an Arkansas Christmas - part 1

Mary and Hunter "watching" a movie

Allie making H laugh

Sweet Colson

Pappy and H

the kids playing in the backyard with the dog

Zach and Abs.  They are a pair.

Me, Katie, Meredith and my mom

Happy Birthday Jesus party

the 2 littles

crazy family fun

Abby loves Riley

We are back from a week in Arkansas and we are tired!  It was a BLAST and so fun to see all of the cousins together.  I know my parents are exhausted and happy to have their quiet house back!  The kids did GREAT playing together.  

We arrived on Tuesday and my brother and his crew were already there.  On Wed. my sister arrived and my mom threw a party for all of her friends so that they could all come by and see us and the kids.  It was so much fun.  Each one of those ladies holds a special place in my heart and I was so thrilled to see them all at once!  We did a lot of hanging out, running around, eating and playing.  There are WAY too many pictures for one post, so I will post Christmas Eve and Christmas Day pictures tomorrow.  A FUN week at HOME and a great time with my crazy family!

Merry Christmas 2011

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!  MANY pictures and stories to come.  Just got in today from a week in Little Rock.  It was a FUN, busy time with my sweet family.  Hope you all had  a great Christmas as well!

this past weekend

snowmen smores

Abby and her friend Reid at the neighborhood Christmas party

Prestonwood's family event - live nativity

Abby making an ornament

H did not like this Santa.  

Abby warmed up to him.

H listening to a story and 

Abby getting her face painted

The Dallas Baylor gang at III Forks

Hollywood made an appearance

white elephant - we got the shaker workout

We had another fun, busy weekend!  Friday was our neighborhood Christmas party for the kids.  We joined this play group when Abby was 6 months old.  These kids are some of her best buds and their moms are pretty special to me as well.  Didn't take too many pictures at this one!  Loved the snowmen smores idea, however!

Saturday we went to a birthday party and then to Prestonwood's family event that they have every year.  There are 6 stations set up.  They have face painting, cookie decorating, a live nativity, pictures with Santa, a craft and a story is told by Mrs. Claus.  After you complete each station, they mark your card and at the end you are given a free gift.  The gift is a whole nativity set.  What a blessing that church is!

That night, the Dallas Baylor gang met at III Forks for a nice dinner together.  We had our own room and we had a ball.  It was nice to get away from the kids for a bit and enjoy some adult time.  We have a Christmas party every year with kids, but now that we all have at least two kids it gets a bit crazy.  This was way more fun for this year and it wouldn't surprise me if we made it a tradition.   It is so neat that we are so far out of college and still remain so close.  Love each of these friends and love that our kids are growing up together as well!

We did a few other fun things as well...more pics to come!  Hope you guys are enjoying this month as much as I am!

White family Christmas card 2011

Ok.  So this is my parent's Christmas card they are sending out this year.  It cracks me up for MANY reasons.

1 - Most of us look like rag-a-muffins. We had been to the Arkansas/Texas A & M football game earlier that day and most of us had changed clothes already.  Also,  no one was there to take the picture.  It was sitting on the counter on a timer.  Cheese!

2 - You get a great shot of the BACK of Hunter and Colson's heads.  I guess no one needs to see their face anyway or maybe Mom and Dad think they are ugly?

3 - Abby has a silly grin on her face as she is staring at Allie and not the camera.  Again, cheese!

4 - Mom and Dad aren't even in the picture!

5 - Bo looks short and he is FAR from being short.  He usually is towering over everyone in our pictures together so I think he looks funny.  Sorry dear.


HOWEVER,

As I look at this card I also see a dove.  A dove that represents Reese and I love that.  I love that my dad has a precious, sensitive heart and last year also put the dove on the White family Christmas card.  I love that the dove is there.  I love that Reese is in heaven watching over us every day like the dove is above Katie and Jason's head.  Reese is very much a part of our family and always will be.  We all love her and miss her.  Not a day goes by that she doesn't cross my mind.  I know it never will.

I love my family.  All of them.  I am blessed and will never take for granted how much each one of them mean to me.  We are the Griswolds.  I love it.  Merry Christmas from the WHITE family!

happy birthday Jesus party

Today was Abby's happy birthday Jesus party.  The kids came into the room and recited the Lord's Prayer.  It was precious.  Then we made an ornament and a snowman treat to eat!  The children had made a few things for the parents and each of them I will treasure.  I love having Abby's sweet hands and feet on things and it's fun to see how much they grow from year to year!  Another fun MDO party this year!

our elf "Lucy"

Lucy was hiding in the fridge this morning.  

Another tradition that Abby just LOVES this time of year!  

I love it too.    Happy Monday!

parachuting Santa

H was a bit "over dressed" in his ski bibs!

The elves jump first...

and then comes Santa!

Dinner at Babes and doing the Hokey Pokey

Last year, I found out about a fun event in Frisco and we knew we had to go again this year!  Santa and his elves parachute out of airplanes and land right in front of the mass of people surrounding him.  Abby remembered this as well from last year and was so excited about going again.  Right on time (5:15) we looked up and the first elf jumped, the second elf jumped and then Santa himself jumped out of the airplane right over our heads!  So fun to see Santa flying in the air and landing right in front of us!  As soon as he landed, we headed over to Babes Chicken house for dinner.  LOVE that place!!  We had our own little "room" and it was perfect for us.  We ended the night with the Hokey Pokey in the middle of the restaurant....what could be better?  FUN Saturday filled with Christmas memories!  : )

polar express 2011

Abby and Karlie

The man put the microphone up to Abby and wanted her to say "All Aboard"!

She didn't say a word!   : )

Ready to ride the train

Santa gave each child a bell

This was our third year to ride the Polar Express!  Abby talks about it all year long and it never disappoints.  Once you arrive, there is a show to see and then you board the train for the ride.  The conductor comes through punching the children's tickets and then Santa comes and gives each child a bell.  He even gave Hunter one and he loves it.  We sing Christmas songs and just have a great time together.  Next up....Santa and his elves parachute out of airplanes tonight.  Stay tuned!

our own gingerbread house and cuddles by the fire

Have I said before how much I LOVE this time of year??? There are so many fun things to do to get in the Christmas spirit and spend quality time together as a family!!!  Who cares if Hunter sits in his high chair and eats Puffs...he is participating! : )

We (Bo) made our gingerbread house with Abby and she loved every second.  Her favorite part was eating the left over icing.  Each night on ABC  Family they show a Christmas movie.  Some are age appropriate for Abs and others aren't, but one night we watched one and she wanted to "cuddle with Hunter by the fire".  He actually sat there a bit, but then was off getting into something else!  LOVE these two!!

neighborhood tree lighting

Abby and Elle with Santa

Santa's reindeer!

playing in some snow

sliding down the "snow hill"

the boys staying warm inside

Last night was the annual Christmas tree lighting in our neighborhood.  Despite the temps being in the low 30s (with wind chills in the 20s) we had a blast!  The kids saw Santa and his reindeer, bounced in bounce houses, played in the snow and went down the snow slides.  Our local art shop had free face painting and allowed the kids to make a really neat ornament for the tree!   It was FREEZING, but we would go out for a bit and then hop in the donut/coffee shop for a while and the art shop was warm as well.  We didn't stay for the actual tree lighting, but on the way home, Abby was able to see some Christmas lights and she was just tickled!  Such a fun night with neighbors and friends!