Christmas Tradition

Todd with the kids

All 13 kids before they opened their gifts.  Lily wasn't very happy.

For the past 3 years we have gotten together with 4 of Todd's Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers (and their families) from Tech for a Christmas party.  This year we hosted it at our house.  There were 10 adults and 13 kids age 6 and under.  It was a little WILD, but the kids had so much fun playing together.  

Flight simulator

Collin went with his daddy this weekend to a Southwest Airlines flight simulator.  Todd works with someone whose mother works for Southwest Airlines and got them in to do the flight simulator.  Todd said that it was just like a real cockpit with all of the controls and that it truly felt like they were flying.  They were even able to control the weather and experienced a lot of turbulence.  Collin has a blast being the pilot as he sat on his daddy's lap.  

Collin's Christmas Program

Me sneaking a kiss as they were leaving the sanctuary after their program...I couldn't help it.

Collin's class holding hands as they leave.
The parents were like the paparazzi..us included : )
Collin waving to daddy during the show.
This is when Collin first saw me in the audience.  His little eyes lit up...it was so sweet.

Collin had his Christmas Program at school on December 17th.  It was so cute to see all of the little ones file into the sanctuary and sing their songs.  Each of them were dressed in their Christmas clothes and looked so cute.  We were a little nervous that Collin might get nervous and pick his nose in front of everyone, but he kept his fingers out of the nose!  Yay! 

A Beautiful December Day

Collin loves getting right up in the lens

Lily carrying a handful of chalk
Collin posing with his sword
Lily coloring with her chalk
Collin giving me sweet kisses
Collin giving Daddy sweet kisses

Today was absolutely beautiful!  It was nice to play outside for a change after all of the cold weather we have had lately.  I snapped a few pictures of the kids enjoying the day.  Lily really enjoyed playing with the sidewalk chalk and Collin had fun playing with his sword.  We just had to make sure that he didn't come within 10 feet of Lily : )  His new thing lately is to get right up in the camera lens and say "cheese." 

Lily's a big girl

Silly Lily

Crayon in the ear brings a new meaning to "ear wax."
Lily coloring a pretty picture


Lily LOVES to sit in any chair, especially the one's at their craft table where she can color.  She loves to imitate Collin and do everything he does such a coloring, playing play-dough, climbing on his scooter, etc.  She is into so much more than he was at this age because she sees him do it and then she tries it.  She loves climbing on anything and everything (which is not necessarily a good thing).  She even likes to stand on random boxes and dance.  She cracks me up, but I'm a little worried that she may try to climb out of her crib before too long.

Collin's first gingerbread house

Last night we decorated Collin's first gingerbread house.  I'm surprised we had any candy left to decorate it with..just kidding : ) I told him we couldn't eat the candy because we were using the pieces to decorate, but trust me...he "tasted" several pieces by licking them and then sticking them to the house.  Word to the wise, never eat a gingerbread house because you never know how old it is and where the candy has been.  I must say that he did do a pretty good job at decorating it.  

A few more pics

Aunt Stacie, Uncle Craig, Lauren, Collin, Me, Lily, Todd, Mimi, Grandad, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Charlie