Football Party

For Colt's 2nd birthday, we tried to have a fun-filled day even though we were still worn out from Christmas. He is finally old enough to be excited for a party and presents and the whole 9 yards. The girls and I took him to McDonald's for lunch and a Happy Meal and then Jason took his (long) lunch break so we could see the movie 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' together. Colt loved it. Anytime he sees a movie theatre now he starts chanting, "Movie! Birthday! Movie! Birthday!" This year, with a little help from his sisters, Colt wanted to have a "Football Party!" I made a football cake (that Colt helped himself to and almost destroyed before it was decorated), the girls picked out some sport decorations, and then they decorated the living room with every ball we own.

Colt shares his birthday with my dad so we did a combo birthday party. I tried to make my dad his own little cake with the parts I cut out of the football cake- but it ended up looking like a mud pie. At least he had a candle to blow out. :)

Colt got spoiled again this year. He got clothes and toys and his big gift was a new Radio Flyer trike. He would not even get off of his trike to eat cake and ice cream until the party was over. We bought a trike with a handle on the back so that I could push him around outside once spring comes- but Colt has already mastered the trike by practicing around the loop in our house. He is going to be fast once we turn him loose. (I didn't get any pictures of the trike because I was video taping- oops)

(opening presents and pointing his toy gun at Uncle Brian)

Happy Birthday Colt!

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. The kids were all old enough to be really excited but little enough to sleep until after 7. We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma Cindy's and Grandpa Kelly's with my side of the family where we had a fabulous prime rib dinner. Then we had a cousin gift exchange, sang songs, read the true Christmas story, and watched a little Christmas movie on TV. Then we ran home and tried to get the kids ready for bed as quick as we could, set out rice krispie treats for Santa (we heard he had too many cookies) and oats and carrots for the reindeer, so Santa's helpers could get to work!

The girls walked through the living room with all the gifts on their way to wake us up so I was very disappointed that I didn't get the excitement and looks on their faces on camera or video tape. Next year Jason and I might have to camp out under the tree. :)

As always, our kids got way too much stuff! Here is Hallee with her loot- Barbie house and Cinderella Barbie from Santa. Toys, clothes and pajamas, and watch bands from Mom and Dad.

Jadyn got a Barbie house and Sleeping Beauty Barbie from Santa, clothes, pajamas, slippers, and toys from Mom and Dad.

This is Colt's mad face. I made him stop playing with his Geo-trax race track from Santa to get a picture. :) Colt also got clothes, pajamas and toys from Mom & Dad.

This is exactly where you could find Colt all day on Christmas- remote controller in hand next to his track. Before Christmas he kept telling us he wanted a horse. He told EVERYONE he wanted a horse. Family and friends were trying to convince us that he needed a horse. He didn't mention the word 'horse' one time on Christmas. Just for the record- race track trumps horse!

Jason got some clothes and a Garmin GPS from me and the kids. I got snow boots, a new purse, watchbands, shirt, and a tanning package- plus the kids picked me out a bright pink scarf all by themselves. The kids also got sleds from Aunt Kelsey and Uncle Marc (they were fabulous on New Years day), blankets from Grandpa Randy and Grandma Dawn, and Princess Barbies for the girls and a Dump truck and Gorilla for Colt from Grandpa Virgil and Anna, CDs from Aunt Tracy and Uncle Brian for the girls and a baseball mitt for Colt. Too much- but we loved all of it!

Then we headed back over to my parents for more presents and a LATE breakfast. We were starving by the time we opened gifts and got over there.

Colt kept carrying around Jason's big gift. He got a new putter from my parents.

Colt got football geat from my parents. He loves watching football and tells me he is going to be a football player. He IS going to be one for Halloween. GO MICHIGAN!!

Jadyn and Hallee got art sets and coloring books. They are constantly coloring!

I got more pieces to my Willow Tree Nativity set, new non-stick pans, pajamas, and an argyle sweater. Somehow, there are no pictures of me.

Even though this is a month late, we hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too!

My two favorite boys!

Christmas Sunday

The kids were all dressed up and adorable on Christmas Sunday- but my camera ran out of batteries and I couldn't find the charger- so we only got this one picture. Luckily, Grandpa Virgil and Anna came to visit after church and they took a bunch of cute pictures of our kids (that I have only in prints and not on the computer so this is all I can post). Colt is wearing his first white button up shirt that made him look like a little man. The girls loved their new dresses because they are 'so long' as Hallee would say. All in all it was a great Christmas Sunday....but then Jason and I had to speak in church the next week (2 days after Christmas) and that wasn't so great!

Hallee's Christmas Concert

Hallee had her first concert this year in kindergarten. Hallee is one of the youngest and littlest in her class and so she ended up on the front row. All 3 kindergarten classes sang 3 songs together (all were very unfamiliar to me). She is wearing a snowflake necklace for actions they did with the songs. We got a good laugh out of the kids. Some were so wild and cute- others were so nervous and shy- like Hallee. Colt and Jadyn loved seeing her up on the stage and Colt couldn't keep quiet about it during the performance. We were so proud of Hallee- now just to get over a little stage fright....