Christmas 2007

We had a wonderful Christmas. The kids were thrilled with the gifts they received. They were once again very spoiled. It doesn't happen that often so it is so fun to see their excitement and awe. Here are some pictures from Christmas morning.....keep in mind my camera stinks!!

Santa had a little snack of chocolate covered pretzels and marshmallows, thin mints, peanut brittle, and chocolate dipped snowballs. And of course we had to leave carrots out for Santa's reindeer.

We were surprised that our kids did not get up until 7:30. Cary likes to torture them by making them wait to open all their gifts. We let them look through their stockings which were crammed full of candy. (I don't know what Santa Claus was thinking) Then Cary made us a yummy breakfast which consisted of big, fat french toast, bacon, sausage, eggnog and orange juice. Then we let the kids start opening theirs gifts one by one.




These socks were Braeden's favorite gift.......hee hee. He had several high dollar items on his list like an mp3 player, guitar hero, and a BB gun, so we had to fill in with stuff like this.

Kate loves all things animal print. She got these pj's for Christmas and loved them!
Joshua's new obsession is star wars. He scored by getting several action figures and a star wars collector coin portfolio thing.

Kate's cherished tiger webkin.........
Braeden's mp3 player.....

Joshua loves to collect coins. A few years ago I started collecting all the state quarters for the boys in a quarter map and he loves looking at it. So, Cary ordered him a set of gold presidential quarters. He was very excited!!
The End!!
We love Christmas time and everything that goes with it. But in all of this "stuff" we know that we have truly been blessed. We are grateful for all that we have especially family and of course our Savior. We hope that all of our family and friends had a veryMerry Christmas!!

Fashion Forward or Fashion Victim?

This is how Kate came down to breakfast one morning. Notice the glasses are upside down and you can't see the whole outfit but she is wearing a Dora nightgown with red fleece pants underneath. Kate has her own distinctive style. She loves almost anything that is flashy and shiny, and she loves, loves, loves anything with an animal print. I have tried to sway her into a more classic or even a more cute 4 year old look, but she isn't buying it. It becomes a fight when I try to get her to wear what I want her to wear. So, I have decided it's not worth the arguing. Who cares if we go into Target and she's wearing a tiger print body suit and gold sequined flip flops? I have decided to swallow my pride and let her wear what she wants to and hope that she grows out of this stage soon!

A Few Days Later......

I had planned on taking pictures of the kids for our Christmas Card this weekend. I guess that won't be happening.............or maybe some concealer will cover the nice purplish hue left by the fall he took. Ugh!

Ouch!

Joshua was playing on the computer yesterday and was not sitting in the chair properly. He didn't have all four legs of the chair on the ground. I have told him numerous times that he will fall out of the chair and get hurt if he doesn't sit right in the chair. Well, it happened yesterday. The chair slipped and he hit his eye on the desk. It swelled up immedialtey. Hopefully he learned his lesson.

Joshua's Very Happy Birthday

We let our kids have a big birthday party with friends every other year. This was the year for a big party for Josh, but he decided he just wanted a family party. There were only two friends that he wanted to invite anyway and he knew that if mom and dad bought the gifts that he would get what he really wanted. Smart kid! Joshua had a very good birthday!!

Look who's 7!!!

Only 26 days...........

The countdown to Christmas has begun at our house. We put the tree up on Sunday and decorated on Monday. The stockings and garland are up and we are anxiously awaiting a visit from good old St. Nick. I love this time of year!!

Braeden's Favorite Past Time

Braeden's favorite thing to do is to play football. It use to be soccer, but I noticed over the last year or so that football has inched it's way in front of soccer. Every free moment he has he wants to be playing football. If he is in the house he is almost never without a football in his hands. (which can be dangerous) He loves to tackle, run, pass, kick, punt...............it doesn't matter he just wants to play the game. He has played soccer since he was 4 and is very good at it but this next year he wants to try football. This make me nervous. I think he is still too little, but I see how much he loves it. I keep trying to convince him to wait until he is in Jr. High at least, but I don't know if that is going to happen. He says that he is going to go to the University of Texas and play football and then he is going into the NFL.........every boys dream. I keep telling him when this happens that he is going to have to take care his father and I.

Thanksgiving Day 2007

Josh and Kate coloring with cousin Sophia

Kate and Grandpa Martin

Grandma and Grandpa Martin

Kate, Josh, Braeden, Sophia, and Aunt Becka

Cary mashing potatoes

We had a really layed back Thanksgiving. My parents and my sister Becka and her family came to our house. We ate and ate and ate. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, football games, we rented Hairspray, and looked through the black Friday ads. It was a really great day!!

1st Grade Thanksgiving Feast

I haven't been in the blogging mood lately so I am behind on some posts. This was Joshua's Thanksgiving Feast at school. They did a little play and Josh was the turkey. I wish I would of had my video camera. It was so cute. They ate the regular feast items: turkey and ham slices, popcorn, crackers, bugles, pumpkin pie, apples, candy corn, and lots of other stuff. Joshua was most excited about getting to leave school early and come home with me.

We Love our Soldiers!!!

Our primary put together an activity for the kids to make Christmas packages for the soldiers serving in Iraq. It was an awesome activity. Bro. Gaume came in his army fatigues and talked to the kids about what he does and what it was like in Iraq. The kids were able to ask questions and got to see the the kind of food that they eat as soldiers. The kids then wrote letters, made little Christmas trees, signed banners, and put together small stockings. We are sooooo very grateful to all the men and women who are serving our country no matter where they are serving!!!! Thank you for your sacrifice and dedication! We love you!!