More Christmas Memories.

Ashley's 2008 Ornament. It says "Powerhouse" & the Year to help her remember her year of cheer.
Jarrett's 2008 Ornament. As you can tell he loves Nascar. He loves any driver. Especially Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx, but I can't find one of his ornaments.

Of course Brooke's 2008 Ornament had to be Hannah Montana.
Here is a picture of them avoiding looking at the Christmas lights the other night. Brooke even fell asleep. Jarrett was just bored to tears and I mean tears.

Hubby & I took Jarrett to the Children's Museum Christmas Village. We went last year and had a blast so we decided to go again this year. This picture is of Jarrett playing in the fake snow. It's not a very good picture b/c he was intimidated with all the kids that were there so he stayed out of the snow b/c they were all there.

He loved to pretend canoe. Even hubby thought this one was cool.

Jarrett we'll have to go canoeing when you can swim.

Here he is blowing bubbles.

And of course his all time favorite...... The ambulance.

He likes the boats, but I don't. He always gets wet playing with these and when it's cold outside wet is not always ok.

He also loves brushing the teeth. He does a good job at brushing his own teeth at home when we remind him. He got a transformer toothbrush set so hopefully he'll always like to brush his teeth.

Here he is pretending to cook us food in the play kitchen. I'd have to say this would be his 2nd favorite exhibit. He takes our order and then he rings it up on the cash register. After that he manhandles some food of his choice (not our order) from another kid (yes I scold him and make him give it back), then he picks the food without a kid attached and brings it to us. To do the dishes he dumps plate and all in the pretend trash can. Is that the future I see?

My favorite cookie place has a decorate a cookie booth that we love. Last year we made Christmas trees and this year it was Gingerbreadmen. I had to keep him from eating all the skittles that were supposed to be for decorating the cookies. That was tough. I'd turn my head and he'd get more.

Yeah hubby was sitting right there, but I guess he thought the candy was there for eating too.

And finally Santa was there. He heard us call Jarrett by name so he started calling him his name. Jarrett was amazed. I might not get to blog in a while b/c we will be out of town. I want to wish you all an early Happy New Year.

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Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!!!

I had to work Christmas eve but when I got home we went to the Christmas Eve service at our new church. Brooke seemed to really enjoy it. She can now read the projector so she could sing with us and boy she did. I had to stop singing just to listen. She has a really great voice. Next we took communion and it was Brooke's first time. After we sat back down she said (of course out loud) "That was a great snack." Needless to say we'll have a talk about what communion is soon. After communion we lit our candles and sang again. She lovvveeeeeddddd this part. I of course was a nervous wreck. Give a 7 year old an open flame behind other people who wouldn't be.

After church we........... Ordered pizza. Yeah a Christmas Eve supper for champions. We were univited to our original supper place (that was great for me I don't feel completely comfortable arround strangers on a holiday).

Of course we had to let them open 1 present ASAP to get that excitement out of the way so we could enjoy the rest of the evening.

Next we played a game I found online. The kids loved it. I wrapped a prize up and kept placing the wrapped gift inside another box a little bit bigger and so on until it was wrapped several times. We then rolled the dice to see what number we had to roll to unwrap the present. Jarrett rolled the number many times and got to unwrap it down to the last box and then.........

Brooke rolled a 5. She was super excited!!!!

It was a reindeer who poops brown jellybeans when you push down on his back. The kids loved it. They thought it was hilarious.

I had to take a few posed shots. Aren'e they so cute in their Santa hats eagerly awaiting bedtime.

My kids seem to think that the best spot to sprinkle the reindeer food is by the lighted deer in our front yard so off we go.

Brooke asked yesterday morning if we could go see if the reindeer ate the food. I quickly changed the subject. Maybe next year we'll have to plan something just in case. Hummmm maybe a broom?????

