CHRISTmas 2010

One of my New Year Resolutions is to blog more...funny how with digital cameras we take so many pictures these days, but NEVER print them! I just uploaded an SD card I found wedged in my purse, there were so many great photos I had already forgotten about. What a better way to choose the best ones and add commentary? So I'm challenging myself to 365entries in the 365 days following 1 Jan 2011!

I'll begin in reverse order, starting with Christmas first. :)

We had a nice Christmas at home. Since Austin and I have the littlest ones, our parents spent Christmas Eve with us and stayed the night so that they could see the kids open their presents in the morning, what a special day to have everyone here together! My dad was sick and didn't make it up, so we paid him a special visit a few days later.

The kids were super excited for Santa, however we wanted them to know first and foremost the reason for Christmas is to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. Let me tell you Cooper LOVES her some baby Jesus - we have a small Playmobile nativity set and Ms Coop always has tiny baby Jesus in tow :) I took the kids through a drive through nativity and we had to circle around twice so Coop could get a better look at 'tiny baby Jesus.' That is what she calls Him, cracks me up, I love it. Banks is VERY proud that he memorized, in perfect order, 'Jesus is the reason for the season,' quite a mouth full for a 4 year old.

Our Nativity Set (including baby Jesus) he's usually MIA

I love the super squinty cheeses. :)

 Miss Cooper Reese

Mr Banks Ryan

 Gee & PawPaw got Banks 'the skape board' he's always wanted!'

Thank goodness it came with elbow & knee pads & we already have the helmet.

 Mimi bought Cooper TCU purple cheerleader pom-pons & A TALKING CHEERLEADER doll...thanks to mimi the entire family now has a library of 5 new cheers, that we all recite! lol

Almost all of the girls (Yvette & the boys came over later & we didn't get a pic :()

Angel, Megan, Cooper, Mom, Kelsey, Kimberly & Me

 The GRANDKIDS!

Joshua Brandon, Seth Michael, PROUD Mimi, Megan Taylor,

 CoopReese(she dressed herself), Kelsey Rachelle, Aaron Blaine & Banks Ryan

Um, we somehow didn't manage to get our annual Christmas photo, so here's one from Turkey Day instead

(If I hadn't told you, you would have never known ;))

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you and yours!

*a very purple Christmas*

Gotta love a PURPLE Christmas!

Last Sunday we took the kids to the Dallas TCU Alumni Ginger Bread House event.

Let's just say there was PLENTY of sugar consumed that day,

I think the kids ate more than they put on our house, but that was half the FUN!

Posing in front of the TCU Rose Bowl House & the purple Nut Cracker

A nice blank canvas...

Um, that goes ON the house Cooper...

Daddy is the pro - we constructed this bad boy out of some ground up Hardie :)

FROG FINGERS

Finished Product!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!

ouR pICTURES aRRIVED!

wAY tO gO bROOKE!!

~thanks for the memories~

fABLOUS pHOTO'S & yOU wOULD nEVER bELIVEVE tHERE wERE a fEW mELT dOWNS!

(okay, i actually included two sad baby pictures at the end, even still, those are TUTU cUTE)

::hERE aRE a fEW oF mY fAVORITES::

~tHE eND~

~in THe hoLIDay SpirIT~

Long time, no see!

 I've got to get back to the world of blogging...I enjoy staying caught up on everyone blogs, and suppose I owe blog spot a few posts, okay, maybe more than a few.

Speaking of blogs, i found through a mutual blog, ITSY BITSY POSES PHOTOGRAPHY, and booked a family session. Here is a little sneak peak of our photos. Brooke did a phenomenal job. My master plan was grand (photo's after nap) but, the kids didn't exactly live up to my expectations. Despite waking up on the wrong side of nap land, we managed to get some fabulous shots!

As I said...Brooke was THE BEST.

It's been a while...

Picutres are worth a thousands words. I've neglected our blog - sorry for those of you who keep us with us via blogspot, friend me on facebook and your updates will become more frequent. :)

The kids are growing leaps and bounds, we're almost a 100% diaper free zone, and the Banks asks me at least once a week, "Why does it take summer so long to get here?" What he really means, is "When do we get to go swimming?" Not soon enough, is typically my answer. Cooper is a little diva, prefers Pink to any other color and has to have her nails painted...we definitely have our hands full.

God is Good! I was blessed by one of my best friends, Carrie, who purchased my ticket to the 2010 Flavor Conference for Women. We laughed & cried and sang our hearts out. Christine Caine was one of the guest speakers from Hillsong Church in Austraila - she was AWESOME - check her out on YouTube - you will not be disappointed. She's a little spit fire who has an amazing ability to communicate. I promise to post a few photo's once I upload & scan them.

Here are a few updated photos from the past few months -

We bought Banks a new 'big boy' bike. It took him all of 15 minutes to figure out how to ride it, I can't tell you the joy I felt watching him, I was a super proud Mom, he is such an AWESOME kid.
Banks & his best girlie friend, Lauren. They are two peas in a pod. It's scary how alike they are.

Banks swim instructor suggested we use goggles in the bathtub to acclamate him to the water better, it's really turned into a mini-swim lesson every night, but definitely worked!

Monkey see, monkey do - little chicka Coopie is a FISH, she is probably the youngest (and only one from the waterbabies class) to go off the high slides...by herself. Crazy, i have to watch this one.

I dont know what's happening to my layout?

Cooper & her best friend, Hayden. Both of them LOVE to read, they were taking turns reading to each other.

UP - at the ice rink watching Seth-man

Middle - lunch with Mommie

Below - Snow day, I thought their smiles were hilarious...exactly the same.

Easter 2010 - this has to be my favorite photo,

it melts my heart.

I couldn't be more blessed with two

of the sweetest babies on the planet.