Christmas Eve

Ella enjoyed a little snuggle with Jerry.

Kate got caught trying to sneak open a present.


Jack got to open a present Christmas Eve. Mimi and G gave him a whole lot of race cars.



Sprinkling the reindeer food. And thanks to the Corbans, there was evidence that Rudolph was in fact there and enjoyed his food. LOTS of evidence.

The little Christmas house in Kilmichael.

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas morning at Mimi and G's house. Jack was a little worried that Santa wouldn't be able to find us. After he knew that Santa knows everything he was OK. He was up and SUPER excited at 7:30. We had to wake the girls up though. Kate was a little grumpy but once she saw that Santa had come she forgot about her bad mood. This was the first year that Jack really understood what was going on and loved every minute of Christmas time.

What to look at first?!

Ella went straight to her doll bed.





Kate got her own pizza set!

The little queen crawled in her bed and demanded her helpers hand her all her babies and blankets.


Kate was super serious about her motorcycle riding. I don't think she ever changed her expression.
Ella was sad she didn't get a puppy.
My Daddy, the singing monk in his snuggie.
Jack shot some roman candles with a little help from G. I was a complete nervous wreck but he had a great time.

Kate and her very favorite person, Uncle Stan.
Kate and Lura.


Kate getting dressed in all her finery-courtesy of the Corbans.

Jack got to drive his tractor outside the day after Christmas. He and Murry Catherine would take turns-one would drive, the other would chase. This went on forever, both of them laughing hysterically the whole time. Jack LOVES his MC.

Christmas 2009

Many, many pictures to follow when I get all the toys put away. I think Santa's sleigh threw up at our house.

Catching Up- Thanksgiving in Vicksburg

This year for Thanksgiving the whole crew of us went down to Vicksburg. It has been forever since we've all been together for the holidays and we had a blast. Took the kids to the park, saw the battlefields, ate a huge Thanksgiving dinner, gambled a little, went on a boat ride, and did a little shopping. Couldn't ask for more.

Cousin Ed on the swing.

I think Kate was working on her second dessert in this picture.
As always, Ella cleaning up.
Jack and Heather and lunch.
My sissy and me at the battlefields. That is a HUGE place! We went close to dark and almost got lost.
Ella giving Kate a lesson in how to use the iphone.
Ella and Jack checking out the water through the window. Note the hand at the right. Someone's hand was always on the girls. Ella would have jumped out given the chance. Or climbed up to the top of the boat.
The whole crew!