Christmas Eve

We had lots of pre-Christmas festivities that I will be posting about soon, but I really wanted to share our family Christmas celebration at home first. 

The kids and I spent all of Christmas Eve in our pajamas- it was wonderful! In the morning we made chocolate chip cookies for Santa. It was so much fun. Both kids loved it. 

Getting started.

Having a little taste.

In the afternoon, we all snuggled on the living room floor and watched Elf. It didn't hold the attention of two of us [the babies] for very long, but that was okay. Our Christmas season has been so busy, it was nice to at least get some non-chaotic family time in.  

After the movie, before it got too dark, David sprinkled the reindeer food he made at his class Christmas party in the front yard. It was very serious business.

Finally, before going to bed, each kid picked out three cookies to put on their plate for Santa. We poured some cold milk for him too and put it on the table close to the fireplace. 

The kids were soon in bed, and the waiting began....

David's Christmas Program at School

Tuesday was David's last day of school for the rest of the year. His class, along with the help of some older kids, preformed an unbelievably cute Christmas program. 

When he and his class first walked in the auditorium David had a terrified look on his face. He knew we were all going to be there and he needed to make sure of it immediately. 

Once he saw all three of us sitting in the audience he was smiling ear to ear and occasionally waving. 

David had been practicing his songs for weeks and knew every word. But, when it came time to sing them, most of the time he just stood there and smiled.

Sweet baby boy front and center. 

A surprise performance at the end of the program! Sorry it's blurry at first. Since it was a surprise I was in such a hurry to get my camera turned on that it didn't have time to focus. But, just stay with it because it's incredibly cute. 

Rachael watched very intently.

After the Christmas concert we went to David's classroom for his class party. 

Everyone was given a plate of goodies, but first the blessing.

Rachael pulled up a chair and made herself at home with all the other kids at David's table. 

My petite little girl ate more than any other kid in the room.

David had a wonderful time at the party.

Before the party ended David exchanged Christmas presents and hugs with his teachers.

SANTA!!

Last week we all went to meet Santa! David was super excited to ask Santa for the few items he would like for Christmas. We talked the whole drive about how he was going to need to talk loud so Santa could hear him and know exactly what he would like. When we arrived I realized that David was a little confused. It turns out I wasn't clear on WHEN Santa would be giving David his gifts. David thought we would be bringing them home that day. 

We visited with Santa at the Bass Pro Shops near our home. Not only was Santa there, but also this super fun Santa's Village. We had such a good time! There were lots of great things to do:

Remote controlled monster trucks:

A little 4-wheeler:

And lots of other fun things that I was too busy enjoying to take pictures. 

But, the kids' favorite thing was the Merry-Go-Round. We rode it several times. 

I tried to get a nice picture of the two together, but once again it was mostly just a chaotic mess. This is the best I could get.

Finally, it was time to see Santa!!! We had watched him from afar a few times, but now was the big moment. I was a bit nervous as to how the kids would react once up there. David was a little anxious, but knew Santa was a good, gift-bringing guy. Rachael, on the other hand, wasn't having it for a second. She screamed like this from the moment I sat her in Santa's lap. 

When we got the official print out of our 2012 picture with Santa. I couldn't help but laugh. There in my hands, I was looking at every picture of me as a little girl with Santa. I immediately sent the picture above to Ma [and my brother] with the question, "Remind you of anyone?" 

 I am 5 months older than Rachael in this picture, but the similarities are incredible. 

And lastly, once I rescued Rachael from Santa, David got to have a moment with him alone. I love this picture, it's so sweet.

Things I Want to Remember

I am loving this time in the kids' lives. They are both so much fun that I wish time would just stop for a bit so I can relish in it. It seems like every time they wake up from a nap, I don't see them for a few hours, or I blink they've grown a little more! I love it and I hate it.  There are lots of things [too many to list in their baby books] I want to remember about each of them.


Rachael:
Talks ALL the time, but we only know what she's saying about 10% of the time.
Loves to rough house with her brother and Daddy.
Says "Pa-pa" for "Please" and her versions of "thank you" and "excuse me".
Exclaimed "Dada!" on 12-12-12 when Ryan walked in the door.
Says something like, "Duh-Duh" for David and "Buh-Buh" for Bogie. And of course has been saying, "Mama" for a long time.
Says, "Dirty", "Diaper", "Night-Night", "Uh-oh", "Hi", "Bye-bye" (with a wave), "All gone", "Right back", and "Banana".
Waves automatically when she hears a horn honk.
Loves to dance.
Says, "Daaaaaa" for the boom the gun when she pretends to shoot.
Is understanding pretty much everything we say to her and tries her very best to communicate with us. If she falls down she will reenact the event in her own way to tell me what happened, it's too cute.
Throws up her hands to ask "Where did         go?"
Shakes her head back and forth when she really means "yes".
Says, "Santa" and whispers, "Jesus". And knows both when she sees them.
Is always on cue when it comes to the "HEY!" part of Jingle Bells.
Is still breastfeeding.
Takes out her hair bow after ever meal, without fail.
Knows how to signal a touchdown whenever football is on.
Loves her baby dolls and stuffed animals and takes good care of them all.
Is very headstrong and sometimes stubborn. She knows what she wants when she wants it.
Lives to eat.
Likes to blow her nose.
Thinks she is as big as her brother as she follows him into the bathroom and even pretends to use the potty sometimes.
Is a real snuggle-bug.


