Rock star in the making

While we were waiting to get things started for the Sunny's Corner Farm Christmas party, Christa and Jilly started to rock out to Karaoke Star on the Wii. It was hilarious, they kept everybody entertained.

The "big" girls were all just hanging out and having fun talking. And of course watching Jilly and Christa 'rock it out' as Jilly would say between songs.

Meet the Smedleys

Aunt Joanie, Uncle Dave, Rachel and David came down for a visit in late December. The kids all had a great time. Jilly loved having her 'play dates' with Aunt Joanie, singing and dancing for her. And then there was the wrestling on the floor with Uncle Dave. Cooper was in heaven as well, she was playing with everything under the sun and showing it off to everybody.

Wyatt loved having Uncle Dave to hang out with. Wyatt just kept staring up at Uncle Dave, and Dave was the only one who was able to get Wyatt to sleep for a bit.

We ended up having dinner at my parents house so everybody could visit. By the time we got there and finished eating it was already close to 9 o'clock (which is almost an hour after they are use to going to bed). So the girls were kinda sleepy, but they have a bad habit at Gran-ma's house. They tend to just grab any snacks they want...all well and good, except for when it's all cakes and cookies. Needless to say, the kids were on a sugar high, with a brand new audience to entertain. I think it was close to 10:30 when we packed up and came home! That's one thing I love about my kids...keep them fed (and overfed sometimes!!) and they are good as gold!

Test

This is a test of my new toy.

Christmas shoes

(I will most likely get shot for this picture...) So last year, my Mom fell in love with the movie "The Christmas Shoes". When I saw it for sale this year, I knew I had to have it for her. During one of their sleepovers right before Christmas, Mom and Courtney watched it on LMN....then Courtney fell in love too. SO I had to go buy her a copy. Courtney and I loved to sing along with the song when we would hear it, and that gave her a little spark. She had remembered that I had recently told her that I loved her shoes, and so she made sure to have her Daddy (no, wait, sorry, we have switched back to Dad again...!) to pick some up in the right size. I love the fact that the 3 generations can share so much. Not just as 'mother to daughter' but as friend to friend. I love you my Courtney Bug...and you too Mom!

Surprise

This year for Christmas, Courtney didn't say very much about wanting anything. As we have reached the 'dreaded teen-age years' it only made it harder to shop for her. I came up with the idea of her having her own i-pod, and getting her a Nintendo DS-I. As you can see by the look on her face, she didn't even know she wanted these things in the first place.

Santa's my hero

All Jilly wanted from Santa was the princess Jasmine bike. (It has more princesses then just Jasmine, but in her mind it was all about Jasmine!) When she saw it she screamed "Santa is my hero!" It was worth it!

The joy of Christmas

To me, this expression makes all the running around, staying up late wrapping, and 'stress' of the season worth it!

Jilly had no idea she was getting the 'Giddy Up Go Pony', we had told her to wait for her birthday, so she about came out her skin when she unwrapped the box. (I had Jeff assemble it, and I wrapped the box.)

Jilly was even "moved by the Spirit" to share with Cooper.

Random thoughts

Today is January 25th, and Jilly still randomly breaks out with "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" and also (just as randomly) "Feliz Navidad". And she can say navidad, but not rhinoceros'. Girl just makes me laugh...she is too cute!

We have been calling Cooper 'Swiper' since she has started grabbing anything she can reach. Well, today we were at my mom's house (doing yet more laundry) and we had Dora on in the background. Well, they got to the "Swiper no swiping" and before the TV could say it Cooper busted out with "AAAWWWWW MAAAAN!" My mom and I were allmost in tears.

I apparently tell Cooper to wait...ALOT. IF she wants you to wait for something, she will look you straight in the face, and with her pointer finger of her right hand tell you "Waaaaay....waaaaay." I love it, they say mimicking is the best form of flattery!!

For now that's all I can think of, it's late so I'll resume with Christmas tomorrow (yes I know I'm being optimistic!)

Songs

Most everybody knows how much we love music in this house. And when it come to Christmas carols, there's no exception. Last Christmas I heard a song on the radio "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" and I bought it from i-tunes. It really is one of the more adorable songs I have heard in a while. This year, Courtney taught it to Jilly (who at the end of January will still randomly bust out singing it!!) and they sing and dance together. As Jeff was doing his shopping this year, he came across a hippo 'Web kins' and instantly thought of Courtney and the song. It's those little things that make all the everyday annoyances worth it! Just to see how much it meant to him to get her that little stuffed animal, and how she appreciated it melted my heart.

Christmas Morning.

OK, so there are 16 pictures of Christmas morning that I have to include....so I'm going to do a separate post for each set. Needless to say, Santa was very good to our kids this year, they all got the things they had asked for...and even a few they didn't even know they wanted! There is no better feeling as a parent then watching your kids faces light up when they see a present. It is that thought that I keep in mind when we have to skimp with the adults in our lives, but all of them are parents too, so thankfully they understand that if we could, we would do more, but the kids come first.