Christmas Wrap Up

We started off Christmas Eve with a little breakfast at my sister's house. This is another of our traditions. There was lots to eat including red velvet pancakes!

 Then it was time to open more presents!

 Camden got Aunt Anga something so special...a Cat that Bentley had actually chewed on. It was special because Camden really wanted her to have it and he wrapped it himself.

 

Then we were off to Uncle Mark's to open even more presents!

"You will shoot your eye out!"

My Mom got a tennis racket or maybe it was a frying pan!

Mark's very beautiful tree!

On Sunday we had my family gathering with more gifts and tons of great food! PaPa got Camden this really nice tractor! He was excited about this, it just doesn't show on his face. Most of his Christmas pictures were a sad face. I think he was just overwhelmed by the whole experience!

PaPa and his Mini Me!

Here are the grandparents with a bus load of grand kids. So thankful for such a large family!

Our final vacation day was spent shopping and obviously Camden couldn't hang. He has never been a good shopper! Ha. He needs more training!! Don't worry, after I snapped the picture we fixed him. He was one tired little boy!

Christmas with Mom

We celebrated with Tim's mom on Saturday. We had some more awesome food and opened some gifts. I don't know why I didn't get any pictures of the food. I guess I was hungry!! After chowing down we got busy opening gifts! Uncle Chris assisted Camden in opening his gifts. He even modeled the underwear for him! Ha!

There is always a relative that has to put a garbage bag over his head! Kids don't try this at home! 

And what is Christmas without a little melt down??

Mom liked all of her gifts. She got some really special things!

 Justin and Camden got creative!

Then it was time for the Domino tournament! It's a tradition!

Do not let Craig fool you! He is a wizard at this game and just loves to play it anytime family is around. 

 We had such a great time and it was so good to see everyone. We missed all of the ones that couldn't be with us!

Santa Came To Town

First we had to get ready. Santa needed some fudge and the Reindeer could use a little celery leaves. We like to try new things each year! Santa was probably tired of the same old cookies and Reindeer  do eat vegetation right?

Does that say Reinbeer? Next we have to see if we are on the Nice list?

Lets play!!

Then it was a mad dash to get ready for church.

 After church we made another mad dash to Uncle Sid's for the traditional Christmas Day lunch. It consists of some awesome Chicken Dumplings, Pinto Beans and homemade slaw. You can't get any better that!

 There was a whole lot of this going on!

 

 There is always the best Christmas movie of all time playing!

 It was such a fun day visiting with lots of family members and going to the special service at church. Also everyone was asking about Tim and my cousin, David, even told me that he put Tim on the prayer list at his church. The visit from the Big Red guy was pretty awesome too for a certain little boy!

All Aboard

Camden decided that we should have a Polar Express Party. He made each of us a ticket, even the cat. However, she didn't want to come. We had so much fun. That was like my 20th time to watch it.  Definitely a favorite, well besides Twilight!! Big smile!! First we had to have some Hot Chocolate and some cookies. Side note: Kids should not make cookies when they don't know how to turn on the oven! We quickly remedied this and preheated the oven for them!

Delicious!

Now let's get our tickets and get ready to watch the movie!! (In our pajamas no doubt.) What a fun memory!

JOY

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room!"

~ Isaac Watts

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

We are just hanging around waiting for Santa to come see us one more time! It is so nice of him to come see Camden at home and Grandmas too! Santa has always been so thoughtful like that!

We hope everyone's wishes come true for Christmas! We miss you Daddy!!!

Just for my memory, Camden will be getting his two front teeth for Christmas!!!

Upside Down

You know the holidays can make you feel like this sometimes, but we are so thankful for family and friends to share all of the excitement with! I feel so rushed and exhausted but it is all worth the memories! Getting to see Christmas thru a child's eyes is the best. Camden found a tiny scrap of paper on the floor last year and thought it was from "Santa's dress". He smelled the chair at the table where Santa's cookies had been and said it smelled like Santa! It was just magical.

Then there are the thousands of toys to play with!

 And of course the beautiful Christmas cards! We received one card from a friend that read: "Wise men came with the treasures of earth in their hands...and left with the Treasure of Heaven in their Hearts." I loved that! Here is a special card from MawMaw just for Camden.

Christmas Cookies

We can't have Christmas without some sugar cookies!! These are some monogram cookies that I put together for my best work friends! The cookies were easy, but the decorating part was extremely tedious. Good thing I had an awesome little elf to help me!

Another Christmas tradition to check off!

So Sweet

This is the special afghan that Grandma made for Camden last year. I am sure that he will treasure it always!

 Camden told me, "When cows lick you, they give you nutrients!" I asked where he learned this and he said from his science book. I think I will pass on a cow lick!

Camden's prayer the other night included, "Lord thank you for my beautiful mother and my handsome father!" He just melts my heart sometimes!!

Then there was Sunday morning when I had a very nice outfit for him to wear. He said, "Do you expect me to wear this? I look like I am going to an ugly contest!" So sweet that child of mine.

  

Christmas Around The World

Daddy has been very busy bringing some Christmas Spirit to the desert. You can make a Christmas Tree out of anything! This is even better than our Charlie Brown Tree! Ha! Camden and I want to wish Daddy and all of the troops a very Merry Christmas! We are thinking about all of you and wish that you could be with your families on this most special holiday! (Especially Daddy!!)

Camden also got to do some decorating. I think it runs in the family! He had to decorate a Gingerbread Man for school. He came in Second place because he didn't put any candy on his project. Oh well, it is First place to me!