Christmas continued

Christmas #3 took place Christmas day at my Grandma Linda's house. Once everyone was able to get out of their snowed in homes we were able to make it over to Grandma's house.The whole town got mounds and mounds of snow dumped on it Christmas eve, so Dad played chauffeur to several family members because the snow was not making it too easy for everyone to get around. Regardless of the snow good times were had by all. Thanks so much for the holiday cheer Grandma Linda! Love you lots.

Our lil' Christmas angel.

Opening presents at Grandma Linda's. A brand new KU basketball jersey. Thanks Gammee!

My cousin Tyller.

Uncle Mike, his girlfriend Allison and dad hanging out watching the chaos.

I helped mom wrap Grandma Linda's present complete with LOTS of tape and LOTS of ribbon.

Madison, Taylor, Macray, Mackinzie unwrapping their gifts.

Uncle Nick give a big "thumbs up" to Christmas.

Take One: Picture of all 12 grandchildren...wait there's one missing. Can you guess who? Take Two: Now it's all 12 of them. I bet you can guess who didn't want in on the picture taking action!

The teenagers chatting about teenager stuff and, of course, texting and checking the phone.

Mackinzie with baby Reesing.

Annabell showing off her Christmas dress.

She's definitely a daddy's girl and pappa is all smiles about that.

Grandma Linda with baby Reesing.

Uncle Nick and Miles checking out the new monster trucks.

Brotherly/Sisterly love....Awwww so cute. Taylor and Macray posing for a pic.

Uncle Mike giving all his money to the other people around the table in a friendly game of poker.

Me and Calvin being silly.

My mommy and Calvin posing for the camera.

Being good all year paid off

We have many blessings to be thankful for this holiday season, with the biggest one being the safe arrival of my happy & healthy baby sister Reesing. Christmas #2 was celebrated on Christmas morning when the big guy made a visit to our house. Ohhhhh and he brought the goodies. Santa must have thought I was a good boy because I totally scored.

A message from the big man himself!

My very own art easel with all the art supplies you could imagine!

My expectations of Santa's art skills were not to the level I imagined they would be. He must have been really tired from traveling all over the world Christmas Eve night.

He didn't leave without filling the stockings up to the top!

Sis got new earrings.

Santa even left Ducey Boy a present.

Lots of presents to open. So much fun!

Sis is still to young to open her presents so I got the honor of helping her!

Not really excited about all of her pink toys.

This is what Reesing did most all of Christmas morning.

Updates on Christmas #3 & 4 still to come. We hope that you & your families all had a very Merry Christmas too!

Christmas is on it's way

This past weekend we kicked off the festivities with a Christmas celebration at my Grandpa Rod's house. Him and his wife Tracy cooked a wonderful meal and gave me lots of packages, which I could practice my unwrapping skills on. It was a lot of fun. Thank you so much Grandpa Rod and Tracy for the gifts and the hospitality. Hopefully I've been a good enough boy to earn some more gifts from the big guy on Christmas day. I can't wait!

The countdown begins.

There are 4 days until Christmas!

We went to meet the big guy & I was not down for it.

Really not down for it. Even to the point where I gave the big guy the cold shoulder.

Then he said the magic words, "What would you like for Christmas Mr. Manning?" Now we're talking Santa.

I had to make up for the cold shoulder I gave him just a few minutes ago. So, I told him I wanted a race car for Christmas and even threw out a few jokes that cracked the Jolly 'ol Fella up!

I even walked away with some treats. Score for me! 4 more days to go. I've been on my best behavior Santa. I really want that race car.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Several weeks ago, thankfully while the weather was still warm, our family went out in search of the perfect Christmas tree. We have never picked out a Christmas tree without being bundled up in winter coats. Last year Mom made Dad and I go out and pick one out in the middle of an ice/snow storm. Needless to say, that was the worst tree we've ever had, but that's what happens when you pick one out in 2 minutes. We always buy from the Breakfast Optimist Club because the profits are put back into the local community through charitable support. So, Dad and I began the search. Wandering up and down the aisles looking for that "special" tree to bring home.

There were too many to choose from. Also, this day I thought that my stuffed dog and the gameboard to "Trouble" needed to accompany us on the hunt. Don't ask me why. My parents are still wondering why.

This is what sis did the whole time we were trying to make a decision. She was kind of like "hurry up and make a decision already."

Once we got it home Mom began the "get all the lights to work" game. It was taking a little longer than expected and Mom was getting pretty frustrated until Dad came to the rescue. So, I took a snack break and waited for them to figure out those silly lights. It wouldn't be Christmas without having to fight the tree lights.

So, Mom informed me that now since I'm big enough it's my job to take the lead on trimming the tree and to get it started. So, I carefully picked out the first ornament to hang.
I went and grabbed the step stool and hung the first ornament of choice, it just didn't look right.

So, I then went and grabbed a chair to the dining room table and again hung the first ornament of choice. But I was still not happy with it's placement.

It needed to go HIGHER! Mom says that I'm just like my father and never happy until things are just right.

We pulled the big boy ladder out and went to work. Forget that wimpy step stool. Now we're talking. Perfect. Man, that was a lot of pressure to get the first ornament just right.

Once we added all of the other ornaments the tree turned out beautiful and was one of our best trees yet, if I do say so myself.