Christmas Eve - preparing for Santa

We let the kiddos leave a few notes for Santa this year...they worked very intently on them :)

Then we read our annual story, The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado. We discussed the true meaning of Christmas and the best gift God gave us all, his son, Jesus! We then prayed and tried to go to bed!

Crosby wasn't quite ready to go to sleep yet, so he stayed up with the grownups for a bit :)

Making Christmas Cookies

To keep the kids occupied on Thursday, Gigi decided we definitely needed to make cookies for Santa. This was a great activity and kept the kids entertained.

Gigi and Caden icing a few cookies.

Carter really was having fun, he just rarely smiles for pictures.
Cole definitely enjoyed the fruits of everyones labor.

The working crew...

Happy 4th Birthday Carter

I can't believe my 2nd born boy is 4 today! I think back to the Christmas and day of Carter's birth and just laugh...what was I thinking wanting to deliver the day after Christmas. Poor little kid :) But God knew just when this little guy would arrive and I am so glad! We love you bunches Carter-bob. You bring us such laughter with your quirkiness and imagination! I can't imagine my world without you!

First Days at home

My 4 year old Buzz :)

Happy Birthday Carter!

Fun on the Farm

While at home with my family for a week, we had to have some entertainment! Pops allowed our herd to come out for the day and help him feed some other herds. The kids had TONS of fun!

Cole had a BLAST talking to all the cows!

The kids helping Pops unwrap a bale of hay.

Caden and Pops in the truck...Caden got to honk the horn to call the cows to us!

Carter and Caden goofing around on the truck.

The lovelies we got to feed and chat with.

Pops let all 4 kids get in the tractor with him while he loaded up 4 more BIG round bales to take to other pastures.

Christmas Part 1

Last weekend we had Christmas with Cory's side of the family at our home. It was so fun to have all the kids stay the WHOLE weekend with us! They stayed up late each night and played all day...so great!

Cole loves to open presents.

Carter thought he hit the jackpot with two movies!
Caden is ready to aim and fire...lovely :)

Cole had to have a little help opening the packages, so he knew just who to go to for help! This boy LOVES his Papa!

Even Crosby got in on a little present action before he had to take a little nap. He looks so happy doesn't he :)

Crosby with Santa

Crosby missed out on the tradition of sitting on Santa's lap last week at Carter's program! He was already strapped in to go. So tonight at our OKDHS party we had the perfect opportunity! The other kids all went first, we got some food, and then Crosby got the chance to coo with Mr. C! He wasn't too sure at first, then the big guy started singing to him and Crosby was hooked! So cute!


He doesn't look all that thrilled but he was!

Visit with Santa

At the end of Carter's Christmas program the kiddos got to sit and chat with Santa. We all watched and nibbled on some cookies. I hoped if we waited long enough the other kids would get to sit on Santa's lap, and I hit the jackpot!

Carter's turn: he asked for a Batman 4-wheeler for himself and a motorcycle for Daddy!

Caden was BEYOND excited when it was his turn! He asked for a Nintendo DS.
Little Ms also requested a DS and not to be outdone, also requested a computer!

Cole LOVED this! After Santa handed him a candy cane, all he could say was Can Cane, Can Cane! He is hooked!

I seriously hit the JACKPOT...a pic with Santa and ALL 5 KIDS!!! The cherry on top, they are all SMILING! LOVE IT!

Another cute pic of Carter and his best buddy Ben!

Carter's Christmas Program

Monday evening we attended Free Spirit's Christmas Program...starring Carter :) He did GREAT!!! It was fun to see him perform! He was the first one in and had to wait for the rest of the class (they announce them one by one) so he got a little bored.

Still waiting :)
Singing so well, just got tired of standing there!

He was having such a good time.

He really got into ringing his jingle bells!

Here is the whole class getting ready to do their song with instruments. Carter played a mean set of cymbals!

They sang all sorts of thing and recited a few poems. He stood there and participated the entire time! Such a cutie!