Thursday, December 30, 2010

Christmas 2010!

All I can say is that Andrew must have been a very good boy this year!  Not only did he get tons of stuff from his family but Santa Claus really out did himself this year!  

Animal Planet toys are the coolest!  This actually ended up being Andrew's favorite toy this year...and it wasn't on his list.  Santa knows her little boy pretty well!

Andrew's really starting to love outer space, so the Imaginext Space Shuttle was at the top of his list.

Action Figures!  
A 6 year old boy's toy staple.

Andrew's Stocking

Daddy and Do-Dah's Stockings

Of course my Dad was up first!  I was in bed before Drew who stayed up til around 1am making sure his Prime Rib was all set for the night...thanks to the rain the fire didn't make it til morning, and I was more than a little worried that a $200 slab of prime grade beef wouldn't be ready for Christmas lunch!  I should have known not to worry with my Dad and my Husband on the scene.

Now for a bright eyed, bushy tailed little boy on Christmas morning!...

Chicken Blaster for Wii

Red Rider BB Gun!  
Andrew's response, "Can I duck hunt with this?"
"You'll shoot your eye out!"
Not with these on!  Safety First!
 
I love this look.  
The one that says, THIS is exactly what I wanted!


Of course he got all kinds of lures!

 Even John the Elf gave Andrew a present because he was so good, a Lego Atlantis set.

So what did Daddy get?
A flat screen TV for the outdoor kitchen...because apparently my love needs a TV outside too, 
Man Caves just aren't enough. ;)
(Not shown:  Cole Haan- shoes & aviator sunglasses)

What did Do-Dah get?
Oh you know, only a Cannon EOS Rebel XS
and...
A Kindle!
I must have been a very good girl this year also...that or Andrew's cookies were really really good! ;)

Time for some of Maw T's famous cinnamon rolls!  Yummy!
Next it was...Play Time!

Making some bugs!

 Throwing snap-caps.
Then it was time to get ready for Christmas Lunch!
 My Maw Maw Nita's China :)

My Mama and I <3
Gotta love them red Justin boots!

Lunch was amazing!  Everything was so delicious...It was really just perfect!

Now more play time and family photos!
 Rough Rider!  
Check out those fingerless gloves! Ha!

From Poppie & Willie

Aunt Erin "The Entertainer"

ABD's: 2, 3, & 4



Of course Andrew wanted to do a silly pose!

Maw T, Paw Paw Larry, and Bud! 

We had an absolutely fabulous Christmas!  I don't think any of us could have asked for anything more.
I love my family so much!  It seems with each passing year they mean more to me than the previous.  How that's possible I don't know, but somehow they manage to do it!


Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve was split between two of Andrew's favorite people Mimi and Mama Day!  We got ready and headed to Aunt Erin's house first to trade presents with Mimi, Freddie, and Alex.

 My handsome boys



Lots of Pokemon!  Thanks Mimi!

 "Does anyone know exactly what a Pokemon is, anyway?"

Did I mention that Mimi gives the best stocking stuffers?!  
Well, she definitely gives Santa a run for his money!

The  Days

Next we were off to Mama Day's.  Every Christmas Eve the Day's all gather at Mama Day's house.  I've spent quite a few Christmas Eves at Mama Day's but this was my first time as an official Day!  In case you didn't know, Mama Day knows Santa pretty well...so well in fact that he stops by her house every Christmas Eve just to visit!

And man were the kids ready to see him!




This is one of my most favorite pictures from this Christmas! :)

After we filled up on good food, good loving, and lots of good memories we headed home to prepared for Christmas Morning!!

Cookies for Santa

Ingredients:

-Cookie dough, made by the family baker. 
 -Lots of cookie cutters in Christmas shapes.  The best ones are the ones passed down from generation to generation.  Erin has her Maw Maw's Christmas cookie cutters and they were our favorites. 


-Once baked allow them to cool overnight.  I recommend planning a slumber party for the decorators!

 Andrew, Beau, and Molly took over the "Man Cave," just for the night. :)

-Lots of sprinkles, icing, and TLC!




I think we need out own cooking show, don't you?!


They did a great job and had a blast!  Kids are definitely God's best gift!

 I think Santa is going to love them!

Our Bud on Christmas Eve with Santa's cookies!


Brooke's Tid-Bits:
As I started this blog I wondered, "Why do we leave cookies for Santa?"  I always figured Santa probably get pretty hungry making all those deliveries to good girls & boys.  So I turned to the smartest person I know for the answer:  Google.  And this is what I found:
"Leaving cookies for Santa Claus is a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition for children throughout the world. While the precise origins of this tradition are unknown, it may be related to the idea that children who have struggled to be on Santa's "nice" list all year are seeking to sweeten his disposition. At the same time, the largess of sharing cookies embodies the spirit of generosity so vital to the holiday season, and parents around the world sneak a late night snack so their children can delight in the few remaining crumbs on the plate the next morning."