NYE 2014

I looked at Jarred and proclaimed, "We are old!"  We had PJs on starting at 6pm.  We played games for hours.  And you know what, there is really no other place I would rather be!  Bye 2014....Hello 2015!



Yes, she still sleeps with her daddy's shirt!

Hunting with Daddy

The girls could not wait to put their new Christmas gifts to use.  Here are a few pictures of all the fun! (Ava got hers last Christmas!)



So glad they love going!  I remember all the fun I had growing up at the deer lease.  I think these girls will have many memories with their daddy and for that I am thankful.  Jarred is fun, but the girls know lot's about safety as well!  (Emma hates guns because of the loud noise....there may not be much hunting going on for many years! hehe)

More Christmas....

We have a tradition of celebrating Christmas with Jarred's side closer to New Years!  I LOVE this as it helps take the pressure off trying to fit everything in and it extends the holidays!  We were so happy to see them....it has been a hard year and we haven't seen each other as much as we usually do!
The kiddos play so well together and run, scream, and sing the entire time!  (On the way, Noah explained that Nathan loves Ava, and he loves Emma!  I love that they love being together!)
They asked 100 times if it was time to open presents....

Ava was thrilled with her Ariel Lenox ornament from Mamie!  She explained to me later that it was expensive and deserved a special "front" spot on her tree! ha
Jarred always loves presents from Boon! I love this picture, to me it shows her love to her big brother! The girls got camo for the deer lease! How cute are they??
The excited faces of Christmas! Nathan was beyond pumped about this Infinity set. Emma was so happy she finally has boots like her papaw. Susie loved her fitbit. And I was shocked by my new Pandora bracelet!
Jarred and Chris thought they got toilet paper and candy canes for Christmas. Thank goodness there was a check! hehe We got everyone Yeti cups! If you don't have one, good luck finding one! They were the gift of the year, and we can see why! Amazing cups!!!! We are blessed! SO very thankful for our families! She will probably get mad, but how could I not include this???

Sunday Funday

The fun started with a daddy/daughter date to the Texans game!  Ya'll, Ava loved it!  I mean LOVED it!  She was screaming and cheering them on.  Jarred got a few pics on this phone!  So glad they always have such fun together!  What a blessing it is to me that he is such a good daddy to girls!

 Jarred laughed at all she ate! I think they got a new snack each time someone passed!
 Putting her new Christmas gift to good use!
Up next we had our Christmas with the V's! I know I say it often, but I am one lucky lady to be blessed with the best friends!! Emma is in LOVE with her blanket!! It is so soft....and I won't mention the snake game! We have played it 100 times I think! (Thanks Elissa!) Finally a huge Frozen coloring book!
 The cutest Jake around! hehe My girls love Elissa. She really is family to them. We are so thankful.

And of course we played more games!  Ya'll this is seriously all we do!

And this is what the guys did!  They are putting the outdoor heater to good use.

Game Playing....

We got 7 new games for Christmas!!  Need I say more??





I am so loving the late nights with my family!  No alarms + Sleeping in = Heaven to me!

Christmas Day...WARNING: Picture Overload

Christmas morning with "littles" is so much fun!  I dread this part of them growing up, but I am sure Christmas with "bigs" will have it's own little magic(fingers crossed!)

The special request from Santa was a doll house (from both girls), a yellow "shoot" gun (from Emma), and a hunting backpack with a knife (from Ava).  Disclamier:  all these are used at the deer lease with strict rules/help!haha)



We had such a fun morning!  Paper was flying off boxes and giggles all around! (Especially from big kid....daddy!)  He was so happy with his new bag!

I got pretty lucky too!


I had a crazy mom moment and bought a karaoke machine.  What the heck was I thinking?!?!?
They gave us a "contest" all morning!



Papa John and Ash came for lunch!  And of course Papa John got in on the "contest".


And then more gifts.....


And more hunting stuff from daddy....

Isn't she cute?!?

This may have been the fav gift!!! (Emma, we need to talk girl!)

Ava had picked out Emma a gift from the store at her school.  We gave her 20 dollars to buy a gift, she came home with one gift for Emma and 18.50 in change!  Really?!?!?  It was a butterfly pen in the little sack.  So sweet!

It was a perfect day!!  I love my family, they are my most precious gift!  So thankful for the memories made!!  Blessed, Blessed indeed!




And this one stole my heart!

