Christmas Memories at Home

Will and me with our "littles"

Weston and Mommy

James so excited about his present

Connor saying, "No way, no way!!!"

Weston excited about his very own Kindle

Two happy boys

Weston's Nativity

Joseph, Mary, Jesus, and a shepherd with a toothpick staff

James and his stocking

Three brothers

Hannah and her big brothers

James, Weston, Hannah, and Connor

Weston, Connor, and "Sweet-Sweet"

Santa came

 

James on his new bike

Boys checking out the Storm Trooper ("Stormy")

Me and Stormy

James in his clubhouse bed tent

Jolly James

     This Christmas has been our best to date!  Besides starting off Christmas break with a trip to Disneyworld and Will having his Master's degree behind him, it was our first Christmas as a family of six.  Our Jesus Tree lit up the sunroom windows, and we read from a new Advent devotional book.  After the readings each night, we made a candlelight processional to the boys' room, singing a hymn as we went to tuck them in. We discovered the old hymn, To Us a Child of Hope is Born, and it was so beautiful.  Another favorite memory from this Christmas was when Weston made a Nativity scene out of paper scraps.  He worked so diligently, and it was absolutely precious.  He even used a toothpick for the shepherd's staff.  I love that his heart was thinking about the true meaning of Christmas. 

     On Christmas Eve, we made a new homemade sugar cookie recipe, and the boys decorated them for Santa.  We went to the Christmas Eve worship service before going to Mimi and Grandy's for dinner and presents.  Weston and Connor were so excited to open their very own Kindle tablets.  James got an awesome clubhouse tent for his bed.

     On Christmas morning, the kids woke up to find that Santa had come.  Connor, of course, was first to sneak out of his bedroom to see.  He came back and reported to Weston, "You got a Storm Trooper!"  I'm pretty sure Weston told Connor to go look and report back to him.  Connor got the Vtech watch that has a camera and games. James's big gift was a Thomas the Train bike.  For Hannah's first Christmas, Santa brought her a baby doll and a princess castle play set. 
Mimi and Grandy came over for Christmas dinner at our house.  We topped the big day off with a homemade chocolate chip skillet cookie for dessert.

Christmas in Georgia

With Nana, Granddaddy, and cousins

James kissing on his baby sister

Connor opening a big present

Weston tearing into one of his

Daddy helping James

Connor's spy video glasses

Connor in spy mode

Christmas Disney Vacation

James so happy when we arrived at the resort

Hannah dressed to go see some princesses

Our precious little princess

Mommy and Hannah at the Magic Kingdom

 

Boys acting tough in front of the castle

James with his giraffe balloon at Giordano's

Connor with the S'mores pizza for dessert

Weston as Darth Vader with a light saber

Connor as Vader

Jolly James

Connor dressed for Jedi Training

Going to learn to be Jedis at Hollywood Studios

Connor in action

Darth Vader

Connor fighting the Jedi hunter

Weston takes a turn

Weston takes the light saber to the head

Using the force

Connor and Weston with their certificates

Lunch time at the Carnathans

Connor and Evie Kate

Eight little Carnathans and Parrotts

Making rockets at the resort

Connor ready to launch his rocket

Noah and Weston

Daddy and Weston working together

Mommy and Hannah in the United Kingdom at Epcot

 

Love Connor's sweet face in this pic

Mommy plus all four

Daddy and Hannah

Mommy and the Hannah Doll

Hannah, 6 1/2 months old

The Magic Kingdom at night

Connor devouring a turkey leg

The boys in James's "too-too-tain" at the resort

Daddy and James having fun

Ice cream and fireworks

Funnel cake for a midnight snack

Dinner at Benihana

We took a last minute trip to Disneyworld the week before Christmas.  We wanted to celebrate Will's completing his master's degree and spend some quality time as a family.  The weather was perfectly comfortable, in the mid 80s the whole week.  We stayed at the Westgate Vacation Villas.  James loved all the Christmas trees and decorations.  There was a huge outdoor tree outside our condo.  Every time we went somewhere, James would say, "Bye-bye Kit-tuh-tee." He was so sweet and full of joy all week.  After all, Disneyworld is the place where dreams come true.  Abby gave him the nickname Jolly James after spending time with him. 

We spent our first full day at the Magic Kingdom.  Hannah was all dolled up in her princess dress and ready to see some princesses.  Hannah even got to ride some rides.  When the park closed, we enjoyed dinner at Giordano's for pizza.  They had the best pizzas, and they had a balloon artist that made fun figures for the kids.  We even ordered S'mores pizza for dessert. 

On our second day, we arrived at Hollywood Studios 30 minutes before the park opened, so Weston and Connor could be a part of the Jedi Training experience.  It was the highlight of their day.  Of course, Weston took the Jedi role very seriously and Connor was very brave, too.  We ran into my friend Candace and her family as we were leaving for a mid-day nap.  We returned to Hollywood later that night to see the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights.  We ate burgers and shakes at an outdoor restaurant near a street dance party.  Weston and Connor entertained all those who passed by with a sort of breakdancing with light sabers, with Weston throwing a few athletic agility drills in the mix of his dance moves.  They were hysterical! 

We spent our third day in Pierson at the Carnathan's house.  The kids had so much fun playing together outside.  The next day, Abby brought her kids to our resort for rocket building and swimming in the pool.  Will took 5 kids to the arcade, while Abby and I took Hannah, James, and Atlin back to the condo for naps.  After the Carnathans left, we made a spontaneous decision to head back to the Magic Kingdom.  It was our best night all week.  We stayed out till 1 AM!  Hannah was loving being in the park at night.  James eventually fell asleep, but he was a trooper, too.  

We spent our last park day at Epcot.  The boys did the Agent P mission, because they are really into being spies right now.  We enjoyed dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel.  We timed our dinner reservation perfectly so that we could see the Illuminations show from the wall of windows by our table.  It was spectacular!  We also got to meet up with our friends Thad and Lara Vincent and their boys after dinner.  We had such a wonderful Disney vacation!