This year we played Guys Dirty Santa and Girls Dirty Santa. It was fun! It was meant for Amy to go home with a wallet- it was a joke bc she had already gotten one for Christmas and almost ended up with 2 more. Papaw Henry graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy (years ago) and got a cool blanket from Uncle John- that he loved! It was a fun night. Until next year...
The rain held off for the kids to enjoy the trampline for a while. Santa didn't have time to put the "cage" on the trampoline, so Daddy gets to do that this weekend. There was only one meltdown Christmas morning (see Cooper on his knees on the floor) because he got a black dog and wanted SK's brown dog. Other than that, considering the amount of sugar consumed and all the excitement, smooth sailing. Click on the collage for a better view.
Nana came and spent Christmas Eve night and went to church with us. The kids were calling her Nana Claus :)
What a fun Christmas
! Thank goodness Nana comes and spends the night on Christmas Eve~ due to the terrible Elf experience, SK is terrified of Santa coming in our house. So, she sleeps with mom in the guest bedroom. This year SK asked for American Girl twins and clothes and a trampoline. Coop asked for A superman, A batman, and A spiderman. Santa was good to us- the kids were so excited! He also brought a neat Puppet Theater and some cute aprons for Sk to cook with mommy and Coop to help Daddy on the grill! 
Will is going to kill me for posting this. Cooper and Sara Kennedy have had lots of together time since she's been out of school for Christmas and he's been home from Mother's Morning Out. Cooper LOVES to play with Sara Kennedy and will play whatever she wants as long as she includes him. This is their latest adventure. She's teaching him tap lessons, yes he is wearing tap shoes, pink leggings, and a pink tutu. Will had a fit when he saw him- and told him to put on his football uniform. I walked back in his room and Cooper said, "Mommy, don 't let Daddy make me take off my outfit." I think it's precious and I'm sure he won't have any long term side effects. We'll worry if he's doing this when he's 15 :)
I was one proud mama~ I made homemade sugar cookies (and icing). It was a first for me. SK and I had fun decorating and cutting them out. Here's a picture of our masterpieces! (Thanks Jennifer Mayo~ aka Betty Crocker for the recipe)
We got together with Amy and Michael at Memaw and Pepaw's to exchance gifts on Christmas Eve. Sara Kennedy & Cooper got new bikes for Memaw and Pepaw's house~ they were so excited! It's always fun to spend time with Amy and Michael- we wish they lived closer (especially SK, she loves some Aunt Amy!)
The newest member of playgroup, Cash
Cooper Man
My sweet, snaggle tooth girl~ Sara Kennedy
Jett and Stone
Keaton wasn't interested in making a gingerbread house this year :)
Thomas
Swayze (she reminds me so much of SK when she was little)
Mason~ what a sweet face
We had Parent Observation yesterday at Ballet. SK did so good~ boy has she came a long way since she started! There are about 15 girls in their class and they are all precious! Cooper was so tired (he didn't get to have a nap yesterday :( He laid on the floor between Will and me and watched the show. Afterwards they had a Christmas party and exchanged gifts.
SK and Landre posing with their presents
I LOVE to take the kids to the Canton Square at Christmas. Will and I took them Friday night. We rode the horse and carriage, the carousel, the firetruck, the train, the cars (twice), drank hot chocolate, ate dinner at RJ Barrel and walked around and looked at all the lights. It was absolutely perfect (and cold)!
Since SK started taking dance at 3~ Mom and I have taken her to see The Nutcracker every year. We have so much fun and she absolutely loves it. Thanks for going with us Nana.
We had a Girls' Morning Out the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Sharea, Wendy and I took our girls to Different Strokes and they painted the cutest ornaments with Santa. After painting we had lunch at the Mexican Restaurant. We all had so much fun! I picked SK's ornament up the next week and went to hang it on the tree AND I DROPPED IT!!! It shattered in a hundred pieces and it was so cute! Guess what we'll be doing next week while school's out!
