Christmas....

Ok we are going to try to do this in an orderly fashion. Since we have multiple Christmas' at in our family and we don't have pics from all of them. So first was on December 21st (Sunday, the day after graduation) This was my mom's side and the kids made out like bandits!!! Oh my gosh!!!!!! And the amazing thing is that only 1 present was a duplicate and that was easily fixed because that present was from us and so we just took it back and got something else! It looks like I took 5 pictures that day. How did that happen?!?!?!?!?!?! But it was great cause it was the first Christmas in a long time that my Aunt Marcia and Uncle David had been home for I think since Andy and I have been married. The funniest little gift the kids got were these little robotic bugs. So cute! The run around the tables/floors and when thier antenna feel something they back up and turn around. So fun!!!!
Then we have Christmas Eve at my Dad's side (of which I have no pics! I'll have to get those from Uncle Wayne. It was cute, because there are at least 25-30 of us we all draw names and buy for that one person. For the kids us parents, this year, buy a gift (in our case 3) and they go into a big pile. Each child picks one gift and they they rip them all open at once. Plus Grandma Pete (the kids Great Grandma Pete) gets them each something. Then they run and wreak havoc in someother part of the house. Dimon tried to help Uncle Wayne do his taxes by throwing one years worth way up in the air!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh.... Anyway we headed home about 9 pm and went to Nana and Papa's house for a Christmas sleep.

This was the result of Santa's elves staying up till 330 -4 am. What is sad is that some of the wrapping was done 1-2 days before. But some things also took almost a whole roll of wrapping paper to wrap! So its really not as big as it looks, but we still had a great time. The kids were really excited. Izzy's fave toy was (I think) a Wii game, Wall-E and a Battle Dome for her Pokemon. Xander's fave is between a toolbox from Handy Manny (cartoon on Disney, so cute!) and of course his cars stuff. Dimon's fave was an Imaginex Jungle set that has a mountain that growls at him (sometimes it scares him though.) And he also got a bouncy rocky horse. All of the kids love this, so i think it was the biggest hit. It has to live at Nana and Papa's house, cause we just don't have room for it.

My favorite gift was from my parents and brother. They for my graduation/Christmas have given me and Andy an all paid trip to Disney for the whole family! We are going in March, for Spring Break!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then later on in the day we went to Andy's side of the family, for which I also don't have any pics for. Will have to get pics from David. It was a little chaotic but the kids had fun.
All and all it was a great Christmas and we hope that everyone else had an amazing Christmas!

Snowflake Festival

December 13Th (Saturday)
So, another thing that happens around here in December is The Snow Flake Festival. This is put on by the Children's Therapy Clinic, which












is where both Izzy and Xan go once a week, Xan for Speech and Occupational therapy, Izzy for Speech. These people are amazing. The efforts that go into this to make the kids happy and enjoy themselves is just...... wow. Last year when they went they had a great time. This year we were a little later and didn't have time to make ornaments. But we played all the games, saw Santa, got presents and had a very sugary breakfast. And we actually have a good family pic!!!!!!!!! Thanks to one really nice therapist!!!!!!!! Then we took pictures with all of the kids therapists. Izzy and Callie ( I hope I spelled that right!) And Xander with Emily and RRachel and Marlene. The kids had a great time and so did we. This year it was held at the Ivy Tech banquet hall. (Cafeteria I think) but it was a huge space and really nice!!!!!!!!! We want to thank all the people who worked so hard and help our kids so much!!!!!!!!!

Here comes Santa Clause

The happiest, most wonderful day of the year has come and we just want to wish you a Merry Christmas!

The Tree

So this year I remembered that the tree needed to be 8 feet tall. The first picture is of the tree in the distance highlighted with the headlights of the truck. Yes it was dark by the time we got our tree. Then there is Andy and Izzy standing next to the tree as it gets shook to pieces.That is Xander after picking out the tree, he hates clothes and the jacket was all I would let him shed. Then pood Dimon never even got out of the truck. he fell victim to the sandman as we pulled into tree farm, all dressed up and no where to go. Poor Dimey....

Guess what? 8 feet still touches the ceiling.....! And Andy beheaded the tree, he claims he only gave it a hair cut, but we all know how eveil those werewolf men are! He beheaded it!

And no, Izzy's not mad, she's posing.....

watch the tree grow fat and get lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas! All of them...

