Christmas Vacation Highlights
Since the boys were little we have been able to be home for Christmas and it's so fun celebrating just the 4 of us. Christmas Eve is a bit crazy for us with me working but it's worth every minute. Christmas Eve morning the boys woke up and the penguins had made a quick trip to the North Pole and brought back their gifts to each other.
The most exciting part is that I can now show pictures of my new brothers & sister! Check out my parent's Christmas card this year.
Yeah! I am now the oldest 7. What?? I have 2 sisters and 4. count them 4 brothers. Add that with my two boys that and it is a crazy, wild, time whenever we get together.
A lot of sibling hysterics went down. Like the time they boys took her phone!
I love these crazy folks! It was an action packed few days.. but we weren't done yet! Off to the Riley's for the next part of Christmas.. at the lake! With a determined daddy fitting their new jeep in the car.
We were happy to see this lovely little lady.. Nana!
Fun times exploring and having adventures around the cabin.
And spending time with family..
We rang in the New Year together with fireworks and a bonfire!
Aunt Lauren gave the boys their own Vtech digital camera. They loved them! Eli was very serious about his photography too.
Here are a few I took off their cameras :-)
Glad we took time to snap a few cousin picks before we left.. I sure am missing my niece's sweet face!
After a couple of bad football games (FSU & UofA) .. it was time to call this trip a wrap!
7 crazy days, so much family, love, laughter, and even a few tears. I'm especially grateful for time with special guy. 10 married Christmas with all our family and we still want to be married to each other! Ha!
Sweet home alabama remains forever full of sweet memories!
Love,
The Riley's
And our annual video from Santa came through on the tv this year. Such excitement! When it was revealed that Eli made the good list Beckett ran over threw his arms around him and said "good job brother!" Thank you Portable Northpole.
We attended the noon service together as a family. And took our annual picture by the trees :-)
I also worked the 2, 4, and 6 and enjoyed seeing and talking with so many people. What a joy to spend the day with so many celebrating the Good News!
Christmas Day the four of us had a great day at home. The boys woke up early and raced for the downstairs. They could not believe that Santa really came. Such screams and laughter and just pure joy of Christmas morning. We had our Happy Birthday Jesus breakfast complete with candles and singing. Relaxing, playing, taking rides on our new bikes, a sweet Christmas Day with my precious family.
And then off to bed because we left at 4am the next morning headed to Alabama!
And I just wish that I could detail and blog about so many fun, crazy, wild, times while we were there but here are the highlights from the Roberts Family visit :-)
Christmas Day the four of us had a great day at home. The boys woke up early and raced for the downstairs. They could not believe that Santa really came. Such screams and laughter and just pure joy of Christmas morning. We had our Happy Birthday Jesus breakfast complete with candles and singing. Relaxing, playing, taking rides on our new bikes, a sweet Christmas Day with my precious family.
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| Scooby Doo from Ma! |
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| Merry Christmas from The Riley's!!! |
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| my little book reader |
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| Happy Birthday Jesus! |
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| relaxing in his new Spiderman snuggie |
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| First ride on his new bike |
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| Love his new bike! |
And then off to bed because we left at 4am the next morning headed to Alabama!
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| Breakfast in Lafayette |
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| Long long ride |
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| Add caption |
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| The look of pure excitement when we pulled in the driveway! |
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| Love their new jeep! |
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| checking the chickens and looking for eggs |
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| Poppy and his boys |
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| the sweetest part of my trip is always this beautiful sassy lady that showed up in her Patagonia vest and her 20 year old Minnetonka's. Every moment with her is a treasure. |
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| My mom's front porch. My favorite people. #sweethomealabama |
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| heating out in their cam for a big adventure |
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| Sisters in love.. a fantastic rainy afternoon playing games |
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| Little buddy playing games too |
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| making cookies with Dee Dee |
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| Nothing says Joy like a basketball game for your head! |
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| Really the most fun toys you've ever seen! |
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| Serious work |
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| The girls in their matching pj's!!! Seriously love these ladies |
Yeah! I am now the oldest 7. What?? I have 2 sisters and 4. count them 4 brothers. Add that with my two boys that and it is a crazy, wild, time whenever we get together.
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| My boys seriously love Uncle Malachi. Really. They are obsessed. And he is the sweetest to them! |
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| A table full of stinkers... and love! That's Ezra (4) and Gabe (2) |
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| Gabe. I wish I had a video camera so you could experience his level of silly, sassy, wild, hilariousness. |
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| This is baby girl. And really. Who could deny that face as many rolls as she wants?? |
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| These two. WILD. I could eat them. |
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| Sissy loves her Bubba. Really. I don't blame her. He's kinda my favorite too. |
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| And my beautiful snapchat, selfie taking, sassy sister Gracie. |
I love these crazy folks! It was an action packed few days.. but we weren't done yet! Off to the Riley's for the next part of Christmas.. at the lake! With a determined daddy fitting their new jeep in the car.
We were happy to see this lovely little lady.. Nana!
Fun times exploring and having adventures around the cabin.
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| exploring with Big Poppa & Emmaline |
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| She's in charge.. thanks! |
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| The pink ranger! |
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| catching a ride on the way to find the horses |
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| feeding someone's horses! |
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| heading out on the road |
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| feeding horses |
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| my handsome boys |
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| a little fishing |
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| gamma showing us how to do it. |
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| playing in the woods |
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| Boat rides |
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| It was cold! |
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| Out with daddy catching fish on the boat |
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| girls discussing oils |
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| Awesome gift from the Sutter's |
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| precious sweet cuddle moments for mom |
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| Science fun! |
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| Gingerbread house making! |
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| These 2 are my favorite. Blessed to call in law's friends! I always love catching up with these 2 |
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| A lot of around the fire chats |
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| and a lot of world problems solved |
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| just chatting and eating lunch |
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| He asked me to sit on his jeep with him and watch fireworks |
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| Precious family! |
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| Too hot mom! |
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| Totally by accident ninja fire picture.. Goodbye to 2014!! |
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| He said "mommy! Come see! I have got to take a picture of this" |
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| sleeping Beckett |
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| Me! |
Glad we took time to snap a few cousin picks before we left.. I sure am missing my niece's sweet face!
After a couple of bad football games (FSU & UofA) .. it was time to call this trip a wrap!
7 crazy days, so much family, love, laughter, and even a few tears. I'm especially grateful for time with special guy. 10 married Christmas with all our family and we still want to be married to each other! Ha!
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| Photo courtesy of Eli |
Sweet home alabama remains forever full of sweet memories!
Love,
The Riley's