December 24, 2011 Day 24

Christmas Eve!!!!!!

Christmas Eve at our house is the same for us as it is for most people....BUSY!  But we love it.  Spending time with family is so important to us.  Christmas Eve is spent with Chris's mom and Dave.  They love to spoil the kids rotten!  We love them for it.  They are so generous and giving and we appreciate them so much.  This year was so exciting to watch.  Owen opened his presents in about 10 seconds.  Olivia was also excited, she opened hers a little slower, but she was to excited to get to the last present..which was a HUGE box all wrapped up with a big bow.  She was VERY curious.  Which in true Dave Rankin fashion, there were about 6 smaller boxes inside of each all wrapped up.  There was even some weights inside the big box, just to throw her off!! When she got to the last one it was a very small box with an IPhone 4 inside.  I think she may have had a stroke! She was so excited she could not even stand it.  Owen's favorite gift?? Besides everything?? His John Wayne gun (pretend of course) that when you shoot it the shells actually kick out!

Every year is special with the kids because each year brings something different.  But this year has been extra special because this is the first year that we are getting to spend Christmas with Chris's brother Mike.  He has moved back home from Texas.  It has been such a joy watching the kids get to know him, and truly love him.  I have been with Chris for a very long time and this is the first Christmas we will be spending with his brother.  This to me is what Christmas is all about.  We are so happy and blessed to have him home and sharing in our lives.    We are looking forward to so many more wonderful Christmas's with him.  Welcome home Uncle Mike!

 One true tradition that will carry on forever!!! Story Book Lane! We absolutely love this.  This was Owen's favorite one this year, Old Mother Hubbard.

This was Olivia's favorite one.  Tom, Tom the Piper's Son. 

Cookies and milk for Santa! Two clean kids in new Jammie's, getting goodies ready for Santa.  We read our 'Twas the Night before Christmas book and now we are all ready.

Owen putting out his "reindeer food."

Olivia putting out the carrots for the reindeer.  With a note about the reindeer food. Just to make sure that the reindeer know it is there for them.  Now, a little note to Santa from the kids, they said goodbye to "Fisbee" the elf since he goes back to the North Pole tonight...NOW off to bed......Not sure who is more excited???!!!  Cannot wait for tomorrow!

December 23, 2011 Day 23

Christmas with Papa Bud.......

We always have Christmas with Papa Bud a day before Christmas Eve.  The kids love it because it means opening presents a little early.  Papa Bud always gets them great stuff.  Movies, toys, jewelry for Olivia, gift cards.  They were so excited.  This year was even more exciting because the kids shopped all by themselves for Papa's gifts.  I loved to see there face light up when Papa opened up the gifts that they got him. 

Even thought they were super excited to give there gifts to Papa, they were VERY excited to open up there gifts that Papa got for them!

Love this!! Owen giving Papa a lesson on the IPhone! Papa did get himself a new phone for Christmas.  We used to call his old phone the "jitter bug."  He got himself a phone that has a key board to be able to text! So excited for him! But now we cannot make fun of him anymore.  

December 22, 2011 Day 22

Wrapping, baking.....and lounging........

Owen really wanted to do all of his own wrapping this year.  He did such a good job.  He wanted to know why I could wrap so good.  I told him it was years of practice.  He did almost all of his by himself.  I only had to help towards the end.  Olivia of course did all of hers done days ago.  She put on Christmas music, got herself lots of ribbons and bows and went to work.  I love to see how each one did there own unique ways of wrapping.  I loved that Owen's had about a roll of paper on each present. 

These are the most awesome little dessert bites around, and what is even better is that it is the easiest thing ever.  It is a pretzel, with a rolo in the middle of it.  You then put them in the oven just til they start to melt.  You then place a whole cashew or pecan on the top and press down just a little.  They are delicious!!!! You can put anything on the top, I have also seen them with M&M's. 

This is what my dogs look like most of the time.  They LOVE to lay in front of the fire place.  After how both of there lives started out, it is safe to say that they are now "living the life."  Please always rescue.  There are to many unwanted animals already, I see it every single day. 

December 21, 2011 Day 21

Wonderful Friends.......

