Another Christmas celebration!

Our Christmas celebrations were stretched out this year. It was actually fun! It was nice to have something do look forward to every other day for a few days!

The Winnett family Christmas didn't disappoint. As usual, my mom (and dad) went Cuh-razy on the kids! They all got what they asked for and then some!

We were gifted 'the goods' to get a ping pong table! I must say it was probably the greatest Christmas gift that I can remember in a looooooong time! (from my parents a least! )

We opened presents shortly after we all got settled so that the kids had their new toys to play with all day. I really wish I would've took pictures of my parents driveway/cul de sac...it looked like Santas workshop gone wild! We drug the kids in for a nice prime rib dinner and then let them back out until dark.

We spent the whole day over there, relaxing and enjoying the Holiday. It's proof that it doesn't matter what day you Celebrate, it is what you make it!

The girls in my mom's traditional homemade Christmas dresses.

This year was skirts for my girls and a dress for Paisley.My mom in her ugly Christmas sweater! Love this picture of my parents and all five of their grandkids!

Christmas Day with the Marquette's

On Christmas night, we went to the Cave Creek Marquette's for dinner with them and the Krysnki's. It was a lovely evening. The girls had so much fun playing together, and it was so nice to be relaxed and casual and just enjoy the holiday!

"Santa didn't skip us!!!!"

Holly woke us up early on Christmas morning. I told Conal "shhh, maybe the girls didn't hear her and we can go back to sleep". Fat chance!

We heard their door open and the pitter patter of their little feet across the cold tile. I'm assuming they were standing in front of the tree assessing the goods, as it got really quite for a moment. All of a sudden Taylor's voice starts trembling "Santa didn't skip us, Haynen!"

A collective....Moooooommy, Santa came to our house! And up we were!

I'd have to say that this Christmas, was, by far, the best one yet! Taylor is SO totally three years old. And just loved and reacted to each and every gift. It's so cute and very fun! Hayden still gets embarrassed when showing emotion, however, we did get a few smiles out of her too!

Dear Santa,

Hayden wrote her very first letter to Santa this year! She has drawn him pictures in the past, with a bunch of jumble, but this year, she wrote a letter. It's still pretty jumbly, but she did it with no help, I might add! Her teacher encourages the parents to not correct the kids when they're writing/spelling. They are learning their phonics and her point is that there are plenty of years ahead to perfect spelling. So she sounded the whole thing out.

We love this approach and find it a lot less aggravating for Hayden, if we're not correcting everything she writes. It's really built up her confidence and makes her feel so smart!

Her letter reads:

Der Sainta

I wont a Lfrd (I want a Clifford)

I wot a Borbe (I want a Barbie)

I won Chalr (I want Charlie (Pam's horse))

I wot a Horse

I wot a Pone ( I want a Pony)

I wot a Broht w Doogr (when I asked her what that meant, she couldn't remember!)

I wot a Borbe (I want a Barbie...again!)

I wot Rufdoph ( I want Rudolph)

Heart, Heart, Hayden!

Picture with Santa

This is the closest my girls would get to Santa this year. I've YET to get a picture of Tay with Santa Claus :(

Merry Christmas, 2009!

Holly

On December 23rd, Holly (formerly known as Ellie) came to her new forever home. Even though Conal PROMISED me that we would not get another dog until after Daphne (whose over 14 years old) passes.....Well, we all know Conal can't hold to a promise like that!

We went out to meet this litter of 10 puppies..border collie/queensland heeler/golden retreiver mixes on the 14th, and Conal just mushed over this little runty girl. They were born on November 11th, so they wouldn't be ready until after the first of the year. So we put our claim on her and rattled off names on the way home. Settling on Ellie, we told Hayden we were getting a puppy after New Years. Tay was with us that day so she already knew.

The Wednesday before Christmas we were told to come pick up our puppy early. What a Christmas gift! Potty accidents, crying, wailing, lack of sleep. It was awesome! There is no doubt about it...a puppy is WORSE than a newborn!

Conal and the girls decided that Ellie didn't fit her. After about a day, they decided to call her Holly, in celebration of Christmas. Or at least I think that's why!

I will admit, as reluctant and aggitated as I was to get her, I'm actually liking the littler buggar. She's really sweet and super cute. Although she's quite the biter and she sure poops a lot!

She had her first vet appointment on the 28th and weight 6.9 pounds and seems healthy. Her first vaccinations are under way, and we'll go back every 3 weeks for check ups and the rest of her shots until she's 16 weeks old.

Frosty

How many times have YOU seen Frosty the Snowman this season? Hayden says they've "only watched it 47 times". I say it's more like 147...and where she came up with that number, God only knows!
Each year there seems to be a movie that they latch on to and watch over and over. For Hayden's first three years of life it was ELF. Well, that was actually year 'round. And then the Shrek Christmas movie came out. Last year they were really into the Polar Express. Quite honestly, I can handle those moviees. They don't drive me crazy and I actually can watch them over and over with the girls. But Frost the Snowman. OUCH! My head, nerves and eardrums have been aching lately.

Gingy's

Gingerbread houses, also known as Gingy's (thanks to Shrek) are now a rite of the Holidays in our house. They still eat more than they decorate...but who can blame them?! Cookies, icing and lots of candy...my girls can always use a little more sugar! HA.

Now THIS is my type of camping!

Okay, it's not camping really. Well, not at all. But, anything that requires an overnight amidst the mountains and dirt is some-what camping to me!

Bill and Donna invited us up the weekend following Thanksgiving, to spend time with them in Prescott at their house. We all had a ton of fun. Great company, lotta adult beverages, silly giggling girls running wild, a parade and some homemade mac-n-cheese. I really don't know how you could top a weekend in the mountains like that!

Oh wait! It snowed (lightly) on us too! That's how :)

This is before Taylor stepped out into nature!

And this is After! Yep, she still doesn't like the "woods". That's ok with her Mommy ;)
Ahh, the AdventurerWaiting for the Light ParadeTrying to catch a snowflake. This was her first snow, y'know

BB King

Back in JULY, I bought tickets for Conal's birthday in SEPTEMBER to go and see BB King in NOVEMBER! I know, a little drawn out. However...every time BB King comes to town, Con makes mention how he'd love to see him before "it's too late".

My parents took the girls while we headed out on the town. We trekked back to our old stomping grounds and had a fantastic dinner at Papa Razzini's. It's very rare that the two of us get out together without the kids. I wish we could do it more often, but I guess it just makes those rare instances more special!

Skype!

I recently set up Skype so that Aunt Meghan could have a video chat with the girls. Yesterday we made our first call. I had so much fun watching them laughing at themselves and Meghan on the screen! They got to meet her puppy Carly and also got to peek in on Uncle Chico for a quick sec!

Little full, Lotta sap!

On Monday night, in the pouring rain, we went to the lot and picked out a Christmas tree! Quite honestly, I think it's the first time it's really, truly felt like the Christmas season to me since I've lived here. Number one, we haven't had a real tree in 8 years, and number 2, it's rarely cold and rainy in December. So, FOR ONCE..it reminded me of the many years growing up and going to cut down our tree at the tree farm in the pouring rain right after my birthday.
Taylor was so excited, she couldn't contain herself and fell asleep in the truck on the way over. We tried to wake her, but she wasn't having it. So, it was up to me and Hayden to find the perfect tree. And that we did!

Isn't she a beaut?

When the girls got done with it. Before I undid and redecorated it!