Christmas Morning! Our first as a family of 4!

READY for presents!!

Good Morning!

Trying to get a picture of them both-impossible!

She was a happy girl!

Love her expression! Cracks me up!

Opening his Lincoln Logs- the only thing he asked Santa for!

Best picture of the day! I can’t wait to show this to his girlfriend someday!

We had a great morning. We slept later than I figured. Stratton got us up around 8 am. Of course I had been up at 5 am feeding Arden and had gone back to sleep, so I was out of it! Jarrod had to wake me up so I could get the camera before Stratton tore into presents! He was so excited to see what Santa left him! This boy is so into anything about Cars (the movie character stuff) right now, and Santa hooked him up with all kinds of Cars stuff! He also left Stratton a letter, which he thought was so cool! And he got his Lincoln Logs! That was the first thing he wanted to play with! I love this age, Stratton is so excited about everything! He did tell me after opening several presents “Mommy, I’m just tired of opening presents”. Haha! I guess that’s a good thing! Stratton also got a Spiderman scooter and helmet, from us, which he loves he is also really into Spiderman right now. I think he likes the helmet more than the scooter, though! Arden just chilled in Jarrod’s lap while Stratton opened all his presents, then he helped open some of hers. Jarrod and I also had a good Christmas- I think we both did pretty good for each other this year! Sometimes it’s hard after being together for almost 12 years! I love Christmas so much and tried to enjoy each moment this year, especially our Christmas morning together as just us. But it seems like it all just goes by so fast and like always we are always rushing to get to our next stop as the Christmas events continue!

Christmas Eve

Monday, Dec. 24th

At Gigi and Pops house for presents and lunch. . .

Poor thing. He didn’t get any presents

Uncle Dillon and Aunt Brandye got him a new game. Gee thanks : )

Arden slept through most of it!

 

Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpa's house. . .

Wilson (Josh and LeeAnn’s son), Riley (Mark and Sarah’s daughter) and Stratton

 

Arden got passed around quite a bit!

 

Family picture

 

What cuties!!

Christmas with the Staggs

Saturday, Dec. 22nd

Branson Trip 2012

This was my 9th year to plan the Armor Seeds MAP conference in Branson! Crazy!! I just love Branson at Christmas time and I look forward to this meeting all year! The meeting was on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. I needed to go up Wednesday night so that I could be there first thing Thursday morning to make sure things were set up correctly and everyone’s presentations were up and running. . .ect. . . So, Arden and I rode up with my mom and dad on Wednesday. Jarrod had to work on Thursday so he and Stratton came up on Thursday evening. We had a great time. It was a little rushed and chaotic and my dad ended up getting a migraine, but other than that we had a good trip. We took Stratton to some shows and he loved it! Jarrod and Stratton met us at Branson Landing Thursday night and we ate at Texas Land and Cattle. Jarrod took him to a show Friday morning and then Friday after the meeting we headed to town to eat lunch at Mel’s and did a little shopping at the outlets (with both kids in tow and they were both really good!) We had dinner at Landry’s with my parents and let them take Arden back to the hotel with them then we went to the Haygoods. Stratton really loved that!! It’s a high energy show with lots of special effects, and (if you don’t know) the performers (all 6 of them in the show) are all brothers and one sister. They are younger, probably all under 30ish, and they do a great job. Saturday was Breakfast with Santa at the Chateau. And I couldn’t believe Stratton jumped right up on his lap and told him what he wanted! Santa was surprised to hear all he wants is Lincoln Logs! Out of the 200-250 kids he saw that morning I bet no other kid said they wanted Lincoln Logs! After that we went up to the room and took a short nap. Then Jarrod, my dad, Stratton and I went to the Dixie Stampede again while my mom stayed at the hotel with Arden. We went to the 3pm show so when it was over we went back to the hotel and got mom and Arden and headed down to Branson Landing and did a little shopping before ending the day with a trip to Coldstone Creamery. Then we got up Saturday morning and headed home. We only stopped once on the way home, at Mt Home to eat lunch and feed Arden. I started to feel sick to my stomach so once we got home Jarrod and Stratton went to church while Arden and I stayed home and I started on the mountains of laundry!

As usual I wish I had taken more pictures. But lugging my big camera around is so inconvenient and my small camera hadn’t been charged up and the battery went dead!  Here are a few I did get. . . 

Ready for Breakfast with Santa!

Here comes Santa!!

His shirt says “Willing to trade sister for presents” heehee

He wanted his pic taken with Santa by himself!

Stratton and Arden both did SO GREAT!!

Santa said “You want Lincoln Logs?!”

Santa rode in on this vintage fire truck, Stratton could have played on it all day.

Attempt to get a family picture. . .

In front of the horses at the DS

Thankfully, my parents get to go and are such a big help!! My mom and dad kept Arden in their room at night and Stratton slept on the pullout in our room. He did great, he didn’t get up once! But it was after 10pm before he got in bed every night! He slept till almost 8:30 on Sunday! That never happens!! Whew, It was a good trip but so busy! We were exhausted by the time we got home! Next year we will really have our hands full, I’m afraid!!

Pajama Party at Church

 

Whew! What a party! There was a bouncy house, lots of crafts, a Polar Express Movie theater, sugary snacks, hot chocolate station, reading of The Night Before Christmas and a visit from Santa!

I caught this while all the other kiddos were playing, here is Sutton (4) and Stratton (3) reading in the Santa chair! So sweet!

Arden (almost 3 months) and Sawyer (6 months)

At the craft table with Amy and Juliet

Aren’t their matching Jammies cute!

Stratton DID NOT want to sit in Santa’s lap. He didn’t really like Santa holding Arden either!

Just a few pics

The past week has been busy, we're getting ready for Christmas and preparing for our trip to Branson next week for the MAP conference.

Arden had an appointment with an audiologist this morning. They said she has fluid on her ears, but since she's so little there isn't much they can do. Especially since she is (hopefully) on the upside of her ear infection. We will go back in January for follow-up tests. Worst case senario if fluid remains on her ears for 3 months they will put tubes in. The Dr wasn't too worried she said most of the time the fluid drains out on it's own. We go back to her pediatrician on Friday for follow up from her sinus infection and ear infection. She is still really snotty and coughing so I am curious to hear what she thinks. This crazy weather doesn't help. We actually had to turn the air conditioner on last night! It was like springtime! Then today was nasty and rainy. I will be glad when winter gets here and stays here. My allergies are ready to hibernate!

Stratton got his own tree and decorated it by himself. He asked for one last week and we happened upon this one while shopping Saturday. It's in his room now and he is one happy little boy.

Sweet moment while watching Santa Paws 2. Glad I had my camera handy!

In other fun news, ASU is going to the GoDaddy.com bowl in Mobile on January 6th! We got our tickets yesterday! We are excited about going to the game. . . AND seeing the Graham's! It's going to be so fun!

Just some cute pictures

Arden has started chewing on her hands all the time! She is just smiling and grinning at us and has let out some squeals, but has yet to bust out a real laugh. She has also started noticing her feet and other objects and really started “reaching” for stuff. She has also started to really take an interest in snuggling one of her rattle dolls and/or a blanket right up close to her face. . .like some other kid I know! She is on the verge of rolling over, I try not to leave her on any raised surface unattended anymore. Gone are the days of leaving her laying on the changing table or couch while I turn my head. . .I already know how that can turn out from experience!

I took this Sunday night after church. We went to eat at Lazzari’s with the Jones family. I think they were playing Angry Birds. Stratton and Juliet could be siblings with their blonde hair and blue eyes! I hope they grow up to be great friends. . .heehee, like they have a choice?!