Christmas Part I

Christmas was great this year- I was so relieved to be done working it was just nice to relax and enjoy the festivities. We went to St. Johns and then my mom's for Christmas Eve. Our family picture is always challenging and I'm fully aware that it's only going to get more so.

My mom is the coolest and had a kids table ready to go.  She took a page from Zios and had the table covered in paper for the kids to color all over.  It's really just a ploy to keep them more occupied so we can enjoy our fancy adult dinner in the dining room. 

Emerson, however, made the most adorable Christmas tree ever.

This is the best of all 4 it's going to get...

My dad always read the Christmas story straight from Bible before we open presents and we've continued that tradition with Uncle Jon.

Santa Train/ Lawrence

The day after my graduation we left for Lawrence for the weekend as a last family of 4 getaway. We knew after the baby came we wouldn't be getting out as much. A friend told us that on our way to Lawrence there was a Santa Train where you board a train for a couple of hours, ride around and get to meet Santa. I'd never taken the girls to meet him before (for numerous reasons) so this seemed like a perfect way for them to get to do that and not to have to wait in a crazy mall line. It was the most fun and I think it'll turn into an annual thing.

We didn't tell the girls about getting to meet Santa until we were on the train- they were super excited. I wondered if Easton might be a bit timid but they climbed right up on his lap and told him about the toys they wanted. It was adorable.

We went to our hotel in Lawrence and long story short, Ryan and I got what Emerson had the night before in the car. Sick sick sick. He and I were miserable that night but the girls had a great time just hanging out in our room watching movies. We'll redeem ourselves this Christmas as a family of 5.

Graduation

Going back to work full time in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy and with Emerson starting kindergarten and shuffling Easton around was challenging to say the least. On top of the lesson planning aspect of student teaching, I also had to be enrolled in a class at the same time. It was brutal. But it was a team effort and my Masters is FINISHED! With a 4.0 I might add...

I probably wouldn't have "walked" but I wanted the girls to see (or at least have pictures to show them someday) that mom does more than eat bon bons and watch Days of Our Lives all day. It was on a Friday night and I was exhausted from working all week (and being 8 months pregnant) but we loaded in the car and drove to Warrensburg.  I was glad we did even though Emerson got sick and puked in the back seat on the way home.

Emerson is 6!

Our sweet Emerson turned 6 and it was our first time with Ryan not taking the day off work and spending it with her. It was a school day so she went to school and got to pass out cupcakes and be spoiled at school.  

Ryan got her a birthday doughnut for breakfast.

I surprised her and took her lunch at school which she was VERY happy about.

We had her party at a bowling alley which was fun and different.  They had the bumpers up for the kids and also dinosaurs things that helped them get the balls down the lanes.  The kids loved it and we all had a great time.

Emerson and her friend Owen from her class.

 

Audrey's Party

I've always loved going to Audrey Bullcoming's birthday parties. Maybe it's because she and Emerson are only 12 weeks apart and Stacy was one of my first close friends to have a baby, but they're just always a fun celebration of her sweet girl another year older. This year was a movie theme- they got "tickets" and then watched a movie in their "theatre." So fun, as always.

Emerson got to see her friend "little Courtney" (as opposed to Aunt Courtney who is "big Courtney.")

Easton had a good time for sure.