Christmas Eve night.....

My parents and brother were at the farm too so we had a fun Christmas Eve...the kids were of course hyper and excited while we opened presents from my parents and "big chase." Chase got Braxton a new set of legos so it was great he was there to help him with the construction......

Braxton and Collier just playing around.....Collier loves his big brother....Getting ready for Santa.....Does he really come down the chimney???.....Braxton had to have a flashlight so he could really check it out......
A quick Christmas Eve pic before we head to bed.....We will be up early......

Poppy's Christmas Eve at the farm.....

After we decorated the tree,it was time to head down to Poppy's house for Christmas Eve lunch....Braxton and Emma Chase love the fact that they can run down to Poppy's house and I don't have to worry about them getting hit by a car...We can watch them from the window as they fly down the hill through the pasture....

They were also very excited that Cody was coming today.....My mom asked Emma Chase who was coming today/tonight....thinking she would get "Santa is as a respone...instead Emma Chase screams "Cody is coming today!"......

Here is a pic with Cody.....

Here is one with Poppy and all of the great grandkids in the barn minus the 2 that will be here soon....Noah will soon have baby brother Davis who is scheduled to arrive on Dec. 30th and then baby Walker the end of next month.....

Playing with the horses while down at Poppy's....Emma Chase would not leave Collier's side while he was near the horses....I think I made her paranoid that the horse will bite and snip at Collier.....The horses are very interested in little people and Collier will just stick is finger in their eye or whatever....I didn't want him to put his little finger in the horses mouth and it be gone like a small carrot...So Emma Chase was his protector......We then enjoyed a wonderful lunch and opened...Emma Chase was very excited about her presents and loved the makeup that Carol and John gave her......she said "Yea, I thought that Santa would bring me makeup, but Carol did!" She was thrilled.... Neely helping Collier open his presents.......Braxton is pumped about his spring loaded Anakin light sabor.....Thanks Neely and Cody!

Our "Old fashioned tree"....

After we get the tree up to the house...it is time to put Collier to bed for a nap and decorate.....Braxton is content with the size and is just excited that he gets to use the ladder.... Braxton is dying to put the star on.....so he and Pop put the star on first........So proud on top of the ladder.....5 year olds think they are so big....Hanging candy canes, tinsle and more old fashioned decor.....WOW...the finished product....."It's almost Baby Jesus's birthday" says Emma Chase!!!

The perfect tree......

Our new family Christmas tradition started 3 years ago. We go to the farm and have sort of an "old fashioned" Christmas....Cutting down a tree in the woods, decorating it with big colored lights and old fashioned decorations, etc....The past two years the trees we have found were HUGE once we got it into the house ( one even fell out of the stand because of its size)....You know they look a lot smaller outside. So Braxton was a little discouraged this year when we found "the perfect tree." He thought it was way to small and was determined to find another one....We did convince him that it will look bigger inside and he finally agreed....

We rolled out of bed Christmas Eve morning to find a tree...Collier even stayed in his PJs!
Look! Collier thinks he has found one......

We found it....the perfect tree......Daddy and Pop get ready to cut it down.....TIMBER.......
Braxton and Emma Chase get to ride in the back of the truck with the tree.....
Then we get up to the house and Tommy and Pop shake it out and get it into the stand.....I always want to make sure that there are no animals and bugs living in the tree....

It's better to give than to receive.....

This year we had a great opportunity to teach our children that it truly is better to give than to receive and hopefully grasp the true meaning of Christmas. I think that they do understand the true meaning of Christmas ( as much as a 3 and 5 year old can comprehend), but it is so easy for young children to lose sight of this with thoughts of Santa and new toys......


A few days before we had headed to Target to purchase toys for an awesome family that goes to church with Gran and Bob. The family has two little boys ages 1 and 2. On Saturday we were able to deliver the gifts to the family........

Here we go unloading Gran's car.....everyone wants to help......

