The Christmas Elf came!

My favorite family tradition... The elf had 5 shoes to fill this year.  Hooray!!  The boys selected their shoes the night before.  Bennett chose a boot and Henry chose is Paw Patrol slipper.  How fun!

 

 

The sweetest girl was so happy with her presents

I could just eat her up!

We got to my dad's house about 8:30 am and ate cinnamon rolls and checked out the contents of our shoes.  As always, my dad's shoes has $100 in it. I snuck in and switched it to Neil's shoe before anyone saw!!  Neil didn't keep it.

That sweet little shoe with candy, apple, orange, and a$5 Orange Leaf gift card!!!

Christmas Eve Gift

We had an enjoyable Christmas Eve.  It was a lazy day and a busy evening.  We had filets, au gratin potatoes, salad, and delicious desserts.  It was a fun night with a delicious meal.  

My brother came in all the way from NYC!

Carolyn was so sweet to give all of special gifts.

a "Henry" train for Henry

Carolyn and Sister Girl

Gammy gives such great gifts...with the best wrapping!

Paw Patrol game from Gammy

We all were so tired, but we still had to decorate cookies for Santa!  We got really into it and ran out of cookies to decorate.  

We were really proud of these cookies!!

Putting out reindeer food

Raines' Tacky Christmas Party

Beau and Leigh had their fantastic Christmas party again this year and it was tons of fun.  So glad we get to go every year because we have a faithful babysitter....MOM!!  Thanks, Mom!

Leigh had everything decorated so cute.  The food was great and the company was better.  They always so a tacky gift exchange and it is always fun.  I love that some people bring gifts back from previous years.  The main 2 gifts that are returned are a blanket with Beau, Leigh, and Drew on it and a farting Santa.  Classic.

Cute girls...wish I was in it!

Neil decided to get creative with this sweater.  It is supposed to mean Tack-E...I thought the tack was a pin and kept sayinf "Penny?"

Andre' was Cousin Eddie

Erin and me

Neil got Erinn's awesome nude drawings!  Going up in the shop! :)

Chris and Jay

me with Leslie

They even had a tacky photo booth

The hostesses with the mostesses

Preakness Properties partners

How adorable are these 2!??

Girl pic

8 Carolers Caroling

I am loving our new tradition of caroling in the neighborhood.  Ashleigh made chicken and dumplings, I brought hot chocolate, and Leslie made a bunch of sweets.  Thanks to David for driving us around in his dad's truck.  The kids knew all the songs and sang them with such heart.  I love hearing their sweet voices belt out Christmas tunes.  We are bringing caroling back!

Briggs, Brown, Bennett, Henry, Georgia, EG, and EJ

I tried to get a picture of the boys and this was the best I got

I am so glad we picked up Jennifer and Taylor on our first stop of caroling.

We all started with hats and somehow they all went missing by the end.

8 month old Sarah Kathryn

Our beautiful girl is already 8 months old!  How in the world did this happen?  We already know the these of your first birthday!!

Doctor appointment: none this month

Clothes: You wear size 3 diapers.  You are wearing mostly 9-12 month clothes and a couple 18 month things fit..  I think you are loving bows when I put them on you.  I never thought I'd like headbands, but they are so cute on you.  I am trying to get you used to wearing them.  You do not keep socks on AT ALL.  As soon as I put them on you....you take them right off.

Eating: You eat a 6 ounce bottle every three hours during the day. You currently eat a whole bowl of food mid-morning and evenings.  It is amazing how quickly you can take down a bowl of food.  I moved you up to 2nd foods and you are doing well with them.

Sleeping:  You seem to always need sleep.  We just can't stop to make sure you are home to nap in your bed...poor third baby.  But, you are such a happy little thing you don't seem phased.  School lets you sleep on demand in the swing. You also like to sleep on your stomach. If you are asleep and there is a noise you automatically wake up to see what you are missing.  You love to be aware of everything.  When we are home you will sleep 3 hours at a time for naps.

Likes: being held while standing up...this is a sure fire way to get you to stop crying...we just stand up, car seat, riding in the car, riding in the stroller, eating, the paci, baths, your brothers, watching people, smiling, knowing what is going on at all times, smiling, some chew toys, and laughing

Dislikes: having something go over your head (clothes), being alone, being put in your bed

News this month: You got your first tooth!!!  I think you got it a few days after I wrote your 7 month post.  What a big girl!  

Happenin' Holidays

The holidays are so busy and fun...2 of my favorite things!  We got to do lots of fun things and I am so glad.   Our church had a parents' day out where we got to drop the kids off (all 3!) for 5 hours for $20 total!  WHAT!!?  No brainer.  We basically ate the whole time.  We got to spend time at Marilynn's for lunch since Danny and Megan were in town.  Danny, James, Kyle, and Neil all went to high school together so it's fun to get together.  

Goooooooo Bearcats! 3/4 of these fellows married girls from Shreveport, 3/4 married Sigma Kappas, and 2/4 married girls named Lindsey.  Sweet.

Leslie made this cute Christmas apron just for me!!  I love it!

Henry's Christmas Program and party

We were so excited to see Henry sing at his K-3 program.  He was so excited that we were attending, too.  Until he saw us and then shut-down and didn't do a thing but reach for me and say "mama."  Next time we will get on the back row instead of the front so he can't see us.  The weirdest thing about it is he knew all the songs and hand motions because he would sing at home all the time.  It was the cutest thing ever!!  There's always next year.

We got a smile and then it was downhill from there.

Wouldn't even ring his bell

Dawson was hilarious!

sweet thing.

I was so glad my parents came to watch.  It was a fun time for all of us.After the 15 minute program we went to the classroom for gift opening and the fun snack.  Gammy and Pops joined us.

Cute!

Opening his present to donate to the classroom.

It was almost like Neil was ready to leave or something.

Cookie decorating

Great job!  He ate all the marshmallows off the cookie.

Us with our big boy 3 year old!