Christmas in January

The Christmas fun kept on coming when we got a package from my mom filled with presents and treats!

Lucy and Clara loved their new books and baby dolls, and I enjoyed the homemade chocolates! Thanks, Mom! There were even presents for the new baby to enjoy for when he made his future debut.

Thanks, Grandma Gillson and family!

We always love getting real mail around here! Thanks again, Mom!

Clara's and Lucy's Birthdays 2014

Clara turned one and celebrated by having Krispy Kreme donuts as a birthday treat. She enjoyed it immensely. She was even licking herself clean after the doughnut was gone to ensure nothing was wasted.

Anticipation.

Pure baby joy/gluttony.

Trying to figure out how to get it from in between her finger to in her mouth.

Licking to obtain every last morsel.

Baby contentment.

"Is there more?"

One last bite.

Lucy and Clara opened their matching birthday presents from Grandpa Billy and Grandma Gayle together. Beautiful yellow church dresses that they wore for Easter Sunday!

Every baby's favorite part of presents, the wrapping.

The excitement.

For Lucy's 4th birthday she picked out vanilla bean cupcakes and opened presents.

Blessed with her Dad's cute dimples.

Clara wanting those cupcakes.

Best. Birthday. Ever.

New sun hat for hot and sunny Texas.

Hello Kitty hair bands.

Lucy was ecstatic about every present she got. These are decorative light bulbs for her room.

Thanks Uncle Boydie!

Thanks again Uncle Boydie!

Valentine's Day 2014

This year for Valentine's Day we invited some friends over for dinner and games. It was a lot of fun. Lucy had a great time playing with their daughters, dressing up and putting on a performance for us, while the parents played games and visited.  We love entertaining and are always looking for people to come over and play games with us.

Here are some pictures from earlier in the day when Lucy and Clara opened their package from Grandpa Billy and Grandma Gayle.

Lucy decided that Clara should model her new socks on her hands for the picture. 

Clara modeling her new headband from Grandpa Billy and Grandma Gayle.

Excited for all her treats!

Showing off her bracelet and card from Grandpa Billy and Grandma Gayle.

Lucy asked me to draw a picture of "Mommy and Daddy", this is what I came up with: A love note for Zach. 

Christmas Morning 2013: Present Time

On "Christmas Morning" we had a great time opening presents and hanging out.

The traditional morning treat feast.

Lucy's Christmas wish came true! After telling Santa so many times, she got her very own water table from Uncle Boydie!

Opening her first present Christmas morning.

Modeling her new hair clip from Aunt Emily!

Thanks for the cute jacket, Grandma Gayle!

Loving her new book, too!

Clara's favorite present, tissue paper! Thanks, Lucy!

Clara's Christmas wish came true! Tags to chew on!

Thanks for the awesome game, Stephen and Raven!

Adorable.

Adoring.

Clara trying out her new book from Grandma Gayle & Grandpa Billy!

Thanks for the glasses, Lucy!

Thanks for the scarf, Emily! Thanks for the snood, Kay! I love them!

This year when talking about Christmas with Lucy instead of asking her "all" the things she wanted to receive, we listened as she shared her one wish, and then instead of asking her, "what else?", we would then ask her what she planned on giving. We tried to change the focus from insisting that she have a list of many items to rattle off at a moments notice, to thinking about how the season was about giving to those around you. We talked about it and she had a nice little list of what she was going to give each family member. We had a fun time going shopping together and letting her pick out gifts. Sunglasses for dad, earrings for mom, and church shoes for Clara.

Since Clara needed to wear the shoes before Christmas came, we just had an empty box under the tree and planned on putting the shoes in Christmas eve so that she could open them the next morning.

Christmas morning came around and Boyd helped Clara open her present from Lucy. We had a big laugh when we realized that we had forgotten to put the shoes back in. Clara still enjoyed her box full of tissue paper, which is all a baby really wants for Christmas anyway.


Merry Christmas to all!