Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve morning we always let the kids open their presents to them from us and to each other. We also open the gifts that they bought at the Santa Shoppe at school. This year the kids got a small gift a piece from us and one big gift to all of them(a Wii). They always buy gifts to each other at the santa shoppe and the love watching each other open them.



After we finished opening we spent a few hours playing wii before my dad and his family came over to exchange gifts. I have 2 sisters and a brother on my dad's side. They are 18, 19, and 25 years old. My dad got the boys a wii game and a remote charger, and Karson got a new digital camera and a digital picture frame.
My sister Edie & her boyfriend
Other sister Eva

Jamie and my brother Willie playing Wii, my dad is behind them with the red shirt After they left we were headed to my grandparents house to do Christmas with my mom's family. I have 2 more brothers on this side of the family one who is 20 and has two children and one who is 25 and has 1 child. My mom and grandparents went in together and got the kids new bicycles this year. They loved them. I love seeing the look in my nieces and nephews eyes when they open their presents. My niece is 2 1/2 and she loves her Aunt Mer (that's what she calls me). All the grandchildren My 3 and Autumn, Jeremiah, and Clayton



My grandparents and two of their three children

Christmas Cookies

On the Monday before Christmas the kids and I made cookies for Santa and some for ourselves also! I had bought sugar cookies and frosting for us to make. I got all of the cookie cutters and stuff out and called the kids to the kitchen. The were so excited because this is the first year that I let me just have at it. I mixed all the ingredients together and let them take turns rolling it out and we cut them into all kinds of shapes. After they were baked and cooled we got out the frosting and I let them put sprinkles, m&m's, and skittles on them. Afterwards we were all covered in frosting and sprinkles from head to toe. After we finished they each had to choose one cookie to put on our santa plate.


Rolling out the dough:


Cutting the cookies out:


Ready for the oven:

Decorating the cookies:


The finished product:



Santa's cookies:

Hollywild Zoo

Every year Nana and I always take the kids to Hollywild Zoo. It is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas. Zachary has been asking since the commericals started coming on tv after Thanksgiving if we could go to Hollywild "today". Well Tuesday night I called Nana and asked her if she wanted to go because it was some what warm!! The kids were so excited that I told them they had to do fold their laundry and clean their rooms and they were finished in record time. At 6pm I picked up Nana and we were off. When we rounded the corner and Zachary saw all the lights he was so excited!! Our favorite part is always feeding the deer in the Enchanted Deer Forest. If you have never been the deer, doe, emu, and zebra's all come up to your window and eat right out of your hands. At first Andrew and Zachary were afraid but it did not take long for them to warm up. The animals were very hungry tonight and we got to feed more than normal. Before we left Zachary spotted a zebra and said that it was his zebra because it started with a "z" like him, and he said follow that zebra. We drove over to it and it stayed at our car for awhile. Nana had to hold on to Zachary because he was trying to climb out the window, he was almost on this zebra's back, and it did not even care! Karson kept watching to make sure that the emu's didn't come to our car because she was scared that it would climb in!!

Zachary's Christmas Program

Monday night Zachary's 4K class preformed their Christmas Program. He did a great job. He is very shy and gets very nervous in front of large groups. He stood right beside his teacher the whole time, but he did sing!! Usually he just stands there and looks out at everyone!! Our good friend Jake had a solo and he did a great job. The video I have included is the last song the sang with the glow sticks for candles. I just loved it, I was almost in tears. This was also Zachary's favorite song, and Ms. Sophie bribed him before the show that he had to sing it very loud so he could keep his glow stick!!

Christmas at Bethlehem Gulch

On Sunday night our kids 2nd - 4th grade choir performed Christmas at Bethlehem Gulch. It was great. We have been listening to the cd for months in our car and it was just okay, but they kids did a much better job than the CD!! I had front seats because Joye Hall had asked me to take some pictures, and I took over 100 pictures, so I will just share a few with you!

The Angels

The Sheep

The Shepards

Ms. Diane

The Star Girls


Jed, Matt, & Ray

Karson making a cross out of cloth

The Dog

Spartanburg Christmas Parade

Last Tuesday night we went to the Spartanburg Christmas Parade with the Waddells, Laneys, and the Harrison's. My kids love going to the parade, and I enjoy it more now that it is at night. Thankfully it was not to cold and the kids were really good!!

Andrew & Jake

Addie

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Brynn & Zachary

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Braeden & Brycen

The Girls

The Survivor China Couple

Hillbillies

Ella Kate (I had to be sneaky to get this picture, Ella was not in the picture taking mood tonight)

Happy Birthday

Today is the 1st Birthday of my blog. I am so proud of myself for keeping it going. At first I only posted once or twice a month, but I have really gotten better at posting more often. My husband says that I am a addicted. If I am at home I enter the blogging world at least once a day!! I am thankful for friends I have gotten to know better and a few new friends along the way through blogging. So here's to another year of good times:)