Christmas morning - our house

Christmas morning I found Daddy Lion at the edge of the hallway passing the time with solitaire.  He was standing guard so Little Lion didn't run out without Little Pumpkin or Mommy Lion for that matter!  *smile*

When Little Lion did wake up his first request was to play with some Legos he got from Grandma and Grandpa the night before!  He didn't even ask about Santa!!!

Once Little Pumpkin woke up, Little Lion said "We should check to see if Santa came."  He was so excited.  I don't think he even noticed the scooter it was all about the stocking!

This was a great year!  Both the kids were really excited about opening gifts!  Especially Little Pumpkin!

Little Lion with his new MP3 player.  At this point, he had not clue what it was.  But once we loaded it he was hooked.  It has gone most everywhere with us (and his V-pocket!).

I think the highlight of the morning was popping the packing bubbles!  Really, it doesn't take much.  We could have wrapped them each a box of this stuff and they would have been thrilled!

Look at this face!  She was so excited to get her own backpack, it fits much better than big brother's!

Mommy Lion got a new Christmas book!  Her collection is starting to overflow.  The kids listened patiently as we read it through for the first time.

I just loved this one of them both watching the bread in the bread machine!  Yes, I cheat . . . it was on the dough cycle so I did roll them out for rolls.  That counts for something!  *wink*

More to come . . . 

Christmas Eve - just the beginning

We have found, as most young families find, that meshing the Christmas traditions is one of the most difficult to do.  There is some balance between bringing in your family traditions and making your own family traditions.  We are still learning with each year and I'm sure once the kids are older they will be able to help make those traditions!

Before we started opening family gifts, we read the true Christmas story.  This year Daddy Lion read from the Rhyming Gospels.  It was fun to listen to and Little Lion even finished some of the phrases.

Catching a rare smile from Little Pumpkin!

The chaos begins!  We always start off waiting and watching each other, but it's hard to be patient when you are 2!  You can see Little Lion in the background checking out some of his loot, while I help Little Pumpkin with a box.

This is the only picture I have from the evening of little lion without his tongue hanging out!  It's cute, but I'm worried it's not going away.  *sigh*  I also love the picture because you can see a sweet baby picture of Little Lion in the background!  SO amazing how fast time goes by.

I think Little Lion is making sure Little Pumpkin is not opening one of his!  *wink*

Daddy Lion ~ well, what can I say.  You ask for a smile and this is what you get.

Little Pumpkin loves her roll on soap.  Too bad she understand it only smelled like caramel apple!  I'm sure after the first couple of licks she got it.  No adverse reactions anyway.  *wink*

My sweet sis, Tia!  She was our photographer for the night!  Thanks so much for taking pics and hanging out with us.  We love having you around!

So, the first of our Christmas celebrations!

Overwhelmed

We are still alive . . . we survived at least 4 Christmas celebrations!
I am a bit overwhelmed with the amount of pics I have, but intend to get to that soon. But mostly looking forward to great things in the new year.

What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?

For me:
1. No more diapers! (hopefully and prayerfully)
2. Little Lion going to Kindergarten! I know he is going to LOVE school.
3. A family vacation!

Lights, camera, trains?

I figured I'd better blog about this before Christmas gets here and it's too outdated to post!  Friday night, (you remember, when our temps were around 75) we decided it was great weather for walking around a local town square that really decks the halls!

AJ, Little Lion, and Little Pumpkin ~ this wall was a huge hit . . . the kids loved walking on it.  In fact Little Lion made some friends with some teens who were hanging out on the wall.  (He was asking them to move so he could get by them.  Later they he sat with them and ended up with a free bag of popcorn.  Such a Rico Suave!)

We saw a sign for train rides ~ and we were there!  Unfortunately when you live deep in the south, this is what you get for free!  *wink*  Yes, that a lawn mower (not even a tractor) pulling some little trailers with toy cars, a wheel barrow and a wagon!

Hey, the kids loved it.  We even came back to it later!  Once the Z family joined us.  Brazilians ~ always late!  *smile*  (It's okay to say that, they say it too!)

Mr. M with his GQ pose!  I think Little Pumpkin was copying or maybe mocking him!  

All the kids loved the displays!  This one was a hit ~ it's actually the 4-H display of a barn with animals in front of it.  We put our animals in it!  

They wanted to check out the nativity display up close!  It was such a great evening that we walked the blocks instead of driving around!  

This is my favorite display.  They have it up every year, it plays many songs.  Too neat.  I'm not sure how old it is, but you can tell it's been around for a while!

Don't worry people, Monday we didn't get past 34!  Let's just say we've had some highs and lows in the weather department recently!  *smile*

Warm Wishes to your family this season!?!

I'm sure this is not what the phrase means, but that's what we have right now!

Too funny to have flip flops on with red toes and poinsettias!  

What cracks me up the most is the local bank has snowflakes falling on their reader board out front!  SNOW?!?!  for real!  The kids and I joined some friends for an impromptu visit to the park today.  (no camera . . . sorry)

Santa can bring me a small pocket size camera . . . hint hint Santa.

***We are fore-casted to be below freezing on Sun am!  Don't worry I'll keep you posted!  *wink*

Enjoying the break in cold weather!  

Christmas Program ~ Take TWO

As promised here is our second and final installment of Christmas programs!  Today was at Little Lion's school program and party.  Enjoy the pics and movie clips!

