Marshall Visit

After Christmas we had a day to spend with the family before everyone headed back to Texas. 

We took a few pictures & then headed to do two of Jack's favorite things:

1. See the "neighs"

2.  Feed the ducks & see the plane & train at Centennial Park

This trip was Layne & Jackie's first time to meet Madelyn!

Christmas Day

We had one very happy little boy on Christmas morning!

There's nothing like seeing the joy & surprise on his face. 

I can't wait for this moment for many years to come. 

 

After exploring & playing with all the toys Santa brought, it was time for breakfast & the rest of the family joined for opening presents.  Jack was great at delivering each present to the right person & loved opening his presents AND his sister's!

The rest of the day was filled with opening presents, cooking, a family lunch, and naptime, too! 

Such a great first Christmas at our home!

Christmas Eve

My parents, Layne, & Jackie came into town Christmas Eve day.

 

After I finished up all my baking & preparations I tried to get Jack down for nap & failed for the second Christmas Eve in a row ("no nap Jack").  Evidentially he can sense the excitement of Christmas Eve & literally played in his crib for 2 hours.  

 

After Jack woke up we headed to 4 o'clock church and he was great through the whole service (with the help of a Thomas the train brochure that he could look at for hours!).  We are pretty sure that he did fall asleep during one of the long prayers, though!  He had his first communion with his dad & was very intrigued when we lit our candles.  We started out with Madelyn in the service but after she made it known that she was not going to sleep I quickly took her to the nursery. 

 

 

We headed to a delicious dinner afterward church and then it was home to prepare for Santa's arrival.

 

We decorated a few sugar cookies for Santa...

 

Checked out where Santa was on the map...

 

And then had a dance party, read "Twas the Night Before Christmas," said our prayers, and it was off to bed.

The Beginning of Christmas - Bloomer Visit

I can truly say this was one of my most memorable holiday seasons to date. 

Christmas through a child's eyes is amazing to see, especially when it is your own children!

Introducing Jack to new traditions, Church on Christmas Eve, Santa, & celebrating Jesus' birthday is so much fun.  We've done these things the last two years but with him being older & getting it more combined with being at our home in Nashville, it was truly a very special Christmas.

 

We started out the Christmas holiday with a visit from Tyler's parents & grandma. 

This was Tyler's grandma's first time to meet Madelyn!

We had a fun few days of family time, opening presents, eating yummy food, & church.

As previously stated, Jack loves trains, planes, cars, & cranes & he loved his new crane that's almost the size of him!

(I have more pics from this visit but I'm currently having problems with blogger & can't add more pictures to any of my holiday posts!  Check back!)