Christmas (All five rolled into one post)

This is THE DOLLHOUSE that Grace asked Santa for Christmas, as you can see she received it Christmas morning. She was very happy about it. It came with a mom, a dad, a big sister and twin babies a boy and a girl. The bonus of the house is the stove makes noises and the oven has a light in it. The phone rings too! The nursery has a changing table that when pressed lights a lamp and plays a little lullaby. Very cute and she and mom have gotten much enjoyment playing with it :)

Our Christmas actually started Christmas Eve at Grandma Martha's house. We went there and ate chicken noodle soup and other things of course. Brooks, Grace and I stole away for an hour to attend Christmas Eve services at church then back to Grandma's for presents.

Sam, Chelsea, Tyson, and Zac at Grandma Martha's

Grace, Diana (her back), Chelsea, Brooks, Grandma Martha, and Aunt Mary (her back too)

Grace opening presents at her Great Grandma Martha's

Grandma Martha checking out the calendar I made for her for Christmas.

After Grandma Martha's we went home to open our traditional Christmas Eve presents. They are of course every year pajamas. This is something my mom and dad always did so I have just continued it with my own kid and my sister does the same.

Mom and Grace in their Christmas Eve pajamas

Dad and Grace in their Christmas Eve pajamas

Grace took this picture, so I had to add it. She is doing better with making sure there are people in the little square before she snaps the photo!

After we opened our pajamas, we set out cookies and milk for Santa. Grace wanted to put out all two dozen cookies for him but we quickly told her he wouldn't eat them all because he got cookies at everyone else's house too. We read This is the Stable, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and the Christmas story from her Children's Bible. This also raised a very serious question from our little three year old. I was not prepared for it, thank goodness Brooks is a fast thinker. She caught the part that Joseph is Mary's husband. Grace says, "no, Mommy, God is, because he is Jesus' daddy." I was at a COMPLETE loss for words. How do you explain a Virgin Birth to a three year old??? Well you don't. Brooks told her that God is Jesus' Heavenly Father and Joseph is his earthly father. For right now our darling girl is happy with that explanation. Whew!

Christmas morning started about 7:00 a.m. I had to go wake Grace up and tell her that Santa had visited us when we were sleeping. She replied with " I know, I heard him on the roof last night!" Ok lets go. She ran in the living room and exclaimed "Oh my goodness" then as with last year threw herself on the couch and buried her head in the pillow? I don't know why but she just did. We then went out front to see if the reindeer were messing eaters and they were. We found out last year that the reindeer eat with their mouths open and if you leave them carrots, little chunks of carrots will be on the deck in the morning! Those silly reindeer!

Weird look but wanting to show off the clothes mom & dad got for her

We finally made it to my mom and dad's house. We ate breakfast that Jennifer had made and then opened presents. Grace got awesome things from her Aunt Jen & Uncle Ryan, Uncle Steve and Grandma Linda & Grandpa Jack.

Showing Derek her hat Aunt Jen got her and the ugly ISU hoodie Grandpa Jack & Grandma Linda got her...lol

Uncle Steve got Grace an awesome McDonald's Drive thru play set. She loves everything McDonald's.

Pretty Dress Up clothes Aunt Jen & Uncle Ryan gave her

After my mom and dad's we headed to Knoxville. Brooks' Grandparents Sox & Shirley's house. We ate dinner here and opened presents. We draw names for the kids and have a grab bag for the adults. We all had a really nice time.

These are the Great Grandchildren, Grace 3 and Lexi 4.

FR: Grace, Kaden, Kirsti, Cole, Lexi. BR: Brooks, Tonya, Dylan, Sara, and Tara

Ok, so we are all really really tired. So we went home and took naps and about 6:30 woke up and headed over to Brooks' parents. We exchanged gifts there with his mom and dad and Uncle Dylan and Ashley. Dylan got Grace a pink camo fleece jacket that she loves! Grandma Diana got her Disney Princess bedding for her room.

Uncle Dylan and Ashley

Grace opening something?

Well that was our very busy two days. I am very thankful to have spent them with all our family. We are all truly blessed to have all the Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and many cousins to celebrate the holidays with. I hope that yours was Merry and Bright! Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!

Christmas Time

This is Grace in her Christmas dress on the block that her Grandpa Jack made her. When he first made it for her she could barely sit on it!

