More Presents

Grandma Debbie found these cute blankets for the kids. They are a huge hit. Ellery is a lady bug while Mason is a dragon. Not pictured is Bryson the monkey, but he is pictured in his adorable sock monkey hat. Grandma Debbie had the kids crawling around on the floor as their animals and they had a great time playing in them. They are super soft as well. The kids don't know it, but they will get matching pillows for their birthdays!
Everyone enjoyed opening presents. Ellery gave the classic, look it's a box response to some openings and was excited to get the box. They are spoiled with love from Papaw and Grandma Debbie, but it doesn't stop at just love. Christmas was a fun time for everyone!

The Stockings Were Hung

Oh, how much they grow and change in a year!

Last year they lovingly held still for the photo. This year I was lucky to catch this one. They were more interested in having stocking races! Even Bryson figured out how to run walk in the stocking!

Merry Christmas

Everything is Merry for us this Christmas!

Mason was requesting the Cars 2 lego and it was delivered.

Ellery didn't get her Barbie car, but she did get her barbie house with an elevator!

Bryson got a sock monkey and a toy noise maker guitar!

Christmas Eve

We forgot to take a picture in front of the tree, but what can you do?

We let the kids open one gift on Christmas Eve and I controlled what they opened and of course it was games. We spent the evening playing games and having fun. Mason is really good at playing connect four! Ellery really enjoyed playing pop n hop, a game just like trouble! My kids have no mercy and are showing some competitiveness early on, hmmmm I wonder where that comes from?! Bryson enjoyed carrying the small parts around!

Find the Tiny Christmas Tree

We met Rob at work for lunch. He has been working so much we decided to stop by and say Hello. The kids really enjoy eating in the cafeteria! I think Rob secretly enjoys showing off his family! We are proud of him and all he does at work, but I think he gets excited to show his family off in the flesh and we certainly enjoy it as well! We did take the kids to the lobby and Rob told Mason he might have trouble finding the Christmas tree because it was so small. Mason was looking for such a small tree that he missed the big one. Rob had to stop him and point out the tree he was teasing Mason about! It wasn't small at all! A really really tall one!

Breakfast with Santa

I am so sad that our group photo turned out blurry! Errrrr

Regardless of the terrible photo, the kids had a great time at all of the activities! They had face painting, which is always a favorite in our house, tattoos, crafts, stories with Mrs. Clause, balloon artist, magician, and the pancake man serving breakfast. The pancake man would throw up a pancake and catch it behind his back along with other tricks. Mason was very impressed with his skills. Tis the season to be jolly!!!

Stockings

Forgot to post this back in the season. We took pictures of all the other kids shoved in stockings, so it was fitting to shove Bryson in one. As we shoved him in his stocking the other two wanted to shove themselves in one. Great times with the little ones.

Christmas with Papaw

When you head from a fairly large town to a small town in Kansas, you can't do much but sit back and enjoy the company and the relaxation. That is what is nice about going some place else. I don't have my house to worry about or anything in it to do, what a blessing and just what I needed.

Papaw and Grandma Debbie spoiled the kids as usual. From toys to making donuts. The joke of the week was to tell Papaw to smile and he would say he is. The verdict is still out if one can consider it a smile. He would have been great in taking pictures in the wild west days.

A girl always loves a small box and Papaw gave Jill and I matching necklaces. you an see it in the photo dangling around my neck. I also got the pretty scarf I tied around my head, I didn't get around to doing my hair before we opened presents.

Papaw gave rides around the block and the kids really enjoyed it. Mason is sitting in the back with dead pheasant and smearing blood all over. Ewww

Lots of lounging was going on, if you can consider all the kids on you lounging?

One of my highlights was updating Jordan's status on facebook. She used the macbook and left herself signed in and I posted some great ones, yet she felt the need to delete my posts? It was funny I said something in one post on how great her family was and to "text me" and I'll tell you all about it, and some of her friends texted her about it! Priceless!

