Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve started out scrumptious with this  Cinnamon French Toast Bake goodness!

After breakfast….we had a small window of time before it was time to get ready for church.  We had a 12:00 service on Christmas Eve and we didn’t have church on Christmas.  The Saturday service was a great idea but the timing was not so good for two little ones who eat and take naps during that time.  There was no nursery during the service so considering all that…the boys did very well.  It was a beautiful service!

Me and my sweet little Ryder Bear!! (Someone please get that hair off my shirt!)

After we got home from church, we rushed around like mad people to try and get everything done before all my family came over.  It’s all the little things we save until the last minute that puts us in a frenzy!  Before my family arrived, our neighbors The Carlsons came over to bring sweet gifts to the boys and we had gifts for them.  Breanna was so excited over her Justice goodies…my camera battery died after I took this pic so I only got this pic.

They got Maddox a Cars Memory game!!

This little bear is so cute…it was a gift for Maddox last year from Aunt Jean…it tells The Night Before Christmas story!

 

After we ate yummy appetizers, salad and steaks….we loaded up and went to my Mawmaw’s church (which is like 2 minutes from our house)and took communion as a family.  Then it was back to the house to open gifts!

Wolfey’s last appearance for the year!

I loved how Laura made her own gift tags and used yarn to decorate the gift!

Laura gave Tori and Caine blankets that she made!!

Is that not the ugliest shirt you have ever seen!!  What an Aunt will do for her nephew!!ha!

Nana and Papaw gave Maddox a McDonalds play set…he loves McDonalds!!

Ryder’s time to open his gifts!!

Maddox loves his cousin Caine!! How sweet!

We decided to get them all together with their blankets that LaLa made for them!

Then we realized that I had Nana’s blanket, so she joined them with hers!!

After the kids opened all their gifts, the adults played Dirty Santa…we do $15 gifts and it is so much fun!

After everybody left we went outside and Maddox sprinkled his reindeer food into the yard!

Then we set out milk and cookies for Santa!!

And one last thing before bed…I wanted a picture with Maddox…whew you can tell it was late….we both look worn out!

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve!! So Blessed!!!  I loved all the family time!

Ryder’s Christmas Pictures

I have yet to take Ryder to have professional pictures taken.  I take a ton of pics of him all the time so I feel there is no need to spend the money on someone else’s fancy camera to take his pictures when I can take them.  Problem is..I don’t edit and I’m no professional.  I tweak them a little in Picasa but very minimal. I have Photoshop Elements 8 but it overwhelms me when it comes to editing..I need a class on it!  But here is my Pinterest inspired photo shoot!

Above is Ryder and below is the Pinterst Picture.

I had fun doing these but it was very challenging b/c Maddox wanted to be naked and in them too.  There is just a big difference in a naked baby and a naked 2 year old! ha!  I do have some funny pictures for my viewing though!!