Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas, part 2

OUR FAMILY


For nine years, Brent and I have gone to church on Christmas Eve and opened presents on Christmas morning.  Each of those years we headed to my parents by mid-morning Christmas day.  That worked well when there were only two of us.  Along the way we added the blond babes above.  The last couple of years it has been pretty chaotic to wake up Christmas morning, open presents to each other, see what Santa brought, eat/bathe/pack for everyone and hit the road for a three hour drive.  This year, our tenth married Christmas, I finally agreed to open our family presents to each other on Christmas Eve. {Brent's been trying to talk me into for three years ~ he's gonna love this next part ~} It worked so well!  We had plenty of time to enjoy church, a nice family dinner and then open presents.  The kids had time to play with their gifts and enjoy our time together.  Christmas morning was still chaotic (I should've packed sooner) but it worked really well.  We probably have a new tradition.  


This is mostly what Ryan thought about Christmas.  He asked if every gift was edible ;-) 




One of mommy's favorites - a handmade calendar from Lucas.  Each month of the calendar has a special picture made from his hand print.  I was privileged to help 22 kindergartners in Lucas' class make these special calendars for their mom & dad.  

He really looks intent on this one!  
{And as the days have passed since then, he really does love this toy!}

The chef and waitress.

Princess dresses!
P.S. There is a whole lot of tulle in that box.
P.P.S. These fit really well in the box when I folded them up and shoved them in there… they don't fit that well when the three year old puts them away. 




Our gifts ~ everyday!

Christmas, part 1

PERRY {extended} FAMILY CHRISTMAS
November 30, 2013

Uncle Gary, Nick holding Jacob, Tricia, Hannah in Leslee's lap, Lucas in Brent's lap.

Hannah and Leslee. 

Patiently waiting. 

Great Grandma Perry, Connie, Steve, Richard, Tamma and Kayleen, Brooklyn and Audrey are opening presents.  

Aunt Susan ~ the baby whisperer ~ and Ryan (5 months). 

Andrea, Audrey, Darin holding Cody (7 months). 

Lucas, Uncle Brian and Hannah.  

Discovering. 

Love from Daddy.  

Hannah helping Great Pa.  
Erica, Mike and Aunt Joan. 

A present! For me?


Hannah and Kale. 

Meanwhile, there was a wild game of kickball happening upstairs. 
Lucas was all-time pitcher. 


Look at those moves! 


Right down the center for Dad!

Cheerleaders! 


Lucas' turn.


The family tree!
Steve (Connie), Karen (Ken), Susan (Mike), Great Pa, Joan (Gary), Richard (Tamma)

Steve (Connie), Karen (Ken), Susan (Mike), Great Grandma, Joan (Gary), Richard (Tamma)

A good family to be a part of :-) 

growing like a weed!


First bites!  

It was a family affair :-)

He likes it!!!

Happy, full tummy!


Ryan is such a happy baby; always full of smiles.  



Mr. Squash Face. 

Ryan had his first bites of cereal shortly after he was five months old.  We spent a few days practicing with cereal and moved right into baby food.  He loves it!  The only food he gives a funny face to is peaches.  


He's an avid roller. 
An avid drooler. 
And his nose runs a lot.  

But those eyes!  

When we took Lucas to the Eagles vs. Vikings NFL game, Ryan and Hannah hung out with Gramma Connie and Grampa Steve.  We got a text from Connie halfway thru the day...


Ryan had an explosion and there were no extra clothes in the diaper bag.  {graciously accepts the 'mom of the year' award} So he hung like this for awhile.  

I think he probably liked it.  





Monday, December 23, 2013

Christmas programs

Among so many other firsts this year, we attended our first elementary school Christmas program.  






Front row, third from the left. 




A great seat on Great Pa's lap!  

Special friends.

Great Pa and Lucas. 

Grandma Connie came, too.  

The next night was Hannah and Ryan's Christmas program at daycare.  
Happy to see the familiar faces in the crowd, but mostly just happy to see Grandma Connie.  


Miss Griffin and Ryan. 

JINGLE! 


Mmmm, bells. 


Then - Santa showed up.  She was content just sitting in Papa's lap.  
No need to get any closer to Santa.  

The boys weren't phased at all!  

Two successful programs - no tears, lots of smiles and no embarrassing gestures :-)