Christmas Day

Christmas Morning we get up and even though we do gifts w/ the boys on Christmas Eve I always leave something unopened under the tree for them for Christmas Morning-- then we go in our pj's to my parents to do gifts there.

These pictures got out of order... later in the morning right before lunch my cousin's came over so we could take pictures of all the great grand kids together b/c one cousin wasn't going to be able to be at our get-together Christmas Night.

This is my cousin Nick's little boy, Lucas and I. He was born in Sept.-- they live in Indy and this is the first time I've gotten to meet him b/c they didn't come down for Thanksgiving.

This is also out of order, but me with my Kindle :)

Again-- out of order but B w/ my Dad.

Corbin on Christmas Morning w/ his surprise under the tree- A Pillow Pet.

He LOVES dogs and he was lovin' on it- soo sweet!

B with his- the penguin.

B giving Gran her gift :)

Corbin was giving Goldie some kisses :)

My momma :)

Opening her gift certificate for a massage!

Corbin just makes himself at home right on top of B (all the time)! haha

This is B getting his new DSi

My brother got Corbin an extra set of balls for the ball pit we got him and he wrapped them up outside of their package so when Corbin tore into the package they all came out- it was by far his favorite thing to open! haha!

Ryan-- some hitch thing for his truck?!

These little army vehicles were in his stocking (with a ton of other stuff) at my parents and they were a huge hit!

Corbin got a first birthday tshirt and bib in his stocking (among many other things), but he preferred the hanger ;)

My brother with his stocking :) somehow the only picture I took of him that day?!

My mom does such a great job on stockings- it's probably my favorite thing to open!

I got some great tarts for my warmer, a giftcard to Red Lobster, candy, chapstick, fuzzy (my mom calls them "night socks") socks, a magnet calendar (for my fridge), and some other big thing I can't remember!

This is when the cousins came over...

Corbin LOVED the baby!
(I think he needs a baby brother/sister?!) :) lol

Sweet Brothers <3
I hate that this picture is blurry b/c I love it.

The Great Great Grandkids on the Sims' side (my dad's mom's side of the family)

Kaydee Mae, Corbin, Brycen, and Lucas

there will be more b/c my brother and my cousin Ashley still don't have kids :)

We ate lunch at my parents (left overs and sandwiches) and hung out for awhile and then loaded up all our stuff (way too much stuff) and headed home for C to take a nap and for B to play w/ his toys!

B likes the ball pit too :) haha!

Playing his DS and eating crackers in there!

After Corbin got up (crazy hair!) he played and played in there!

Christmas Eve at Home

After we have Christmas with the Shoultz's we go home and open our gifts with just our little family. I wasn't sure how well it would work this year because it was already way past Corbin's bed time and he is not a fan of being up past his bedtime! He did okay while we were opening the gifts, but as soon as they were open he was definitely ready for bed!

Corbin with his duck that B got him (at the school Santa Shop).

They were having so much fun with it throwing it and then B busted it! haha!

Brycen and I with the necklace he got me at school at the Santa Shop :)

Ryan got a new pen from B :)

Brycen w/ more Legos (Pirate Ship set) (he got a Lego Table to go with all these Lego sets) :)

Corbin-- opening his alphabet train

Not sure who likes it more-- him or B :) haha!

B with a science experiment kit... He LOVES them :)

He got one for his birthday last year and so I got him a different one this year- him and Daddy have already done a few!

Corbin-- Play and Learn House.

He's not real interested in it quite yet (hopefully he will like it later on!).

He refused to crawl through the doorway-- but he does like to open and close the mailbox :)

Shoultz Christmas

Christmas Eve Day the boys and I hung out at home and got caught up from a busy week of being gone and watched Christmas movies and basically enjoyed a really great day of being together at home! Christmas Eve Supper is always spent at my parents with the Shoultz side of the family (my mom's dad's side of the family).

Annual Christmas Eve Family Picture

Family of Four

Can't tell you how much this warms my heart!

Kylee, Brycen, and Ashlyn

Corbin had to be right in the middle of the big kids playing :)
The girls were really good with including him too!


B got a camo snuggie :) too cute!

(and a game pad and money)


Corbin trying to unwrap his present-- he would get one piece of paper off and then try to eat it and was done!

So bubby had to help him!

Corbin got a walk behind toy and money :)
Corbin lovessss Uncle Joe and was helping him on the computer :) haha!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!
Corbin and Papaw Ed (my mom's dad).

Christmas Before Christmas

We have Christmas w/ Ryan's family before Christmas... Works out best that way b/c they all usually go to FL and we always have Christmas Eve and Day booked solid anyway. This year we had it the Monday before Christmas. We had pizza and it was relaxing and fun :)

Ryan caught the kids all cuddled up watching a movie together :)

Corbin's first present ever to open- he tried to eat it - OF COURSE! haha!!

B's Paper Jamz Guitar-- this was definitely on his wish list!
Airplane Lego Set-- he is REALLY into Legos now so this was great! :)

Buzz Light Year :)

This cracked me up-- this Santa rocked and sang and Corbin just sat there wide eyed and very still watching it!

Attacking the boxes!

My sister (in law) and me :)

(This one is for you Tera K.) :)
We were being goofy so I was wearing Mya's hair bow :) baahah!! I look like I'm in 2nd gr.!

365- Day 5

Day 5:

I say this all the time, but watching my boys love each other is my favorite thing ever.
Hands down.
They are best friends.
It amazes me that despite 5 yrs and almost 2 months between them
they play together ALL.THE.TIME.
It wasn't my plan to have them this spaced out.
BUT like they say....
God's plan is always the best one!

365- Day 4

Day 4:

Brycen has a behavior (attitude) chart.
I got this idea after reading James Dobson's book about Strong Willed Children.

B/c our precious Brycen is most defientely strong willed.

I know that if guided correctly being strong willed will and IS a good thing so we're trying to

keep it a positive.

If he is good (there are different levels of the chart) then he gets to choose an extra family game/activity/book/etc before bedtime.

It's worked wonders and there was only one night that we haven't gotten to do an extra family activity!

Tonight he chose to do Lincoln Logs :)

I pretty much just observe or help find certain ones b/c I'm NOT a builder ;)

(The categories of his chart-- suggested by James Dobson himself are "Attitude Towards Mom", "Attitude Towards Dad", "Attitude Towards Brother", "Attitude Towards Others" (outside of our immediately family), "Attitude Towards Work" (willingness to do what he is told w/out complaining or being asked numerous times), "Attitude Towards Bedtime" (going to bed w/out complaining/stalling/etc).

365- Day 3

Day 3:

A picture of the computer generated kitchen layout that Ryan designed for me!
I love to look at this and dream about baking in my new kitchen and my boys sitting at the extra long (9 ft) island (that will have 4 bar stools instead of the pictured 3) doing homework or just hanging out chatting! I def. think the kitchen is the heart of a home!