Wow...Santa Came !!!! Christmas Morning!

On Christmas morning the kids are not allowed anywhere near the tree until Mark and I are ready. Lucky for us we have very compliant children in this regard who have never challenged or peeked. This year they all jumped in bed with Claire until I went and got them.

Anna Kate asked Santa for a baby bed for her babies. Wow, did he come through. Bumper pads, mobile, the whole nine yards. It even has storage underneath behind the cabinet doors. It's so cute.

Claire had asked Santa for a real guitar that so that Mark could teach her to play. This one came in her favorite color. How cool is that.

Blake had asked for Lincoln Logs and a new real lightsaber. No one could have said better than he did "I got everything I ordered!" His lightsaber is really an interactive game you play on tv by using the light saber. It's pretty cool. Of course you know who had to be the first to try it out.

Claire had also asked for a diary. We gave her a purple leather journal that she can start writing in. She loves to write about her day and also create stories. Claire says she may be an author when she grows up.

Christmas is over, the tree taken down and we're ready to see what 2007 has in store. Hope you've had a great holiday season and that you have a very blessed NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas Eve morning we went to church, had lunch, everyone but mom napped, we decorated cookies for Santa and then went to Grammy and Pa's for the Farley Christmas.

All ready for bed with cookies and milk set out for Santa

Christmas with the Farley's

We got home from Tyler late Saturday night and had Christmas with Mark's family on Christmas Eve night. We went to church that evening as a family and then ate lots of food and opened presents. It was so crazy with 9 kids 8 of whom are 7 years and younger that I only took two pictures.

Here's the breakdown of grandchildren: Lindsey-14, Blake-7, Claire-7, Sierra-7, Jaden-almost 6, Anna Kate-5, Ricky-3 1/2, Jackson-3, Damien- 22 months and two more are due in May.

Anna Kate (5) and Jackson (3) love playing together. Jackson has a sister on the way due in May.

Unlce Tim, Anna Kate (with a bow from a present tied around her head) and Claire

More pictures from Texas....

Sydnie and Anna Kate werenot only joined at the hip, but also by earphones and the CD player the whole time we were there. It was so funny as they tried to walk around and listen to music. They love being together.

All the kids had fun cutting out cookies with Nana and then decorating them with lots of icing and sprinkles. Of course some got more in their tummies than on their cookies...

Clay is such a two year old boy full of energy and lots of smiles!!!

A Texas Christmas

We went to Tyler to have Christmas with my family the Wed-Sat. before Christmas. Of course the kids had lots of fun with Sydnie & Clay and loved visiting Granny and Papa. Everytime we go back home, I'm so thankful that my kids have such a good relationship with my grandparents. I have such great memories spending time with my great grandmother, Papa's mother who died when I was a sophmore in college and am glad my kids are able know my grandparents.

My grandparents, Granny and Papa, with Anna Kate, Claire, Blake, Sydnie & Clay

Blake got a telescope and binoculars from Nana and Grandaddy along with a model of the solar system and a book on the solar system. Anyone need any help with planet trivia, give Blake a call. He's got it all down now.

Along with a personal CD player and CD's Claire got several books like Charolette's Web, and My Friend Flicka. She loves to read. When you can't find her she's either reading or listening or trying to play music.

Both of the girls got a Disney Princess Cd player and Praise & Worship CD's. They were so excited. Blake got one for his birthday and everyone has been fighting over it ever since. Everyone was so exicted. It made for a very quiet trip home, except when Anna Kate wanted to tell you something. She hasn't learned that we can hear her even though she can't hear us.

We got Clay this "Cars" play rug with a couple of cars from the movie Cars. It was a huge hit. It happened to be the first present he opened of the evening and he refused to open anything else. I hope this buys Larisa lots of quiet play time over the next few weeks.

Happy Birthday Anna Kate!!!

Tuesday was Anna Kate's 5th birthday. Wow, how time flies. Although she is a big girl now she will always be my baby. She still every night around 7pm climbs in my lap for a little cuddle time. I love it. As a five year old she has a very sweet spirit that amazes me daily. She is constantly analyzing things, asking tons of questions (alot of questions about heaven), she loves to sing (mostly praise & worship songs), and is very dramatic and funny. Who knew 5 years ago this red head would bring so much laughter to ensure we would all smile at least once a day.

Her party was a Candyland theme. It was so much fun, with 17 friends making candy necklaces and decorating gingerbread men. The cake was amazing. I've found a lady who loves to decorate cakes and delivers too. She out did herself on this cake.

Can you believe this cake? And it was very yummy!!