Christmas Morning at Our House

Reading our last advent book
 



Open their stockings

 



We love our fireplace on this cold Christmas morning!

I surpised Andrew with an Ipad (which I bought used)-
He was really shocked- I missed the face he gave me

Mommy's favorite Christmas gift!

Aaron made me a card for Christmas and then got
his piggy bank off his shelf and took $2 out of it for
his mommy! He even taped the card up! This is my
favorite gift of the year- my boy is so sweet!

... I did sneek in his room and put his $2 back into
his piggy... just don't tell him :)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we went to church though
we did not last the entire service because
Avery did not want to sit in the big church.

We then went to Great Granny's house
for family time.  The kids enjoyed playing
with cousins and eating lots of snacks.

 

A girl and her Bear Bear

This is Bear Bear-- Avery's favorite stuffed animal.  He has
been slept with every nap and night, thrown up on, rolled out
of the van, and had his ribbons cut when she got her finger
stuck in them and they were turning purple! Needless to say
Bear Bear has been through a lot...we consider him a member
of the family.  Today he had a bath.... he is now a fresh muted
shade of the pink he once was.

We love you Bear Bear!

 

This is what Bear Bear used to look like...

Loving Our Fireplace

We have waited 8 years to have a fireplace!
We are so thankful that the new house provided
one for us.  We have already had a fire 3 times
this winter season with more to come I'm sure.

Our fireplace has an insert with a door-- which
we didnt like at first but we have changed our
minds about that-- having a door is great! No
sparks spitting at you or logs rolling out.  We
even roasted hot dogs but we will have to get some
longer roasting sticks b/c it was to hot with short
wire hangers. 

Preschool Musical at church- "Where is Baby Jesus?"

Christmas Decorating

We decorated for Christmas before
Thanksgiving-- shocking I know!-
but we do not have alot of time with
Daddy at home since he studies so much
so we decided to do it one evening. 
My little tree trimers did a great job-
Aaron was very excited to put the angel
on the top of the tree this year with a
little help from daddy!

Gaines Family ThankMas

All of the brothers and their families were in town
this week to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas
as well.  There was lots of fun to be had with
this house full of kiddos! We took the chance
to exchange gifts with the cousins.  Then there were
sleepovers and also a group trip to the movies (Avery
did not go to the movie as she is still a little restless
with movie watching)

Happy Thanksgiving

For Thankgiving Day we traveled to Pop Pop and
Ms. Judy's house to eat lunch.  Uncle Jake and Mariah
were there as well as Baby Jackson and Judy's son
Brian.  The food was yummy and we spoiled Jackson
while we were there!

More Art with Gram

Gram bought a nativity set for each grandchild
to paint - Aaron chose the baby Jesus and Avery chose
a donkey.  They did a great job on them.  Even Mommy
painted a shepard but forgot to get a picture.

Thanksgiving Break Art Camp

Aaron attended a thanksgiving break art camp at
a local gallery with his best bud Jackson.  The boys
did a great job on their Christmas Owl paintings. 

He has requested to do another art camp during the
Christmas break as well.

Arts and Crafts with Pop Pop & JuJu

Pop Pop and Ms Judy came to keep the kids
while Andrew and I went to my last craft
show of the season.  They brought along
an arts and craft project for the kids...hand print
ornaments.  I think they turned out great!