Merry Christmas!!

Caitlin is preparing for her first reconciliation for church.  She, Braden, and her friend collected cans and took them to a shelter for her service project.  I was super proud of all of them!

Nonie arrived in time for the holidays and the kids were excited.  She and C shared a book together.

The kids love the fire pit. They like to roast marshmellows on it.  When Uncle Face was here, they had fun blowing the fire and watching what happens.  We were forced to take away all the paper from them.

We are very blessed to have a wonderful church that we belong to.  It is a beautiful place at this time of year.  Which makes things nice considereing we have to arrive almost 2 hours early for the 4:00 Mass.

Singing carols before Mass.

 This is C's fourth year of being a Christmas Angel. She is a beautiful one!

 Santa sent the kids messages on Christmas Eve.

 Throwing out Reindeer food.

 Every year there is a wing contest between the Gavin boys.  Last year Uncle Face ate 84 wings.  Unfortunately, because of when Christmas fell we were unable to go to our usual wing place, which you pay one price and have unlimited wings.  So, we made 24 pounds of wings.  Uncle Face took care of many of those, we did not count this year.

 Our family room after Santa arrived.

 C waiting patienly for everyone.

 Both kids waiting patiently to see what Santa brought.

 B was super excited to see his BIG dog.

 Thanks Gracie!  Love my new purse.

Yes!  Now I can find  cool stuff outside.

 Uncle Face getting his annual strange gift, peanut butter this year!

 B and what he calls a "money waister"

 Not sure who gave B this gun?  Daddy?????

 Uncle Brett opening his apple pie.  We did not forget about him this year!

 The Boys and there Eli jerseys!  Go Giants!!

Merry Christmast everyone!  May your 2013 be blessed~



Santa Pictures

Every year we go to my parents club to see the real Santa.  It has been fun to see how the kids have grown and changed each year.  Below is the first time we went, neither one was excited but they sat.

 C was excited this year, B not so much.  Daddy was right next to him.

C was again excited, B was a bit better, but Daddy's hand is right next to him.

B was not scared, but was a bit shy this year.

 Yeah, the first year both kids were excited!!

 

Wow, look how much they have grown!  Both kids were super excited to see Santa, they could not wait to tell him what they wanted.

 B was telling Santa all the Lego's he wanted.  C just told him she wanted the Julie A.G. doll and a karoke machine.

 Stopping to take a picture before lunch.

Cousins!



East Side Jingle Jog

Every year East Side Elementary does a mile fun run called the Jingle Jog.  We were not able to do it last year but both kids competed this year.  They did so well.  B was under a 9 minute mile, C was just a few minutes slower. 

Caitlin took off at the start!

• I was super proud of B on how well he did, neither kid has ever done a race before.

I raced with both kids, they were seperated by grade levels.  It was a fun event to do. 

 

 We are on the final bit of the race!

C and two of her friends, they are all in second grade.

 B listening to the directions, such a rule follower.

 We have arrived at the race, getting ready.  Sorry, the pictures are backwards, I will do better on the next post!



Lego Land

We surprised the kids at Thanksgiving and took them to Lego Land.  Both kids were so excited.

Trying for Christmas Pictures

Every year I take the kids some where to take pictures in hopes of getting a good Christmas picture.  We went up to Red Top Mountain this year, same as last year, I took some then my battery died on my camera.  I got a few though.

 This is James, doing some thinking!

 

 My sweet boy!

My sassy one!

 Daddy and the kids.

 Braden realized the water pump really worked.