christmas: part 3

yes, we were on christmas overload...but is there really such a thing? i think not. i love christmas:) this year was the year for christmas with jonathan's side of the family. so that means fun times for the 9 grandkids!!! 

here we all are at church for christmas eve!

it was great to get to see everyone and spend a week watching ollie & leighton enjoy running around with their cousins.

some of the boys.

the girls.

trey & leighton

eagerly awaiting for present opening

logan & ollie love their cars

ollie tends to open one gift and play with it...you have to remind him to open the rest:)

helping papa open his present

helping leighton open her present

"i don't need help. i got this one guys."

leighton, me and tessa;)

ollie refused to be in our picture. he gets so stubborn sometimes...i wonder where he gets that from

it was a very merry christmas indeed! we are truly blessed to have been able to celebrate with both our families and enjoy the holiday season.

christmas: part 2

christmas morning the four of us celebrated our own little family christmas with a few presents and stocking stuffers. poor leighton really only got a book. but she was unexpectedly really excited about it. it was so cute. she probably only would have been happier if it was food. (she is always hungry, yet still so small...lucky girl)

ollie is not a morning person, so waking up was difficult. he had no interest in his presents or getting up. so like any good parent we started without him;) he decided to join us- eventually.

"what's in my stocking?"

"a toothbrush?!?" he was actually excited because it was a "buzzing" one

ok, maybe leighton was a little sad she only got a book...she was jealous of ollie's cars;)

stay tuned for part 3! yes there's more.... :)

christmas: part 1

we had 2 christmases this year. the first was with my side of the family. vanessa, devin & hadley came down and we spent the weekend at my parents. it was a first christmas for both leighton and hadley. 

ollie was good at helping unwrap presents.

"what did you get, ollie?" says leighotn

"PLAY-DOH" says ollie

hadley likes her play bag of groceries i got her;)

watching ollie

"hey ollie! that's MY toy!"

happy first christmas!!!

presents!

vanessa & hadley

ollie trying to catch uncle devin

watching his new train

leighton;)

these kids love a christmas tree

the best 2 ornaments on the tree

stay tuned for part 2....

11 months

 wow! almost one year! here are our monthly pictures. leighton is wearing her christmas dress i am making for her:) i was fitting it to her, when my scatterbrain remembered to do her photo. don't look close or you'll see an unfinished hem. what would the judges on project runway say! yikes;)

now back to it- hem the dress and trim the sleeves...i think they are a little to fluttery. 

unless of course i get distracted again.

Ollie's Christmas Program and a case of stage fright

today was ollie's Christmas program at preschool. the last time I went to his school (for the harvest party) he freaked out and cried and refused to partake in all the fun activities. so jonathan, leighton & I had set our expectations low.
the kids started to come into the chapel. ollie walked in holding the hands of one of the aids. he was looking very concerned, probably wondering why the chapel was filled with grown-ups, when it is normally empty. have I mentioned this kid does not deal with change or new things very well? the kids started singing and our fun-loving, enthusiastic Ollie, who has been singing all these songs at home, stood there like a statue, about ready to burst into tears. classic stage fright. little miss Leighton on the other hand started smiling and waving her hands and "singing" along. when it was over we gave him big hugs and he started to whine... Leighton seemed to cheer him up a bit and of course there's nothing a cookie can't cure. fun times were had by all.

happy thanksgiving

so much to be thankful for...

like these little munchkins for example;)

 cousins! oliver, hadley & leighton.

"is this all we get for thanksgiving dinner?!"

"hadley, let me fix your headband." says leighton, who loves to accessorize.

 "hey hadley, look at grammy's awesome vintage bangles!" seriously- this girl loves her accessories!

 "ollie! you're squeezing me too tight!"

thankful for time with family this holiday season!