Christmas 2010.

First of all, I would love to say just how glad I am to have this blog (thanks Tracey for making me start this) It pleases me to think my kids have so much of their lives documented, and that we all can go back and re-live these memories.

Okay, on with Christmas. This is the first time since flying the nest that I've been back home on Christmas day. It was nice to be in one central place and not have to keep going all kinds of places.

Hope was up first, but Pierce soon followed. We made them wait it out for a little bit upstairs. They were chomping to come down....

The first sight :-)

Pierce made a bee line for his new swords!!!
Hope went straight for her bike, and spent most of the day like this!!!You see Pierce digging in his stocking already ;) Hope finally noticed her Belle dress!!
Little sweet boy. On his Christmas list, he asked for "3 smarties" I thought he needed more than three!!
Then the digging in started.
More UNO cards, and a princess book!!
Magnetic doll and dress set.
Magnifying glass for of course seeing cool stuff!!!
More princesses. There's never enough.
Magnetic map with states. You know stuff to learn!! ;)
Princess castle!!

And this was the two guns he asked for. Little man has deer and bad guys to shoot!! Now, there was a HUGE surprise for Pierce. Something his daddy had been cooking up, and this present was hidden behind the tree, so Pierce never saw it in the midst of all the opening. Once everything was unwrapped, Paul said, "I think you should go look around Pierce" Pierce kept saying "every thing's done" but then he spotted a gun behind the tree. Because of the way everything was facing, I couldn't get Pierce's face and expression when he saw it. He was dumbfounded. He couldn't believe his eyes, or that this might have actually been for him. Pierce got his first "real" gun on his 6th Christmas. It's a 22, and daddy will take him target shooting with it in the spring. Me being a city girl and all, I didn't understand the significance of this, but I know it's a big deal, and a BIG bonding experience for Paul and his son.
First time looking through his scope.
This is such a sweet moment I want to remember. Paul and Pierce going over (for like the 8 millionth time of his life) the rules of a gun, but Paul stopping to have a "moment" with Pierce. It was very sweet.
Heaven help me.

Now we finally had time to play!!!!
She must have ridden that bike 10 miles in one day. She made loop after loop.
My little warrior man.
After a wonderful lunch it was time to head downstairs for MORE Christmas. Man, our kids are sooooo blessed.


MORE FOR ME???
I love all the adults watching. Of course my dad and that insane camera ;-)


There were some other "kids" there too, even though I think they would argue that fact. Nathan showing off his new coat. Little stud.
Cody's so good with my kids.

Hope loves her aunt Jo-Jo!!!
Never can have too many cute shoes!!!

Or clothes....
Here's the infamous dinner shot. Please check out my face. Tee Hee.
Christmas 2010 ended with a snowball fight with daddy. How wonderful to have a white Christmas and to be so blessed. I can't help it, but Christmas turns me into a sap. :-)