Well I know that I am really late at posting this but we had some time constraint and so now here is Christmas Photos and stuff....
Christmas at the Brumfield's ( Mindy's cousin's on her mom's side)
This Christmas was held on Dec 21st so we could all be there. We had a blast, the kids played all day long and loved all the toys they got! Chris and Christy have this one room in the house that is the play room and its just a cement room that has all kinds of goals and sports equipment and the kids could draw on the walls. It was great. I want one of these rooms!

Xander was a little overwhelmed but we did get him to open one present, then he ran. Izzy and DImon on the other hand were all to eager to open every one's gift for them. I think the best one was from Aunt Eleanor, she wrapped one of Izzy's gifts ( a pillow/muff lion) in a vodka box that has this weird looking I-Robot kind of thing on the front and we couldn't convice Izzy to open it because she thought the box picture was what it was. To funny! We love going North to see the family. And plus everyone really enjoys getting together and seeing how much everyone has grown.
Izzy is the only girl on this side ( in this age group)

and so she struggles to keep up with Liam and Clay who are near 10, (they were mine and Andy's ringbearers), and Ethan who I think is 7. (Sorry Ethan I can't remember!) But she does pretty good, she can definelty give them a run for their money on most things. Izzy's favorite gift was a pink guitar, Chris at one point came running into the house asking for a camera b/c she was rockin and playing in the yard. By the time we got there she had quit. Xan'der's favorite is a little lamp that has LIghtning McQueen, from cars on it. And Dimon's is his little musical farm taht lts him change the animals and mix and match and sing to him. He just loves it! Drives us all crazy because we are constanly steeping on animal parts, but it is really cute to watch him dance as he carries it around the house.

Above- Ethan, Liam, Clay Izzy
Below- Lindsay then Ethan

Izzy after the scary box and found the lion!

Christmas Eve- at Grandma Pete's house (Great Grandma Pete to the kids, Larry's Mom)

This side of the family is my dad's side and they are all a little laid back. This year there weren't as many of us and so it was kinda small. Really unusual, since I have 30+ people on this side, but we have fun none the less.

(<- Aunt Jane & Uncle Wayne above is Aunt Bev)

We had a good time. Because the family is bigger on this side we only buy for one person, Grandma (which we are told not to do, but we all do anyway.), and for our kids.

Just a side note here, My Grandma Pete is the most AWESOME person ever! She will be 93 this year and she still plays with all the little kids. She works and drives, and not the typical old lady driving. She can haul! But she is the best Grandma ever!

Anyway, Xan's best toy of the night was his slinky. Did you know that the box on a slinky has instructions! Who does not know how to work a slinky, but apperntly there are people who have no idea as to how to work a slinky! The world never ceases to amaze me. Izzy's favorite was a set of puzzle blocks that make all kinds of different designs. At the moment I can not remember what Dimon liked the best.

We had fun watching everyone unwrap their gifts. Here are some more pics from that night... above is Xander and Grandma Pete.
<-Uncle Kenny and Sue,

Below is Drew, Aunt Carol & Xan

Then came Christmas Morning! This is the kids walking pout and finding all that Santa has brought. Remember this is at Larry and Marie's house, thus all the room and presents... and thats out story and we're sticking to it!

Then Christmas Day (Eve) With Dave, Lillian, and Uncle Bruce and Nana, Papa and Uncle Ryan

This is Bruce unwrapping his movie, which we put in a lovely Victoria Secret's bag. THen Dave and Lil unwrappng thier T-Shirts. Lil's said "Do you want to speak to the Dr, or the Nurse who knows what is going on?" and Dave's had a bunch of little toads on it that said "Toadal Chaos"
And Dimon taking everything in stride. Gotta have that bottle, its been a long long day! Then there is Xan and Nana opening Xan's toolbox full of toys and fun prizes. Then there is Uncle Bruce attacking, or Xander attacking, Not real sure who won that battle. But someone did and Bruce said that his back was much better. Xan is a very good chiropracter I guess.

And we get to do it all again on the 26th with our 5th Christmas!
<-Amanda, Andy's cousin, and Dimon

Paul, Andy's cousin. Being attacked by Isabelle=>

This Christmas was held at Nanny's house. nanny is Andy's paternal grandmother. (Dave's mom) Its is a really nice little condo that is so not kid proof. We jokingly call it the glass house. Because there is crystal and glass and vases and just all kinds of fragile things that are within munchikin reach. Which you can imagine does not always end well. But we had fun. Izzy's highlight was trying to kill Paul. He was really great, he jumped and played and wrestled with her. It was cute to watch.