MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

What a fun weekend we had with family. We got lucky because
Joe's family decided to celebrate Christmas eve on Sunday which
is nice because usually we're juggling to make it to both families.
We played games and had a nice dinner.


"Real Christmas eve" Monday 12/24
This is all my neices and nephews and of course my two kids.
Aren't they cute? Little baby jesus is a girl here, but you really
can't tell. Macy is standing far left and Brady far right.
My angel and shepard!

If only she could be an "angel" all the time!!
I thought he would hate putting this costume on. It was funny
because he thought it was pretty neat. I think just because
everyone else was doing it.
This was after dinner at my moms house. She always has a
stocking full of little goodies and presents at the dinner table
so the kids were enjoying those!

My mom got the kids motorized morticycles!! They loved them.
I'm still trying to teach them how to ride them. They can't quite
figure out how to push the lever down with their feet. I can't wait
for summer, they will have so much fun on those things outside!
Christmas Day! 12/25/07
This is where my long story comes in. Brace yourself!
We have stayed at my moms house on Christmas eve ever since
Joe and I got married. Last year I told him it would be the last year,
but I was totally just saying that so he would stay another year. Well,
he took me serious and said that there was no way we would stay
there this year. I begged and begged the last 3 months or so and of
course so did my family. He stood his ground. I was trying to get
used to the idea of just being alone with my family on Christmas day.
I knew it would be weird, especially since my kids don't quite
understand the whole "santa" aspect. I was bummed. My brother
stays with my parents too and they have 5 kids who get so excited
and I would miss that. Finally for whatever reason (he loves me)
Joe came around and I could tell he was thinking about the
possibility.I promised a few "favors" if you know what I mean and
he agreed to stay!! So, we had a great time with dinner, the
program, etc. We put the kids to bed around 9:00 and played
some games and chatted. About 11:30 we decided to get the
presents out. All the sudden I heard Macy crying. I had put them
in my parents office and my dad went it to get some presents out.
I went in to check on her and of course Brady woke up and they
both wanted held. So, I picked them up and took them out to the
living room where we held them for a bit. After laying them down
10 minutes later or so, I finally got to bed about 12:30. 1/2 hour
later Macy woke up crying again! I went in to get her and brought
her in bed with me. Then she was just talking and playing. I finally
layed her back down and went to bed. I fell asleep, luckily. I had
a migraine for the last two hours and they are very hard to go away
so I was getting a little worried. I felt like I slept for quite a while and
then I heard Macy yelling "Mommy!" over and over. Oh man. I went
out to get her and it was only 3:00! Needless to say I made a bed
on the floor in my room and layed next to her until 5:45 listening
to her point out all my facial parts, talk to herself, play with my
hair, etc. My brothers kids usually get up about 7:00 so I thought
okay I have an hour to sleep. Just as I was about to sleep I heard
all these little footsteps outside my door. They were up and it
was 6:00! I got 2 hours of sleep. I couldn't complain to Joe because
he already said the second time Macy got up, "just remember this
was your idea". It was a good time to end this tradition! Of course
I still had fun though. I just slept the whole way home and about
2 hours in between going out to Joe's parents. He let me have a
good nap thankfully. The kids (Macy) was dead tired too. I tried
to nudge her several times to come open presents but she was out.
Joe got up about 7:00 and we did our gifts with everyone else. Joe
made his special french toast for everyone and my kids woke up
about 9:00 and I got them dressed and we all watched them open
their presents. I know you're tired of reading. I'm tired of posting.
Thus, the picture of my kids and their santa gifts. My sister-in-law
said it was the first time she'd ever seen two kids dressed and all
ready to go when opening presents on Chistmas!
Brady's santa present was supposed to be a race car track, but
santa was too tired to put it together! He loves that vacuum
though. It actually works! Macy liked her doll okay, but I didn't
have batteries for it at my moms. Now that we have it home she
can't get enough. It cries, says tons of different things and now she
thinks she's the baby's "mommy" and everytime she cries she picks
it up and cradles her. It's the cutest thing. I'll make sure to post a
video on that one!
Oh, my handsome prince(cess). These were some shoes I got for
Macy and of course he was the first to try them on!


We ended up at Dille's where Brady got a cookie monster
that when you pushed the tummy in it laughs and falls over
and rolls over and then stands back up. The whole time talking
and laughing in the cookie monster voice. Brady was a little
frieked out by it for a while. Now that he knows it's not really
scary, he likes it.
I found them downstairs all by themselves playing a little game. I'm
thankful they are such good friends!