Happy New Year!

2011 was a year of change for our family!  Here's to all that 2012 holds in store for us!  Wishing you a happy & healthy 2012!  Looking forward to a new year, new memories and new adventures!

Christmas 2011

Last year, we began a tradition with my family of exchanging gifts at our house on the night before Chrismas, followed by  Christmas Eve dinner.  This allows us to not rush around Christmas morning trying to be 3 places in 1 day. We get quality time with both sides of the family, along with special time Christmas morning just the 4 of us.

Nana, Grandpa, Great Grandma Monty, Aunt Emily and Uncle Cody came over around 4 for our gift exchange. Caleb loved helping pass out gifts this year (along with his big sis of course) and it was a great practice round for Christmas morning.  I was very surprised at how patient Caleb was this year waiting for his turn to pass out and open presents.  As usual, the kids were spoiled rotten by my family!  :)  Following presents, we enjoyed our traditional steak, shrimp cocktail and baked potato dinner.  It was a great night together as a family, and we feel so blessed to be able to make these memories together each year.

                                                   Exchanging Gifts Christmas Eve

Great-Grandma Monty and Caleb and Mackenzie

Nana and Grandpa playing Santa

Caleb with Uncle Cody and Aunt Emily

Mackenzie and Aunt Emily

              Big Sis isn't the only one in love with the new Princess Pop up Tent!

Aunt Em and sweet Caleb hangin' out!

                                              

Enjoying some appetizers before dinner

Dad and 2/3 of his girls (missed you Melissa!)

4 Generations

                                                               Best Buddies

Me and one of my favorite gifts....my amazing Dad!

Cody being "one of the girls!"

                                                               Preparing for Dinner!

                                                        Enjoying Christmas Dinner together!

 ...and then it was time to put on p.j's, lay out treats for Santa and his reindeer, and listen to "Twas the Night Before Christmas" read by Grandma Buzzard on a recordable book!

...and after storytime, it was time to get all nestled and snug in our beds....well the kids at least....Mommy started making breakfast casserole around 10:30 p.m., while Daddy finished wrapping last minute gifts....and after what felt like a few quick hours of sleep...some VERY excited children arose from their beds for some Christmas magic!

Christmas Morning!

Opening stockings with Daddy

Rippin' through the paper to see what  Santa left!

Kenz showing off her new Princess Yahtzee game and Caleb loving tearing off the wrapping paper!

I love this picture below.  Totally sums up what the morning looked like!

                                                       Daddy teaching Caleb all about tools

My sweet girl loving all her arts and crafts stuff

Caleb LOVING his new farm set.  His teachers at school said it is his favorite toy and to add it to his Wish List!  :)  They were right!

Mommy and her favorite 2 gifts...and I'm not referring to the best friend's dolls!

I adore this picture!  Big sis looking lovingly at Caleb hugging his favorite Christmas toy, an Elmo doll!

...and after unwrapping it was time for a quick tea party....

...and then Breakfast casserole, Grandma Buzzard's recipe.  Yummy!

After showering and loading up, we hit the road for Christmas with the Buzzards!  :)

                                     Best Buddies, ready to pile into the car....can you tell they're excited?

Ready to unwrap with the Buzzard clan!

Ella, Kaylee and Kenz opening their stockings from Santa!

I love the next few pics.  Such sweet memories from our day with the family!

The girls with their Figit Friends!  A HUGE hit!  We may have heard the phrase "Dance with me!" close to hundred times!!  :)

The boys bonding over a little train time!

BFF's!

....and there's not much I can say other than "boys will be boys".  I mean, who doesn't want to throw all the wrapping paper in the downstairs bathroom and turning it into a paper pit....do you know, Uncle Buzz?  :)

the mischevious Buzzard boys....we may be in trouble in the future with these 2!

...and THE BEST gift this Christmas, was the addition of sweet Ava, Chad and Kendra's  baby to the Buzzard family!  We had to squeeze in a visit of course to meet our new neice!  It is amazing how much I already love this little girl! 

...and Uncle Buzz is pretty smitten as well!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!