Holiday Baking

We did some holiday baking prior to Christmas and the kids were really excited when the frosting came out. With some controlled help we were able to frost a few that we could share with friends. We had to stop our pile of share cookies because I caught Ellery sticking the frosting ends in her mouth. I then gave the green light to frost without supervision and this is what they created. I have to admit I do like a lot of frosting so I was pleased with our results.

Who's Been Nice? Merry Christmas 2010

The Chaplin kids have been very nice! Oh what joys Christmas mornings can bring. The kids came down in their matching buzz lightyear pj's and were so excited to see that Santa came for a visit. Mason got slinky dog and Ellery got Rex. Mason was also surprised with a Batcave while Ellery got a new baby doll with a high chair. Santa thought it might be wise to have some where for her babies to sit when Bryson starts taking solids. We also got a few new games. Santa brought Break the Ice and the Toy Story version of Operation. Santa must have been really sleep deprived to give games with so many pieces. It was a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve 2010

We hit the 4:00 Christmas Eve service this year and then drove around to peek at some Christmas lights. We found the Clark Griswold house this year, and he even has the Meliekliklaka spelled out with all the other decorations. I should have captured the moment on film. I would hate living next to it, but the kids really enjoyed looking at it. We have switched churches and our Church meets at one of the public schools so we weren't able to have candles, but they did give out glow sticks and the kids really enjoyed them. In keeping up with last years tradition we let the kids open presents on Christmas Eve. Rob and I can't remember who wanted to do this last year, but he is pretty sure it was my idea. We game them matching pj's and some fancy bath toys and soap. They were so excited to take a bath with their new toys that we forgot to feed Santa. We did remember to sprinkle out our reindeer sparkle food outside earlier in the night. The kids make it at Mason's school. The real highlight of the evening is when Santa called our house aka Papaw. Rob brought the phone to us as I was saying good night to the kids and he said "Papaw wants to ask the kids if they are excited for Santa" The kids heard the word Santa and thought it was actually Santa on the phone. Papaw played the role and even Ho HO Ho for them. Their faces really lit up with the Ho Ho's.

Church Christmas Program

We upgraded Ellery at Church to the 3 year old room even though she is only 2. When we told her she could do a craft in the three year old Sunday school room it helped her with the transition. Since we upgraded her a few months ago she has been able to practice all the Christmas program songs. She was very excited to be a part of the Christmas program. Mason was excited as well, we sang the songs in the car, at the dinner table, in the bathtub, you name the place we were and we probably were singing the songs. Mason sang the songs everywhere but at Church he clams up and doesn't participate. Ellery stayed in her sheep character, but was so interested in what was going on around her that she didn't remember to sing. Mason did his usual and tear up, except the situation, but still won't sing.

A special thanks goes out to Rob. I rolled back into town just in time to see the performance. Rob had to get the kids dressed and ready for the big event, he even did Ellery's hair! Go Daddy Go!

Mommies Reindeers

Oh the things we tease and do to Rob. We pulled out the reindeer head bands and the kids were having a jolly ol time in them. They brought one to Rob and it was damaged in transport to him so he looks like a mangled reindeer. I personally like that Mason is wearing one with white fluff on it and has no concept or concern about it.

Freemont Santa Train

I surprised the kids with a ride on the Santa Train this year. Rob had to work all weekend so I decided we could spend some time on a train with friends. Mason was really excited to be riding on a train. He is clapping in his excitement.

Santa came through and visited all the kids. Ellery wasn't really that excited to see Santa and she refused to come over and join in on our Santa photo. The ride was 2 hours, a bit long, but we brought friends and things to do to help pass the time. Even a train loses it luster after two hours.

Christmas with Nana

Who do you think spoils these children? Nana made it up without any more ditch excursions. The kids loved seeing her, I don't think it had anything to do with the cookies she was holding in her hand for them or all the presents that were coming in. She of course came with more bows and we put them out and let Ellery and Isabella pick and that was hard for me. I tried to persuade Ellery, but I wasn't too successful. Lots of fun presents for the kids, but the hot item that everyone loves is the nerf dart guns. Sure it says for 8+ ages, but what Nana looks at age requirements on toys. The kids and adults have had a great time shooting them at walls and doors with the goal of not shooting each other.

