Christmas Rewind...

It's January 19th so let's talk about Christmas! Iy-yi-yi...Here goes! 

Santa visit #2...we went with my sister so Harry could see Santa. It was awesome. Caroline was still terrified. But he was SO kind and really tried to make her feel comfortable. There was no one behind us in line (thank you, 10am on a Thursday!) so he read books to Parker and gave us plenty of time to get a few photos. Parker LOVED "Ho-Ho" and Caroline ended up watching from several feet away. :)

We spent Christmas Eve with my family, making cookies, visiting, and just enjoying being together. The kids had fun making cookies and it's definitely something I want to make a tradition with them.

Baby Harry is a highlight these days and Christmas Eve was no exception. Caroline needed to hold him or be directly next to him much of the time. She takes her job very seriously and always leans her head down to rest on his. It's pretty darling!!

Buddies.

Nana is in Heaven. If you want to hold Harry you have to pry him from her tiny pink nails.

And probably my favorite photos from the entire season...Caroline always needed to see "The Baby" at church. When we went for Christmas Eve service she crawled right into the Nativity area and talked to baby Jesus and gave him a kiss. It melts my heart. This is the true meaning and reason for celebrating Christmas. The joy, hope, and love of Christ's birth. I want my kids to have fun, bake cookies, see Santa, enjoy the lights, find joy in seeing the Christmas trees, but I pray their utmost joy and adoration would be for "THE Baby." 

My handsome little man all dressed up for Church.

The Deedle Bugs got their very own fish from Aunt Kristen and Uncle Brad. It's been the source of lots of squeals happiness around here!

Santa had a little mishap during set-up and ended up in the ER. I kid you not. He sliced his finger with his hunting knife. Because Santa usually needs to use a hunting knife to open a tea set. #amateur

Mrs. Claus was left to clean up the "crime scene" while he got fixed up. Never a dull moment! 

They were so excited and we had a great Christmas morning. After "Santa" at our house we packed up and headed to see Dave's family. We had a relaxing and wonderful time reading books, painting toenails, playing in the park, riding the train, and feeding the ducks. These little people are so loved.

Ice Ice Baby...

One of the most fun things we did over the holidays was take a trip to the Gaylord Texan. We were going to Dallas for my Uncle's surprise 60th birthday, so we went a day early and made a little side trip to Grapevine. The kids saw Santa, we went to the ICE exhibit, they got to see the beautiful train village, see the gingerbread houses...there was just so much to see and do. We went with my parents and my Nana while Dave was on a hunting trip and I've already told him we need to plan for this for next year because they loved it so much!

The ice slide was a huge hit! They would have done it 10 times if we would have let them!

This might be my favorite picture ever! We were crying we were laughing so hard. This is sooo A Christmas Story. 

The exhibit was Frosty the Snowman, but at the very end was the most beautiful Nativity scene! It was huge and absolutely beautiful. Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, many animals, a stunning angel, the Wise Men...it brought tears to my eyes and I was overjoyed to see such a display at a huge public event. The true meaning of Christmas was on full display! Parker and Caroline loved it and got to see the "Bay-bee!"

Parker and Big Daddy loved watching the trains.

Santa was right below our room! We got to see the kids line up each night and we watched him take photo after photo and hear all of the wish lists of the little ones. P&C just pointed and said, "HO-HO-HO!!" over and over. Parker got to sit in The Big Guy's chair one morning before breakfast :)

And then.....it was their turn. Let the breakdown commence! Caroline was in full on panic. Parker was totally over it, and in the middle of Caroline's breakdown Santa said, "It's ok, she has to breathe sometime." #Motheroftheyear.

There seems to be a theme here...

I pop in about every 6 weeks, play a quick game of "catch up", promise to be a better blogger, and then don't. It's probably for the best as I only have toddler business to report. So, in keeping with the theme, here goes....

I became an Aunt! My sister gave birth to the most precious, seriously handsome, very alert, and completely unloved baby ever.

That last part is obviously a bold-faced lie!! This kid is adored and never gets put down. 

 It was an absolutely wonderful Christmas season with a new baby, Parker and Caroline really beginning to enjoy the lights and trees and all of the fun the holidays bring. They especially loved taking this family photo after their Christmas play at school! Par for the course!

These two are just so big! I can't believe how they have grown and changed this year. I think now is when I want it all to stop. I just need them to stay little!!!

I got this little felt tree at Target and these two had endless fun decorating their "tee!"

They love to sing and dance and Caroline is a constant talker. I have been trying to video a lot so that I can remember their smiles, their voices, their dance moves...they kill me with their attitudes. I just don't want to forget a thing yet I can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday!! It's going so quickly.