Sunday at church we made crafts and got ready for the Christmas program. The program was very interactive. We had Mary and Joseph played by Lee and Sheila Franck, The Angel played by Nancy Slack and The Shepard played by Mark Slack. The children were the sound and action affects along with the congregation. It was very entertaining. Grace, Carley, and Emily were the "heavenly host of angels" and "flew" about the church amongst many giggles from the girls that ended up making most of the adults giggle as well. Grace in true fashion also made faces at her cousin Derek too. It was a very nice program and you could tell that the adults and kids worked very hard.

After church we had birthday cake to celebrate Jesus's birthday. It was a great time of fellowship.

Craft time
Joseph and Mary with the children
Joseph & Mary

Lee & Sheila

The Angel
Nancy

The Shepard
Mark
Char (our awesome Sunday School teacher), Jo, Kayli, Jennifer, and Haley.

Tantrum anybody...

It may not be nice to take pictures of this but oh well. We all have heard of them, maybe even witnessed a few, may have even thrown one a time or two or three. But here is proof that my wonderful, beautiful, angelic, cute little princess is in fact not a princess all the time. This is what happened when I told her that no in fact she could not eat candy ten minutes before lunch. I know I know how could I? I am such a mean mom!!! Oh and in case you are wondering, her shirt says "I am not trying to be difficult, it just comes natural!" Wow!!!

Welcome Home Lauryn

Donna and Chris Cox finally welcomed home their beautiful baby girl Lauryn Lee. Lauryn was born early and had to spend a few days in the NICU. She is doing great now. She was welcomed home by her two very excited BIG Brothers Reagan and Colin and also Big Brother Cody and Big Sister Trinity. Grace and I went to see her the other day and Grace got to hold her and was excited that a girl finally is going to join her in the play time although not for awhile. Lauryn is the first girl born into her mom's side of the family. I am sure she will be spoiled to no end.
Reagan, Grace, Colin and Lauryn
Colin and Reagan

Reagan with his "girl" Grace. Reagan has said since he could talk that he is going to marry Grace...we shall see :)

Singing and Santa

Saturday, we went to the Community Center for Christmas Spirit Day and the Preschool sang Christmas songs and got to see Santa. As you can see Grace had no problem with Santa this year. She also got to pick out a neat Dora toy to take home. This is all put on by the local Lions Club. They always do a wonderful job with fundraisers and helping out the community. What a great bunch of people! While we waited for Santa they had Elf shopping. A little shop set up for the kids to purchase things for a dollar for their family members. Grace picked out great gifts for her aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins. She is so excited about giving gifts this year that it is killing her having to wait. I am very excited that at three she is getting the spirit of giving already.

p.s. We did have a little mishap...they sang itsy bitsy spider as an extra song and she knocked the little girl named Lexi in the blue dress next to her in the face with her arm on the "wash the spider out" part. It was funny but at the same time the look on both their faces was priceless. You could tell Lexi was a little miffed and Grace was sorry that she did it. These two girls do play together outside of school too. You can see Lexi with Grace here http//thedeheers.blogspot.com/2008/09/homecoming-parade.html

Ice Skating Fun!

Uncle Dylan and his girlfriend Ashley took Grace ice skating Friday night for the first time. They said she was scared at first but ended up loving it. She told us she fell once on her "back" butt and once on her knees, and once Ashley caught her so she didn't fall! She is ready to go back!!! Grace was also very impressed with Uncle Dylan as she told us, "Did you know Uncle Dylan can ice skate really good?!?". How funny!

Getting ready

Uncle Dylan and Grace

Ashley & Grace

I think that is a smile on her face

And then she stayed the night at Grandma Diana, Grandpa Wade's and Uncle Dylan's. She had a busy night and was finally tired out about 11!!!

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma Martha

Brooks' Grandma Martha turned 80 on Friday. We all went to the Olive Garden, which is her fav, to celebrate. The surprise actually started on Thursday when Aunt Cindy showed up at Grandma's house unexpectantly from California. Grandma was very overwhelmed with all the family that showed up and very happy to spend her special day with all of us. All together there was 24 of us there.

Brooks and I
Diana, Grace and Wade (Brooks' mom and dad)
Natalie & Eddie (cousins)
Tammie & Phil
Cindy
Dennis & Mary
Jody (cousin)
Dylan, Ashley & Grace (Brooks' brother & his gf)