David:
Is SO excited about Christmas. Not because he gets tons of presents, but because it's Jesus' birthday. The other day at his school they set up a "store" for him to shop in for his family. They wrapped them all up for him to give to us on Christmas. When I picked him up from school that day he had a bag full of gifts. I said, "Who are all these for?!" He said, "Jesus' birthday!" My heart melted right there. He was exactly right.
Is loving How The Grinch Stole Christmas, mostly the Jim Carey version, which is surprising to me. He calls the movie, "Dat Cindy Woo Who movie." He likes her the best.
Loves to read his Bible. At nap time and bed time he gets to choose what book he we will read. He has chosen his Bible for the last month or more every time. We are currently reading it for a second time. He is very interested in all the stories, but by far his favorite is David and Goliath. He is pretty sure it's about him.
Eats to live.
Says, "Please", "Thank You" and "Excuse Me" on a regular basis
Is always singing a song. He has started making up a lot of his songs recently. Whether they are about what he is doing at the time, a favorite food, or a Christmas song he likes. He is always singing!
Is a great big brother.
Loves to help.
Says, "Yeth." [Yes]
Is still a Mama's Boy [and I love it].
Stutters.
Asks "Why?" about 1,000 times a day.
Is doing fantastic with potty training.
Sometimes pretends to breastfeed one of Rachael's baby dolls- he calls it, "Give dat baby Num-Nums".

Both babies eating breakfast at "the little table".

It's the Most Wonderful

AND busiest time of the year!

Wow! I can't believe we are nearly two weeks out from Christmas and there is still so much that needs to be done around our house and at the stores. Last week we stayed busy with lots of fun activities. 

First, we went to select our Christmas tree although the kids were more interested in anything but. 

Rachael enjoyed picking up every single piece of hay and taste testing it. 

And David found a tree he thought he could climb.

I tried to get a picture of the two of them together, but at their ages it's becoming increasingly more difficult to have them both looking at me, smiling, and sitting still at the same time. This is the best I could get.


We finally found the perfect one. It was actually the first one we looked at, but of course had to look at ALL the others just to be sure.

The only time both kids were standing still? Watching the lady cut our tree with a chainsaw. They both loved it.



Same thing goes for a family picture. It's really tough these days to get a good one of everyone.


Later in the week, we FINALLY got to meet our best friends' [still somewhat] new baby girl- Shiloh. She was born on Oct. 15th and because of one thing or another [schedules, runny noses, Thanksgiving...] we haven't been able to get our hands on her. She is a little doll and the kids loved her the moment we walked in the door. In fact, Rachael pushed her way past me to get to Baby Shiloh. She couldn't wait to see her.




Checking out her little feet. Immediately after this picture was taken, Rachael ripped off Shiloh's socks for her.



They brought a gift for Shiloh and even helped her open it.


And inspected it for her too.



Then this weekend we attended a Family Reunion/Christmas Party with Twinkle's extended family. There weren't many little kids there for David and Rachael to play with, but that was okay. They had tons of fun with anyone and everyone who wanted to play. They did make one new friend- Dalton. He thought the kids were pretty funny pretending to fall on the floor at least 50 times in a row.


Baby Girl having a great time in the beautiful smocked Christmas dress her Great-Aunt Angie made her for her birthday. I love this dress.


David and Rachael always love playing with their Great-Grandmother's walker.



And is this not precious? David being tickled by his Great-Grandmother. I love the smiles on both their faces.


With all the busyness of the Season we have also enjoy a little lazy, family time too. While I am decorating the house, the kids [and Ryan] watch "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", both versions. David really likes them. He calls the movies "dat wittle Cindy Woo Who." She is his favorite. Whenever she isn't on the screen he asks where she is. I spread out some blankets and throw pillows and they make themselves cozy.






This week is just like last week- busy, busy, busy. I am hoping to get all my shopping and wrapping done this week so this weekend I can lay down and snuggle with my two babies during movie time. That's my goal at least.

Another Fun Weekend

This weekend was another busy, but fun, one. We started out at our farm in Alabama. 

I thought I had a great idea- dress both babies in matching Carhartt overalls for a sweet picture of the two of them walking hand in hand, through the green grass, giggling at each other. But, that is NOT how it ended up.
This was the best I could get.

Rachael doesn't like to hold anyone's hand but her Mama's. Can you tell?

One thing they both loved doing was shooting with Daddy. They both liked to wear the ear muff and hear the gun go off.



But, I think the big excitement of our time at the farm was Ryan's successful deer hunting!

It may not look like it from this picture, but Rachael was actually more excited about the deer than David.

Both kids LOVE to be at the farm.
They really like to play with all the "heavy" equipment in the big pile of rocks just outside the house.





David also had a wonderful time going quail "hunting" with Big Daddy when he and Ma made a quick visit out to see us.

I love this picture.


On Sunday, we were all together for a few hours of fun to celebrate Ma's birthday with a birthday brunch.

Ma and her grand babies, so sweet.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Ma!