Christmas Eve

We had an interesting Christmas this year.

With a nasty flu bug leading us into the weekend.

I got it on Wednesday night/am. Cayden got it Thursday night/am.

Then Justyn had a mini version on Christmas Eve.

Needless to say, we had to miss the Christmas Eve candlelight service

(which was a total bummer).

But we still managed to have some fun, and on Christmas Eve let the kids each open a present (which ended up being the Wii and come extra controllers etc)

Aren't they festive!!

sweet neighbor

We have the best neighbors EVER! (yes, I yelled, they are that awesome) We are surrounded by wonderful neighbors, they plow our driveway when we are gone, (or when I'm home alone with the kids), they are always friendly & come over to visit. They love the kids and humor them & their shenanagans.

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and Kim, she lives next door. The kids have kind of "adopted" her as their fill in Grandma. When we're in the backyard playing & she comes out, they run to the fence to tell her stories & see what she's up to. She's always chats with them & listens & even comes over to play sometimes. It's hard in the winter though since we don't go outside as much, it feels like we don't really get to see her.

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We love her.

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She has even babysat for us a few times & the boys just go bonkers knowing she's coming.

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Anywho, this last week we all battled the flu, and on Thursday morning (flu hangover for me) there was a knock at the door, so I went to answer it & there stood Kim, with a fruit basket & a Christmas puppy for Sidney (which according to Kim was because "she can't eat the fruit") It totally made our day. I'm just so thankful that we've been blessed with wonderful caring neighbors!!

Oh & the fruit was super yummy too!!

GO EAGLES!

Our little Eagles Fans!

Grandma Meme take 2

We were blessed with a special visit from Great Grandma Meme (my dad's mom). Grammie & Papa had taken her to see her sister Margie. They had stopped to see my sister Steph & her family on the way & then came to our place after Margie's. Some of Grandma Meme's things on her list of things to do (on top of printing her book entitled "Amanda's gatherings from here, there & everywhere" which will include bible verses, short stories, cleaning tips etc)

Gotta love it.

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We LOVED having them stay at our place.

Grandma has always been big into games and competative. We started out the night by playing sequence. Grandma had never played it before but was pretty quick....but she cheats....sneaky lady.

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Of course Papa & I won!! TEEHEE

Grandma had wanted to hold Sidney all weekend, but it had been busy etc. So finally on Monday night we sat down & took some pictures. She was nervous she wouldn't be able to hold her, but she did great & Sidney LOVED her!!

Then we had all the kids get in for a picture with Grandma Meme.
They call her Grandma Meme because when Cayden was a baby, whenever we'd come visit she'd sing "Jesus loves the little ones like me, me me" and he called her the "meme" grandma.
It just stuck!!
Here they are!! I love these people!!

Then we had to get one of 4 generations. Grandma Meme, my dad, me and the kids!


I also wanted a picture of My family with Grandma.
She leans HARD to the left, so she asked me to "hold her up" for the pictures.
She's so stink'n cute!!
(I'm lol'ing at Prestyn..ever the silly boy)

We put the kids to bed & it was GAME ON with Mexian Train.
Grandma is rugged when it come to games/rules etc.
At one point we were debating the rules & she looked at me and said "DUH!!!"
I had to look away I was laughing so hard I was crying.
She's still got that spunk....she makes me laugh.

All that "game face" and when the camera busted out she was all smiles!

They left Tuesday morning & she was singing all the songs she always sings to the boys, to Sidney. Sidney LOVED it, but she DIDN'T love the mushy banana Grandma was trying to feed her. SMART GIRL, SMART GIRL!!

My angel!

The boys had been bugging Grandma Meme all weekend to come downstairs to see their Christmas tree, but there was always something else going on, and it'd take about an hour for her to get downstairs with how hard it is for her to get around.

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So my ever amazing & awesome hubbs offered to give her a piggy back ride downstairs, complete with "tour" of the basement.

To my amazement, she agreed.

It was a bit scary when she first climbed on, but by the time they were down the first flight of stairs we were all laughing.

HOW FUNNY IS THIS!!

She was giggling the entire time & LOVED that Justyn would do that for her.

Actually it brings tears to my eyes, just seeing my husband, his selflessness, his compassion, I love that he LOVES my family, and that he takes care of everyone. I think he made her day.

I love that we got to have Grandma at our house, I don't know that it will ever happen again, so I savor those moments, and document them with pictures & stories, so my children will always remember!

Cayden's Preschool Christmas Program

My "baby" is in preschool.

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Yep, I said it.

Somehow my once sweet little baby is now in preschool, and he had his first preschool Christmas Program.

He did fabulously.

He kept spotting us & giving us the "thumbs up" and waving! He even looked at me & did the "i'm watching you" with the hands move. He makes me LAUGH!

Cayden did a PERFECT job of saying his 8 lines for the program. I was so proud of him.

Then the kids were surprised with a visit from Santa & Mrs. Clause.

Santa brought treats for each of the kids! Here's Cayden getting his gift.

Grandma Meme take 1

Here is what Grandma Meme is always like, telling the kids a story or singing them a bible song! I LOVE IT!

This is how Grammie & Papa always are...on the floor, with the kids, loving them up & playing with them!

Sidney LOVED Papa's beard & whenever he held her/was close to her, she was feeling it!!
So funny!
Sidney being filled with stories from Grammie & Grandma Meme!

MEETING SANTA!

We took the kids downtown for the holiday walk-around.

It was so fun to get to do it together as a family.

Justyn & I were talking about how fun it is, and how it'll be fun too when ALL the kids can walk on their own etc.

The boys got a kick out of all the food sampling etc. going on.
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We saw Santa being pulled by some horses on a sleigh, so we all hopped on for a ride.

IT WAS COLD.

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Then we went down to city hall so they could have their picture with Santa.

Cayden told Santa everything he wanted for Christmas!

Prestyn just said "bye Santa"

Sidney slept through it all!!