Mrs. Clause is on a diet so we made sugar cookies for Santa this year instead of chocolate oatmeal cookies (Mrs. Clause's favorite). The kids made them this year. I just helped cook them. Didn't they do a great job......

Needless to say Christmas morning came wayyyyyyy to soon. 7 am. At least it wasn't around 5 am like I used to do to my parents. Sorry Mom & Dad. I now feel your pain.

I had to try to explain to Brooke that her stuff costs more so it looks like Jarrett got more, but they got equal dollar amounts. I'm not sure if she understood. I overheard her tell my Mom that Jarrett got more than her. Here stuff is also littlier than his. His came in big boxes and her DS games are small. Maybe next year I'll wrap her small things in large boxes. I don't know we'll see.

Just a Christmas memory for me. Our tree nicely decorated by the kids.

Jarrett showing us his presents from Santa.

He's not as dramatic about it as Brooke is.

Oh and looky who Santa left coal in their stocking.

Here they are jamming out. Jarrett loved his guitar he got from Santa. (Even though Santa found it at the Powerhouse garage sale for $1.00 go figure.) He barely put it down all morning. He looks too cute playing it.

Santa even left Sydney (AKA Sunny) some dog treats and a new toy. I guess Sunny has been good this year. I do have to admit I haven't found her poop by my side of the bed in a long while.

Awwwww. My hubby was thanking them for his presents from them. Jarrett gave him a beltloop radio & Brooke gave him a Denny Hamlin #11 model car. Jarrett picked his presents for us out from the Children's Museum Christmas Village. I got the radio also, but mine is purple and hubby's is red. I can't wait to use mine to walk the hills by my house. Brooke was sooooo cute. I guess I've never let her shop before this year. She had fun shopping for them in Hobby Lobby. I'm going to have to let her every year now. I usually buy the present and write from her. Jarrett picked up her present to him and said "Aw Brooke really does love me." He was so happy to have a present from her. No Everyone they don't act like they don't love each other for him to think that. That is just what came out of his mouth. They play ok together.

Here's Jarrett modeling my hubby's new ballcap.

And guess what Brooke got????? A karaoke machine. She had a blast singing and reading the words on the TV and you see Jarrett jamming behind her.

At lunch time we went over to hubby's parent's house. We celebrated with Collette (Brother-n-laws fiance) & my mother-n-law. Sorry I didn't get a good picture of my father-n-law & my sister-n-law Lisa. Jarrett learned he likes Broccoli & rice casserole & Lima beans. Yeah. At first all he was eating was ham and a roll.

Al (brother-n-law) & hubby

And lets not forget my nephew Kyle.
Tim & Blake (Brother-n-law & nephew)

Welllllllll Brooke went outside to watch the boys shoot their new pellet guns And..................She fell down in the mud. Yeah she did this right before her Dad came to pick her up so thatnkgoodness we had extra clothes their. I had to send her dirty jeans and dirty shoes with him to be washed. I'm sure he appreciated it. He likes a clean vehicle.

Looky at what Jarrett got. A race car helmet and sterring wheel. Yes he was in hog heaven.

And it looks like Uncle Tim was in hog heaven too. HaHa.

Jarrett also got his first bike. It took some warming up b/c he is a little scared of it. Pretty soon he'll be riding around the yard with us telling him to slow down. Brooke got some money for some skates. My In-laws went everywhere searching for some roller skates for her since she loves to skate. I'll have to take her shopping for them after the stores restock. She also got some Polly Pocket stuff & a Hannah Montana shirt.

After Brooke left Jarrett started laying down to play so I knew we need to go soon so he could take a nap. Yeah we got a great 2 hour nap after we got home. It felt great since we went to bed late and got up early.
I know you all noticed no pictures of Ashley. She went to Tennessee for the holidays. She got to have an only child holiday with my parents. It was her choice. I know they made her feel super special and made sure Santa knew where to find her. We are all heading up there Sunday to celebrate with them. Hopefully it will snow for us while we're up there.

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