Christmas Break Begins

Daddy's home, presents are wrapped and cookies are being baked. I love this time of year!! November, December and January are always very busy for us since it's basketball season, so I always welcome Christmas Break! Dustin will have 6 days off from work/basketball practice and he'll have 2 weeks off from school! We are lazy, hang out in our p.j.'s and get lots of fun family time. Here are a few pictures from the start of our break...

Ryan and Taylor cuddling on the couch together

Taylor was an angel in our church Christmas pageant...I'm partial, but I think she's a pretty cute angel!

All the angels

Taylor with Blue (Shepherd Boy)

Singing carols

She saw I was taking a picture and wouldn't look at me

We were getting ready for church Sunday night and Ryan saw that as an opportunity to eat cookies. He ate 2 1/2 before we caught him!

BUSTED!

Taylor played dress-up with a bow that was on one of her presents!

Christmas in Pictures

So, these pictures are in complete reverse order and I don't want to rearrange them! Here are pictures from our 4 Christmases in 4 days! I don't have pictures of our Christmas with my mom and David b/c I forgot my camera that day. Ugh!! It was wild few days, but so much fun! We did a 180 on Hwy 84 on Christmas Day and ended in the ditch. We were all ok. Dustin had us almost out of the ditch and a guy came along in a pick-up and pulled us the rest of the way out. He said that he pulled cars out of the ditch all day on Christmas Eve. He grabbed his niece and nephew that morning and told them to come with him...they were going to see how many people they could help today!! I thought that was pretty cool! Anyway, here are the pictures...

Ryan playing with his new toy from Santa

Tay was so excited to see what Santa left for her!

Her new horse and doll house (Santa almost didn't get the horse, but Taylor just KNEW he was going to bring it to her...so Santa decided since she'd been a good girl, she deserved it!)

Walking in to her see her toys Santa left (we were gone on Christmas Day, but Santa left the gifts for us when we returned)

An icicle off of Grandpa's house (excuse the nakedness)

Dustin in the snuggie!

Pop Pop and his angels. Ryan's face cracks me up!


Ryan's truck from Pop Pop

Taylor's Ariel doll from Pop Pop

The snow was too powdery for a snowman, so we made a mini-one in the house!

Building the snowman


Playing in the snow

Ready to play in the snow!

Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma's

Leg Rolls, Family Pics and Mustaches

We are already loving the Christmas break at our house!! It's great to have Dustin home and wonderful to be lazy! I took some pictures of Ryan today, in all his chunkiness. Check out those legs...think he's getting enough to eat around here?!

We attempted to take a family picture on the timer before church yesterday. It was a bit difficult to get Ryan to look at the camera. Taylor had fun running back and forth with me for the picture! The whole ordeal was pretty comical!

My sweet little angels

We had the annual Settle, Caldwell, Wall, Winchester, Crawford ball on Saturday night. We always have so much fun!! The gift exchange was a riot! Carla got some artificial mustaches and we all had to take a turn wearing them. We had the drawing for the leg lamp (just like the one on the Christmas Story) and we won it!!!! Yay! It will be on display at our home until New Year's, then again next year from the day after Thanksgiving until we host the party.

Ryan with the stache...the cute hat is from Cami (she also got him a shirt that I will have to have pictures made in soon) Think I look like my dad?!

He's a real coach now!

Tay showing off her outfit from Cami. She loves it!!

Me and my sweet baby girl!

Christmas Pictures

My camera is broken (booo) and is going to be in the shop soon. I had to take our Christmas pics with a different camera borrowed from a friend. Atleast I was able to get some pictures done!! I can't believe how big my kids are! Taylor has really grown up a lot lately! She loves to tell you how much she loves you all the time. She's really into cuddling especially in the mornings and after nap time. She LOVES to hug and love on her baby brother. She loves to be the center of attention and is a total drama queen. Where she gets that, I don't know?! My favorite thing she has said lately...She sneezed and said, "Momma, I got bless you on my arm!"

Ryan is 5 1/2 months old. He's eating cereal like a champ! I'm gonna start veggies soon, probably over the Christmas break. He is rolling tummy to back all the time. He wakes up on his back and so happy. I love to hear that little squeal and laugh over the monitor. He has the sweetes giggle! He has grown very fond of the "johnny jumper." He has got quite a vertical and you should check out his calves! He is so happy and easy-going! The other day, I found him asleep in the jumper. He would jump every few minutes but never opened his eyes or lifted his head. It was hilarious! He loves to be held, talked to and cuddled with. He has recently discovered his tongue and loves to stick it out. He also loves his feet. He will pull on his socks until he pulls them off.

These sweet kids are our pride and joy! They bring so much light and happiness to our lives. We are so blessed and can't wait for this Christmas!!

Merry Christmas

The Christmas break has been WONDERFUL and restful!! Taylor is sleeping so good these days, and Dustin and I are LOVING that. She had a great time at Christmas, opening every one's gifts. She's learned a few more tricks, too. She's started saying, "up, please" when she wants up on the couch or chair. I'm pretty impressed that she's putting two words together. Of course, as far as I'm concerned, this makes her a genius! :-) She's also started saying her name, which you've just got to hear. It sounds like "Tay-la". Any picture you point to and ask her who it is, she says Tay-la! Love it!

Also, the other day, I was doing dishes with rubber gloves on. When I took them off, Taylor grabbed them and wanted me to put them on her. She wore those silly things for like 45 minutes. We start 'em early around here...

Here are some pictures of Taylor playing in her crib a few weeks ago. The light coming in her room was just beautiful. And this was after like 3 or 4 straight days of fog...so the light was wonderful!

Playing peek-a-boo
We went to see Santa at Southland before school let out. Let's just say, we didn't waste the gas going to Santa Land this year...



Here are a few pics from the annual Settle/Wall/Caldwell/Winchester Christmas party. Darn-it, we didn't win the "leg lamp". Maybe next year...

Taylor and Riley