Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Day 2009

What a wonderful Christmas we had! All of my kids acted so shy first thing on Christmas morning. I had to wake up both of the boys, so granted they were half asleep. I was expecting so much excitement and it just wasn't there initially. But they did pick up steam. Jackson kept wanting to stop opening up his stocking and just play with his Batcave. I don't know that Baylee fully grasped that she got a TV twice as big as the one she currently had and that it would be going up on her wall in her bedroom! They were all so happy and so grateful! Wyland just kind of hung out, he didn't grasp the opening presents concept. I expect by his 2nd birthday this summer he'll be ready to actually open things.

Wyland on his new electric 4 wheeler.

Jackson posing with his presents.Baylee was excited about pretty much EVERYthing!
Like I said, he just hung out.
The aftermath!
My parents opening their stockings.
Uncle Evan playing with Jackson.
Will this be the last year Evan joins us xmas morning?
Jackson LOVING his Batcave.

Wyland was just wiped out. Both of

my boys and myself had colds. After breakfast and letting the kids play with their toys for a little while it was time for us to head over to pick up Jeramie's boys. After picking them up (which was uneventful this year, last year their mother didn't let them come over at the last minute) we headed over to Grandma Robie's to deliver our gifts.
Baylee got her nails done by her cousin Andrea.
Grandma Robie posing with her two favorite Grandsons.

Don't the boys look handsome in their xmas outfits?

Cute Wyland!
I love how toddlers kneel all the time.

Jeramie posing with our joint present from my parents.

See last year for his birthday Jeramie got some really nice outdoor speakers for our patio but my old receiver couldn't handle them. Plus I have been eyeing my dad's iPod bridge for months now. This receiver does EVERYTHING. It's SO cool!!! Jeramie had it installed and up and running at home that night. Thanks Mum and Dad!! The happy couple to be, Evan and Rachel.

Their last Christmas as single people. They'll be getting married in a couple weeks.

Baylee playing with some new gifts.
My Dad enjoying a new scarf.
Jeramie's boys, overwhelmed with all the excitement.
Our really pretty Christmas dinner table.

Here's the "pink" Christmas tree.

It's huge and just beautiful! Here's the family.

You've got to admire this picture.

My brothers with food in their mouths.

Jeramie with his big 'ole belly hanging out.

Zarley looking at him like .. WTF is THAT??
Baylee looking like, yep that's my dad, how embarrassing.

The "kids table". Some have already jumped ship.

It was another WONDERFUL Christmas at the Howard's. We all received more than we could have ever wished for, as well as more than we deserved. Thanks to my Mum and Dad for always making it such a fun day.

Christmas Eve 2009

Well we have this family tradition of going to a late movie on Christmas Eve, it's pretty fun. We had plans to do the same this year and then we found out that the only theater that was originally scheduled to have any late movies was no longer playing them late. So for the first time in years this tradition was broken. Mike's birthday was just 2 days earlier so we began the even of festivities with Mike's birthday celebration. We had a wonderful assortment of snacks as well. So while we all grazed the snacks we played some games. I got a new game last year for my birthday and hadn't actually played it yet, it's called "Smart Ass" (has a big donkey on the front of the box). It was SO much fun. If anyone is looking for a new trivia type game I highly recommend this one. After dinner we all opened our first presents of the season (PJ's of course)!! My whole family (myself, Jeramie and the kids) sleep over at my parents every Christmas Eve. It's a tradition I started when it was just Baylee and I. Then after Jeramie and I got married we just continued with it. I can't imagine not being waking up at my parents on Christmas morning. Plus they then get to enjoy the kids and their Santa gifts.

Jackson and Owen opening their PJ's.

Baylee looking excited with her jammies.

These PJ's were just perfect for Zarley!

And then there's Rachel.

She's a big kid too, and was so excited

to get her own pair of feet PJ's. She eyes

the kids ALL the time!

All the kids in their blanket sleepers (the official name).

Santa visited Baylee

She got a new TV for her bedroom!

Then a visit to Jackson

He got a Batcave!!

Another fun Christmas Eve celebrated at the Howard's!

Flashback Friday

These are my maternal grandparents. This was taken in England. I am being held on my Nanny's left hip. Mike is being held by my Papa. The other two girls are my cousins (Jennifer and Kathryn).

Happy Birthday Little Brother

So I wanted to wish my brother Mike a very Happy Birthday. We are only two years apart and it was just the two of us for nine years (until Evan came along). Mike and I grew up the best of friends. We did most things together as kids and still spend a lot of time together as adults. Our two youngest children are literally only weeks apart in age. Every now and then I see him get excited about something in particular and it's the same expression on his face as if we were kids again. Mike is one of the best fathers I know. He works his butt off to support his family. There is nothing he wouldn't do for his family. I know that this is how we were raised and Mike took it to heart. We grew up going to eachothers games (in whatever sport we were playing at the time). I remember when we were kids we always wanted to sleep in the same room together. The only time I thought I might actually get into a physical altercation with anybody was when I was standing up for my brother. There is nothing I wouldn't do for him. He's an amazing person and I am so grateful for the closeness we continue to share as adults.

Us as kids (obviously).

Ghosts of Christmas Past (but really not that long ago).

So here's just a few pictures of Christmas mornings in the past. They don't go back that far, just what I had from digital pictures.

~2008~

Baylee

Jackson
Wyland's First Christmas ~2007~
Jackson

Baylee
~2006~
Jackson's First ChristmasJeramie and the kids.
~2005~
Baylee
When it was still just her.
~2004~

Baylee

The year Santa brought her a puppy!

Wordless Wednesday

Enjoying our last minute decorations.

So we were watching TV the other night and Wyland grabbed a blanket and his bottle and went and sat at the bottom of the Christmas tree. We were late getting our decorations out this year which is probably a good thing because Wyland is obsessed with taking the decorations OFF the tree. It was cute though, he just sat there for a little while just gazing up at the tree (before he started pulling everything off again).

When Jackson wants his picture taken with a toy

he will hold it right in front of his face. Then for

the first time Wyland actually attempted to "smile"
when I was telling Jackson to smile. SO CUTE!

I convinced Jackson to put the toy NEXT to his face. And there go the ornaments!

Oh and he KNOWS he's naughty!

A visit to see Santa.

So this past Sunday we headed out to South Town Mall to visit Santa. I do believe they have the best Santa. There was this big set up this year which was kind of nice. Until I found out that they don't want you to take your own pictures. Now I do believe in previous years it was Kiddie Kandids that ran the show. This year it was someone new. They don't force you to buy pictures, the kids can still go sit on his lap and that's it. But no personal cameras according to the sign. Now I don't mind being required to purchase a picture, I understand that they have to make it worth their time to be there an all that, however the CHEAPEST picture package was $19.99!!! Not everyone has that much money to throw down on a Santa picture. I can understand $10 maybe, that's reasonable and affordable. Anyway after standing in line for over an hour we got our turn to sit on the big guys lap. By that point Wyland was sound asleep. So I saw lots of other people taking pictures with their cameras so we did too. Then when we were finished with Santa's lap we had to stand in another line to buy pictures! I was done with lines. So I left with the pictures on my camera. I was shocked that Jackson agreed to sit on Santa's lap. Winter did a good job of keeping Jackson entertained while we waited forever in line. They were all really good!

Such a funny expression to me.