It was a Merry Christmas and then...

I have not been blogging like I wanted to because we have had such a busy few weeks getting ready for Christmas. We really had a great time with our families.

First was several weeks of cleaning and shopping and cooking and procrastinating and decorating and then at last, Christmas.


This is the house, I planned to put up lights, but ended up just using the cool Christmas Bells my mom-in-law made for me.

The good thing about having company coming over is it gets me motivated. I finally mowed the yard; raked the pine straw; and got on the roof to cleaned off all the leaves and pull some ferns that were rooting in the shingles.


Here is the tree, put up high to keep Owen away from it, still he managed to break 5 ornaments by using balls and other toys to knock the ornaments from the tree, like a carnival game. The little stinker! (Notice the nativity set from last year. We still have the Red King. You might notice that baby Jesus is missing. Owen hid Him this year. It took me two weeks to find Him but finally I stumbled upon Him on Sunday night behind the baby fence. It was my Christmas miracle, at least I had not already ordered a new one. I am getting a little less compulsive I think. LOL!)

We had a quiet Christmas morning with the boys.

Owen was really, really excited about the Soccer ball "Santa" brought him. Owen got lots of balls: 6 soft balls, two bathtub basket ball sets, a shirt with balls on it, a blanket with balls on it (made by his Mommy) and a really cute little t-ball toy. He is in ball heaven. He also got a Little People Farm and a very funny purple horse to bounce on.

Really he loved the ball, I just can't get a good picture of him.



Ross got a new Wiimote and Boom Blocks and Ben 10 toys and lots of Legos. He was really really excited about the new Legos.


They both got new PJ's but clothes don't count, right.


Ross also got a vintage Armatron. Jason found it on Ebay, remember the joystick controlled robot arm that Radio Shack sold in the 80's. Jason had one too. I did wonder, who really got the Armatron for Christmas? Hummm....

We spent Christmas afternoon/evening with Jason family. That is always a lot of fun.

Jason got a subscription to a wood working magazine.


Jason's Dad volunteers as a Santa every year and always gets a picture with all the grandchildren. From the top clockwise we have Noah, Peyton, Ross, Owen, Kylee (aka Hannah Montana), Ella and Ashlynn. Notice that Peyton has a firm grip on Ross' hair.


Owen would not let any other Santa near him, but he had no trouble with Papaw Santa.

Friday and Saturday I got to hang with my sister at her house. Ross loves playing with her boys.

Then Sunday night we hosted a bunch of cousins from Daddy's side of the family at our house. That was a blast too, a little crowded but I think the more the merrier!
Here are some of my cousins:





Can you see the big kids playing with the little kids?


Then on Monday, Jason's brother came over for dinner. I am including these pictures because I thought it was hilarious. Owen, Ella and Kylee were alone in Owen's room for about 30 minutes, but it was enough time to do this. They must have had a good time.



Finally just when everything started to calm down we were struck down by a vicious stomach bug. Ross went down first Monday night, then me 6 hours later and then Jason 6 hours after me. It was a bad day on Tuesday. Today is better, we are all still a little shaky but better. Thankfully Owen was passed over, although, he hasn't been himself either.

I am very glad this happened over vacation so I didn't have to worry about getting Ross to school and Jason gets an extra day off work to recover. Yuckkkk, we never ever want to do this again.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!