Christmas Week

Cutest little present ever!

We had a great Christmas!  Christmas Eve is always spent with Brian's family.  Aunt Carla and Sarah usually takes turns hosting it at their house, so this year we headed to Carla's house in Katy.  We did miss Ryan this year.  He was the only family member not present because he recently moved.  Hopefully next Christmas he'll be able to fly in from Georgia,  We ate dinner, opened presents, and had desserts.  This was Jack's first Christmas.  Mimi and Poppy gave him a huge snuggly bear.  His face was so cute when he saw it!  It stays in his crib with him so he snuggles with it when he sleeps.

Christmas Eve at Aunt Carla's house

Jack loving his giant cuddly friend

what Mike and Christy got me.  LOVE it!

Jack is the only one in a festive ugly Christmas sweater!

Arden also received a stuffed dog named Belle on Christmas Eve.  This dog is unique in that it "speaks" along with a storybook.  Arden LOVES this toy.  The dog says thankyou, I love you, among other sayings.... in a doggy kind of way.  Belle has found her spot among the other favorites.


Arden headed to bed on Christmas Eve with  her usual friends: Sweet Blankie, Pinkie, Sweet Minnie, and Hazel the Reindeer. Belle, the dog, has joined the elite (the upside down white faced one.)

Before bed the girls set out milk and fruitcake (we didn't have any cookies) for Santa.  Halle also put her own naughty/nice list on the fireplace in case Santa forgot his.  Thanks to Alicia's cookie exchange party, we also had reindeer food for Santa's reindeer: oats, raisins, and magic rocks (rock salt) for extra flying power!  Such a great idea!  We were suppose to sprinkle it outside for the reindeer, but I forgot.  The bags were gone the next morning so I'm sure Santa passed it along to them ;)

filling all of the stockings.  I may or may not have eaten the fruitcake...

On Christmas morning Brian and I got up early to make coffee and breakfast.  Adam, Sarah, Mike, and Christy joined us for reindeer pancakes and more gift opening!

Christy aka Gigi and Halle

you would think a three year old would be excited on Christmas morning.

but no, grouchy pants rolled over and stuffed her face in the pillow

She finally decided to join us

Reindeer pancakes

Gift opening

Who let Adam get a hold of the camera???

 

Brian was a very good boy this year.  He got a very fancy mountain bike from Santa!

The girls got skates for Christmas and spent the rest of the morning at the roller rink.. er back patio

That evening we headed to Pauline's house for Christmas with my family.  Not before we got a flat tire though.  Luckily we weren't far from home, so we unloaded all of the presents and kids and food and reloaded them into Brian's truck.

We always buy presents for the little kids traditionally, and the older family plays White Elephant.  We also played Pictionary.  My family is very loud, especially when we're playing a game.  It's likely that your ears will be ringing when you leave.  

"Man!,  No Running!  Hand! Girl!"
Hope in the background  is very excited about  whatever this drawing is.  The boys aren't allowed to see our drawing and vice versa, because of cheating in the past.  So there are two dry erase boards standing back to back on a table and held together by duct tape.  That's how we roll!    

I look like I have no clue what the person is drawing

Three of my nieces

Jack is being very fussy so Linda is trying to keep him occupied

The boys beat the girls at Pictionary two years in a row.  Not. Cool.  I'm pretty sure they cheated.   

Brian got a bottle of Tequila as his white elephant gift and I got AMC movie tickets/refreshments.  

Later in the week we went to visit my dad and granny  in New Waverly.  

Granny and Jack

Paw Paw and Jack

My kids always love going there because they get to run around outside, swing, and collect rocks.  

swinging on the same swings I had as a little girl

on the steps of my granny's old beauty shop
on her property.  so many memories here....

Oh I almost forgot to mention MY Christmas gift.  I finally got a DSLR camera.  I'm so excited and have been having so much playing with it.  I also got a special lens and Photoshop.  Yay!!!   

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This year was a pleasant surprise. My girls decorated the Christmas tree all by themselves, and they did an outstanding job!  The ornaments were spread out evenly and, and none were dropped or broken!  The only thing I did was put the angel on top. Our tree is artificial, because frankly, I like fake trees. We have ornaments dated back to when Brian and I were kids, along with many handmade ones, some pretty ornaments, and a whole lot of ugly ornaments.  Ha!!

 

My favorite part of the evening was when Halle said, "Mommy, I'm glad that we don't have one of those trees that just has fancy ornaments on it. I'm so glad we have a tree that has all of these kind of ornaments on it because it makes it feel like a real family."  I was so encouraged because every year I always feel a bit embarrassed that our tree is not pretty, or donned out in expensive ornaments.  I'm so glad that my daughter appreciates the sentiment our tree holds. 

 

Arden came in with my second favorite part, "Ohhhhhhh! The tree! I love it! It's beautiful!" Her face and excitement was priceless.  

 

 

We've had a busy December.  Here's a highlight reel of this wonderful season....

Arden as Mary at church.  We are trying to teach her that Christmas celebrates Jesus' birthday.  She likes to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

enjoying a hay ride and singing christmas carols

Jack's stocking was added this year.

I love this hat!

Halle's Christmas Choir Program.  Daddy gave her flowers after.

 

Arden found Santa slippers in the Christmas box and had to pose with them.  "Take a picture of me mommy!" Where does this sassiness come from???

I started a new tradition this year with the girls.  The brown basket right next to Arden has 24 wrapped books.  Each night since Dec. 1st  the girls have unwrapped a book for me to read to them.  They have loved doing this, and don't let me forget story time.  All of the books are ones they already had, but most of them are Christmas related.  The girls like the surprise factor because they don't know what book they will get that night. 

A not-so-good Santa picture.  Santa is skinny, the backdrop is funky, and the kids don't match.  And Halle's shorts are representative of this muggy weather we've been having.  I think because of all of the quirkiness it's my favorite Santa picture so far.

Our Christmas card, sort of...  I had to redesign it to be printer-friendly.

I attend a bible study on Thursdays, and the preschoolers did a Christmas program for us this last week.

This was Brian's Rudolph as a kid

Arden's dance class did a small recital for the parents.  She was so excited that she got to wear lipstick and blush.  She stared at herself in the mirror and made kissy faces after I put it on her.

Arden and Myleigh in class

Alicia had a Christmas party for the little ones, and a cookie exchange for the moms.  The kids got to decorate sugar cookies, and do a few activities.  We moms exchanged oreo truffles, chocolate drop cookies, butterfinger cookies, etc.  I came home with at least four dozen cookies.  They were ALL gone by the time I woke up the next morning.  Sweets DO NOT last in the Hargrave house.  Period. 

Jack and his girlfriend, Kinley, sat on the floor and conversed at the Christmas party.  They were baby talking to each other.  So adorable!!

Jack is such a gentleman.  He's sharing his tray and his sugar cookie.

 Hope your Christmas season has been as merry as ours!!!!