Christmas in Leeds

And yet more Christmas fun on Sunday afternoon! We enjoyed getting to see some of my family in Leeds on Sunday.

Christmas in Cullman

Having breakfast in Cullman on the 26th

Reid & Preston

Henry had fun looking through his stocking packed full of surprises!

Will & Carter have been promoted to the island since the kids table is full and so are all three high chairs! The kids are going to have so much fun in the years to come having so many cousins the exact same age! I just can't wait until we can send them all outside to play for an hour while the adults talk! (One day.....way way down the road....)

Christmas Afternoon

Papa and Grant enjoying Christmas!

Yes, this is our Christmas Day pic...and the best one I got at that! It is like herding cats, actually worse, to get them to be still for a group pic! People just cannot appreciate how hard it was to get that Christmas card pic!

Our neighbor, Jack, came over to see our toys Christmas night and to join in on our Happy Birthday Jesus party. We sang happy birthday, blew out candles, and had cupcakes!

This pic is dim, but thanks for stopping by to hang out, Sara! We loved getting to see you!

Renee, Mac & Bryan came up to visit too. We had fun seeing them, and I think they really enjoyed seeing the kids' excitement!

Christmas Morning!

Grant and Grace saw the bouncer before we even got downstairs!

It was love at first sight for Henry!

Grace is ready to cook!

Grant is a great train conductor!

Christmas morning was so exciting at our house this year! I remember sitting on the couch a year ago on bed rest just trying to wrap my mind around what our family would be like this Christmas. It was so much fun, and we realize every day how blessed we are. Henry only asked for a "Dinoco Mac" truck, so it blew his mind to find that Santa had left a bouncer right in the middle of our living room! Now we just have to explain why it can't stay in the middle of the living room permanently. :) Grace got a kitchen from Santa, and Grant got a train table. They also got lots of other little surprises and toys. They are still in "toy" heaven. Despite all the toys, we made it a point to remind Henry all day (and throughout the holidays) that there was a deeper meaning to Christmas. While we haven't gone into great detail with him at the young age of 3, he definitely understands the basic Christmas story (and will even tell you what gifts the wise men brought) and will tell you it is Jesus's Birthday!

Making a List & Checking it Twice!

Henry leaving cookies and cocoa for Santa. He also sprinkled reindeer food in our yard. I have several posts. This one is all Christmas Eve pics. The kids had a great time at Mimi & Papa's on Thursday!

Don't you love that look? Grace is modeling her new (real) pearl necklace and earrings from Grandmother. (I got a necklace too!)

Henry was just as excited about everyone else's gifts as his own!

Grace modeling a bow

I thought this was a cute pic of Michael & Lindsey!

Live Nativity

Henry, Grant and Grace had a great time at the live nativity tonight at our church. Grant and Grace had to come inside for a snack, but Henry loved it. I hate I did not get a better pick of Henry with the animals, but he was too intrigued to be still!

Here are a few more pics of Kyle, Lea & Alex's visit. This was last night at Joe's Italian...which is delicious by the way! Afterwards the girls (plus Michael & Wes) went to Sips N Strokes. I left my camera in the car, because I didn't want it to get painted as well. However, I must say, we had some interesting works of art to say the least!

Lea & Alex

Just a few pics from today & yesterday :)

Weekend Fun with the Mallots!

We have had so much fun this weekend with Lea, Kyle & Alex, who flew in from Kansas City to spend a few days with our family! Here are some pics so far...

Alex & Wes

Hilarious! What are they doing? Best band ever!

Grace loves Mimi's jewelry.

Grant's First Haircut (and Henry's last!)

Grant got his first haircut yesterday, and he did great! He is so handsome with his little cut. This was my first time to take more than one for a haircut, obviously, and without asking me they booked both kids with different stylists at the same time. So, I was not supervising Henry's haircut, and apparently the stylist thought I said, "mutilate it and make sure it looks nothing like a bowl cut"....because that is most certainly what we got! Oh well! It will grow, and now I know next time to request two back to back appointments, not two simultaneous appointments! I have to supervise these things (obviously!)

Just pics of the kids hanging out around the house :)

I found Henry here yesterday. He had found marshmallows in the pantry, and had this grin when I found him. He's a typical sneaky three year old!