Little Lion as a shepherd.  It's a family business!  *wink*

Little Pumpkin ~ not real sure why her picture is being taken!  

Our little shepherd spied us in the audience!  Love that I caught it on film!

"Jesus Loves Me" (just in case you didn't catch it!)

"Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus born on Christmas day

Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus, sleeping on the hay

Baby Jesus, Baby Jesus *kiss*kiss*kiss*

We love you"

Poor guy ~ just like his Daddy, can't snap!  

After the program, we headed back to Little Lion's classroom for a pizza party and gift exchange.  Plus some yummy birthday cake for Jesus!

Looking mighty fine!  

Little Lion and his bud Mr. O.  I hear about these two almost every school day!  Unfortunately, Mr. O is almost a year behind Little Lion, so I think his mom is holding him back.  We'll have to stay in touch.

Little Lion and a surprise Santa visit. 

Mrs. Judy!  We LOVE our Mrs. Judy!  Thanks for a great first half of the year!

Merry Christmas from Little Lion and Little Pumpkin!

(Not sure I'll get a better one than this!)

Come on let's take a "BLOG" ride

Well, you have to enjoy the doodle bops to understand the title . . . but here are some blogs you need to check out. A couple of recent events that I didn't take my camera too . . . oops *smile*

First, last Saturday was our MOPS group progressive dinner party and white elephant exchange. Oh my stars! How funny this was. . . our last hostesses said she had never heard a group of women cackle that loud and for that long! *grin* Anyway, check out Kristen's post here.

Next, Tuesday after school I surprised Little Lion with a trip downtown. Our sweet friend Little Man loves trains and they have an awesome display every Christmas at the local museum. We went with them two years ago and again this year, definitely a tradition we will continue! Enjoy the pics from both years here.

Don't be lazy!!! Click the links and enjoy!

Christmas Program, Take ONE

Last night was the "Family Christmas" Program at our church.  Little Lion only had a small part in it.  The pre-school director is very wise to only have 3,4 and5 year olds up on stage for a short amount of time.  However, I was impressed they even attempted 2 verses!

I promise his shirt was tucked in when I left him!  Back to sweaters for Christmas!  *smile*

Stay tuned for the next installment of Christmas Programs ~ Thursday!  *wink*

Gingerbread house

Daddy Lion loves Christmas time and all the festivities! I can remember doing a Gingerbread house one year even before we had kids. So when I saw the kit at Sam's I knew it was a must.

Little Lion was too busy to be bothered with pics so this was a courtesy smile!


Little Pumpkin woke up from nap and joined right in.


I noticed it didn't take her long to figure out what a gingerbread house was for . . .


Notice the icing on the lips! *wink* Surprisingly there is still lots of the house left after a week! It helps that it is up high and well, stale candy just isn't as good as they thought! *smile*

We hope your home is enjoying the Holiday season as much as ours!

Cook-ie

So last Friday (yes, I'm backtracking!)  We headed up to a play day with some of Little Lion's friends from school.  Cookie decorating and a cookie exchange for the moms!  

It was amazing how quiet the table got! When they all finished decorating.  Some quicker than others:

I'm just surprised she decorated at all.  You know her love of food!  *wink*

On the other hand there were the perfectionist:

Making sure every last piece was perfect and then thoroughly enjoying it all!

Can't waste a lick of icing!  *smiles*  Needless to say, none of our decorated cookies made it home!  But we still got lots of yummy cookies to try . . . not mention the left overs from the batch of molasses cookies I made!  YES!  MOLASSES cookies!  Daddy Lion was very happy!  *grin*

"My Boys!"

We pawned off Little Pumpkin to my friend Jaime. (thanks again!) And headed for a "special surprise." Little Lion was dying to know what, where, when and why! I was impressed with his inquiries . . . "Are we spending the night?" "Will I stay there without you?" Just like his daddy . . . one smart fella! (I won't reverse that like his daddy does!)

ANYWAY, once on the road we started giving clues. The biggest one being "remember when you went to see Handy Manny with Magnum?" (well, great clue dad, but now we had one bummed little boy that we weren't going to see Handy Manny.) Finally after explaining what a concert was, we asked who he would want to go see if he could go to a concert . . . "Tobymac" JACKPOT!!!

This is the worst cheesy smile I've seen! But Daddy Lion was looking good! *wink*

SO, we were on the floor! Awesome seats (if you're 6'3"!) This is Tobymac introducing the first performer, b. reith. I enjoyed his soulful sound!

Reliant K ~ we realized we aren't has hip as we used to be! *grin* I only knew one song . . . thanks to Tia. (Sadie hawkins Dance in my khaki pants ooo, ooo, ooo . . .)

What's a concert without a cheesy self portrait!?!

Little Lion kept asking "why are they singing the wrong words?" After sitting through 3 performances:

The long awaited Tobymac and Diverse City!

Since we were on the floor. . . Daddy Lion was holding Little Lion much of the night. I did when he would let . . . I just really wasn't much help being vertical challenged myself! *wink*

The song of choice! Little Lion was ready to go home after hearing his song! This is the one he had waited all night for: BOOMIN'

At one point, Tobymac was so close . . . we were on the edge of a row and was hoping he'd come further down, but this is as close as he got!

YES! He is asleep during the encore! I'm not sure how!!!

Everyone came back out for the last song . . . a Christmas song. We had so much fun! I'm sure we'll have many more concerts in our future. . . that boy loves him some music!