Girls night

My sweet Annabella has been begging for a girls night for quite sometime now.  I asked her, "so what exactly does a girls night include?"  Her response: "Oh ya know, painting our nails, painting our faces (I think she was referring to a "mask" haha), watching movies, eating cookies, then sleeping on the floor next to each other and snuggling." haha  well there ya have it!  :)

She has never actually been to a movie theater so we decided what better to do on our girls night then to go to a real big screen.  Now don't let the back round fool you, we actually went to go see Tangled.  And she loved it!  Although my mom had to talk her through walking through the thresh-hold of the theater door.  As a general rule of thumb, she shys away from anything unknown..but she was a VERY big girl and when I asked her if she was excited about going in (while we were in line to get a ridiculously huge popcorn hehe)...she said.. "well..I will give it a try..."  :)

She DID give it a try and her reaction after sitting down..."This TV is GINORMOUS!!!" haha 

After we got home my mom gave her a pedicure and we had tea. :)

Oh yes and a manicure too. 

Lastly she was very keen on the idea of "painting our faces"! haha So we busted out the very un used tub of a "beauty mask"...and the results.... awesomeness.  and soft skin.  :)

 I had every intention of snuggling and falling asleep next to each other watching Toy Story but I went to the bath room and when I came back 2 minutes later...she was knocked out in her new cozy sleeping bag.  

No worries though, I'm sure this is just the first of MANY "girls nights" to come.  :)

Christmas day 2010

We had Christmas with Charlie's family a few days before Christmas and then had Christmas morning with just us.   It was the first year all the kids were super into it!  They loved getting presents...of course..BUT they also LOVED picking out presents for everyone else and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!  I think the best moment was when Annabella whispered to me before bed... "Mama, Christmas is not about Santa or presents...it's about Jesus!!"
So what if shes just repeating what i've told her a million times (haha), I think she also just might be getting it!  :)

 CHRISTMAS AT NANA AND GRANDPA'S HOUSE (charlie's parents)

 We got there around 8 am (kids still in their pjs, of course) and ready to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

 I like REALLY love them  :)

 Uncle Nick, Latham, Aunt Jaime, Addyson, Nana, Shadow( the big black dog),Grandpa,Ezekiel, me,Annabella,Charlie, Malachi

 Present time!

 Annabella LOVES her new doll!  She named her Sally Elizabeth!  When she opened it, she screamed.."She has curly hair..JUST LIKE ME!!"  :)

 The three boys (Latham, Malachi, and Ezekiel) all got to open a VERY big gift!!  hint**  It was a GIANT truck! hehe

 Nana keeps Annabella stylish 

 Grandpa got a new mandolin for Christmas (and Nana and Charlie already have one) so they all played Amazing Grace..don't forget to check out Annabella on the keys!  :)

 CHRISTMAS AT HOME SWEET HOME

 Annabella was up at 5:50 am whispering in my ear.. "mama, I know it's not light out yet, but can we get up a little early today?!"  she then muttered.." oh and I saw all the presents under the tree but there was nothing in the stockings.." haha  I had hoped I could get up before the kids and fill them, but apparently not! haha  

 Struggling to get to the bottom of his stocking

 The boys opening their gifts!

 Annabella got a new sleeping bag...she immediately wanted to pretend like she was sleeping in it..and very naturally I might add   :)

 Ezekiel had a very interesting way of opening his gifts.  We all thought he would be the one to rip them open like a wild man...but oh no, it took him like 5 minutes to open each gift.  He ripped off tiny little pieces at a time and when i would try to help him pull off bigger sections, he would freak out! haha

 Annabella thoroughly enjoyed her princess barbies and "birthday party" play set!  She is still waiting eagerly for her princess ballerina jewelry box.  It didn't quite make it in time for Christmas morning but my mom printed out a picture online and put it in a box for her to open. She was literally jumping around the room screaming, "YAYYYY, that is all I wanted...a BEAUTIFUL jewelry box!  i am sooo excited!!"  (those of you who really know her,know that I am NOT exaggerating! haha)  What will she do when it actually arrives??!!

Ezekiel finally getting an excuse to bang on something as loud as he can!  But I'm telling ya, that boys got rhythm!  

Malachi and his new most beloved toys!  He got a giant buzz and all the action figures from Toy Story 3.  He has not stopped playing with them!

I will say I am sad that Christmas is over...but as my kids say..."we can celebrate birthdays everyday even when it's not your birthday!"  :)  So here's to the next year of celebrating Jesus every day..even if it's not Christmas!  :)

Christmas festivities

 The last month has been a wonderful blur of cookies, hot cocoa, and giggling.

 Annabella's first time to the Nutcracker! 

 What a big girl

 We went to the park for a "Christmas fun day".  They had crafts, cookie decorating, santa,...you get the idea!  :)

 Oh and they also had a "candy cane hunt".  As you can see I'm in line with a bunch of 4-9 year olds getting ready for a neck to neck hunt for some candy! haha  Contrary to popular belief, I am just helping my little Malachi get some candy canes!  hehe

 All his treats!  

He had tons and there was a little boy who had gotten there late and I told Malachi that he should give him one.  He looked down at all his candy canes and then smiled and said, "he can have this one!"  (it was broken) haha   I began to give him a 5 minute speech about what Jesus would do and then realized I was loosing his attention to cookies and sugar...haha...so decided to drop it  :)

 Malachi with Santa.  We don't do Santa but I have told the kids all about St Nick and how he gave presents to kids that didn't have any so they think Santa is pretty cool..  although the ONLY reason Malachi is sitting there and smiling with Santa is because I told him he could get a candy cane afterwords.  haha

 Annabella did a little better.  Though when Santa asked if she wanted to sit on his lap she looked at him like he was crazy! hahaha  She then sat a foot or two away (I had to scoot her closer for the picture) and preceded to tell Santa.. ALL she wanted for Christmas was a ballerina jewelry box that has a beautiful ballerina dancing when you opened it up!   (and yes....she got one!)  :)

 Cookie making!!!

 He gets into it....  :)

 In the midst of cookie dough and colored icing everywhere this is where we find Ezekiel...covered in soot!  ahhh!  

 At our Christmas eve service they had a petting zoo..the kids went crazy, of course! 

 Annabella and one of her favorite little girls from church, Carlee

 I LOVEEEE them!

 

 Brothers...and a pink car  :)

 Christmas eve picture

 :))))))))))))))))))))))

Silly fun with Auntie!!

So....we've been busy having way too fun!  Now on to less fun things....packing.  *sighh* :)

Wine, cheese, and yummy sweets

I have this obsession with black and white parties at Christmas time...something about dressing up with my favorite people and exchanging ridiculously cheap gifts and laughing till we cry...it just seems right!  :)  So this years Black and White party consisted of wine, cheese, and lots of sugar...yummm!

Reading a story to my most favorite munchkins before the guests arrive

we. are. awesome.  :)

Loving my sister

Some of my most favorite ladies!  :)

Snuggling with my favorite Lauren!!!

Dancing the night away with my beautiful and amazing friend!!!

How I will miss you my sweet, sweet friend!!

White Elephant gift exchange..holding up our ever so tacky presents

Charlie's gift...to his disappointment, there was a lent roller inside  haha

Although Liz lucked out and scored a pineapple ha

good times 

I love Christmas  :)