(he said I could pick it out...so this is what he got)

My extra ornament this year.
My grandmother hand painted this ornament

Here is the link from the ornaments we got last year.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Today I got the tree put up and ready for the kids to decorate.

When they got off the bus they went to work.  I put the ornaments on that mom had made over the years & then turned the kids loose with the rest of the tree.  This is first year I have ever turned them loose.  They had a blast with it.

The finished tree....

Christmas Decorations

I finally talked my husband into getting my Christmas decorations out of the attic.  Tomorrow will be spent decorating the house.

Christmas at Grandma & Papa's

We had Christmas late at Grandma Lowe's & Papa John's because Grandma had surgery a few days before Christmas.  She had a place removed on her hand that was skin cancer.  She always cooks hamburgers & french fries fro Christmas dinner.  It wasn't our weekend to have kids, but Morgan wanted to go with us.  We picked her up & tried to get Spencer to go with us, but he didn't want to.  On the way there Bobby played with Morgan's new lamb, "Lambchop".

Grandma always makes me my favorite cake & sent a whole one home...just for me :)  It is yellow cake with homemade carmel icing.  It is the BEST!

After leaving there we headed to Brad & Beth's to play cards...sorry I left my camera in the van & didn't get any pictures.  We played Phase 10 and Brad & Bobby cooked on the grill.  Good times :)

Christmas 2011

Christmas morning didn't start out the way any of us had planned.  Morgan came running down the stairs at 3:30 am screaming "Momma".  Gracie was upstairs pucking (what a way to start Christmas morning).  I got up out of bed...still half asleep...went upstairs to find Gracie's supper in the bedroom floor.  I got it all cleaned up & all the girls were awake wanting to open Christmas gifts.  We went and woke Spencer  up...he was still sleepy & wanted to know what time it was...it was 3:45 in the morning.  He crawled out of bed & threw some clothes on.  They all settled in the living room to open presents.  The girls got I-pod touches & Spencer got a PS3.  They were all extremely happy with their presents.  Here are a few pictures.

Santa has been here....

The kids waiting to open their gifts

Harley with her American Girl Doll

Morgan & her American Girl Doll
(Morgan looks half asleep still)

Haylee

Spencer

Gracie
(All smiles...PRICELESS)

Gracie
This is what Christmas is ALL about...seeing the kids SMILES

Harley, Haylee & Morgan

Spencer
All smiles

Spencer
He must have been a good boy this year :)

The girls looking through their stockings

While they were opening presents I started feeling sick.  About 5:00 am I had to go take some medicine and go to bed.  I stayed in the bed until it was time to get the kids ready to go home.  They all started leaving about 7:00.   I ended up back in the bed until 11 when it was time to go to Bobby's parents.  We got Bobby's nieces presents & the look/excitment was priceless.  They are all older & to see them that excited was great :)

When we got back home I called work to see if they were going to put anyone on call tonight.  Thank goodness they were because there would have been NO way I could have made it through the night.  I took another phenergan and headed back to bed. I ended up taking 3 phenergan & sleeping most of Christmas away, but the smiles on the kids faces when they opened their gifts from Santa were PRICELESS! 

I must have just had a 24 hour bug because I woke up this morning feeling much better :)

I hope everyone had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!