The Griswolds!

I'm running short on time tonight, so I'm just posting some pictures of our house this Christmas....I will try and do our Christmas pictures soon. Today was a sad day....Anthony took down the lights! Levi has already asked a hundred times where daddy's lights are....what is it...only 330 days or so till they will go back up again?!

Tonight when Levi was taking his bath, he hollered at me to come look at him. So I did....he said, "look mommy, I look kind of like Santa Clause!" (He got to get a bubble bath tonight, and he had covered his chin with bubbles!)

Christmas Eve

It seems like growing up, Christmas Eve was almost more exciting than Christmas day itself. The anticipation was always so much more fun than the day...and now with having kids, I am reminded of this! Levi has been counting down the days till Christmas Eve ever since the tree went up on Thanksgiving night. So on Christmas Eve morning, he ran into our room with such excitement! It was a very fun and relaxing day, and we were all able to get up early since Anthony had taken off the night before! We visited Mr. Ken's store early that day...it was very festive at his store...we had to pick up some batteries and I got a dose of caffiene from a soda fountain drink. When we got home we made some cookies so that Levi could set them out for Santa! The rest of the afternoon was pretty layed back....we kept checking the weather to see how much snow we were expecting! The state of Kentucky has only had 11 or 12 white Christmas's before, so we were more than excited! Before dinner, the boys opened their gifts from each other...this is a tradition we will do every year....so that they can be sure to appreciate each other's gift without any other distractions! Here's some pictures of that....

Colt really did a good job opening up his present!

Levi was really excited that Colt had gotten him some CARS!

lol...he was very thankful to him!

Then later we got ready for Christmas Eve service at our church. Colt had been asleep for over an hour, so I was a little nervous about how he would be once I woke him up. I don't know why I was....he LOVED the service...especially the music! He was actually in a fantastic mood the whole time and then when we got him, he went straight back to bed. What a blessing that was! Here's some pictures before heading to church....

Sorry Colt we didn't get any with you....we let you sleep as long as possible!

So on the way home that night, it was snowing....and it wasn't just any old snow...it was the most beautiful big flake fluffy white Christmas snow!!! It was a memory that I will never ever forget!

Once home, Levi went straight to bed....it was the easiest night to ever put him to bed...he was so excited to fall asleep so that Santa would come! Again....I can remember being JUST LIKE THAT when I was little!

Our tree after Santa visited.

I will try and get pictures of Christmas Day up soon!

My pre-Christmas entry....

I got the best Christmas gift tonight that I could ever ask for! Anthony surprised me and took off work tonight and then got us Papa Johns Pizza for dinner!!! What a great treat! :)

So a few days ago, Anthony was putting Levi down for his nap. Almost everyday, its the same routine....he ends up telling him "Levi what happens if you get out of your bed? to which Levi will always respond, "I get a spankin'....well this time, Anthony asked the question and Levi quickly responded with..."if I get out of my bed, I get on the NAUGHTY LIST!" Think he's been watching one too many Christmas specials?!

His latest fascination....puzzles!

Colt eating some lazana ;)

Here's Levi with his bag of money. Last week, Anthony and I were discussing our finances and our voices were getting a little stressed, and Levi could tell. We were talking about wanting to take Levi shopping for him to pick out a gift for Colt. When I made the comment, "We don't have the money" Levi instantly chimed in and shouted, "I HAVE SOME MONEY!!!" Anthony and I both stopped and looked at him and asked, "What are you talking about Levi?" He said, " I DO have some money....in my piggy bank!" So long story short...we cleaned house in his piggy bank and he went shopping for Colt...he picked out the gift and paid the lady for it. I know he doesn't understand all of it yet....but he is growing up fast and we were proud of him!"

I don't know if Levi's gonna sleep tonight. He has been counting down the days till Christmas Eve, and he knows it's tomorrow. He also knows that he gets to open his gift from Colt tomorrow....he's been shaking it already trying to figure out what it is!

We are going to go to church tomorrow at 8:00....I guess my plan is to put Colt to bed at 6:00 like normal and just wake him back up! Poor kid....it'll be the middle of his night! We are looking forward to going to church as a family for the Christmas Eve service :)

I'll do my best to post some Christmas pictures as soon as I can...but for now, Im going to go enjoy the next few days with our family!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Never just one!

Anyone who knows me well, knows how much of a picture freak I am (thanks to my mother!)....which makes it so hard for me to choose just one pose to put on here, thus my reason for putting all of these pictures on here! I hope these little boys put a smile on your face today :) P.S. Colt is officially crawling!! And yes, my life has changed because of it...hence the reason I haven't been on here for the past few days!

In our church's family devotional for this week (I haven't read the entire thing yet) but the title has already captivated me....it reads...

BORN A CHILD, YET A KING

At first glance it just sounds like another fancy smancy saying you hear at Christmas time...that is until you really pause and think about the significance of it.....think about it.....Jesus was born a little baby....as so many other millions of babies have been born. HOWEVER, and that's a HUGE however.....when he was born, he was born a SAVIOR...a REDEEMER, and a KING!!! It gets me at the core. I cannot fathom looking at Jesus as a little precious baby child, knowing that one day he would be sent to Calvary to die upon a cross for ME. I pray that this Christmas, His name will be rejoiced and praised because HE IS WORTHY!

Camera Happy!

On days when I realize that my boys are 3 years old and almost 8 months old....it dawns on me that they are growing up way too fast. On these days, I break out my camera and start snapping!!!

Starting to play together....watching the race cars go round and round!

I couldn't resist these half naked pictures Colt!

Levi's imagination runs wild some nights....here he is driving Santa's sleigh! the white bag is "Santa's toy bag"

HO-HO-HO!

Peace Dude! I guess Anthony took these pictures because I just found them on the computer!

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!

This past Saturday, Santa came to Midway riding on a train....currently both are on Levi's list of favorite things! This was our first year going and it was really neat....here's some pictures of our day!

Levi and Kaden waiting for the train to arrive!

Colt waiting...poor kid gets drug along everywhere!

Here they come!

The train stopped right in front of where we were standing, and once they stopped they started singing Christmas carols.

He was happy :)

And very much in awe.

Once the train stopped, most families busted it inside the theatre to stand in line for Santa....but we just hung around outside.....and good thing we did because when Santa went from the train to the carriage, Levi and Kaden were standing right there and the elves asked them if they wanted to go for a ride around town!!!

So of course, you know what the answer was!

Once inside the theatre, they had all kinds of stuff for the kids to do....they could color, write a letter to Santa, get cookies, there was a minature train, and of course you could wait in line to talk to Santa. Here they are up on stage singing more carols. It was pretty neat!

Again....Levi was mesmorized with the train!

Waiting in line....

The boys with the elves :)

Sitting with Santa...Levi's telling him that he would like to have "Criss, Cross, Criss Cross Crash" for Christmas, while Colt tries to eat the top of Santa's hat.....

....then Colt moves onto Santa's beard, lol!

And this was the best shot we got!

Keeping in mind the real reason for the season, it's still fun to do some things like this and see the enjoyment in your child's face!