Merry Christmas!

Hard to believe as I sit and type tonight that we only have one more day in 2009!  Where has the time gone?  We were lucky to have spent our Christmas holidays surrounded by family and friends!  Holiday meals were enjoyed by both sets of Godparents and their children.  Trent and Emily discovered the joy of jumpies as they read Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom to the babies.

Then on Christmas Eve, we got the children ready to attend Christmas Eve service at the church.  Funny how getting 3 children fed and dressed while James and I tried to do the same could be so tiring! After we were loaded into the mini-van, James and I laughed and thought we should get the rest of the night off! 

We attended service with Grams, Pops, & Uncle Jon.  We are finding that attending service is slightly more challenging now the babies are mobile --- they don't want to sit still for long!

After the beautiful service, we headed to the Stone house for dinner and gift exchange. 

James and Pops were busy solving the problems of the world...

Morgan and Grams enjoyed "toying" around...

And Madison enjoyed riding Koda, our new present from Uncle Jon!

After a late night, we were on the way home with visions of... well... we were pretty tired, and I don't think sugar plums were dancing in our head!

Christmas morning --- time to see what Santa left under our tree!  The three babies opened presents together as the Byrd family came over to watch.

Although they loved the toys, I think they were more fascinated with the sound of tearing paper & the shiny ribbons!

Next we went across the yard to my mother's house for gifts.

I think Christmas shopping next year may be easier.  Boxes can be empty as long as they are covered in paper that crinkles when you tear it and tied with shiny ribbons :)

Exhausted babies were put down for a nap soon after our Christmas lunch was finished.  Here are just a few of my personal favorites from the holidays...

Dad reading to the girls

James playing with his cousin, Tyler, and enjoying his new fish toy

 Madison showing how the paper was much more fun than the gift inside

What an Amazing year!  We have been blessed with so much this year - we're looking forward to 2010!

Baby Play Day!

The babies enjoyed another "play day" this weekend! 

Friends Jack and Sydney came over for a little Christmas gift-exchange.

Here we see the babies after a day of playing --- looks like everyone enjoyed their day!

Here is the next shot in our progression.  Notice Sydney (in the red, middle), Jack (far right), and Morgan haven't really changed positions!  Madison, however, has managed to crawl over

her brother who has started a meltdown...

the meltdown continues as we see Madison's legs changing direction, fleeing the scene of crime...

And she is off too see if Sydney needs help opening any presents!

Hope you enjoy the season surrouned with family and friends --- just don't crawl over them on the way to check out the presents under the tree :)

Gifts Under the Tree!

Last night I tried to wrap presents in "my favorite room" - surrounded by babies in jumpies (see earlier post)! I quickly found out that James wasn't fond of the paper - not sure if it was the sound, color, or the fact that he was tired. He soon ended up in my lap, and the wrapping experience was over! One present down, countless more to go! Morgan LOVED the empty cardboard wrapping tube - we would talk through it and she would just kick, jump, & giggle! Madison was amazed by the entire process --- paper, ribbons, tape --- she'll be in the very middle of it next year!
I also realized that the present I was wrapping wasn't nearly as exciting as the little ones watching the ordeal! Christmas definitely isn't about the presents UNDER the tree, but the people in life that surround the tree during this special time of year!
The "front row" gifts under the tree are actually boxes filled with bricks! We made a "wall" so the little ones couldn't destroy the other packages. We've only had a few ripped papers and crinkled bows, but the babies have enjoyed every minute.

Our tooth count for the week is 8! Madison has her 2 bottom teeth. Morgan decided she didn't want to be left out and showed us her two bottom teeth 2 weeks after big sister. James has pulled into the lead with 4... 2 bottom center and 2 "fang" teeth on the top. We are waiting for his top center teeth to pop out any day!