Christmas Jammies

The last few years I have enjoyed giving the boys Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve. This year I didn't buy Connor any because he had some from last year that still fit and he really doesn't wear jammies that often anymore. I found a great deal on the twins some snowmen ones so I told them I had a gift for them and to close their eyes. I came in with them and Preston was happy, but Grant became grouchy Grant because that wasn't a gift...aka toy. He sat and pouted while I squeezed his cheecks talking to him and kissing him all while he is trying not to crack a smile. The boys put their jammies on and we took a few pics before bedtime:)

School Presents

The last few years we have made it a tradion that the boys all exchange gifts they have bought for the family from school on Christmas Eve. They are usually dime store trinkets, but they have a blast picking the presents out on the own and giving them. The look on their faces is always priceless! It's funny that when we actually finished this year the person that received the most presents was Harley, the dog...go figure:)

Grant wrapped a bunch of bows for Harley at Honey's house. This was the first present!
Grant bought Preston a teddy bear that he really wanted.

Grant bought Doug a hamburger eraser because daddy loves hamburgers:)

Grant bought Connor a clip-on flashlight. Connor's face is of amazement.

Harley modeling her bows from Grant.

Preston bought Connor a necklace.

Connor got Grant a green hockey stick pencil.

Preston is about to burst out of his skin with excitement:)

Preston got Grant a puppy dog.

Connor bought me an angel that is red (my favorite color). Love the thoughtfulness:)

Preston bought Harley a dog toy.

Harley immediately started chewing on it which made Preston so happy that she liked it:)

Connor made a red and white Christmas ornament at school, but when the two colors merged it turned pink. Preston used to love pink, but he thought Connor was making fun of him. Preston started crying then Connor started crying because his feelings got hurt that Preston didn't like it. We had to have a 10 minute intermission for everyone to gather themselves and apologize. It was a perfect time for a lesson on giving and appreciation. This is the pic of them trying not to be mad at each other anymore:)

Doug slightly entertained by the entire mess!

Connor bought Preston a blue piggy bank (his actual favorite color).

Doug's present from the family.

I bought him an I-phone radio charging dock.

Poor Daisy all covered with wrapping paper. I think she slept through the unleashing of presents.

Prairie Lights

Christmas Eve we went to Grand Prairie's Prairie Lights at Joe Pool Lake. You drive thru a park that has thousands of lighted scenes put up and even has an intermission pitstop area with food and two kiddie rides. The twins had a blast looking at all the lights while Connor had a pre-teen attitude and laid down in the back seat pouting for some unknown reason...go figure! We stopped and let them ride the free rides (what could be better) and then ended up eating dinner there too. Preston and Doug shared nachos, Connor and Grant had hot dogs, and I had a barbecue sandwich. They all drank hot chocolate to go with their meal. We had a great time!

"Magic" The Elf

Santa sent us an Elf on the Shelf this year the day after the boys got out of school. This is an elf that watches the boys every move and reports back to Santa each night and comes back and repositions himself somewhere else in the house. He came with a book that we read that said his powers would be taken if he was touched and that he needed to be named. Preston and Grant agreed that his name should be "Magic" because he has magical powers. Preston's teacher had an elf in class the entire month of December so Preston knew the elf's rules, but unfortunately Grant didn't have a clue. The first day he arrived Grant picked him up and hoisted him around the house so proud that he had an elf now and Preston followed behind screaming in horror that he wouldn't work anymore. I had to keep a straight face, but deep down I was coming totally unglued with laughter! I reassured Preston that maybe the elf would understand and if would be ok. He was very creative each night in what he did. We found him first hanging from the TV, then fishing, taking a bubble bath, and making a snow angel. I can't wait to see what happens next year!

Christmas Parties at Miller

The day school got out for Christmas break was busily spent throwing two out of three parties at the boys' school. I went straight from throwing Grant's party and barely visiting Preston to running upstairs and throwing Connor's party. Poor Preston just doesn't understand why I can't do his too. This is one of many reasons we are going to try and put the twins together next year. Honey also came to the twins' parties and pretty much stayed with Preston and came across a few times and took some pics of Grant's class. Each party was basically the same...eat and craft and then 1st grade also had a game and book exchange. We are given an hour to keep the kids busy and have fun! I knew I did well when I asked the boys if they had fun and got a smile and yes out of both of them:)

The shirt Grant has on was made in class with foot and handprints to make a reindeer.
Preston and Ms. Daniell

Grant with the Christmas book he received.

Preston's class did an ornament exchange and he got a cute santa.

Fun Times at Miller

I brought the twins McDonalds for lunch and on the side of the happy meals box were mustache cutouts. The twins just loved them:)

In honor of the Christmas season, as room mom I was asked to make Santa cookies for Mrs. King's class and come read a special book. The book was about a man and his cookie shop and how you shouldn't be stingy, but gracious. It was pretty cute. The kids had fun decorating their own cookies with white icing to mimick Santa's beard. Grant tried to eat the leftover icing straight until I put a quick stop to it:)

Pictures At Grandmother's

We got together at Grandmother's house for Thanksgiving and took a bunch of pictures with her. The plan was just to get pics of Grandmother with all the great-grandchildren so she could use it for her Christmas card. This was quite a lengthy process thanks to two little munchkins in the family...Jax and Jake. I don't know who got more tickled Grandmother or the other adults. Poor Aunt Shelley I think was so frustrated, but they were just acting their age and it was plain funny!

The best pic we captured of our family.
The boys wanted to do a funny pose.

The twins with cutie Jake.

Connor, Caleb, and Grandmother

Grandmother was so stinkin' tickled because Jax just wasn't going to cooperate.

Our little stinker pot!

My boys with their great-grandmother.

Papa decided to climb the tree with all the boys.

Papa and Jakers

The best pic of Grandmother with all the greats.

Uncle Kerry Lynn with our boys and his grandson, Caleb.

Grandmother and Uncle Kerry

Uncle Doug and Jax messing around