Christmas Eve

Our tradition on Christmas Eve is always going to the Christmas Eve service then spending time with my mom's side of the family.  This Christmas Eve was a little different as I did not feel well.  I hated to skip service but I just really didn't have the energy and went to take a nap before family arrived.  (Hoping it is just my DUMB thyroid again!)

I am so very lucky!!!  I LOVE my family and I could never express how much these 3 mean to me.  Who needs Christmas presents?!?  These guys are my best gifts!

My most favorite thing about the holidays is the time spent with family and friends!  (and of course, Mam-maw's cheese cake! hehe)






Gift time!  I think the kiddos asked 10 times...."Is it time yet?!?!"



Emma LOVED her new charms for her charm bracelet!

The gift of the night were the fairies from Mimi.

After everyone left we were busy getting ready for Santa's arrival.




Mom fail this year as we forgot to make our reindeer food, but daddy to the rescue!  He told the girls there favorite food was dog food????  They bought it, and it was the easiest clean-up....Nanna!! haha


And then it was time for us to read our final Christmas stories!  (This is by far our best Christmas tradition!)


Now to catch some zzzz's. These guys will be up early! (And Jarred will be the one waking everyone up! He is still such a big kid!)

More fun!!!

Breakfast with Santa started off our Christmas week! The girls LOVE the aquarium so I knew this
 would be a huge hit!

Santa was in the aquarium. haha! The girls hardly ate their breakfast as there was just too much to see! (Mimi had to get up several times!)
Then the girls got to play with the sting rays. Ava was thrilled.                                                         Emma not so much!
                                          
And of course we finally got to see Santa. The girls were thrilled they finally got to see Mrs. Claus.
                                          Now more aquarium time....
 
Tonight was our baking day! It was a nightmare wonderful with two kiddos helping! We made our cookies for Santa, daddy's favorites, and cake balls! Ya'll, every year I say never again! But next year I just may not. They may be good but it's not worth it. If you come to visit and I give you one, you are special! haha Thank God for dust busters! There were sprinkles EVEYWHERE! Then we loaded up to go look at Christmas lights! There were several AMAZING houses! One being the Frozen theme and the other train theme! At the train house you could actually get out of your car and play with model trains and then even go for a ride! And it snowed!!!!!
 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree....

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!


Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;
How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!
From base to summit, gay and bright,
There's only splendor for the sight.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy candles shine so brightly!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee! !"

More Christmas adventures!

On Saturday we went to The Really Big Christmas Show at Second Baptist!  Ya'll, they never disappoint!  Emma was amazed by the acrobats.  She proudly told me when she grows up and gets big she wants to be an 'acrobot'!  The show was about Christmas Town that celebrates Christmas everyday(that would be exhausting!)  The ending was beautiful in that we should celebrate everyday because the baby was just the beginning.  Christmas was the beginning of our freedom!

Sunday we started at church.  I subbed in Emma's class and I was surprised how much I miss their sweet faces!  Then it was a fun afternoon with our buds!






She was a beaut!
More fun to continue......

Elf fun

The night they came.... We enjoy unwrapping and reading a book on why we truly celebrate Christmas! They colored pictures, brought coloring books, and made a mess!
One night they had a snowball fight with special "snowballs" from Arendelle. They brought special cups for hot chocolate. (They even knew Nathan and Noah were over!) And the night they took down the stockings are replaced them with underwear!!! What?!?! They know how much Ava and Emma like to play hide and seek.... Practicing for Santa pictures! Wrapping the tree. They like to play games too! They waste band-aides too! Rudolph the red nose reindeer.... Taking rides.....

More parties.....

Ava's Christmas Party + Tea Party + Painting Party = Fun Friday

First party was Ava's Christmas party.  I was asked to help in her class and I loved being in her class all morning!  It was fun to meet her friends and a few moms.  Ava is in a great class with wonderful teachers!

These girls sit by each other everyday and they found out today that they share the same birthday!  They just giggled and giggled!  

We love Mrs. Papa!  And she told me today she may move up with them to first grade!!!  Fingers crossed!

I am so excited to be throwing out our schedule for the next two weeks!  Can't wait to catch up playing with my sweet girl!  I know we have some late nights in our schedule doing our fav things.  This is one part of school that I have hated.  She is still exhausted at the end of the day which always calls for early bed time. 

