Christmas morning...

Christmas morning at our house was so special this year - everyone spent the night! My whole family stayed over so they could relish the sweet excitement the kiddos had when they came down the stairs to find Santa came to our house. He left lots of presents and filled stockings and even had some cookies and milk we left by the fireplace. Here are the cute pics:

"Look!!!" 

Oh my goodness! 

 Not the best driver yet!

Alex & Britt 

Lots of baby accessories... 

 A baby highchair that also doubles as Harpers!

Bugs!

 A fort!!!

Wonderful breakfast! 

 LOVE these mugs...

And a birthday cake for Jesus -- Mimi & Braxton made it the day before at HIS request! Sweet boy...

Lots of candles... 

 Matching jammies...

Christmas eve...

This Christmas Eve we went to our church with the whole family and then out to the farm to celebrate with the annual Santa sitting.  Then we came home to get some rest & get ready for the big day!

Before church:

 Snuggling at "BIG" church... a little scared of everything going on...

 More snuggling...

 Pastor Jeff telling the Christmas story to all the kiddos... we are in the chair on the right & Braxton is on the floor...

At the farm:

Santa arriving!

 Everyone standing in line to talk to Santa...

 Harper a little apprehensive about doing that...

 And screaming crying NOT going to do that...

 Our happy boy...

 Happy cousins...

 Sweet Kamma & Eric & their girls...

Looking to see Santa get in his "sleigh"...

 Playing around...

 Santa came!

Santa's little helper...

I just love these little Santa diapers designed by Huggies. A good friend told me about them and I am so happy I scooped up a box... it is so cute to hear Harper running around saying Sint-ta all day long and pointing to her diaper! What will they come up with next?

Not even kidding...

My two sweet muffins:

You may be wondering what this "project" is that Braxton is working on... this is his letter to Santa! No joke!!! Granted, it is mostly pictures and not words (he is only 4) and it is not just a list of things he wants... but pictures of Santa & his reindeer, the north pole & then a few drawings of some things he would like Santa to bring... 

He does understand that Christmas is not just about toys but is a celebration of Jesus' birthday - thank goodness! He even baked a birthday cake for us to celebrate with on Sunday and I will post a picture of it when I download my phone pics... such a sweet boy. I sure do love him.

Brunch with Santa and Gingerbread House decorating...

Last year we decorated Gingerbread houses at the Crescent in Dallas and had such a good time we decided to make it an annual tradition. This year we decided to add on brunch with Santa before decorating -- whew, what a day! Scott was sick, so he stayed home with Harper and I took Mimi along for the ride... to meet The Hart's and one of Braxton's best friends John David. The brunch was amazing and Santa was great and super sweet to the boys - but of course. The hotel was decorated beautifully and the array of candy they provide the kids to decorate with is out of this world... something similar to Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory... Anyways, we had such a fabulous time living life through the eyes of these kiddos...  

Getting ideas... 

 Before picture... bare bones!

 Some for me, some for the house... 

 Mommy helping ice some of the candies... 

 but Braxton doing MOST of the application... 

 Proud boy... and a little tired:)

 And after pics... the back of the house... 

 And the front, complete with shark pool... why not???

 The boys were obsessed with these surgical gloves... 

 My monkey... 

AND PICS FROM LAST YEARS DECORATING --- 2010: 

 My artist...