Christmas with the McD Family

Nana, Papa D, Uncle Jody, Aunt Kathy and Jacob and Liam came to Midland for Christmas this year. We had a great (and wild) time

Opening gifts. Notice Owen in the middle of it trying to find stuff to open.

Nana and Papa D gave us Mickey Mouse laptops. Wow! We love to type like mommy on her laptop. (Maybe they can start blogging for me since I've gotten so bad)

I wish this was a video. This little "laser" gun Jacob got lit up and made noises. It absolutely mesmerized Brody. We were all visiting and opening gifts and I look up to find this. Brody was completely hypnotized.

Our attempt at a pic of Nana and Papa D with all the grandsons.

How cute are we in our jammies

Sweet Liam

Owen loved having someone to rough-house with since Brody is usually not receptive to this activity.

Christmas Morning

Christmas is HERE!

Heading down stairs...

SOOOO excited!

Our only family picture from Christmas! I was trying to get my new shoes in the pic. Thanks Dad!

Before the craziness began...

YEA!!! Trampoline!

Brody is our little budding artist?

What are these amazing sock-things that have wonderful treasures in them?

"Wanna trade?"

Owen opened every single present he could. Luckily, Brody had no interest so Owen got to open double time!

Dad showing the boys how to work their new toys

Christmas with Grammie

We had Grammie, Aunt JJ and Uncle Scott over for Christmas Eve dinner and they came back by Christmas morning to exchange goodies and have a wonderful breakfast.

Aunt JJ took claim of Buzz Lightyear, but Brody wasn't giving up Turner without a fight. Clearly, she thought she could talk him out of it.

Grammie with her kiddos and grandbabies

The boys Christmas morning enjoying their deck chairs from Great Ma and Great Pa

Nice outfit Dad!

Dad, Grammie and Uncle Scott went to see Avatar and just couldn't pass up a photo op in their totally awesome 3D glasses. This looks like an ad for Goodwill. Steph is in her pajamas (in her defense)

Mine and Todd's Big Surprise

This post will not appear until after Christmas. SHHHHHHH!

Let's try this Santa thing again

We tried Santa one more time.

I think Mrs. Clause made it not quite as scary

Still not totally okay

Mickey saves the day

"Nose"

Brody clearly wasn't leaving without his new friend. Great!

Breakfast with Santa

The Earls joined us at Greentree to have breakfast with Santa. Sounds like a good idea, three two-year-olds and a one-year-old, sitting through brunch, and then sitting on the big guys lap. It actually went very well. We had a great time and the kiddos did great!

Jackson and Lillian couldn't wait. They made their way to Santa before we ate. They were pros. I think this was visit number three for them. Maybe the Rogers need to try out different locations next year.

Owen had a plat of yummy food and he insisted on eating raisins. Will we ever eat?

Jackson just loved hanging out with the big kids.

Brody tried some food, I think?

Here's our table with four high chairs.

Brody didn't mind the big guy...

Owen did!

Christmas at Mother's Day Out

The boys had a little part in the Christmas Program at school. It was pretty cute. They mostly just rang their jingle bells while the older kiddos sang the song.

Owen was getting his pipes ready.

Owen and Brody are on the front row. Owen is second from the left and Brody is two people down from his brother. I don't have great pictures because I had to hide from the boys or they would want to come home with me.

The boys teachers arranged a book exchange with the kiddos in their class. Owen loved it. He opened his and B-boy's book. Great idea for little ones.

Here's one of the pics I used for out Christmas card this year.

This is the other one.

Our First BIG Snow

We woke up to a BIG snow (as far as Midland is concerned) one morning and I couldn't wait to get the boys out there to have the time of their lives. Right? Didn't work out as I planned. First, their converse got wet so they were angry. I dropped them off at Grammies and ran to Walmart for some boots (scared the snow was going to melt before I could take pictures). Got the boots on the boys and we were off.

Snow on hand...no good!

From the back porch.

Other direction. So pretty!

Owen liked it as long as no snow came in contact with any part of his body.

Brody observing and deciding if he was going in

My best attempt at a picture of both of them. This is just before both of them fell down and got their hands covered in snow. Tears and fits followed. Let me paint a picture, me carrying each boy like a football under each arm, huge camera banging around my neck, herding the dog toward to house. Of course this meltdown took place two houses down and up on the golf course. This probably would have been the best picture of the day. Needless to say, we enjoyed the snow from the warmth of the house for the rest of the day.

Sesame Steeet Live

I braved the cold and took the boys to see their good buddy, Elmo. Sesame Street Live came to Odessa and Darby, Jennifer, Laura and I loaded up six of our eight kiddos and headed west. It was our first show of any kind and the boys had a great time.

Owen, wondering where is Elmo

Brody with his souvenir Elmo

Lights went out, Brody cheered and Owen jumped in my lap. Ten minutes into the show, Brody crawled up to snuggle, then pasted out.

How Brody spent the ENTIRE show. Thank goodness it was cold so our coats made a wonderful bed for B-boy

Hannah checked out her buddy at intermission

Owen decided he loved the showed and danced his way through the second half.

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I am thrilled to say we survived our first show!