Tis the Season

Christmas this year was extra special in our house. 

First of all, it was Taylor's first Christmas! She loved looking at the lights on the Christmas tree and touching the ornaments. She was so curious about everything around her.

Jordan is at a sweet little age where she is figuring out what Christmas is all about but doesn't quite see the big picture yet. We talked about how we celebrate Christmas because of the birth of Baby Jesus and then how Santa brings us presents. We'll tie it all together at some point, but for now it was sweet to hear her little voice singing Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!

First...a little tree decorating with one of our favorite elves!!

 

 

We stole Daddy for a morning to go meet Santa at Mommy's work! 

This is Jordan's "I'm not going to smile I'm being shy" face. Taylor's not quite sure what's going on.

Starting to get into the Christmas spirit! That's Jordan at the doctor's office, she refused to take off her Santa hat...You just do you girl! 

  

    

Got a small little window to celebrate Christmas together at the Anadarko Christmas party this year!

                 

Not Christmas-y but just enjoying a pretty day at the park!

  

Jordan and I waiting outside for our neighborhood Santa to come by on the fire truck...we didn't wait. She's 2, she'll never know we didn't actually see him...well, unless she reads this one day. Sorry, Jordan, I did my best!

 She still kept saying "Santa drive on firetruck"...uh..sure! 

   

Special Daddy/Daughter date to see The Good Dinosaur movie. "Daddy, take Jo-dan see din-saur movie? It's been a rough few months with basketball season this year, so is a sweet moment and Jordan was so excited!

  

Taylor's turn to sit with Santa!

Aunt Alli kept telling us about all the Christmas excitement up in Grapevine, so we took a trip to check it out ourselves. First we took a little visit to North Park Mall. We used to go to North Park at Christmas when we were little, so is fun to watch our kids check out all the Christmas activities. We started at Build-A-Bear...or Build-A-Snoopy!

Trying to feed these 4 all at once time in public gives us a little anxiety, but they don't seem to mind. Jordan and Parker together just kill me!

Apparently these structures in the mall are now for kids to climb up and slide down. These 4 played forever and probably would have played all day if we'd let them! It's the little things!

   

We are quite a site any time we're all together. This is how you fit 3 adults, 2 double strollers, a single stroller (that is way too small for its rider) and 6 build a bears into an elevator! You can't see Taylor, poor baby, always left out, but she's next to Jordan.

Next up, the train store! I wasn't sure if Jordan would like the trains or not, but about 3 minutes in this store was totally worth it, she was so excited! "Choo Choo, Mommy..see it? see it?" All of them were just running from place to place chasing the trains and so excited!

  

I won't say any names, but can we please look at who's child was listening and ready to take a picture. Thanks Jordan!

Just the girls! I love watching these girls play together. Now that the twins are almost 2, they almost seem the same age when they're playing together! Sweet girls!

Cookie Time!! Taylor was upset she didn't get a cookie. Soon, baby girl...very soon!

After a busy first day visiting our cousins, time for snuggling in to watch Frosty! Jordan was in a trance the entire show and Barrett just sat there and smiled the whole time! Sweet Christmas moment, little ones!

The next day we went to the Gaylord Texas for cookies and stories with Mrs. Clause. Jordan ate this one cookie for about an hour!

  

Playing with the big kid toys while everyone else took naps.

Then we got away for a birthday celebration with the girls...oh, and Kyle was there too

Our last day,we went to Main Street in Grapevine to check out more Christmas decorations and play in the "Christmas Playground" (that's what Barrett calls it)

We attempted to feed these kids in public again. This round of "I'm ready for the picture and will say 'cheese'" goes to... Parker! Don't get too excited about that gold star yet, I'm about to to take it away from you.

Tay was there too! She's ALWAYS ready for a picture! This girl smiles the second anyone pics up their phone! Love her!

Trying to get a picture of Gamma and her 5 littles. These three were cooperating.

Parker! Give me that gold star back! 

Kisses for Mommy...Barrett wanted to stay in the picture too! 

We had fun getting ready for Christmas this year. I'm not going to lie and pretend like it was all sleigh bells and reindeers. We had our fair share of out of town basketball trips, strep, ear infections and viruses hit our house making us all a little worn out. But the truth is, as hard as it seems at times, that's not what I will truly remember about the season. What I will remember a year from now, are the memories in these pictures. It's not always easy to pick up with toddlers and infants and travel, but I'm learning that life is about making your own adventures. You have to pick up and go make memories for yourself (even if your kids won't remember...I will). At the end of the day, these are the moments that really will be worth it almost every single time. 

Jordan and Taylor- I cannot wait to celebrate so many Christmases with you and really share with you the joy and spirit of Christmas. Watching Christmas through the eyes of a child is a moment I do not want to miss and I cannot wait to continue to make these memories with you. Every. Single. Year!