Merry Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas this year! The kids all worked hard for weeks writing, decorating, and adding to a giant poster size letter/wish list for Santa. Christmas Eve night we set the list by the fireplace, so Santa would be sure to see it when he came down the chimney, along with Oreos and a big glass of milk! Normally the cookies would have been homemade chocolate chip, but we got in late, I'm sure Santa didn't mind...

and WOW what a wonderful sight Chrismas morning! To our delight ALL the kids made the
"nice" list, some we were holding our breath for :)
Santa brought each one a beautifully wrapped pile of presents sure to impress--those elves must have really stayed up late!
Although Ashley had CLEARLY stated on Santa's wish list that she wanted a "million dollars all for herself," she was happy with the clothes, digital camera and digital camera frame he brought instead--see, even Santa is an AGGIE! WHOOP!
Kyla just KNEW Santa had brought her the coveted Nintendo DS this year, last year Santa had decided she was probably still too young. As she stared at the shiny pile she picked a large present and said "I'm sure this is my DS"--a more experienced older sister Ashley pointed out a much smaller one to try, and to Kyla's delight it WAS a NINTENDO DS!!! "See Mom, I knew it!" To add to her spoils were Littlest Pet Shop toys, and HELLO KITTY rubber boots. What a lucky girl.

Now, Durham, the one we held our breath for the most, was the first to wake up. With Mom and Dad sleeping soundly in their room, exhausted from the night before, Durham decided to take it upon himself to dump everyone's stockings into one large pile in the middle of the living room! Imagine Mom's horror as she awoke to the sounds of a beautifully displayed christmas being destroyed--Aaagh, boys! But Santa knows, that under all the destructive tendencies is a very sweet boy, and Durham was excited to tear into his presents and find STAR WARS figures, a light saber, and Lightening McQueen rubber boots!

Santa brought our sweet Cami just what she wanted, "and I didn't even tell him!" She was AMAZED that even though she REFUSED to sit on Santa's lap both times we saw him this year, and would not even smile at him much less tell him what she wanted, she got it! Her Mariposa Barbie doll!!! Such a good girl, he even gave her a Nintendo DS and Hello Kitty boots too.

Kyla posing with her new pj's. They had little deer on them, so she told dad she can wear them when they go hunting!

Mister had fun just climbing over everything and playing with the paper. He loved the HUGE bucket of playdough Santa brought, although I don't think mom is going to let him play with it for a while...he also got Lincoln Logs that Durham was more than happy to "show" him how to play with.

yeah, more movies, and...

a KNIGHT'S ARMOUR!!! Can we say DESTRUCTION!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and we wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gingerbread House Heaven

Christmas is our favorite time of the year, and one of the things we all look forward to is...

THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE!!!
it takes much concentration...

and much taste testing...

Camden says YUMMY!

Kyla approves...

Mister wants MORE!

"A Masterpiece"

And ta-da, a beautifully delicious gingerbread house, albeit half eaten, that would make Santa himself proud, and keep the kids up on a sugar high for the next three hours!!! Yeah sweets!

Fall Fun at Dewberry

Camden's pumpkin

Meg's pumpkin

The Girls

Marshall found a little girlfriend in the pumpkin patch, or so he thought, until he realized all she wanted was his snacks...it didn't matter how cute she was, NOONE gets between Mister and his snacks!

Everyone with their pumpkins...except Durham is upset that Marshall stole his pumpkin, so he refused to be a part of the picture as protest

Posing with Pumpkins

Marshall's favorite thing to do was to THROW the pumpkins out of the wagon, so I spent the rest of the day just trying to keep track of our flying pumpkins

Kyla's teeny pumpkin

The boys hauling the pumpkins

They loved watching the "singing chickens"

it was weird, but entertaining none the less

Marshall, Camden, Megan, Kyla, Durham,& Luke

How CUTE are they!

This post should have been posted already, but I took sooo many cute pictures, I got overwhelmed and couldn't decide which one's to post. Several weekends ago, before Halloween, Eric's parents, his sister and her kiddos all met up with us and went to Dewberry. Eric was out of town. It was a little warm, but a beautiful day. We all had fun, and the kids LOVED being with their cousins. We all have so much fun when we are together and the kids are all the same ages, well actually they are all a year a part--it has been fun, but for the last 6 years either Rachel or I have had a baby (usually me) and it has made for 6 kids in 6 years, and LOTS of excitement! There's Kyla ('02), Camden ('03), Megan ('04), Durham ('05), Luke ('06), and Marshall ('07)--I guess Rachel dropped the ball this year, no baby!