Noah has some gifts....Stacking the gifts on the porch.....The kids were all excited and working like little elves....
Getting ready to say surprise....Collier was even helping a little...

Christmas at Gran and Bob's House....

The festivities begin....Gran had us all over for breakfast Saturday morning to celebrate Christmas. Here are a few pictures....

Braxton, Emma Chase and Collier with their cousin Noah!
Nana came to celebrate with us too....They were all excited and a little silly....Looks like Nana has her hands full...Collier was excited about his anywhere chair.....He is always sitting in Braxton or Emma Chase's - now is has very own!!!Braxton absolutely loved this balloon pump thing in his stocking....you pump air into the long balloons and then let them go to fly around the room making a squealing noise....He actually sneaked it into church this morning.....
Braxton and Gran.....

Braxton's Class Christmas Program....

Today was Braxton's Christmas program at school. It was a sweet program and I thought they looked so angelic in their choir robes. Braxton did a great job and seemed so proud.....

After they sang the parents had a chance to take pictures before they exited in the stage....The kids stood there while all the parents were taking it pictures....flash after flash....It was actually a funny sight to see all the parents crowded together to get a perfect pic! Of course this was Braxton's chance to get a little silly......

Silly Elfie...

Every morning as soon as the kids open their eyes they run downstairs to see where the elf landed....It's a fun hunt every morning. It is crazy how fast they find him even in hard to find places....They really loved where he landed this morning....Braxton would not let me turn that light on today in fear of burning the elf! We also went to see Santa today...Braxton was telling him all about the elf and where he was hiding....Santa told him that his elves are always getting into mischief!! Collier thought it was funny too....He too gets into finding the elf...He has actually found it on his own a few times before the big kids wake up. He pointed to the elf on the ceiling all day and laughed....I know he said "elf" a couple times.

girls night.....

Tommy and Braxton went hunting this past weekend so we had a girls weekend plus Collier! Grammee came and brought Emma Chase a new robe....She was so excited about the big Hello Kitty on the back and loved to show it off......
Grammee and Emma Chase have hot chocolate in their robes....Girls only says Emma Chase....

Live Nativity

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Thursday night our family headed to the walk through nativity....The kids loved all the different scenes.....but it was soooo cold when the wind blew! I do think the live scenes really bring the story to life for young children. Emma Chase is still talking about when the angel came to see "the real Mary." Pictures of a few of the scenes...



Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem......They were so still as they watched......
"the real baby Jesus...Can I touch him??" screams Emma Chase......

Collier tried to stay warm in the stroller....

Thursday we made cookies with Gran....Here are a few pictures....

Emma Chase and Noah are taking turns....it is always a little chaotic with kids in the kitchen! Jennifer said just think next year there will be two more!!

Braxton gets a turn....

Braxton is pouting because he wants to go everything all by himself....He is not a little kid!
Collier had no interest at all in mixing and baking cookies....He is much happier running around getting into things....caught getting into the ornaments....

Christmas Program...

Wednesday night was Braxton and Emma Chase's program at church. It was all of the 3, 4 and 5 year old classes. Emma Chase was so excited to get to perform on stage. She has always had to go and watch Braxton and now she is old enough. She was thrilled to see us watching in the audience. My pictures are not very good, but here are a few.....Singing with the stars....trying to get every word right....

Braxton usually loves to perform and this year as a 5 year old he had a speaking part.....but he must be getting to the age when nerves kick in....We walked into the room and he says "I'm not going to do it...My stomach hurts!" I said Oh, yes you are and handed him over to one of his teachers...She is wonderful and got him over his "stage fright." He ended doing great and seemed to have fun!!
He really gets into Go Tell it on the Mountain......Saying his speaking part....I was proud of him for overcoming his fears....."With God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26

He's Back....

Our little Elf has arrived and is ready for some Christmas fun.....Braxton has been asking when I thought he would get here!! They get so excited. They spotted him quickly hiding behind a picture frame. Remember he is watching and will report to Santa!!!

Merry Christmas!!