Christmas morning/ dec

at the Anderson's in Coppell Christmas Eve. 

We had a hilarious reenactment of the nativity with the children

We helped Dad make tomales!! at our house

Rowdy really had wanted a nutcracker and an I pad. He got an app instead

Dad was at our house Yaya was in Coppell with Locke n Katie

Rowdy was in love with the game war

The kids and I made a spinny tree for Dad

blankets from Grandma Walker

Dad posing in Yaya's Jonny Depp blanket

Just today

So, today felt like a huge preparation day. Tomorrow is Sunday, My parents are coming maybe tomorrow night. Monday is Christmas Eve, who wants to go shopping then? yuck. plus its pretty much go time. I feel like I get "lulled into carnal security" by remembering a few Christmas presents in November thinking I'm so on top of the game. Then I try to enjoy December & pick up things here in there, but always the last week I feel in a scramble. The other problem is I don't like to shop or can't afford the things I would want to get people so then I end up crafting and left with 12, 1/2 done projects that need just "one more thing".

Cody has been working a lot. A blessing and a curse. Tonight it was so hard to let him go. He had just been gone to Oklahoma City, for a day and a half came home slept woke up and got called out of town again. He has been pounding it out this week.We miss him. But its good because then he will be able to be home for Christmas stuff.

So the kids and I have had a lot QT. We have been making some Christmas presents. A lot slower than I had hoped for :) but I feel like the payoff has been so worth it. I recently have been documenting on Instagram Elliot mishaps throughout the day. There are many and continue to be many but when I sat and thought about it I realized I need to help her put her busy-ness to work. Not to mention all the kids. So they have been helping out around the house and its been great. I was cracking up today it was 70 and its soon to be much colder so I wanted the kids to go ride bikes or just get outside & enjoy it and Ezra said," I don't want to ride bikes. I want to do the dishes." and Ezra is crazy excited about helping make meals lately.  Elliot still knows how to throw down a cup to get some attention, but the crafting and occasional painting of a Christmas present has been working great as a creative outlet instead of the walls or boring old paper. Tonight I put the kids to bed and told them I had to clean up the house. I was sitting down trying to muster up my housecleaning skills and 5 minutes later Rowdy came out all tired and asked if I needed help. I'm sure he just didn't want to go to bed, but it touched my heart. & his initiative was awesome. When I said sure (I am loving winter break) he said OK. do you want me to help vacuum? You can do the big vacuum and I will get the small one. wow.  I just feel like we've really been able to take quality time for each other this past week and its felt really good. 

 

Miss Munchkin at work

 Pinterest inspired me to have a few quick backup kid activities in the kitchen. Its made a huge difference...or maybe not waking up at 4:30 for seminary has made the huge difference :)

Ezra helping out in the kitchen

Team Gingerbread

 

I love Cody for a lot of reasons. But he is an awesome Dad. We miss him when he is gone

This week the kids have had mini brother sister slumber parties all over the house. Its been so nice not having to worry about what time we have to get up in the morning.

So anyway lots to catch up on. but I was just loving my kids an extra lot today.

Christmas Partay

It seems like last year we ran into Santa 3 or 4 times on accident and this year, whew, I was so glad he made it to our ward Christmas pajama party because I almost forgot. 

Rowdy wanted an ipad and a nutcracker

 I love how Elliot is so excited,"Yeah that's my bro sittin' on Santa's lap" 

but sort of paralyzed in the lower. 

After I reminded her to ask for a pink bracelet she loosened up a little

 Ezra

Camera 1 

wait for it....

 Good enough!

Got his request in for a hammer toy

We also had a nice FHE with the Carmacks on Monday & did a cookie exchange. mmmm. That was good. We did share most of them... er some of them. I shared as much as I could bear! I know its a time for giving I am a horrible person! I have a sweet problem. Plus they were all beautiful, and I have a problem not eating beautiful food too.

The FHE night, I forgot he cookie exchange was an fhe too and Cody had told the kids we could go to Chick-fil-a because he hadn't been home for a while and wanted to do something fun with them. So they kinda had their hearts set on it. So we did both and then I had combined seminary at my house the next day..with breakfast! so I ran into the grocery store. Didn't get much sleep had to call in help from Cody and Craig to cook some pancakes so I could finish preparing supplies. And it all ended up lovely. Sharon found an Amazing video we watched to tie it all up. You should watch it too. It is soo beautiful...O Come, Emmanuel

After Christmas Sale!

Guess who is going to have the craziest fun yard next year?!Elliot was so excited an waving when these guys were blowing up but then when she really saw Dora she got kinda frieked. It was pretty funny

 

The boys always get crazy excited to help put stuff up in the attic. They love the pull down stairs, plus its just so cool to see our house from up there

Great Wolf

Yaya and Papa treated us to the Great Wolf Lodge. Its so fun (and embarrassing) to go swimming in the middle of winter :) We had a great time.

We couldn't help imagining next year fun with Locke & Katie family

My Dad called Ezra the lone wolf because he could have the best time all by himself if he wanted to.

Elliot's little hand-me down bathing suit was so cute on her.

 

She has sprouted! Look how long she is

Ezra looooved these little shoot'em up jet skis

 

and surprised us by waiting in line so patiently for the mini water slides.

 

Rowdy had a blast and even passed the general eyeball height test and onto a bigger water slide with his Papa and Dad. unfortunately the later lifeguard was a stickler for the above the line policy and so they waited a long time in line fer nuthin', but Rowdy had a blast he was everywhere. He is such a good boy. I have no doubt he was polite in all his adventures. Its nice to be able to have that kind of trust in a 4 years old.

 

We just stayed one night but had 2 days at the water park. 

Thank you Papa and Yaya for the fun.

Christmas part deux feat. Yaya & Papa

My Mom and Dad got here on the eve of the 26th. It was like Christmas!! They even brought Rowdy's requested hand puppets for Elliot. It was so nice to see them and get some QT

but then we always get so spoiled its even harder to let them go back home

Elliot adored Yaya. If Yaya wasn't holding her she would crawl through the house calling her

Aunt Katie MADE Elliot's hat!! Isn't it so cool?! It looks so professional. The top is a little flower stemmy bud. It is adorable and Elliot totally leaves it on! Thanks Aunt Katie.

We had lots of fun trips to the parks W Papa & Yaya

Rowdy has a style all his own :) 

I love that he is so independent in getting himself ready

Elliot loves trying to ride Bikes w her bros. She just scoots along