christmas eve 2011

Christmas celebrations began Christmas Eve over at Jason and Leslie's. This is where we celebrate Christmas with Keith's mom and stepdad. We all made some appetizers and headed over for the celebrations! I was very excited for the kids, but was definitely not feeling up to par myself. I get terrible...really terrible...sores in my mouth all the time. (Not just little canker sores) Don't know why, doctors (multiply doctors) don't know why, but they hurt so bad and make you just feel sick. Many people in my fam get them too...especially my aunt. I've even been hospitalized while having some of these due to being dehydrated. It is hard to explain to people and I don't think a lot of people get it. I hate it and it really limits what I can do...especially talking, eating, drinking. I was not in a great mood to go, but wanted to for the kids...with my lip that was doubled in size. :( I have some medicine I can put on them, but that only works so long. We had fun, and I know the kids did, but I was ready to just come home. :(

 I did snap some pictures...it hurt too bad to carry on a conversation too long.

 

 

 Tyler and Jackson

 Lil' Miss Thang walking around.

 She just walked around refusing to eat any dinner...stinker. :)

 He was really looking forward to eating his Santa cookie.

 Kaden with Erika...they were pals that night.

 While Pay-Pay refused dinner, she did manage to con some sweets out of Uncle Jason...

 ...and Grandpa!

 Grandkid pic...not the best...but some documentation at least. :)

 Big sis helping little sis.

 Took FOREVER for this!

 But she finally retrieved her prize.

 Sporting it with her cousin.

 Love the look on Darin and Jackson's faces...don't know who was more excited about this?!? Those Broady boys sure are good dads! ;)

 Addison tackling her presents.

 This was perfect since she loves to create!

 Boys and their Tonka trucks.

 

 He sure was lovin' these. Can't wait till summer when he can dig and put some dirt in there. :)

 

 Santa and his elf.

 

 Nana opening some gifts...so rare that I get any pics of her...she is not a fan of the camera. ;)

 I'm pretty sure he was loving his gift as well.

 I was ecstatic over my gift...a garbage can! And I'm not kidding! We have had this terrible garbage can for a couple years with a broken lid. I just had a really hard time justifying spending that much money on a garbage can of all things. I think Keith's mom knew that...and surprised me with one! I really love it!

 All of these quickly diminished and the kids just played with some of their new things.

We left from there to come home, put the kids to bed, set up some things in the living room and for Keith to get ready for work. All of that didn't happen before he had to leave...so it made for a long night for both of us. But...it was a Merry Christmas Eve! Just thankful to have my sweet little family...I'm so blessed.

i made fudge...

...for the very first time. I don't really know why I have never made it, but I decided to give it a try. Do you know how many different ways there are to make it?? Seriously...a lot. I chose an easy, fast method this year, but will definitely experiment more in the future. I saw some recipes with sweetened condensed milk and I'm just sure that would add some more creaminess to the already delectable dessert. :)

 inside of the wax paper before I cut it

 

 I had a little panel of people to 'help' me by sampling it. ;)

 

 She was a fan!

I made entirely too much...but plan on taking it to every family we will be visiting over the next few days. Yum!

a little anxious

That little comment I made in a prior post about Payton doing a good job not bothering the tree or presents is out the window! She has been ridiculous over them! Keith and I were in the family room having a conversation the other night while the kids were off playing. I THOUGHT it was just too quiet. We went off looking for Payton...she is normally the one doing something she shouldn't. Sure enough...

 ...completely tore open a present and was quite proud of herself! 

Keith told me to get the camera out for this one...of course I was on my way.

 

 Just lovin' that face.

After a small reprimand...very small because we were laughing so hard...she was up and off to play again. She is quite anxious for Christmas morning.

pizza, lights and presents!

Up until this week, we still had not ventured out to Charlestown for their amazing lights and I knew I wanted to. So...we made a night of it this week...very last minute I might add. Keith was actually in the middle of making dinner when we got the crazy idea to go that night. We wrapped it up and put it in the fridge to complete the next night. :)

We headed to Charlestown Pizza Company, right on the square, to eat.

 

 Silly

Prior to eating, the kids filled up on Root Beer...they never drink that! Soooo...when they do get something like that if we go out, they chug it. :) Not much eating, but a lot of drinking happened.

Then...it was on to the lights. Luckily it was a pretty warm night, so we didn't have to do much bundling up. We walked around and just let the kiddos explore it all. 

 

 striking a pose!

 armed with their blankets

 

 her expression when the little show began

 

 

 

 

 I pointed out the nativity scene to Adders...she named all the peeps, the gifts the kings brought, and what the angel/angels said when they appeared to the shepherds. I love teaching them!

 bundle of happiness

 He told me to take this one and then wanted to 'see' it on the back of the camera...a kid after my own heart! 

 

 And...just a smidgen of playground fun before we left. :)

 

On to the van we go...

From there, we headed to Eric and Chelsey's where the kids were able to open the first gifts of the season! There was pure excitement about this! I only captured a few pics...and not very exciting ones before my camera died! Guess I didn't plan for that one very well. It is fully charged for Christmas morning though. ;)