Visitors from Alabama

They plowed our street early this morning and just in time for my brother to get here with his family from Alabama. Nana was supposed to arrive this evening as well, but she hit some ice on the way up and ended up in a ditch. Luckily she wasn't hurt and pulled out quickly, but she decided to stay at a hotel for the evening and is coming up in the morning. A little too much action for my taste, but we are happy she is ok. My brother and his family were excited to see so much snow and really enjoyed playing in it. The things we take for granted and are soooo tired of they are excited for.

Merry Christmas

We defiantly had a white Christmas. We woke up to snow snow and more snow. Grandma Ellen was able to spend the festive morning with us and the kids were really excited over Santa visiting. I think Mason opened up every one's presents including Ellery's, but she didn't seem to mind as long as she got to play with what was inside.
Ellery got a baby stroller, Mrs. Potato Head with extra parts, and a My Little Pony that takes a bottle and makes sucking noises and talks when you push her foot.
Mason got a geo track train set, extra Mr. Potato Head parts, and mini action figures of Buzz and Woody, along with a tent on his bed. It was a great morning.


As a joke I ordered a stuffed Husky dog for Rob from Santa. The kids love it and Hudson isn't sure what to think of it, but it was fun watching Hudson and the kids checking it out. No one was quite sure what to do with him. It is hard to get used to, when you come around the corner it makes you jump and look twice at it.

Christmas Eve

I never got to open a present on Christmas Eve, but we decided to let the kids open one after we went to Christmas Eve service. Our church was wonderful and held a 5 o'clock candle light service and it worked out well with our meal times along with the kid's bedtime. I was able to drive us all including Grandma Ellen to church in our luxury ride in the White Stallion. We are lucky we went to the early service because the weather was deteriorating fast. We didn't let Ellery hold her own candle, but with great supervision from Rob, Mason was able to hold his own and was pretty proud of himself. Ellery seemed to enjoy the singing and music more than the candles anyways. Since the kids are into games, they opened Hungry Hungry Hippo and Cooties. They have had tons of fun playing Hungry Hungry Hippo, I don't blame them, it was a huge favorite of mine when I was little. I also like it because a blue hippo is not an option so it makes Mason pick a different color. At the end of the night we asked Mason if he wanted to put cookies and milk out for Santa and we were met with tons of resistance along with tears because he wanted a cookie too, so we didn't feed Santa this year. I think next year we will offer chocolate for Santa and do it regardless of the tears we are met with.

Merry Christmas Grandma Ellen

Grandma Ellen came up and stopped on her way to Sioux Falls so we had Christmas with her a few days early. It was the start of the Christmas season for the kids. Mason got a few more trains and train tracks for his collection, he is thrilled to build a train track that goes on and on and on. Ellery got a beautiful wooden doll house that she likes to play with. They both are very fond of each others presents. It seems trains and dinosaurs have been living in the house along with baby dolls destroying train tracks. Grandma Ellen also brought Christmas hats that light up. Both kids enjoyed putting them on then running into the dark bathroom and admiring the lights.

New Traditions

We put the tree up a few weeks ago and our ornaments are still standing, but a bit more manhandled. Ellery is our worst culprit, she likes to look at them touch them and then carry them around or place them in different areas on the tree. Mason if our official lighting specialist. He loves to turn the tree on first thing in the morning, it's like his morning coffee fix or something. It has been fun to put the tree up with Rob in the past, but the kids add a little more excitement to the project. I don't think we will get away with putting the tree up with lights and no ornaments with them around, that was the year I called my mom crying from the bathroom because Rob was too tired from residency to decorate the tree or open presents. Thank goodness that is over and no worries this year the tree is up and decorated.
We did start a new tradition this year. We went and bought a Christmas train to go around our tree. It comes with real train noises along with carols. We will see how long it will last, I am sure it has been turned on and off more times than in testing. Maybe I should write someone and get on a toy testing panel. So far this train is rating high on our list and the kids are loving it. They get on their tummies and watch it go round and round, stopping each time because it is his or her turn to turn it off and make it go backwards then around again to be turned off and on again to go forward.