A little Christmas...and a LOT of FUN!!!

After Denise got here we decided to show her all that the Houston Zoo has to offer. :)

The new African Forest exibit is now open, and we decided to check it out. It was REALLY neat. We even got to feed the giraffes!!

FOR $5 you get 3 lettuce leaves. The boys were the second to last group that was allowed to do it. The giraffes' interest in the lettuce was waning.

It was just so neat to be that close to them. Thanks again Denise!!

How RUDE. This big guy was sitting on his friend.

This was also our first trip to the zoo with the wagon instead of a stroller. :( My babies are getting big.

With my Reed boy on the carousel.

Grant and Jeff.

Before we could blink it was Christmas EVE!! We came home from the lake and made dinner and cookies for sAnTa!!

Note to self: Do not let toddler hold the large container of sprinkles. Hope Santa likes 'em sprinkled.

We put the cookies on the table (next to the fire place) with the milk, a note, and some reindeer hay the boys made at school.

Ready to go to bed so they could wake up and see Santa!!

Denise read the boys "The Night Before Christmas" and "The Polar Express"

The next morning Santa had in fact come to the house during the night and left us some goodies!!

Mr. Archie and Bruce could hardly contain their excitement!!

Grangie and G-Pa managed to send this super COOL Diego Rescue Center all the way from PNG!! We love it!!! (Reed)

Santa also sent a cook Mickey Mouse clubhouse camper.

Grant opening another present from Grangie and G-pa.

Reed came over to help open it.

It was a Buzz Lightyear and Woody costume set!!! (Grant)

Reed looks so much like Woody!!

My little Buzz and Woody!!! They wanted a lot of Toy Story Stuff for Christmas. (even though they've never seen the 1st movie all the way through. Not to mention the 2nd or 3rd)

The biggest gift from Santa was a TRAMOLINE!!! Here are Santa's Helpers putting it together.

Santa was hoping to get it put together the night he came, but the weather did not permit assebly. So Santa left a note for Daddy to put it together.

Not sure who had more fun on the new trampoline, daddy or the kids??

My boys loving their new gift. :)

Go boys go!!

LOVE how much energy they burn with this new toy!!

Grant cooking pancakes with Denise!!

We miss her so much!! (You too Bruce!!)

More December Fun!!!

HO HO HO!!! It's the most wonderful time of the year!! We've have been so BUSY!! First off we went to see sAnTa as soon as we could!! We had a great time at the mall and the boys were super excited to tell him what they want for Christmas.

This year we got to go with Aunt Lacey and baby Ian. Baby Ian did so well with the big guy.

WE also were able to get a group pic, not too shabby!!

Next up we decorated the house and the tree. Jeff is still being lame and won't let us get a real tree. BOO But we did get to decorate the one we have. :) It's a little sparce in the lights department but we weren't about to make a thrid trip to Target.

Reed was so excited to put the start on top he held it the whole time we were decorating.

The boys had the best time helping us. They were so into it.

Reed got to put the star on top

It needed a little adjusting.

Jeff and I went round and round about the outside deocorations. I would always prefer something more along the lines of Clark W. Griswald's house and Jeff would always prefer to do NOTHING. So this was where we met in the middle.

It's simple but it looks good.

We found our light up antlers from last year and the boys decided that Mr. Archie Doggie needed to be a reindeer.

Next up was the gingerbread house. This time the kit was a little less involved.

Jeff did all the construction again and the boys got to help decorate.

Grant has a hard time not eating the decorations.

My Mom's group decided to go caroling at a local nursing home. Since the kiddos are so young the majority of the singing was done by the adults.

We had a great time and brought some Christmas Cheer to the residents.

The boys waiting to start the caroling.

Our friend Corinne.

The day before the last day of school was the boys' Christmas program. Grant in his outfit.

Reed looking good and ready to go sing.

Grant is in the front row on the far left. It was all the 3s, 4s and 5s. The boys classes sang Joy to the world and Silent night.

Reed is middle row of the far right. How more opposite could they put my two!

ALL the kids

Reed again

The day after the program was my bIrThDaY!! SO some of my friends from Mom's group (and Natalie from high school and mom's group) took me out to lunch. We had a great time. :) Thanks again ladies.

That night we had cupcakes to celebrate. (I made hummingbird cupcakes with cream cheese frosting) YUM

Reed getting ready to help me make my wish! My Present came when Denise arrived that night. Yay!

Grandpa Jess got the boys big bed for Christmas and My dad and Emmy got them the bedding. We were able to go to Ikea this past weekend (since Denise could babysit) and get the beds!! (Reed)

Grant on his big boy bed. :( Mommy likes her babies in cribs.

Now I just have to decorate the rest of the room.

Today we went to the Art Shop for Kids with some of our friends from school. We figured it'd be fun since we are all out of school right now. The boys painted a frog and a sailboat.

Andrew and his brother Lucas.

The boys got a TON of candy in goodie bags from school. They had a party in their classes the last day for baby Jesus's birthday. (They even had a cake) SO Reed kept wanting to eat more and more and more.

Reed's been working on swinging by himself. Here he is giving a demonstration.