Dinner with Kids

Most dinners with my kids are frustrating. Michael usually wants to know how may more bites he has to eat and Audrey is usually dropping all her food to feed our dog, Tinker. This night, however, was the same...but they were just being so dang cute.

Crazy Hair

ABCs

Every night before bed, we have been working on Michael's letters. He loves to work on his letters. He will even come into the living room and tell us it is time to go work on his letters! Let's just hope he stays this excited with his school work. LOL.

Working on the letter Q

Daddy helping out a little bit
After he has worked on his letters, either Aaron and I will lay with Michael and have little talks until it is time to go to sleep. I love these moments. Michael will just talk and talk about nothing! But it is so sweet! I don't want to ever forget these special night time talks!

Company

Sometimes it is just nice to have some company!!!

Christmas

This year on Christmas Day, we were able to stay home all day long! That NEVER happens! It was so nice to have the kids get up, see what Santa brought them and not have to get ready to go somewhere. My mom and Mimi came over that morning to hang out with us. They came over about 9:00 and WOKE US UP!!! My kids slept until 9:00!!! We couldn't believe it! AND we had to wake them up! That also NEVER happens...LOL. So, we got the kids up and took them to the living room to see what Santa had left for them!!! They were both so excited and our house was a MESS that whole week!!! It was so fun though!!!!

Michael and Audrey's stockings

Michael checking out the loot
He was so excited about his Spider Man puzzle

Audrey checking out her loot

She loved her car. And this car has been the cause of a lot of sibling arguments!!!

After they got to play with all their new toys, we sat down for some breakfast. I made Monkey Bread! It was DELISH!!!!

Getting Ready for Santa

Putting Santa's cookies on a plate

Santa's candy cane on the tree
Michael was getting Audrey to take her to the tree from a picture (don't worry...she didn't fall...he actually held her like this and no one was hurt)

All Audrey wanted to do was eat Santa's cookies

Play time

Michael and Audrey love it when they lay on the floor and we take a blanket, cover them up and then flap it up and down. They think it is the FUNNIEST thing!!!

Michael getting the blanket ready

Getting ready to be covered up

Decorating for Christmas

Michael has always had so much fun decorating for Christmas! This year, Audrey was old enough to get in on the action. I think she may have annoyed her brother a little bit. Every time Michael would put something on the tree, she was right behind him to take it off. It was so funny. Michael was such a big helper! He helped Aaron get the tree into the living room and even helped him set it up!

Audrey trying to figure out what the heck this thing is.
Michael getting ready to start hanging ornaments.
Audrey still trying to figure it out.

Audrey trying to take an ornament that Michael just put on the tree.

Audrey got tired of decorating...so she took her baby doll on a walk in her stroller

Michael would not stop hanging ornaments until the box was EMPTY

Family picture (I know out tree topper is a little weak...but Michael HAD to put it up...LOL)

All the ornaments were at the bottom of the tree...

And then I fixed it.

Our nutcracker collection

Our Willow Tree table

Our fireplace

Picture with Santa in the front yard

Bike Riding

Two Christmas' ago, Santa brought Michael a bicycle. He has not been interested in riding the bike at all. One day, we were outside playing, and Michael decided he wanted to ride his bike. So here he is riding his bike.

Getting started out of the garage.

While Michael was riding his bike, Audrey was giving me subtle messages that I needed to start working out. She brought all of our hand weights out to the middle of the driveway...one by one.

Okay, they are ready to come back

And now she is bringing out the bigger weights.