Easter Pictures

 

 

MORE PICTURES TO COME SOON!

Dec. 24, 2012

Dec. 24 has a lot of meaning for me and my family. It means tradition.

Christmas Eve afternoon Mass

Pictures taken at the same manger where mine was taken as a child.

Family Christmas pictures in front of my Nana (who is now in heaven) and Papa's flocked tree.

Group family picture taken on the 'timer' setting.

(Sad to have missed both my brothers this year).

Our first family picture without my Nana. It makes me sad to see.

 

Dec. 24 th is also my Mom's Birthday!

We celebrate her with a shrimp dinner and mac and cheese.

Of course there is cake, too.

 

Then we head home to get ready for SANTA's visit.

Carrots for the reindeer.

(Ella looks so tired and she was fighting a cold).

We set out a cup of milk and a plate of cookies for Santa.

Take a picture in front of the tree before heading to bed.

 

And one last look at our Elf on the Shelf, Pee Wee, before he returns to the

North Pole until next year.

 

Then off to bed...with sugar plums dancing in our heads.

 

 



SICK BOY

This week Carter came down with an awful cold...which eventually developed into two different trips to the doctor and a diagnoses of pneumonia.

He was put on an antibiotic and breathing treatments every 4 hours around the clock. Poor boy.

He will be down for about a week but besides going to Christmas Eve Mass or going to Papa's house, we are HOME.

No trips to Newton. We missed Christmas with my parents and brothers as well as Ryan's Christmas with his parents and sisters family and another extended family Christmas.

Glad he his back to his normal self soon.
No pictures of him doing his breathing treatment with the fish mask-sorry.

Christmas at Debbie's House

Debbie always spoils the kids-every year!

She had a Christmas party for the kids complete with gifts and cookies.

Ella had been eyeing this present all week at Debbie's House with her name on it.

She was so excited to get her very own pink computer!
 

Lucy, Charlotte, Ella and Guy with Debbie!

 

 



SANTA

We saw Santa a few different times this season...

First we saw him at a special breakfast with Santa at Chick-Fil-A restaurant.
  

 Carter was very excited to tell him his LIST!

Ella was hesitant so Daddy got in the picture with her.

Even the elf cow was there!

It was a fun morning with a yummy breakfast!

 

We also saw Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Lenexa Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

 

I convinced Ella to sit on Mrs. Claus' lap...but as you can see she was still not happy!

They also have a "Secret Shop" where the kids can go in with a few dollars and buy gifts for others.

Carter went in and bought for Ella and Ella went in and bought for him. Then they shopped together for Mommy and Daddy. They came out with four wrapped gifts.

They (especially Carter) were so excited! He remembered this from last year and couldn't wait!

 

We went and listened to the HTCS (our school) choir!

It was fun to see so many familiar faces. My kids sat front and center on the floor.

They loved watching the choir.

Then we saw Santa at a breakfast at church.
The breakfast was yummy!

Carter was happy to pose for a picture with Santa, but not Ella.

She did wave at him and tell him (from a few steps away) that she wanted a princess and Hello Kitty.

We also got to decorate sugar cookies at the church breakfast.

Carter had fun with all the goodies to decorate the cookie.

 YUM

 

 

 

 Last, we saw Santa at the Bass Pro Shop.

 We rode on the carousel while we waited for our turn to see Santa.
Ella rode a moose.

Carter rode a reindeer.

 

Ella also jumped on this! She told me to take a picture of her. :)

She knows I always have my camera on me.

We also made some fun ornaments.

 

Carter with a snowman.

Ella standing by Santa's Mailbox.

Then, it was our turn to see Santa...

Ella was not so sure she wanted to sit on his lap...

Carter was happy to take a picture with Santa.

Ella refused to get in with Santa...so rather than not have a picture

 we all jumped in and took a family picture with Santa.

 

 

 
 Ella was crying the entire time.

 

 We rode the carousel one last time, made a quick stop to see the fish and headed home.

We love Santa! We hope Ella warms up to him before next year.

 

St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas came to our house!

He comes while you are sleeping and fills your shoes with goodies each year on the night of Dec. 5, so when you wake up on Dec. 6th you have a surprise!

 

As soon as Carter woke up he headed down to see what was in his shoes!

He got a candy cane, a chocolate Santa and a box of iced brownies (his favorite).

Ella got the same except she got a box of iced cupcakes (her favorite).

 

St. Nicholas also came to Carter's classroom and left a candy cane in his paper stocking!

He was very excited!



Christmas Program

Carter got to perform in the school Christmas Program this year.

It was a performance by the Kindergartners, First Graders, Second Graders and Third Graders.

Each grade level sang three songs and then they all sang one song together at the end.

There was an afternoon performance when the kids wore their normal school uniforms.

He is on the back row-third from the left.

Singing along!

His position for the finale! He is on the left-third one back.

(He kind of sticks out with his red hair).

 

There was also a bigger performance in the evening.

We were SO EXCITED that Grandpa Randy, Grandma Deb and Guh Guh made the quick trip up to see the concert.

Front row seats!

The kids with the grandmas before the program started.

I love that smile while singing!

He was so cute up there!

Our family after the concert.

 

 

The grandparents (minus Pappy) with the kids before getting back on the highway.

I am so glad they were able to come up and see Carter sing!