Christmas 2011

We had another fabulous Christmas with family and friends...I just love this time of year:) Callie had a pretty bad cold - but we managed to make it thru all the parties and festivities! Max was very excited about all his gifts, but Callie (4 mo.) is still a little young to open her gifts.  Here are a few photos from Christmas 2011:

    My little sweetheart in her new winter coat and hat...

     My niece, AunaRay, in her Mrs. Claus outfit...

      Christmas eve at Uncle Clay's new house...

     My grandpa Raber opening his dirty Santa gift...

                 Our house on Christmas eve....

               Max opening gifts on Christmas morning...

        Callie with her gifts on Christmas morning...

     Max and his Uncle Cole figuring out one of his gifts...

   My mom and dad on Christmas morning....

    The new babies with their mommies and their great grandparents...

      Callie on Christmas night with her great grandpa Paulus....

Tonight is New Year's Eve and we are having a little get together with food and sparkling grape juice:) I will get to ring in the new year with my hubby and my two sweet kiddos...which is more than I could ever ask for!! Thank you God for our blessings this year, we appreciate each and every one! Happy New Year everyone!!

School Christmas party!

Last week I was lucky enough to visit Max at school and help with his kindergarten Christmas party! I loved getting to see him in the classroom environment, interacting with the other kids...when I got there they were playing a Christmas themed charades game - so cute!! 
Then it was time for presents - poor Mrs. Wagler had been driven CRAZY about the presents all day long by the whole class!! Max was super excited to receive a remote control motorcycle...

After presents the kids ate their snacks, and before we knew it - it was time to head home! 

Max absolutely LOVES school, his teacher, and all his classmates! I'm so proud of how well he has done this year...and now it's time for Christmas break! 

Christmas season...

December is CRAZY...and I love it!!! Everyone in our house has had both the stomach flu and the cold flu...the kids have sat on Santa's lap...we've watched Uncle Clay coach the JV Cougars several times...my cousin had her baby girl and named her Gracie...we decorated for Christmas and attended several parties...and tomorrow I get to visit Max's kindergarten class to help during his Christmas party!!

                     Gabe's Grandpa and Grandma Paulus with all the new babies in the family!!

My little girl in her Santa gear...

My two sweethearts...

Santa time:)

Smiling beauty!!

Chas with sweet baby Gracie!!

Callie with Great Grandpa Paulus...

and Great Grandpa Raber...

Max with his cousin Lincoln

What a silly crew! Callie, my mom, Hannah, and Max...

What I want most is to be able to convey the true WONDER of this Christmas season. To make sure my children understand the significance of this tiny baby being born who would change everything for you and me...who would bring us HOPE and ensure our eternity. I've really been downplaying the whole Santa thing - not that I think it's bad or anything...I just want Santa to pale in comparison to what Christmas is really about!! Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Sickly...

I'm sick. 
Ughhh....
The stomach flu is making the rounds at our house and it's my turn to step up to the plate. 


Christmas decorating and shopping are in full swing, and I only have a few more gifts to purchase until I'm completely done! I did almost all my shopping online this year - and it was SO EASY!! I love to look and look for the perfect present for everyone I love - this time of year is just so joyful:)! Getting my nativity scene out each year is one of the most special moments - and I love talking about Jesus's birthday with Max!! Soon we will get to teach Callie all about it!


We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving with family - I have more to be thankful for then I could ever mention, but we really spent the holiday being thankful and enjoying each other and extended family. This was one of the first years that our holiday dinners were pretty spread out, so we had time to relax and enjoy each party/dinner. It was sooooo nice! 


Here are a few photos from November - I know I'm so behind on blogging so this might take awhile:)!


                                  Max and Callie

                 
                  Callie all decked our for her first Thanksgiving

 

Max celebrating his birthday with the Beasley family 

(with his great-uncle Jeff & great-aunt Peg)

 Beasley babies - Me with Callie, Jessica with Dailee, and Chas is due with baby Gracie in a couple of days!!

 Callie with her cousin AunaRay Wagler (Alicia & Derek's daughter)

December is here - hope everyone is having a wonderful time getting geared up for Christmas!