Merry Christmas!

I'm impressed ~ Santa has his gifts all wrapped and ready for the big night. Mike did nearly ALL the wrapping!! Thanks hon. Well I did all the shopping, so fair is fair, right?! I baked cookies and candy while he was busy wrapping the gifts on Sunday. I do have a couple gifts to put together and wrap tonight and need to pick up a few things for dishes to make and take to each of our parents for each family's get together, but I'm feeling pretty good that we're pretty much ready for Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone! :)

Taylor's First (Freshman) Homecoming!

She was pretty excited, but called us to come and pick her up early from the dance because it was "boring". Yah, it usually is when you're a freshman, but just wait a few years . . I bet then she'll wish it lasted longer. I made the corsage for her. :)

My Favorite Places

We visited my parents farm yesterday, and took the kids for a walk to explore and pick berries. I always LOVE to do this, as I love the beauty of the outdoors on their farm and pastures. Abbie, Jacob, & Taylor. Looking for tadpoles - found some too!

A view of my parents farm.

Neat old barn and the interior view of it.

Zoo Fun!

We had a family day yesterday - off to the zoo! The weather was perfect for getting outside and taking a stroll through the zoo. Jacob was smiles all day long :)

Christmas Photos

The kids got up super early this year - lol - Taylor woke up at midnight and Abbie was up at 1 a.m. and found that Santa had already made it to our house! They each have a little Christmas tree in their bedroom and are allowed to open the gifts Santa leaves in the rooms, so they were up playing with those gifts until they felt it was "safe" to wake us to see if they could open the rest of their presents under the big family tree. We all were awake by 5 a.m., but that was fine with me, as it was Christmas, and I wanted to allow the kids some time to play with their things before we got ready and left for my parents, who we spent the rest of the day with, along with my brothers and sisters and their kids.

Here's Abbie Christmas morning with her new twin Bratz dolls.

Taylor, Jacob, and Abbie bright and early Christmas morning.

My kids with their cousins at my parents.

Taylor, Jacob, Abbie, and Ashton - my nephew.

Jacob and I (my brother Jay in the background with his little girl opening a gift) .

Jacob all smiles over a new toy.

Jacob with his mouth a mess from a little chocolate and his favorite new toy - a realistic little vacuum cleaner! LOL. He loves it every time I vacuum and cries when I turn it off, so now he has his own to turn on and clean with! He REALLY LOVES IT!! It even actully sucks up a bit of dirt! LOL (That's his daddy, Mike, in the background).

Jacob and his cousin Carter.

Taylor and Abbie Christmas morning opening presents from Santa.

Christmas Cookies

The kids had fun cutting out and decorating Christmas cookies Monday night.