Christmas Eve at my parents!

We went to my parents on Christmas Eve, as we do every year! There was a lot of (yummy)eating, a lot of gifts opened, and a lot of GUITAR HERO! We had such a great time, and did not get home until midnight!

One of Emma's many presents--barbie style salon. She also received the Barbie dream townhouse from mamaw and papaw!

Our little lady--posing for her daddy!

Gabe had been waiting for this one--Geotrax Airport! Mamaw and papaw got it for him!

He REALLY wanted it--can you tell? He's laying on the box!

Sweet boy!

My honey and I

Gabe was tuckered out--he fell asleep in the middle of the floor, during gift exchanging! Poor baby! I think he opened all of his presents first though. LOL.

My sister Robin, and Gabe after he woke up from his nap!

Me, my sister Tonya, Mom and my twin Jennifer

Me, Tonya and Mom

Emma with Aunt Tonya and Great Aunt Betty

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning!

What a wonderful Christmas we had! We are truly blessed--God has been so good to us this year! Santa brought a lot of goodies for Emma and Gabe, and they were soooooo excited when they came down the stairs Christmas morning! Perhaps the 4 wheelers caused the most excitement, although they were very happy with all of the presents!

Santa decided that Emma and Gabe needed their own "luggage" for future trips! My friend monogrammed them, which turned out absolutely adorable!!

Here is Emma emptying out her stocking!

On Christmas Eve, Emma wanted to sleep with her Santa hat on!

This is the piece of cookie that Santa did not eat, along with the letters Emma left for him!

The loot!

Pictures in front of the Christmas tree!

Christmas in the Country!

Saturday we had a family outing to Glendale! It was so much fun, and decorated so pretty for the Holidays. They also had free hot apple cider in all the stores, and on the street! It was so good, that I had to buy the mix to take home! The kids LOVED the train ride with Santa. And they were good sports about sitting in Santa's lap. Gabe hopped right onto his lap, which totally surprised both Mike and me. Emma was not too eager, but went ahead and posed for a picture. She knew that he wasn't the "real" Santa. She is so curious and asks so many questions! We have to be really careful what we say in front of her and how we answer her--I swear she's like a little grown up. So after we posed with Santa, we ate dinner at The Whistle Stop. It was such a good day--one that I will never forget! Enjoy our pictures!

Warming up in front of the fireplace!

They had an old train on display, and the kids loved playing in it!

Posing with Santa!

Gabe warmed his little hands in front of the fire!

After the train ride

One of the stores decorated for Christmas

He was so happy on the train--trains are his favorite thing!

Before the train ride started

Emma's Christmas Program!

Last Thursday was Emma's Christmas program, and it was wonderful! Kindergarteners and First Graders wore pajamas, and all students sang Christmas songs. It was very evident that they worked very hard on these songs--Emma has been singing them since October! Mrs. Mackey told me that they would sing "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" on the way to the playground and back.:) They knew all the words and sang their little hearts out! I LOVED it! After the program was over, they served refreshments in the cafeteria and Mrs. Mackey came over to talk to us. She told us how fabulous Emma is doing in school--she is especially impressed with her reading! And Mike's parents were there as well as my mom, and they loved hearing Emma's teacher talk about how wonderful their granddaughter is doing!

After the program was over, one of Emma's classmates gave flowers to each student in the class. Emma was so happy!

One of the songs they sang was "We wish you a Merry Christmas", and the teachers joined in. :)

She was looking for us, and smiled so big when she found us!

They did an awesome job!

Gabe's Preschool Christmas Program!!

Last night was Gabe's Preschool Christmas Program, and it was so adorable. His class made shirts using their handprints to make Christmas trees and they were adorable! The kids sang songs and I was amazed at how well the little ones did. They knew the words and were using their cute little hand motions! ADORABLE! I have always been, and continue to be amazed at the effort that this preschool puts into all of the programs for the parents. And not only the programs--Gabe brings home works of art that amaze me! Of course, so did Emma when she had Mrs. Michelle, which is why I have some of Emma's and Gabe's artwork from her class framed and hanging on my wall. I can't tell you how much this preschool has meant to me! I wouldn't trust my kids to go anywhere else for their preschool years! And wow, they do a wonderful job at getting the kids ready for Kindergarten! Below are some pictures (and a video) from the program.

Smiling for mommy!

Getting ready to sing!

He gave mommy a "thumbs up!"

Sweet boy!

Funny Stories...from the mouths of my babes!

My kids never cease to amaze me, and always make me laugh! For instance...

Emma has her own little pink Christmas tree in her room. She has a nativity scene and a disney princess musical box that is shaped like a Christmas present--both sit under her tree. 2 nights a go, were were in her room getting ready for bed, and I noticed she had taken them from under the tree and placed them away from the tree, next to her armoire. When I asked her why, this is what she told me..."Mommy I don't want Santa to think that I already have presents! " We wouldn't want that, would we!

So her tree is 3 feet tall! She asked me last night, "How is Santa going to fit all of my presents under this little tree?" I told her, "Well, last year, Santa put all of the presents under the big tree downstairs." She looked at me, then said, "well, he might have to put a few under my tree, and then maybe the rest of them in my closet or something." So it looks like Santa will be delivering presents to rooms this year!

My sweet Gabe recites the following prayer, (which he learned at preschool):

"God is great, God is good, let us thank him for this day, and our food, Amen!" They recite this every day before eating their snack. Well, Gabe says it at home, often. We have him on video saying it, and I will post it soon! So yesterday morning, he was eating a Nutrigrain bar, and he told me, "Mommy, first I want to say my prayer." It was so sweet. But thinking about him saying Grace before eating his cereal bar makes me laugh! And when we sat down for dinner, he's the one that reminds us to say our prayer!

One of my favorite things about Christmas is watching the joy and wonder on Emma's and Gabe's faces--from the lights and music (we listen to the Peanuts' (Charlie Brown)Christmas CD every day in the van)--to Christmas morning when they wake up to see what Santa has left them. It's such a special time of year, and of course they enjoy getting presents. But this year, I wanted to show them what Christmas is all about--helping others! Sunday night, I took Emma to the mall, and we picked out 2 "angels" from the Angel tree. We picked out a 5 year old little girl and a 2 year old little boy. And although I know Gabe is too young to understand it yet, Emma is so excited to help me go shopping for the 2 children who aren't as blessed as she is! It feels so good to help others!