Christmas Day!

Kids on Christmas morning

After going to bed late, we decided to reset the kid's clock an hour early (to keep them in bed longer).  As most people know, they are early risers....especially Preston, and we wanted a shot at sleeping a little later on Christmas morning (call it a present to ourselves).  We gave them the usual threats about not coming down until 6:00, and they actually stayed in their room until 6:45AM.  They would have stayed in there longer, but they heard us stirring and then noticed the clock in the other room was an hour later.  Oops.

Anyway, we let them come down, and then waited for my folks to join us before they were allowed to see what Santa brought them.  Thankfully, for Preston's sake....Santa considered him to be on the "nice list," and left him three presents.

Preston's 3 Santa Gifts

Bennett's 3 Santa Gifts

Round 2 of Christmas

After the kids opened all of the presents we gave them, we cleaned up and enjoyed breakfast.  They even had time to enjoy some of their gifts before Brian and Shannon and the kids made it over for our third and final round of Christmas.  Once again, as you would expect with five young children, it was mass chaos.  Shannon and I tried to keep up with who got what and from whom, but it proved to be a challenge.  They were all opening presents as fast as they could find ones with their names on it.

Lucy loved her new motorized car!

Sweet cousins

Lucy would only allow someone in HER car if she road with them

Once again we finished fairly quickly, so we cleaned up the mound of wrapping paper and let the kids play.  It was a beautiful day so the kids were able to play outside on the swingset some while the adults sipped on some beverages and enjoyed a couple appetizers.  We agreed to have a late meal, which allowed ample time for the guys to fry up the turkey.  We all finally sat down around 4:30 for a delicious meal of turkey, stuffing (the Midwest kind), mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, rolls and pumpkin pie for dessert.  It was a feast!


Following dinner, the kids, who can never get enough of each other, sat outside on the deck eating popcorn and watching a movie.  However, little Lucy was getting tired, and all of us had had a long day (on top of going to bed late the night before), so we finally called it around 8pm.  It was a great day of "family time."

Best attempt at a group shot

Christmas Eve 2013

As we do every year, this Christmas Eve we attended the family friendly service at our church where the children are invited to participate in the Christmas Story.  Preston was Joseph, and Bennett was  Mary.  Following the service, we took communion and went over to Steve's parent's for our family celebration.  After everyone arrived and got changed into their pajamas, the kids began begging to open presents, so we got started.  Though there was a mountain of loot under the tree, it quickly dissipated...and we were left with several bags of wrapping paper and individual piles of gifts. 

Bennett and Maria snuggling

Pres and Sara snuggling

Bennett all smiles after opening AG doll, Saige

One of Preston's favorite gifts...a darth vader mask

The kids with Mimi and Papa

All of the cousins in their PJ's

Uncle Dan with his nieces and nephews

After all of the excitement calmed down, the kids began playing with a few of their gifts.  My parents even made it over for a cocktail after their Flemings dinner with Brian's family and the Murphys.  We did a photo with the kids and BOTH grandparents, and then headed home to put out the reindeer food and cookies for Santa.

It was about 10:30 before the kids hit the sack, and they were exhausted and ready.  Steve and I brought up the family's gifts, and after we went to sleep....Santa came!

Christmas is Almost Here!

As Christmas rapidly approaches, we have been keeping busy.  Check out the photos to see how busy we have been:

Bennett decoupaging a candle

Kids with our homemade advent candle

Annual Photo with Santa

Sweet pic of Bennett praying during Christmas choir show

Pres performing during his choir concert

Bennett singing

The kids with Papa and Mimi

Danny's xmas party (37.5 wks)

Steve and Danny at his xmas party

Pres as Joseph in school xmas play

Mimi and Papa had a busy week at Trinity

Bennett watching her video from Santa

Pres watching his video from Santa

Bennett with Ms Werner at class xmas party

Luke, Pres, Luke, Tyler and Walker at class xmas pj party

1st Annual Nutcracker with Nene

Hoping our new tradition becomes a favorite

Baking Christmas Cookies with Mimi and Papa

Pres even decorated a tray or two

More Christmas Celebrations

Lately it has been rainy, but since the clouds parted for the night - we decided to take the kids to the lighting of the Homewood star.  We thought it would be a rather quick thing, but the middle school choir sang Christmas carols to kick off the night.  Though it was meant to get us in the spirit, it went a little (too) long, and Preston was the only one who really enjoyed it.  In fact, he kept inching his way (by himself), closer and closer to the choir for prime viewing, until he was just a few feet away.

Daddy's girl always

Following some brief announcements from our mayor, the star was finally lit, and then they started blowing "snow" over downtown Homewood.  It was certainly a cute idea.  Meanwhile kids were lined up for hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.  After enjoying their snack, we spotted Santa walking around so we approached him for a quick picture.

It was a spontaneous night, but it was something that we hadn't done before, so I'm glad we did it.

Not a starry night, but "snow"

Kicking off the Christmas Season!

With the long Thanksgiving weekend, we packed it in!  Steve came home early on Wednesday, and had Friday off, so we had Daddy around for 4.5 days, and we got spoiled!  We kicked off the long weekend meeting Steve for lunch on Wednesday.  The kids always love Mexican food, so we met at La Paz in Hoover, which was something different for them.  That night, we cuddled in our bed and watched TV.

Thanksgiving morning we got up and went to the Beloved Community Church to help make sack lunches for area folks who had to work on Thanksgiving, then headed to his parent's house for our feast.  We hung out all day so we could see Louis and Michelle and the kids, so the kids were worn out. 

On Friday, we were lazy initially, but decided to hit Lowes to buy our Christmas trees.  We elected to go with a real tree this year since the kids are older, and we love the smell they put off.  However, once we got it home and up, Preston started sneezing.  Since we'll have the baby next year who will just be starting to walk, we'll be forced to go back to the artificial one...which will probably be a good thing for my

My favorite ornament

little man anyway.  Later that morning, I had a massage, and when I came home our outside tree was up and lit and the indoor tree was up.  We ate a quick lunch, and then went to see "Frozen" at the theater with the kids (cute movie).  Afterward, Steve worked on getting all 2000 lights on our monster!  It took him awhile, but he did a great job!  Then Bennett and I hung all of the ornaments that night.  We think the finished product looks beautiful!

Saturday, of course, was the Iron Bowl.  We had a very lazy morning watching college game day and doing laundry, but then we finally showered and headed over to watch the game with Louis and Michelle and some other folks (after Bennett's big haircut).  As we all know...it was a nail biter of a game, where we lost in the very last second of the game, literally.  UGH!  It was a painful way to end the season for us, but Alabama didn't play well.  After the game ended, the kids and I went home.  Steve, however, decided to tie one on with his brother and talk football for another several hours.

Sadly on Sunday morning, we skipped church and elected to finish up some loose ends around the house.  I hit the grocery store, while Steve finished outside Christmas decorations.  He then ran to Lowes for more items we needed, while I mowed the lawn and the kids played in the backyard.  After a much needed shower, the kids and I went to church to make our advent candle.  We're not very creative, but I think it turned out well.  That night we had another quiet evening, eating dinner and snuggling in bed (the kid's new favorite thing to do...snuggling in OUR bed with all five of us).  Pres, Steve and Beckham were snoring within minutes, while Bennett and I watched some TV.

As it always turns out...all good things must come to an end.  So here's to making it through a crazy few weeks of weekly doctor appointments, school, work and Christmas parties before Christmas gets here in 23 days, with baby following 5 days later!!