Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!  Being in Memphis makes the holidays much easier.  This year my sister decided they would stay at home so we changed things up even more by hosting Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at our house (for us and my parents).  We've always done those at my parent's house and we missed having everyone together but it was fun doing it at our house (and much easier--no packing up gifts!) Cappy and Papaw Ruff arrived Christmas Eve in time for 3:30 church.   

We came home and had a nice dinner and let the kids open one gift (we gave them each a Kindle kids edition).  They were in bed by 9 that night excited about the next morning!  

Christmas morning was great!  I didn't get many pictures for some reason, I guess I was relaxing and enjoying too!  They each got what they asked Santa for (we go small here!)  Bryce got Madden 16 for the Xbox and a Michael Jackson CD and CeCe got an American Girl dog, leash and dog bed.  Seriously our Santa piles were so small I didn't even take a picture!  Bryce is wearing his hospital gown in these pictures.  This was one week after he broke his collar bone and was still in a decent bit of pain and putting on shirts over his head was impossible so we just kept washing the gown and he'd wear it every night!  

Our last gift we let them open started a scavenger hunt that took them all over the house 

And then they filled in this puzzle using the backs of the clues

 It was SO MUCH FUN!!!  

After we had a delicious late breakfast of waffles, bacon and mimosas we packed up and drove to West Point to see Kiki and Papaw Duke.  Kiki made a delicious taco soup for dinner that night and they let the kids open the gifts from them.  Bryce got 3 more xbox games and CeCe got this electric scooter.  

 She was nervous at first (it goes 10 mph!) but quickly got comfortable and started loving it! 

 The adults have had fun on it too!!  

I didn't get a single picture the next day when the whole family was together.  We had a great lunch and an even better time visiting with everyone!  

Before Christmas

The weekend before Christmas Bryce's baseball team had their Christmas party.  It was fun until the last 5 minutes.  All the boys were playing tag (in the dark) and Bryce tripped and landed on his shoulder on a rock.  He was in so much pain I knew he needed to go to the ER (it was 9pm so Urgent Care was closed of course).  When we first got to the ER they thought it was dislocated so they started an IV so he could be somewhat sedated while they popped it back in.  The X-ray showed it was a fractured collar bone instead of a dislocated shoulder.  This is a good thing!  Breaks heal better.  He was in a ton of pain the first few days but is much better now.  He still wears his sling most of the time but can move his arm a little now.  

 Poor thing was so upset about this happening on the first night of Christmas Break!  

We got a new dog!!!  Meet Luke Duke :)  He's a 3 year old rescue that was found with the dog my parents got a few months ago. He was in rehab for a broken pelvis so we got him mid December and fell in love right away!  

 He was a good couch buddy for Bryce when he was hurting too bad to do much else.  

Sunday before Christmas Aunt Sandra came for a visit!  We weren't able to get to Montgomery this Christmas so she was sweet enough to drive to us!  

 She showered the kids with gifts like always!  

 Monday we went downtown to the Peabody and for lunch at Hueys.  

We had a great visit with Aunt Sandra!!

The week before Christmas was very rainy.  Luckily I had bought a pre-assembled gingerbread house months ago and found it one of the rainy days! The kids both enjoyed decorating. This was our best house yet!  

  

December so far

Last weekend CeCe invited 5 friends to come over and decorate Christmas cookies.  My mom bought me my first stand mixer for Christmas and was sweet enough to let me open it early and to come help me make the cookies!  They were delicious and the girls had so much fun decorating them.  

 The weather has been great here so after they decorated the cookies they played outside and then we had pizza before everyone went home.  

 Today was Grinch day for the 1st graders at Dogwood.  CeCe was so excited to wear PJs to school!  

 Today was also the much anticipated Newcomb Ball tournament for the 4th graders.  Bryce has been so excited about this for months.  Unfortunately his team lost their first game so they were eliminated early.  

Dolphin Tale Ball

The kids school had a Daddy/Daughter dance Friday night called Dolphin Tale Ball.  Anthony and CeCe went with John and Mary and all had a great time!  We took CeCe and Mary to get their hair done right after school.  Mary went with curls while CeCe chose an up-do.  

Don't they look beautiful?

Anthony sent me pictures and videos throughout the dance.  He said the DJ (music teacher) was great and played all the songs the girls wanted to hear.  CeCe came home so excited to tell me and Bryce all about it.  

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was wonderful like always!  We started out the trip with a fun afternoon at the lake.  The kids love exploring in the mud when the water goes down for the winter.  

 Reagan was the only brave soul to swim! 

Thursday morning we drove to my Aunt and Uncle's farm.  The weather was absolutely perfect and we spent all day outside playing. CeCe and Greta had so much fun with their big cousins Borden and Anna.  

 No Thanksgiving is complete without a sled ride (or 10!)

 And of course there were hay rides.  We are so lucky to have all of this every year!  

My Uncle has built a mound of sod that the kids slide down on cardboard.  This entertained them for the longest time!  

This is most of the people that were there.  We are so blessed that we still get together each year!  

Friday morning we got up early and drove to West Point to have Thanksgiving lunch with the Dukes. It was a delicious meal and fun afternoon spent with everyone!  

 We set up Kiki's tree and the grandkids have fun decorating it for her!