Birthday Party & Christmas Celebration

Brian took a vacation day on Tuesday so we could go Christmas shopping without the girls in tow (my mom kindly watched them).  We definitely wanted to avoid large crowds while shopping and succeeded, because we got to the stores before most people got their kids off to school and finished a little after it started to get busy.  It also helped to go on a weekday instead of weekend.  Brian then traveled for work Wednesday and Thursday...his last trip for the year.  Yay!!  This week he only has 3 days to work and then he's home with us until we both go back to work on January 3rd.  We're really looking forward to the family time!

We celebrated my niece, Laura's, birthday at an Inflatable Fun place on Saturday.  Last year, Hailey needed us to go down the slides with her.  This year, she had no problem going solo.  We then went back to my parents' house to open Laura's gifts and hang out.

On Sunday, Brian's parents met us at church and then came back to our house to celebrate Christmas with our two families.  They are heading to Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio over Christmas and through to New Year's to get away and to also celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary!  So, we needed to do Christmas a little early this year!  We exchanged lots of fun gifts and helped Hailey learn how to play her new Kinect "Disney World" game.


A couple Hailey funnies:

- Hailey had been eating an apple and I asked her if she had thrown it away in the kitchen trash can or the den trash can (which doesn't have a lid).  She said the kitchen and started to walk away.  I said, "Are you sure?  Santa is watching you and won't bring presents if you are lying."  She stopped in her tracks, turned around and said, "Let me start this over...".


- "White Christmas" was playing on TV the other night, so I started to watch a little of the beginning.  One of the scenes has Bing Crosby and Danny Caye performing a little concert for the army men during an active war.  Hailey says, "I know what this is."  I said, "You do?  What is it?"  She said, "Christmas Eve Concert Elves".  She thought they were elves because of their pointed army hats. :-)

Our little Super Star - 10 weeks old

Hailey in one of the jump houses at the Inflatable Fun place for Laura's birthday.

Uncle Brian holds Natalie while Daddy (David) holds Emily.

 Clara having some fun with Poppy.

Hailey and the birthday girl, Laura.

Clara cuddling with Daddy.

Emily was having fun playing with the butterfly toy on Clara's car seat.

Opening gifts with Grandma and Grandpa on Sunday.

 Hailey opens the Disney World Kinect game.

Grandpa and Hailey

Grandma and Clara

Brian got pictures back from his company's holiday party a couple weeks ago.  Here was our photo.