New Years Eve

Happy New Year. The kids have their earlier celebration. It was so nice having fireworks, some of the kids had never played with them.

Troy was the designated lighter.

The sparklers were a hit!

Christopher would get one and start running at one of the cousins, I don't think he quited understood he could light someone on fire, but he loved them!

The twins weren't the biggest fan of the loud ones.

Sydney was a little piro. If she was put down, she'd run right to the fire!

GG made sure Kate was nice and warm inside.

Christmas

We headed to Mom & Dads for breakfast. Christopher was there and ready to play when we got there!

When at Moms I rarely have the baby between her and Grandma, but Sandra moves faster than them and can sometimes manage an interception.Speaking of Sandra, she is soo good at thinking of what the kids would enjoy. She got Sydney a box of Kleenex. It was the best gift ever!! She first sat and pulled them all out, and then she sat and shredded them into little peaces. Sydney LOVED it, we had to keep Carter away, he kept wanting to play with it (I know what he is getting next year)!

Yes, Grandma is holding Kate and a GUN! These son in laws bring a different dynamic to our family! I think they were encouraging her to spin it around on her finger.

We knew Sydney's fall earlier that morning was bothering her, but when she kept asking for her apples I figured she was feeling better. So when Troy noticed her face full of blood I was shocked to see her tooth gone. A couple days later it was found, the root was at least 1 1/2 the size of the tooth. Tough girl!

Good thing she is a cute girl because with her sucking on that lower lip all the time she resembles a little Nanny McPhee occasionally!
Carter loved his Lego's and tramp, but the hat Sandra made him I think is top of his list.

HO HO HO

Neil has been saving up for his guitar which he named "Lydia". Yes, he named his guitar the name I wanted to name the baby. I think that is so for future kids I wouldn't be able to use it. He is loving playing it!

Sydney took a little slip on her pants and bumped her mouth so she wasn't too perky, but a little later she came around!

Carter is so good, when Sydney got her little box of dress-ups he was a big help in getting her excited by showing her how everything worked.

Carter had made each of the girls a bracelet and was very excited to open them and let them try them on!
The Tramp was a success!! They love it, Carter jumps and Sydney sits and laughs! She'll occasionally get up and bounce, but for now is loving watching Carter!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve wouldn't be right without the family nativity! Mom made these great costumes many years ago, but they were made for kids, somehow I guess it is a compliment that we can fit into them one way or another!

Carter was Joseph and Sydney was Mary.

I would never call my dad an ass, but that was his part that night. Carter was good at keeping Sydney on as she kept trying to see Grandpas face.

Neil was one of the wise men. Sydney couldn't resist, she thought it was time for family prayer so she joined them on her knees.
My boys in their new Christmas PJ's. This year we got the kids a trampoline. It is the first year we've had to put anything together. We started about 9:30pm, and finally headed inside around 12:30am. It was a good sign that Neil and I never got too fisty at each other during those 3 hours. We would have been done much sooner, but putting up the outer side was a bit tricky and so we ended up redoing all the springs 3 times. We had mastered the way to count, hook, and hold the springs by the final time! It fit in the backyard, but just barely!

Cooking, Caroling & Lights

Heading out for our full & crazy day!
Whits HERE!! We did a girls cooking day. We had 4 or 5 recipes and it was so fun to sit and bake all day with the girls. During naps the boys worked on making their sisters a bracelet for Christmas. They had such a good time doing this, and they turned out really fun! OOps! There was an occasional spill, or burning of marshmallows, but for the most part things turned out yummy!

With the exception of this, it was just not right!

The kids were really good while we were baking, there were only a couple times we would catch a little person sneaking a treat!Kate is pretty perfect so far, with this one exception. This is what she does when eating and as you can tell she is napping. She sits and just smiles at you and if you are trying to ignore her, she starts cooing.

Paul Family Christmas Party

Christmas caroling and delivering treats.
The kids loved going door to door!

Temple Lights

A couple nights later we all went to the Temple Lights

I can only title this "Trouble"

Piggy

Anyone that has stayed at our house knows piggy. Carter has had him since he was one. He twirls his tail to go to bed. I came in to get Kate and found he had shared.

Kids

This was my attempt to get a shot of the kids.

This explains exactly how she felt when we were finally done!