The annual cookie walk!!! What a great time we have every year at this.  There were 10 of us that participated this year.  Each person makes 10 dozen of ONE kind of cookie.  We then give one dozen to each person.  So you leave with 10 dozen DIFFERENT kinds of cookies! Cookie baking done!I
I
 always get cut out cookies and icing with all kinds of fun little sprinkles and candies for the kids to decorate with.  Love this picture with all the kids having a blast.  They played and played.  What great friends we have.  Thank you ladies for a wonderful day!

LOVE this! Best Buddies! Love the icing on Gaven's face!

Olivia and Jayli did a wonderful job keeping the kids occupied.  They painted nails and did make overs.  They are such a great help.  Such sweet young girls.

Make overs were not just for the "girls" They did boy make overs to.  The spiked hair is just to cute.  A wonderful ending to a cherished time with girlfriends and there kids.

December 20, 2011 Day 20

Christmas in the Park.......

What a wonderful thing that McInturf Realty does for the community.  If you have never been to Christmas in the Park, you need to experience it.  There is real animals, people making ice sculptures, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Christmas lights everywhere, sleigh rides through story book lane, hot coco, carolers, people dressed up like characters handing out candy, and of course most of the rides are open.  The only down fall??? There is a million people there!

My father in law Bud is the Manager of the rides out at the park.  So he is also in charge of getting all of the help lined up to run the rides for Christmas in the park.  My kids LOVE to help papa in the summer.  This year Olivia got to help with Christmas in the Park.  She even got a name tag that read "Olivia Schoelles, Assistant Manager."  She thought that was really neat.  She had a blast.  Thanks Papa Bud!

Owen had a blast playing with his friends.  Even though it was tough to watch the kids because it was dark and crowded, they still had a great time playing at the park!

Owen waiting in line for the train.  Us parents were no rookies at this.  One of us would wait in line then when we got close, we would just let the kids jump in line.  Then another parent would wait in the next line.  It worked great for us.  Not sure it was well received by the people behind us.  We went to Disney in May and the lines in Disney were no where near as long as Christmas in the Park lines! But the kids enjoyed it so.....WORTH IT!

December 19, 2011 Day 19

School Party Fun!

One of my favorite things about being a stay at home mom is being able to attend all of the school functions.  I think the kids really look forward to me coming to the school.  (At least this year they did) It is interesting to me how when the kids are in kindergarten there is always an over abundance of parents willing to participate.  As they get older, that number goes down substantially.  I cannot understand why.  I feel so bad for the kids who long for there parents to be there.  I try my hardest to be a mom for all of the kids. 

Olivia's 5th grad class played a relay race.  They had to run to the front of the classroom, grab a paper nose, dip it in Vaseline,stick it on there nose and run back to the line.  Then the next person would go.  Everyone on there team had to have there nose on to win.  VERY cute.  They then walked around singing Christmas songs. 

The whole class dressed like Rudolf! 

Owen got to eat cookies, play limbo, and decorated ornaments.  It is a little hard going between both classes, but so much fun.  I am so glad I was able to share in these special moments. 

Each class also sang Christmas songs in the gym. 

The 5th graders were not enjoying it quite as much as the Kindergartners.  But, still a wonderful time.

December 18, 2011 Day 18

Funny....

Oh how our lives have changed!  Our weekends are usually consumed with....wait for it......pizza and fun visits with our cousins!! AND, we wouldn't want it any other way.  Owen and Nolan took a bath in the "big tub" full of bubbles and toys.  They had a blast.  Then jammies and a snack.  I thought it was so cute the two of them sitting there all clean, enjoying a snack and a cartoon before bed.  I wanted to take a picture of this very cute moment, well Nolan had a different idea.  "Cheese."

Ok, "Nolan, LOOK at me please".......

My personal favorite.....When you tell Nolan to give you "shifty eyes" this is what you get. HA.  Which Owen told him to do that.

Well, I guess I did not say he couldn't put his hands above his head!

Try number 5, I guess this is as good as I get!  I thought this was so funny to see how difficult it is to actually get a good picture sometimes.  This is usually how it works with any group photo we try to take. 

AND.....she always smiles no problem.....as long as her patch is off!