Merry Christmas 2012

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We sure did!!! This Christmas was extremely fun with Alden. He understood, to an extent, what was going on.

We started our morning at our house, opening presents, stockings, and seeing what Santa brought. Alden's face was priceless when he walked into the living room and the presents Santa brought were sitting there ready to play with.

For Christmas, Santa brought Alden a new kitchen and a Tonka truck and Collyn a new toy with balls.

Collyn sat back and relaxed while we opened presents.

Santa brought Alden a train whistle in his stocking. He loves trains, so it was a great present.

Alden LOVED his kitchen. He loves to help me in the kitchen, so we put it in the kitchen so he can cook while I cook.

After we opened presents at our house, I made a breakfast casserole and we headed to Lyndon's parents house for breakfast and more present opening.

Alden got the hang of opening presents.

Alden got a John Deere toy from Uncle Kolton (Lyndon's brother)

Collyn was my present. :)

The boys playing with their toys

Collyn knows what is good!

So, the story behind this picture is interesting. Right after we got married we were living in our first home and while we moved to our second home, Lyndon's mom swore she gave Lyndon his diploma from College. We searched everywhere for it. She knew exactly where she put it in our house. We checked. Nothing. For 3 years we have told her we don't have it and she told Lyndon he lost it. This was one of Lyndon's presents. She found it in her bedroom. :)

A shirt that I got Lyndon for Christmas.

Grandma Kay holding Collyn during breakfast.

Alden loved eating breakfast on Christmas at Grandma and Grandpas.

Then, we came home for naps and i made a salad for lunch at my parents house. Lyndon played his video game that he got for Christmas. Then, we headed to my parents.

All the kids were very excited to open presents.

Alden got some Matchbox cars from Aunt Susu.

Papa Stuart (My dad) helped Alden open some presents.

This is a typical Christmas at my parents house. Sheer chaos! We wouldn't change it for anything.

Christmas Eve

Every year, we have our annual Christmas Eve party at our house. Last year, we surprised everyone with the announcement that we were expecting. There we NO SURPRISES this year!

Lyndon's family and my family came for the evening. Everyone brought finger foods or an appetizer to share. The kids played, screamed, and giggled all evening. It was a great time.

Some of the kids at the party. The number of kids grows every year. We are up to 8 kids now.

Parker (almost 7 months) and Collyn (Almost 5 months) hanging out on the floor together.

People enjoying the appetizers and company.

Cody (Susans husband), better known in our house as Uncle CoCo had to work that night, but he stopped by for dinner. He is a local city police officer in our town. Alden adores him.

the kids playing downstairs on the pool table (That came with the house when we moved in.) This is our basement.

It was Kem's (Lyndon's Mom) birthday on the 24th, so Grandma Kay (Lyndon's Grandma) brought a pecan pie for her and Alden brought it out to her, candles lit.

Alden and Collyn got to open their Christmas Eve present. New Jammies!!!!

Collyn is attempting to sit up by himself. Grandpa Bob (Lyndon's Dad) helped him a little while he opened his jammies.

The boys in their Christmas Jammies. They look so soft and cuddly!

Alden put out cookies and milk for Santa. And Santa ATE THEM! Alden was so excited the next morning.

First Snow of The Year

Alden was SOOO excited about getting snow this year. He would ask every morning if there was snow yet. FINALLY, one evening it snowed. We watched it from inside the house for quite a while, then I bundled him up and sent him out. He loved it. Ready to go out.

He loved catching the snow on his tongue.

Daddy and Collyn stayed inside and watched from the window.

Cookie Decorating At Grandmas

Lyndon's Grandma Kay, every year, brings the family over for dinner and we decorate Christmas Cookies. She makes TONS of cookies! I believe, this is my 5th year helping decorate cookies.

This was Aldens first year decorating. He sat there so content for over an hour decorating his cookies.

Kem, Lyndon's Mom, put in 4 cups of powdered sugar into the mixer. Turned it on and there was still a spoon in it. This is what happens.

Grandma Kay got Alden his very own apron to decorate with. In the end, I was very excited that he had it. He loved wearing it.

Collyn fell asleep on Grandma Kay while we were decorating cookies.

WOW! A great decorator and a great mess! Good thing kids are washable.

The cookie crew for 2012 Left to Right- Grandma Kay, Kem (Lyndon's Mom), Collyn, Me, Lyndon, Alden, Kolton (Lyndon's Brother), Jourdon (Koltons girlfriend)

Salt Dough Ornaments

I had my nieces over one night because their parents went to a Christmas dinner for my sisters work. I decided to have some fun.

I went to the store and bought Mini-Pizzas and sugar cookies. We had those for dinner and dessert.

We watched Elf and made salt dough ornaments. We just did hand prints, and Collyn did his footprint. After they baked, they painted them. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed it.

Alden got a little carried away with the paint, but nothing a bath can't help.

Festival of Trees 2012

The dance studio, every year, is an hour of entertainment on Saturday of the Festival of Trees at the community center in our town. We brough around 50 dancers and tumblers to perform. We always seem to get a good crowd. There were 8 different groups that performed.

Our Jazz 1 and Jazz 2 classes had very short routines, because they were still learning them and they brought what they had.

Jazz 3 performed a Christmas routine. These 3 classes are taught by my other teacher, Emilie.

Jazz 4 performed a Lyrical routine to Adele- Someone Like You.

Pom performed a routine to Everybody Talks

Tots performed a routine to Hey Mickey

2 of my tumbling classes came and showed everyone what they had learned this far in the year. It was a great performance. We are always so happy and excited to perform at this event. It is usually our first performance of the year.