Have a Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, filled with love, laughter, and smiling kiddos!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, and I even obsess trying to make sure I use all the paper evenly.
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial and pre-lit. It works much better here in Florida than a real one.
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually on Thanksgiving or the day after...I like to get it up early.
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually the day after Christmas or the weekend after. I'm sick of all the decorations by then.
5. Do you like egg nog? No, not a fan.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmm...Barbies, I loved playing with Barbies!
7. Hardest person to buy for? Keith.
8. Easiest person to buy for? The girls.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a Fisher-Price Little People nativity set and a nice one.
10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail, I love Christmas cards!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? That's a hard one, nothing actually comes to mind. Keith is great at buying presents, as are all of our parents.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Rudolph.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually in October.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no, I would be worried I'd accidentally give it to the wrong person and get caught!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Honey-baked ham. Yumm!
16. Lights on the tree? Of course, white ones.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I like so many, it's hard to pick! I've always liked Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas a lot, so I'll go with that one.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yup.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We do gifts from family and each other Christmas eve, Santa Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Hmmm...I generally love Christmas, but I guess I'd have to say that the rude holiday shoppers drive me nuts. I mean, you are out buying presents for Christmas, must you be mean??
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My tree is a complete mismash of everything, and I love it all!
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Honey-baked ham.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? For everyone to be happy, and enjoy the day!

Fun Times!

So! Here we go again! There will be an obnoxious amount of pictures once again, but it has to be done! Last weekend was Keith's company's Christmas party. Santa came, and the girls liked him, well two of them liked him I should say. Peyton wouldn't go anywhere near him.

Santa brought all the kids presents, which was awesome. Laynie got a skateboard, which she has been asking for for 6 months, so she was beyond excited. Riley got a Sleeping Beauty doll and Peyton got a learning laptop. They all loved their presents!

Last Sunday was Laynie's 6th birthday. It's crazy how fast time goes, I feel like just yesterday she was my little baby.

Friday night we went to cookies with Santa at Riley's school, I didn't get a good picture of the girls with Santa, but I did get some with their friends! This is Peyton with Bennett and his mommy Brenda.

Friends giving hugs!

Laynie and Lennon met when they were in the 2-year pre-school class together and were fast friends! Luckily our other children are within months of each other as well, so it works out great! Not to mention that Brenda and I get along great as well, so it makes playdates fun. This is Laynie, Lennon, Campbell and Riley.

Finally, today we went over to Disney to meet up with Destini and family! We met them at Hollywood studios and went to the Playhouse Disney show and to play on the playground. We had a great time, and the kids got along great. Trace is such a cutie! I loved his little grin, it was just adorable. We got some great pictures of the kids...even a kissy one. Peyton seems to have a way with the boys!!

National Conference

Hi everyone! I know Emily posted about this a while back, but I thought I'd get an update! I was wondering who is all planning on going to the conference this summer in NYC. If so, as of now, what dates are you planning on attending?
We are going, and as of now are getting there Saturday the 4th and leaving for home Thursday.

Serious Picture Overload

WARNING: there is some serious picture overload here (although you already figured that out by the title). Last weekend we went to Disney for a couple of days. One of the best things about where we live is being able to go pretty often.

The girls hanging out on the boardwalk before dinner...

Hanging out in the hotel...

Riley was so happy sitting on Grandma's lap...

...until Laynie came along!

Laynie got to take Cordoroy home for the weekend from school, so we were sure to get pictures of her with him everywhere!

Here's a picture of Peyton and Nana, we went out to lunch with them last weekend for Keith's dad's birthday!

Finally...we got to meet Owen yesterday! Cat's sister is getting married this Saturday, and she lives about an hour and a half from us. So we drove down and had lunch with Cat and Owen. We were also able to meet Cat's parents and sister Anne (who is hysterical, by the way!). We had such a great time...it was so nice to meet someone we've been talking to online for so long now! It's funny how it felt like I already knew them (I know those of you who've met know what I mean). It was also great to see Peyton with Owen...they were so cute together. And Owen, he is just even cuter in person (if you can imagine that)!

Seriously, how cute can one kid be??

Their first kiss! I have it on video too...look at the end!

Peyton was tickling Owen's belly!

Comparing their beer bellies...

Peyton just loved Cat...she walked up to her like she always knew her.

Thank you again to Cat and her family for welcoming us down! Also thanks to Anne who was supposed to be at work that day...it was great to meet her as well! Hopefully we'll get to see them again soon! Now here's a couple of videos...