Early January Snow Days

The first full week in January, we had several snow days with all local schools closed. (Much like today!) Mason was so excited to get outside and play and build a snowman.

Our little angel making a snow angel

Wayne got a workout pulling Mason in the sled


Snowball fight
The next day, we played outside again...




We tried to build a snowman, but the snow was too dry and it turned out to be a snowblob.
The next night I got home from work to find that Mason & Daddy had made a real snowman in the front yard!

New Year's Eve

Don't worry...Mason is holding Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice (AKA Grapety Grape juice) He was so excited~it was a special treat for New Year's Eve. Mason spent the night at his Mimi & Grandpa's house while Wayne & I had dinner at Red Lobster. It was a very low-key New Year's and the first time in many years we didn't go to a party. After dinner, we came home & watched a little Seacrest/Dick Clark. Some friends came over to join us and we had a good time making fun of JLo's terrible body suit. Yep, I said it was low-key!

Christmas Day

After seeing what Santa brought and opening gifts from each other at home, we headed to Wayne's parent's house to celebrate with them. We ate a big meal then the kids unwrapped gifts. Mason was happy to play with his cousins and see his Grandma Clova & Grandpa Bill.
That evening, we went back over to my parent's for another meal!

Christmas Morning

I'm still getting caught up on posting and I just realized that I'm posting Christmas morning exactly 1 month after the day! Here's my new excuse for still being behind: We had a pipe break in our wall last weekend between Mason's room & our office (where my PC is with all my pics on it) and everything is fine now, but it really was not fun getting all that water cleaned up! So now that the office is put back together, I have my computer back & I'm back to posting!

Mason was so happy to see that Santa had brought him a big boy bike (with training wheels) and "even a helmet!"

Santa also brought a kitchen set and a few trucks he'd been wanting
Sleepy the Elf with his coffee


The only time you'll see me in my pajamas with no makeup!

We had a great Christmas morning with just the 3 of us. After unwrapping gifts, I watched The Christmas Story (my fave Christmas movie), we ate cinnamon rolls & orange rolls and played with our new stuff until time to join our families...

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is the main night when my family celebrates and unwraps gifts. My mom always makes a big lasagna dinner (since we have the traditional turkey dinner on Christmas day.) After we eat, it's time to unwrap gifts...

I love this picture of the cousins: Mason (3) , Chloe' (16), and Cameron (12)

My Sister Angela, Niece Chloe', and Nephew Cameron
The kids with my Grandma (their Great Grandma, aka "Gigi")
Angela gettin' nutty with the nutcracker
Mom's beautiful dining room
And living room
Mason was SO excited about the presents!
More excitement!
Yeah! More Cars!
The BEST. GIFT. EVER!!!!!! My sister and I each received a Cricut Expression die cut machine. If you're a scrapbooker, then you know what this is! I actually screamed and (shamefully) teared up a little when opening this!! Don't judge me :)
My Grandma Betty Ruth (who was able to join us from Fort Smith) and my mom
Unwrapping
My sister got a set of peacock dishes she'd been hoping for
We stopped unwrapping for a quick pose
Buried in wrapping paper & new toys...
We are so thankful for everything and had so much fun!

Cookies for Santa

Mason and I made (slice & bake, that is!) sugar cookies for Santa on Dec. 24th.
First, I showed him how it's done:

He started lightly coating the cookies with red & green sugar

And then got one in each hand and really started shaking them!

It works better if you stick your tongue out...

That night, we put a plate of them out with a glass of milk and a carrot for Rudolph.

Excitement!

BEFORE

AFTER (Christmas morning!)