Up next was the tea party!  And, what in the heck was I thinking?!?  Glitter ornaments!!!  We are still cleaning up glitter!  Really!  The girls LOVED their new glitter Frozen ornaments, so it was worth it!  (Okay, maybe not!)

And the last party was the painting party!  I am so thankful for these wonderful friends.  We had time to catch up and most of all, Laugh!  (And, I was pretty proud of my painting!)

Christmas Party and Ice Skating fun

This week is jammed packed!  We are having so much fun.  It really is the most wonderful time of the year!  First on the agenda today was Emma's Christmas performance and party.



Proud Momma moment right here!  Get it Girl! Laughing.....
Now for the real fun.....Pizza and cookies!




Emma and Hannah have been together since they were babies!  And the guy below.....we sure LOVE him!

Here is Emma and her sweet teachers!  I think every year how will these teachers compare, and we have been so lucky!


And, Emma has the BEST music teacher!  This was actually Ava's 2 year old teacher.  Ava named her Fancy Nancy and the name still sticks today!  We love our Fancy Nancy and I am so pleased that she is lovin on Emma now!

That night we took the girls ice skating!  FUN!  Ava asks if we can go back everyday!

Polar Express

We took the kiddos to Polar Express this year.  It was a long drive but completely worth it!  The kiddos LOVED it.  It was such a neat experience!
Of course we had a mini photo shoot before we boarded.






The girls were so happy that Mamie joined us.  I think Emma talked her head off the entire ride.

They brought all of us cookies and hot chocolate.  Emma was so happy about this!!  (The only time she stopped talking was when she was eating or drinking!)



The train ride stopped at the North Pole and Santa got on.  (On the way home, Ava informed Mamie that she thought we were going to the real North Pole! haha)


Think these two will get married??


Both girls got their bells. 

And he signed our book!

The trip was really like the book.  It had such special details!  I think it may just be a must next year!




We are so enjoying this time of year!  (But this momma is exhausted!)

Tompkins 1st annual Gingerbread party

We decided this year we would start a tradition of a gingerbread decorating party.  For those that know our annoying sweet friends who have a tradition of always winning year after year (with their family) we were all on a mission.
Kiddo picnic first with Grinch punch.


Then it was time to get started. (Andee and I cheated a little and got a few ideas from pintrest!)







The look of concentration





Jarred had baby duty with sweet Presley!!  I think he really just didn't want in on all the fun!  So, I worked by myself and look at the MESS!!!

Here are the finished products:



In the end, those annoying V's won again!  The Kesner's in a very close 2nd, and I was 3rd.  I am not bitter at all!  (Houses in order)
And, here they are with the trophy!  They were not bragging in the slighest!

So much to be THANKFUL for...

Thanksgiving started out a little rough.  Sweet Emma had a stomach bug and started throwing up early that morning.   I was hoping it was from the antibiotic she was on but that theory didn't last after 5 days! It was a rough 5 days!  Lots of laundry!
I am so thankful for my family!  I am a family girl....I have always enjoyed spending time with each of them.  So many happy memories, and I am so thankful that now my girls get to make memories with them!  They are each precious to me!







The visit was cut short at Aunt Pam's as Emma was getting worse.  So much to be thankful this year with my dad!  We love our Papa John.  And, we have the best Auntie around.

Up next, I will be tackling our Disney trip!  There is only 1700 pictures....yep, you read that right.  One day at a time!!  Laughing....

Hunting with Daddy

Jarred is THRILLED that the girls have a blast going hunting.  Their first trip was a day trip that turned out to be an overnight stay.  The girls were having so much fun and didn't want to leave.  We all planned going after Thanksgiving but Emma had a nasty stomach virus that lasted 5 days!!  We stayed home(Mommy watched lots of Hallmark Christmas movies...Score for me!!  haha)
Here are a few pictures from the first trip, all taken from Daddy's phone.
 
 
 
 


Ava would always do a happy dance on the days Jarred would leave for the deer lease.  She was so happy that she got to sleep with mommy for the weekend.  This always made my heart soar....sadly, those days may just be over.  Ava is a deer lease lovin girl!  She will probably be packing up with him.  She has put a few things she needs on her Christmas list!
1.  Camo backpack
2.  Knife (Really?!?)
3.  Binoculars
4.  Earphones

Driving daddy


I love that Jarred loves his girls and wants to share his passion with them!  What a good daddy he is!