Look at these cuties!

Christmas 2008

We spent the days leading up to Christmas with Judd's family in Kaufman. We ate lunch on Christmas Eve with Nonnie, Bubba, Ma (Judd's grandmother), Calie, Matt, Beau, and Charlie. It was so fun to watch the three year olds open their presents!

Campbell's First Christmas

All four cousins looking at the camera!

Beau, Bailey, Charlie, and Campbell

Diapers...the best gift for a baby!

Beau & Bailey opening their cash registers from Ma

They got shopping carts too!

Bailey wearing her new apron and playing store

Campbell & Ma with his sock monkey from Calie

Aunt Calie also gave him an Ed Hardy shirt.  He's spoiled.

That evening we went to Garland to celebrate with my family. We ate Papa Johns Pizza for dinner, something we haven't had since we moved!  The plan was to open presents on Christmas morning, but Bailey asked if she could open presents that night and we obliged. Growing up, my family always opened gifts on the night of Christmas Eve anyway.

Trying to get a picture of both kids in front of the tree...

Bailey opening presents.  She got several new movies!

The happy boy with his new toys!

On Christmas morning, Bailey woke up and immediately asked if Santa brought her any presents. I told her that we would go look in just a minute because I had to change Campbell's diaper. She turned over in her bed and said, "I'm gonna sleep one more minute."  It wasn't long until she was ready to check it out.  Maw-Maw and Pop - I mean, Santa - brought Bailey a new dollhouse complete with furniture for every room!  She also got the Princess radio that she has been talking about for months.

The loot

 

Bailey loved her new dollhouse!

Campbell playing with his new car

Bailey and Campbell on Christmas morning

The girls

The boys

We ate lunch on Christmas Day at Judd's grandparent's house. As always, the food was delicious and we had a great time. Bailey especially enjoyed playing with her cousin Emily. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures while we were there.  We spent the next few days at my parent's house then headed home on Saturday.  

We had a great Christmas this year being with family, enjoying good food, giving and receiving gifts, and celebrating the birth of our Savior.  

Our Home for the Holidays

The mantel and our stockings hung with care.   

I LOVE our stockings! Judd and I bought four of them from Pottery Barn the first Christmas we were married. We were preparing for the future. We had ours monogrammed, but left the other two blank. When Bailey was born, we had someone monogram hers with her name. Unfortunately, they did it on the wrong side so it would have hung differently than ours. To fix it, we just had them do it again on the other side. Not only was her name written on both sides, the font didn't match ours. It drove us crazy for two years. This year, instead of getting Campbell's monogrammed and having yet another different font in the mix, we decided to order new ones for the kids and have them monogrammed by PB so they would all match. I waited until they were only $10 apiece with free monogramming and free shipping. What a deal! 

Bailey made this at school.  It will be hanging in our house EVERY Christmas!

Sofa Table with Christmas pictures and Nativity.  

One of the pics on the left is both kids with Santa. The other is Campbell with Santa at school. The one on the right is Bailey's First Christmas. And that's my Willow Tree Nativity in the middle. I need the rest of the pieces, but this is a good start. Do you like the $8 creche from First Monday? The price sure beats the $90 Willow Tree version!

Our tree.  

We "inherited" it from my Me-Maw after she passed away. It is pre-lit with colored lights, but we string white lights on it too. Judd likes white lights - he says they are "classier." Bailey likes the colored lights. This year we left both on at the same time and it is beautiful!

Big News

Campbell got his first tooth today!  I guess that explains the sleepless nights.  

Seven Months

Cam,

Our little boy is growing so fast!  You have really started talking in the last month.  We love to hear you babble.  So far you say da-da-da and ba-ba-ba.  Even though you were not thrilled about eating baby food at first, you have come to love everything except peas.  You have also started eating Puffs that dissolve in your mouth.  You are such a good eater!  Sleeping is a different story.  You began sleeping through the night at only 7 weeks old, but now at 7 months, you have been waking up during the night.  We can't figure out if you are going through a growth spurt or if you are trying to get teeth.  We just hope it passes soon and you get back to sleeping all night!  We've been so spoiled!  You got your third haircut this month and look more and more like a little man.  We will celebrate your first Christmas this month.  You visited Santa for the first time and did a great job smiling for the camera!  You are such a happy baby.  Your smile and laugh make my heart melt.  

I love you sweet boy,

Momma

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town!

As I said in my previous post, we have NEVER gotten a good picture of Bailey with Santa. When she was four months old, she SCREAMED in Santa's lap. At sixteen months, we knew better and stayed home. Last year we took a family picture with Santa because she would NOT sit in his lap by herself! Because of this history, I did not have high expectations for our trip to see Santa today. With a 3 year old and 7 month old, anything can happen.

We dressed the kids in their holiday attire, drove into Houston, and hoped for the best. It was almost too good to be true when we only had to wait behind two other families. Then BOTH kids sat willingly with Santa AND they both smiled. I was beside myself.  Merry Christmas from Bailey and Campbell!

Breakfast with Santa

On Tuesday, Judd was Bailey's special guest for Breakfast with Santa at school. They ate sausage balls while they waited for Santa to arrive. Ms. Vee gave some directions about how the whole thing would go down once Santa arrived. She told the kids they could sit in Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas, but they didn't have to. Bailey turned around and told her Daddy, "I'm NOT sitting on his lap!" Not surprising since we have NEVER gotten a good picture of her with the jolly fellow.

After some positive peer pressure, Bailey changed her mind.  Not only did she sit in Santa's lap, she gave him an earful of things she wants for Christmas.  As soon as she got down, she said, "I did it!  I did it!  I wasn't scared!"  She was so proud.  And I was proud of her daddy for taking these pictures.  

Bailey's Christmas Wish List:

princess radio

princess TV

princess puter (computer)

Dora toy box

princess toys for the Dora toy box

Dora stickers

Festival of Lights Parade

Every year, our town celebrates Christmas with a night parade. All of the floats are decorated with Christmas lights! We sat in front of our church and had a great time watching the parade with good friends.

Bailey all bundled up in her new coat.

Makes. My. Heart. Melt.

(Look at those dimples!)

Campbell was mesmorized by the lights!

until he fell asleep!

a few of our favorite floats...