Christmas Morning

WAKE UP IT"S CHRISTMAS!!!

Good Morning Sunshine! Santa came... now wake up!

Only Lydia would get so excited about new SHOES!

Lydia though every single thing was so awesome this year... after she opened a present she would scream at the top of her lung "THANK YOU SANTA!!!!" Such a neat year.

Me with the kiddos... don't mind me.. still waking up and wishing I had put on some makeup!

Eli was very excited about the felt creature Granny got him in his stocking!

Eli finally peeled himself away from the candy in his stocking to find some presents for himself.

All sugared up and ready to play the rest of the day away.

Lydia... always game to ham-one-up with the camera.

Lydia's Favorite gifts from Santa... Care Bears... which santa was able to find thanks to Ebay

Merry Christmas everyone... couldn't get the candy out of their hands to save my life!

Trimming the tree

As usually, the first thing for us to do after picking out the tree, wresting it into the house, stringing the lights, and sweeping the house about 20 times... we had to trim the tree!

Here is Eli with a very precise and carefully executed placement of his ornament (notice the tongue sticking out... this is an old Boles tradition... actually only Uncle D does this)

Lydia and her placement... beautifully executed!

And the finish product... minus the popcorn... and minus the candy canes (because they just eat them.)

Christmas: Take 1 (Mamaw Dixie and Papaw John)

Technically... this wasn't a Christmas celebration, but more a visit to see Papaw John and Mamaw Dixie because we had missed them the week before we were in town. Mamaw as always had baskets of little goodies for the kiddies and us. It was a great visit and we really enjoyed visiting with them.

Eli and Lydia trying out their new crayons and coloring books.

Eli and Lydia sneaking up on a sleeping and unsuspecting Papaw

Eye spy you!

Eli can't wait to listen to some Christmas music... courtesy of Mamaw and Papaw Cruze

Thanksgiving!

Lydia trying her best to be a monkey.

This year for Thanksgiving we went to Knoxville to celebrate Thanksgiving. While I, of course, missed seeing my side of the family for the holiday's this year, it was still great to spend it with those we could. We tend to only be able to make one stop on Thanksgiving, and this year as a special treat Michael's father and step-mother were able to stop by and see us and the kids before they headed out for their holiday stops. This was really special considered Mike's recent health problems. Overall we had a great Thanksgiving that was gone faster than we wanted it to be... and the onto the Christmas rush.

Here is Lydia, Eli and Bryson (Michael's cousin Jamie's son).

Lydia deep in thought... I don't know what about.

Eli, Bryson, and Lydia (she's well hidden) playing hide in go seek. They may need to work on their technique.

Lydia either helping or hindering Jacob (Michael's cousin).

Michael and Jacob hanging out (Eli in the background running back to his tried and true hiding spot being the bush).