Our Good Citizen

Click on the pic to really see how proud she is

Kyla is a model student! I have to brag...when she was in Kindergarten she was the first student in her class to receive the Citizenship award for the class the first 9 weeks, and low and behold in First grade she again was the first to receive the award. The award is a pretty big deal because each class has two students chosen every nine weeks, and they get a little key chain trinket, a certificate, and have their picture up on the wall at school. The Citizenship award is given to those who set a good example, are helpful and kind, and have "exemplary" conduct. She also recieved the Principal's Club Award for excellent conduct, and Straight A Honor Roll. She was very proud of herself, and I am very proud of her too. She obviously takes after...well, I cannot tell a lie, her DAD! If I could only get her to bring her sweet "exemplary" behavior home with her we'd be in business.

HALLOWEEN 2008

This year we decided we were all going to dress up as character's from the wizard of OZ. I had been tellIing the story to the kids, then McDonald's came out with the toys in their Happy Meals, and the kids were sold. I figured that I would have a time with a few, if not all, with not wanting to wear their costumes, but they all loved them EXCEPT Dad...he pouted and refused to wear the "Wizard of OZ" costume I made for him. I could only remember the floating head from the movie, so I bought a black sheet, cut a hole in it and told him to wear it--he was NOT impressed. I got him to wear it breifly during the ward trunk-or-treat, but no luck after that--PARTY POOPER! :) I dressed as the scare crow, which Eric said is appropriate...NOT funny! Durham was the Tin Man, because he got to carry an AX, Kyla Dorothy, of course, because she is the STAR of the show. She was very proud of her costume, complete with basket, Toto, and red ruby slippers--Thanks Gammy for making it for us! Cami was Glenda the good witch, and Mister Marshall Man, the Cowardly Lion.

Eric had a meeting that afternoon in College Station, so we all went along, and met up with Kara, Cadence (Superman) and Cotulla (Angel). We visited with my brother and Trick-or-treated a few dorms on campus. We got TONS of candy, all of which I carefully inspected and pulled out any defected pieces...funny thing is all the TWIX and many chocolate bars had to be confiscated for more full inspection. Man, I have GOT to start going to the gym again!

The girls "following the yellow brick road"

Marshall

"Cowardly Lion"

Durham & Dad

"Tin Man" & "Wizard of OZ"

Durham testing out the Tin Man ax on the poor tree

a tuckered out Tin Man

Camden

"GLENDA THE GOOD WITCH"

Kyla
"DOROTHY"

Chowing down on the night's spoils--a successful haul.

I think the scrary part of this picture is FOUR adults chasing SIX little ones through the busy dorm parking lot in the dark--oh the thrills! P.S I think that's about a 5 foot drop off the back of the wall Kyla is sitting on! Gotta love it! :)

Strolling the Halls of the dorms--not a bad idea, since we do live in Texas, and the dorms are AIR CONDITIONED! I have to give Kara a thumbs up for the dorm idea!

The CREEPY HaUnTeD HoUsE on my brother's street

Kyla made it through...

Durham made it through...

The other's were content to wait outside.

We used my little brother's house as home base for out trick-or-treating excursions. We changed clothes and ate there. They don't have any kids yet, so it was quite a "treat" for me to see him pacing around his house while six kids age 6 and under ran around like maniacs, excited for Halloween to finally be here. Sorry Harley, but it was HILARIOUS--you need to start the babies soon, or you are going to have a heart attack one of these times we come to visit.

So after we all got dressed up, we had to go outside and ring the doorbell, so we could get some CANDY!!! Jordan, my brother's wife is dressed as "Prince" the singer--purple satin pants, five o'clock shadow and all, very cool!

The kids mooching more candy from Uncle Harley and Aunt Jordan, again. Their's was the one of only three or four houses on the street with their light's on so the kids thought they needed to knock on the door several times to make up the difference.

My brother Harley as Elvis...the kids didn't quite get it, but they thought he was funny anyway, and since he let them Trick-or-Treat at his house THREE times, they thought he was pretty cool. Thanks Uncle Harley and Aunt Jordan for all the CHOCOLATE!

Halloween was a Blast! Okay, so it was a little EXHAUSTING chasing around SIX little ones, all hopped up on sugar and "goof balls", but we had FUN, and most importantly we lived to tell about it!