Back to CRAZY life!

We can always depend on a laugh with Gabriella...

 We were busy making cut out cookies that we took lots of time to decorate...and now I realize we didn't get ANY pictures of the final product :)  Here's the fun.

 A friend of mine invited us to the Childrens Museum.  We hadn't been there in quite a while and she had extra passes.  The kids were pretty excited about that, they had a blast.  Painting faces, creating ornaments, running around crazy!  They have a "light show" for the kids and Gabriella especially loved that.

Mckeever decorated cut out Rice Krispie treats for his Christmas party.  He enjoyed making his own creation.

Saying Goodbye

It was such a wonderful time having Mom here!  It was hard to say goodbye and hard to get back to real life.  We had such a wonderful weekend that we didn't want it to end.  It took a few days to get the kids, especially Gabriella, used to the idea that Grammy wasn't here.  Thank You Grammy for coming to Omaha and making our holiday's happy.  Your presence was a blessing and a gift.  The kids grew closer to you and I it was so great to see.  Each age and stage their love for Grammy and Pappy grows and changes.  The hard reality that you aren't around the corner anytime to hang out is becoming more real.  So, the fact that you came, made things so much better.  We wait in great anticipation for the next time we get to be together...and what a celebration THAT will be!  Aunt Megan and Uncle Bryan...we can hardly wait for February, to be with you and celebrate like crazy!

Christmas with Grammy

On Sunday we planned to celebrate Christmas.  It was a VERY cold day so we stayed in and enjoyed the day together.  We had a time of home church and it was special to have Grammy share about that week of Advent.  Mckeever read us the scripture and had some great things to share with us.  I wish I had some video of our church, it was a special time.
On with the day...it was time for presents!  We started with gifts from Grandma and PopPop.  The kids love the signs for their rooms.  Thanks PopPop for taking the time and care to make them.

getting ready to open gifts

Super Scribblenauts...SO exciting

Yay!  Grammy made them, WOW!

So soft

matching shirts...and undies for Keev

FurReal pet...she LOVES it!

Feeding that dog

Baby

Draw and Dance

Barbie!

Nerf tag

Christmas Party food spread!

Gingerbread House

Grammy made a gingerbread house with the kids...their first one ever.

I was off at my annual wrapping party and when I got home the Gingerbread house was done and we headed out so Todd and I could go to his work Christmas party and Grammy went shopping with the kids.  Later that night Todd and I went to our friends Christmas party and Grammy was so sweet to once again be with the kids.  It was a very cold and windy day and night.

So much to share!!!

Well, well...It's been busy but I'd like to run through the month...and update everyone!
Grammy came on the 9th and the fun began...

Opening Grammy & Pappy's ornaments

Montgomery thinks it pretty cool!

Gabriella is trying to see what this is

It is so great to get ornaments for the kids

getting ready to play a game of UNO

Gabriella is pretty good at holding those cards

Mckeever loves to play games

Montgomery is not too sure about what Mckeever will give her this time

It was fun to see Gabriella be so into the game...she did great

The Runway Party

My nieces have had a party for their younger girl cousins a few times.  This time they called it The Runway Party.  They wanted Gabriella to be a part this time.  They met at Anne's house and had dinner together and then performed a "runway show" for us mom's, and Grandma!  It was adorable.  A family friend of ours recently won  Miss Nebraska USA.  She came and hung out with the girls for a while.  They were quite excited about that.  Here is a recap video of the night and some pictures.

The girls each got a "certificate"

They passed out some beautiful jewelry ;)

Montgomery trying on Haley's crown

Olivia Emma Haley Kara and Elle

Christmas Decorations

On Saturday we did our decorations.  It was a fun family day.  We did almost all the decorations on Saturday but then we took off to head back to Mom and Dad's for the Oklahoma/Oklahoma State game.  We wanted to see who we would play for our last Big 12 championship game.  It was another late night...making it a typical holiday weekend.  We finished the decorations Sunday after Church, after a nap!
The kids love to play with the train.  Todd said the locomotive is shot.  He is looking for a used one on Craig's list so we can run more cars.  In the meantime they run the trolley.

They all helped with the tree

she loves the camera

okay, so Dad did it but they were close by

my little helper

cheeeeze

caught ya!

Thanksgiving

We spent the night at Grandma and Papa's house.  It was a fun full day for all of us.

Wiped out, sleeping in the back room

I love the way they can sleep anywhere anyway

 Kendra told the kids her "HabiYaz" story.  They love it!  I tried to get some video but couldn't catch it in time.  She made the story up for a school project and they want to hear it nearly every time we are together.

Q says /kw/

I'm so behind on posting.  I have a few videos I took that I was wanting to post and time got away from me this last week.  So, I will try to get up to date on the latest videos.
Gabriella has lots of fun with the leap frog letters and animals.  Last Wednesday she was holding it to her ear and swaying back and forth.  She moves her mouth like she is saying the letters.  It doesn't seem to matter what she is doing, we all get a kick out of it!