Tony and Alexis get Married!

Monday morning, our friends, Tony & Alexis tied the knot. They had hoped to have a big ceremony in May, but Alexis needed medical insurance ASAP and could only get it if she and Tony got married now. They are still hoping to have a big reception soon.

Sealing their vows with a kiss.
Wayne and I with the Bride and Groom at the courthouse.

The bride and groom with their cake.

Congratulations Tony and Alexis! We wish you a lifetime of happiness. I hope your enjoying your honeymoon!

Day Two of Christmas

The day after Christmas we headed over to my parents house to celebrate Christmas with my parents and brothers family. Kya is sitting here next to my brother with the look of pure contained excitement, as my dad passes out the gifts. I love that she is learning to be patient, even when it is hard sometimes.
My dad playing Santa Claus. (that is my gift!)

Wowzer Kya, you have a lot to open there!

Caleb tearing into his first gift. I wish I had gotten a picture Caleb and Elsie. They are both about the same height, both have blond hair and were both wearing red Santa shirts with jeans. Totally cute and could have passed as being twins for the day.

Seth had the biggest gift! A basketball hoop set.

Then we sat down to a Prime Rib dinner. We brought the kids picnic table inside for them to eat at together.

Then my sister-in-law had the brilliant idea of singing Happy Birthday Jesus and then all the kids blew out the candle together.

We will be getting together with Wayne's family this weekend, so be on the lookout for that post.

Christmas with family

Everyone on my dad's side of the family gathered at my Aunt's house for dinner. With all my cousins, brother and my kids we ended up with 13 kids ranging in age from 2 months up to 18 years. Here are Trever and Kya playing his video game, Elsie holding onto Marla's hair and sweet little Karli.
After all the dinner tables were cleared and put away, we gathered together to play Naughty Santa. Each family brought a gift up to $20 to exchange. It was our first year playing and I hope this fun tradition carries on. It was so much fun to see us all bonding and most of us even remained after the game to just talk and let the kids run around.

Ryan, Meredeth and Grandma.

Charlotte, Lucas, Elsie, Mackenzie, Scooter and Ryan. Elsie really took to a couple of my female cousins. Too bad Mackenzie didn't live closer, I hear she is a great babysitter.

My Aunt is opening the gift she and Uncle Jim picked out. Too bad it would later get stolen!

Grace got to pick out the gift for her family. Of course she chose the LARGEST one!

My cousin Danielle helped put the Naughty Santa game together. Here she is with her two youngest opening up their gift. I happened to bring this one and loved it because of the poem I included in it. It is a story about Jesus birth using various candies. Also inside was a star ornament and a doorknob bell hanger.

Here is Kya with our families gift, which was also later stolen! Good thing though, because it gave Seth a chance to pick out a present. Whew!

I do believe this was the best Christmas I have had with my family since I was a little girl. Thanks everyone for being so willing to gather together and enjoy one another's company.

All dressed up for Christmas

After we opened all our gifts, ate breakfast and bathed, we got dressed into our Christmas best to head on down to my Aunts house. Before we left, I had the kids gather together in front of our tree for some pictures.
Beautiful Kya. I love how the sun is shining on her hair making her blonds locks all golden.

Handsome Seth. We never did get his hair cut before Christmas, but he did get it done the day after. Oh well, that is how is goes sometimes.

Princess Tomboy Elsie. Half way through our celebration at my Aunts house, she had her tights and shoes off and was running all over the place.

Christmas Morning

The kids woke up Christmas morning, all excited to see what Santa had brought them. Kya wanted to tear into each gift right away, but I told her she had to wait until we figured out who got what and of course.....
they had to open their stockings first.

Kya asked Santa for a baby doll for Christmas and he delivered!

Seth received his prized drum set.

and Elsie got her pink grocery cart.

After the kids opened all of their presents, it was time to help Daddy open his.

Then it was time to clean up the aftermath!