My Christmas

Just a few pics of my Christmas day . . . me, my mom and my grandma, and 2 of the many great gifts I got  :)

Christmas Morning

Here are some pics from our Christmas morning.  I love that the boys were appreciative and have been enjoying playing with everything they got. 

Ready for Christmas

Danny was so excited to put up our Christmas tree this year.  He was such a good helper.  He thought that since the tree was up that meant we got presents the next day.  No wonder he was so excited!

Here is Danny hugging the tree

the boys and the tree

Danny showing me his favorite train ornament

One of our Nativity scenes

Snow globes

Our Christmas book basket.  The boys love being able to unwrap a book each night.  I was excited to find the number wrapping paper!

Christmas

We had our Christmas in our new little apartment and it was wonderful!

and here are some pics from of our other family parties

Merry Christmas

The boys had their primary Christmas party today.  They had a great time, despite the sad look on Danny's face!  Austin asked for a telescope.  It is "all he wants in the world for Christmas".  Luckily I've got that covered thanks to Craig's list (ssshhhhh, don't tell!).  Danny asked for candy.  He is pretty easy to please!

Santa Parade

The boys and I got to do an amazing thing this week.  We got to ride along with the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, as they did their 47th annual Santa Parade.  They decorate one of the engines with Christmas lights and a sleigh complete with reindeer for Santa to ride and then drive through the neighborhoods with lights, sirens, horns, the works, collecting canned food, toys for tots and letters for Santa.  They have elves that pass out candy canes, and even the Grinch, who tries to steal them back!  My dad drove one of the engines and he reserved the 3 extra seats for us to ride with him.  I knew Danny would not last the whole time, so Taska and Tyler came along too, and we got to have the 2 little ones go on the first leg of the ride and then Taska and Austin got to ride for the rest.  The kids had such a wonderful time.  They got to wave and shout Christmas greeting out the windows.  Danny wanted to go up to peoples doors and go trick or treating!  It was funny to listen to Austin figure out how to work a manual window.  It warmed my heart when Austin turned to me and said how this experience gave his heart a warm feeling!

I was in a rush to get out the door that night.  I was so happy that I remembered my camera and good flash but then I realized that I had forgotten to put new batteries in the flash and to switch out my lens, so the pictures are not all that I know they could have been.  Ah, such is life!  I am still thrilled we got to be a part of the Santa Parade!

The kids got Christmas bears from Mrs. Clause

Tyler was sound asleep by the end of the first stretch - so cute!

 Danny did not want to get off!

 The kids, glowing in the light of their safety necklaces

 Austin loved shouting out to the crowds.  He was hoarse by the end of the night!

 The Santa engine

 Austin and Taska at the back of E-287, which was our engine for the evening.

Christmas Day

After Christmas Morning we packed up and headed home to be with Bryce the rest of the day!  When we got home Bryce told the kids that their room was a big mess and they needed to clean it up right away!  When they got upstairs, this is what they found:

A huge blow up, roll around in ball, that fills up with balls, the perfect gift for our 2 very active boys!  As soon as Austin saw it he hollered "Incoming!" and dove right in!

Bryce also surprised me with a nice, clean house, and he had borrowed a small tree from his Dad so we would have a tree!

 

I finally finished Danny's stocking this year!

He really spoiled the boys this year!  Danny got a Wall-E.  I think the look on his face tells just how much he loves it!

Austin got another Transformer:

And a Storm Trooper helmet and gun:

And a book to put his baseball cards in:

And for all the boys he got a Police Chase Slot Car Race Track.

Guess which car Bryce races?

Christmas Morning

We spent Christmas morning up at my mom and dad's because Bryce had to work Christmas eve and would be sleeping all morning.  It made for a great morning, to be surrounded by family and happy little ones.  My dad made us french toast for breakfast which was such a treat! 

I think Austin's favorite gift of the morning was his new automatic toothbrush.  He calls it his "animated" toothbrush!

Danny's favorite was definitely his new train!

Reading their new books:

Gypsy's first Christmas!

Playing the Melody Harp with Oma and Great Grandma:

Twas the Week Before Christmas . . .

 . . . and we had a wonderful week up at my moms!

We had our family party early, because Jenessa and Laith were headed out to Tennnesse.  Grandma made fleece blankets for the kids and they were a big hit!

Gypsy was such a good girl and enjoyed getting to play all the time with the cousins and other puppies.

Gracie and her ever-present OomBa (bear).  She is such a sweetheart!

  Austin got a pirate hat decorating kit.  He shared it with his cousins, and they had so much fun.  The colored all their blades red so they would look bloody!  Here they are giving me their best pirate faces:

  A Christmas dinner with my Grandad and GoGo:

Getting ready to decorate cookies for Santa: 

Austin and his cookies: 

grrrrrr - don't touch my cookie!

  Finishing up the cookie decorating process:

  Watching the Polar Express in 3D

  Christmas Carol singing: