Merry Christmas!

Christmas at Nana and Papa's house was as fun as ever. Here are some pics from last night's opening extravaganza and this morning's play with toys from Santa.

Auntie Sara and new friend Kylia.

Cousin John in his Snuggie. LOL.

Never go wrong with Thomas.

Dustin showing Joshua how to work his new Nerf gun. I am putting this picture up as evidence that I did buy him a play gun. I am totally freaked out by it now, so it has now permanently disappeared. It was a little too real...I think I am going to have to stick to space guns...I am too sensitive. :)

Auntie Em in her favorite Aggie shirt from Joshua and a new hat from our Mom.

The cousins and their significant others...our Christmas expanded with all kinds of boyfriends this year (and one girlfriend)

Joshua got his train from Nana and Papa. He held a picture of this thing for nearly a month...not surprisingly this is the biggest hit.

Getting ready for Santa. Joshua put out a bowl of oats for the reindeer and a muffin for Santa. He then took the muffin off the plate and ate it himself.

Santa left Joshua a dragon castle--one that has a dragon that eats people. HA! Mommy loves it.

Playing go fish.

We have had a great Christmas! Merry Christmas to all :)

Wishing for a white Christmas

Joshua's first play in the snow.

Christmas Lights & Polar Express

I am really late getting these up, but below are some pictures from our holiday adventures in College Station. While Dan was in town we visited Santa's Wonderland, a truly Aggieland/Texas holiday light display and also went and rode The Polar Express. Joshua was much more impressed with the latter :)

On the Polar Express. Joshua was pretty excited to be on the "Christmas Train"

Getting and ringing his bell from Santa.

We are having a good time in Amarillo...more pics of all our fun with new friends here coming soon. :)

Holiday Cookie Decorating Party

Today we hosted my first ever Holiday Cookie Decorating Party.....and survived. I had 150+ cookies, enough icing to ice the whole house, and sprinkles (are there ever enough sprinkles for kids though :) ). Dan is in town visiting, so he was lucky enough to get to help with the managed chaos.

Ginger people and sugar trees, sleighs, snowflakes, snowmen, reindeers, stars, candy canes, and of course, trains :)

I had it all under control...HA!

A Christmas Warrior

The adults got fancy with theirs.

This is quintessential toddler decorating :)

Joshua wasn't much help with the clean up : )

Making Christmas

Joshua has been having fun helping decorate for the holidays...the first are from Amarillo the bottom ones are from our home in Bryan. He is really getting into the holidays...he tells me everyday..."I want to make Christmas."

Happy Holidays...more to come...

He actually helped with the tree...for a bit.

A bit blurry, but he would not stay by the tree. He wanted to take the picture, he said "Say Cheese, Christmas Tree"

My mom says that she "hates" lights wrapped around poles (like the ones on my porch). Since she didn't come down and help with this, I figured she did not get a vote :P

Happy Halloween

This year Halloween was complete hit! Joshua really got into the trick or treating. Here are some pics from the night with your friends...

He loves to tickle Baby Gwen.

Boo!

The haul...

Enjoying a toothpick with Uncle Matt at the end of the night...

Fall Fest and BooFest

Today was an exciting day for Joshua. His school was having their annual Fall Fest and field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Not only that, but Mommy got to go to school with Joshua AND he got to wear his PJs. As the pic below shows, he was quite happy having Mommy at school...

After some fun time tasting apples, we are off to the pumpkin patch...

"Here Mommy..."

We then went back to the school and painted. Notice the bite taken out of the apple Joshua is painting...Doh!

They put me in charge of the table where kids get to paint with fly swatters. Yes...PAINT WITH FLY SWATTERS! I must have had "sucker" on my forehead. :)

Joshua got to feel the "guts" of the pumpkin...he promptly brought the goo to me proclaiming that he was a mess...

This evening we were off to BooFest at the Ballpark...

a few others had the same plan...

we met up with our friend Hayden. In retrospect I should have put Joshua in his costume. Hayden in his Batman was too cute.

This one is for uncle Sam...

Trick or treating tomorrow....yay!