Bring It On

Bring on the noise, the mess and just a bit of craziness to welcome in the new year! A few friends gathered to celebrate the end of 2013. It was a wild year for us that brought much joy with the arrival of Kennedy and Cameron.

 

We transformed the garage into a space for the kids to be rambunctious. They played games, made rainbow looms, and ate lots and lots and lots of sugar!

 Buckley, Callia, Bennett, Cassidy, Quinn, Braden, Trip, Cornell, Jack, Preston and Parker partied into the wee hours of the night!

 Looking forward to what 2014 has in store for us!

Tying a Bow on 2013

Christmas is over, so decorations are getting retired to the attic. The kids wanted to help, of course. 

 

Donning the Christmas pajamas Braden bought for them, the babies investigated the lights.

 Well, of course Kennedy had to see what the lights tasted like.

Does anyone really like the taste of candy canes?! 

 These kids sure seemed to like the sticky messiness!

2013 was an amazing year! We can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for us! 

 Probably time to take the candy away...

 Not surprisingly, Kennedy happily collected the candy canes from her brothers.

On another note, we discovered this bow in the gift wrapping section of Target and it made a festive hair bow!

Santa's Little Elves

We enjoyed a mellow Christmas at home...removing "mellow" would make that a more accurate statement actually. With three kids this Christmas, there was a bit of mayhem. We loved all the noise, laughing and excitement though!

 

Cookies left out for Santa? Nah...snickerdoodles Braden made for Matt.  Braden put a note that read, 'Better than Cinnamon Production.' Braden would know because that's where his daddy takes him for cookies after school...Dads are more fun!

 These new shades came in handy on this warm and sunny Christmas day.

A stocking the size of a 7-year-old...seems reasonable. 

 Just for the record, Matt insisted on these stockings. Growing up, I was content with the oranges, nuts and chocolates in my bright red, fuzzy stocking.

 The little ones deserved some gifts too, despite giving me some sleepless nights and making me feel like a zombie for the past year.

 Cameron and Mistletoe playing hide n seek? One last Elf on the Shelf shenanigan before she retires for a year. We assembled Braden's ramp that came in a huge box and wrapped the box with just the elf inside. 

Bound and determined to pull off an ornament... 

 He was successful and didn't even pull down the wobbly tree with it.

 She can't help but see for herself what the ornament glitter tastes like. 

 She does love anything that sparkles!

 No holiday attire for this one.  Braden sported his favorite t-shirt instead, which at least is reddish.

 For Christmas, Gramma didn't ask for much. Just a photo with her grandkids. Strike one...

 Strike two...

 When the hair bow gets ripped off, we know it is a definite strike three!

 Someone was sure happy to see her Papa!

 Someone else was just as thrilled!

 Now that Kennedy is taking her first steps, she really enjoyed this new toy.

 As usual, Braden took the time to show the babies how their toys work. He is just so sweet to them.

 Well I guess this looks fun?! I could just eat her up too!

Kennedy has lots to say. Mostly squeals and giggles, but throws a word in here and there. 

 As much as I love the homemade plate and the fact that Braden, Gramma and Papa look so nice...I can't get over the way Bentley wedges her way into photos. She's barely visible and her face is smushed, but she is happy to be included nonetheless.

 Bentley deserved more gifts than she was given. I mean, she doesn't even flinch when baby fingers are shoved in her eyes. Best dog ever.

 "Papa, not a big pony, just one of those adorable miniatures will do."

 If only Cameron could speak...

 As a back up plan, Kennedy was probably smooth-talking her daddy into the whole pony idea.

We had some pretty awesome stocking stuffers this year. 

 Kennedy insisted on sitting with us for a second dinner. Smart girl...we were having prime rib!



Eve of Christmas Eve

Kelsey spoiled the kids a couple days before Christmas. Strangely, Braden doesn't typically like to open gifts before Christmas day, but he happily obliged and opened one.

 

The look of anticipation...Could it be socks, underwear, pajamas??

 Nope, just an awesome remote controlled car!

 New clothes for this cutie! Just what she needs since she has an overflow section to her overcrowded closet. Impossible to resist buying her more clothes though.

 Kennedy also scored a new car!

 I typically discourage getting two of everything, but in this case, it was clearly necessary. The princesses would obviously cramp Cam's style.

Bentley gave and received exactly what she wanted! 

 Braden helped create this photo book for Kelsey as one of her Christmas gifts.

Sunny Celebration

With our growing families (well, technically I think we have all stopped growing), we need a lot of space to gather for holidays.  Uncle Billy and Aunt Maria graciously offered to host an early Christmas celebration at their house. This was the perfect setting to enjoy time with family in the sunshine!

 

We loved celebrating Christmas at the Lawes' beautiful home. 

 Kennedy didn't mind letting Aunt Kristen get her baby girl fix!

 Guess some of Journee's toys are a bit small for her oldest cousin!

 There's a theme at gatherings we attend.  Kennedy gets passed around and loves every last second of it.

 Charley and Braden rough housed in the trampoline, while Journee did tricks on the side.

 Meanwhile, Kennedy did what she excels at...looking adorable.

 Looking super cute must run in the family...

 This picture requires an explanation. Cameron doesn't like smiling for photos, so John-Paul, Kristen, and Tucker did what any great family members would do...acted like complete idiots to try to get Cam to crack a quick smile. Certainly, it had to work...

 ...or not.  Not even a courtesy laugh for strong effort??  Tough crowd!

 Turns out, Uncle Billy is the family's comedian.

Uncle Billy continued his hilarious shenanigans later in the house. Had Cam in stitches.

 Even Miles found Uncle Billy to be hilarious.

 Uncle John-Paul tried again...

 Those eyelashes...

 Well, at least someone considered John-Paul to be the super fun uncle!

 Getting creative with toys he was too big for.

 Charley had the pool to himself momentarily.

 How many cousins fit in a small inflatable pool?!  Too many, according to Journee.

Just a quick snuggle from Cam because he was ready to test out all the toys. Journee has quite the selection of activities to do in this wonderland they refer to as a loft...It's basically Toys R Us.

Kennedy found a quiet spot, a chair and a book...this cute nerdiness didn't last long though.

 Cameron couldn't get enough of Uncle Billy!

 It's safe to assume Journee doesn't hang out the window of her playhouse, but the boys sure treated it more like a jungle gym.

 It is impossible not to love sweet Tucker!

 Kennedy could stay here a while, with the endless fun their home and yard have to offer!

 I won't complain if there's a future chef in the family.

I found Uncle John-Paul and Aunt Kristen off to the side trying to sneak in a quiet lunch. Gotta take those kidless moments when they come.  The cousins were all having a blast together!

 Cameron knew Aunt Kristen has great experience giving big squeezy hugs to little boys.

 Kennedy really enjoyed hanging with Uncle John-Paul.  Maybe she should spend a weekend with the Nelsons?

 Sorry Grandma, after hours of playing and opening gifts, this is the best shot you are going to get with your beautiful grandkids.

 Not going to be able to pin this girl down now that she discovered the art of tearing open gifts.

 One final adventure before concluding our Christmas celebration.

They took Journee's new toy for a spin.