Christmas Morning...

We were at our house on Christmas morning. The kids had a great time waking up to see what Santa brought them. Emmy's presents included a pink ballerina dress (this was her request after seeing The Nutcracker - Mommy was at Target Christmas Eve looking for this!), a Barbie fishing pole, a highchair/swing/bouncy chair for her babies, and a stocking full of stuff.

Tate's stuff...a HUGE tractor set (I think it had over 100 pieces to it!), a Scooby Doo fishing pole and a stocking full of stuff.

She insisted on wearing the ballerina dress all morning over her red pajamas! Here she is testing out the chair for her doll (Carol Jane).

Mommy made Mimi's recipe for cinnamon rolls. This is something my mom did every Christmas morning for us. It just would not be Christmas morning without them. :) (Of course, this was the second attempt at making them. Let's just say, the second batch was MUCH better (and edible) than the first...I have never claimed to be a cook/baker!!!)

Tate playing with all his new "manimals" and tractors.

They also got new baseball gloves from Mommy and Daddy. As you can see, we have a little work to do with Emmy...she had the right-handed glove on the right hand...we will work on that!

Tater and Daddy opening a gift together.

Christmas with The Drake's...

On the Sunday before Christmas, Mamaw took us all to breakfast at the Richardson Hotel. We had a great breakfast together and then headed to Mimi and Papaw's house for presents and more wonderful food. :) Thank you to Mimi and Papaw for everything, we enjoyed spending the time with everyone. Mimi with her 3 grandchildren looking at the gingerbread houses.

Emmy and Mamaw...

She was the only kid not running around when we attempted a picture.

Mimi and Papaw got her this Little Cottage. Let's just say she loved it! She is such a little Mommy and loves to "play" house already. She also got new baby dolls, which she tries to put all in the little cradle!

Tate got this neat train table from Mimi and Papaw. He loves pushing the trains on the track and playing with the cars.

Papaw and the kids taking a quick nap in the house. Tate is so funny when they play house because he takes on the "man" role of mowing the yard, killing the ants in the garage and taking out the trash while Emmy changes the diapers and does the dishes. So funny!

On a side note, Brad and Molly announced on Christmas Day they will be welcoming a new little one in August. I hear Brody B. is very excited to have a new little brother or sister! We are excited to welcome a new baby into the family! Congratulations, Auntie M and Unc B!!

Nana and Papa's House...

We started our "Christmas Tour 2008" at Nana and Papa's house on Saturday night. We went to eat some yummy Mexican food, then went to Nana and Papa's to open presents. The family at Nana and Papa's house.

Nana and Papa with all their grands and great-grands.

Tate "riding" boots...the ribbon on Boots' head was the rope/halter.

What a good sport!

Emmy and Honey at dinner.

All the kids...

Boots and Banty with their grands.

On Friday night, Boots and Banty came to look at Christmas lights with us. Don't' be fooled...it was about 70 degrees and we were all burning up in the flannel pajamas! We had the air conditioning on in the car. :)
Boots reading "The Texas Night Before Christmas"


More Christmas pics coming soon...

Ballerinas and Fish...

The Friday before Christmas, Brad and his good friend Philip took Emmy and his daughter Ari to see the Nutcracker Ballet at Fair Park, so I decided to take Tate to the Dallas Aquarium. Tate and I had a great time looking at all the animals. Brad said Emmy enjoyed the ballet and sat in his lap the whole time. Emmy all dressed up and ready for the ballet.

Emmy and her Daddy

Tate with the penguins. He told me they were his "favorite".

He was not too sure about the tank with sting rays.

The Ducks and Turtles are coming...

Tonight the kids were re-arranging their furniture around the front door. When I asked what they were doing, they said, "We are watching for the ducks and turtles." So, I guess in the rare instance a duck or turtle passes by our front door, they will be there to watch them. Goofy kids! They get all their stuff arranged just right...

Playing the waiting game...so far, no turtles or ducks have walked by...
we will keep you updated...

They also had their Christmas Party today at school.

Here is a picture of all of us at the party.

They got to eat yummy cookies (Mimi's sugar cookies-Thanks, Mimi!), drink juice boxes and they did a book exchange. I know they will miss school for the next two weeks during the Christmas Holiday.

The Nativity...Revised...

While the kids were playing at Mimi's house, they were very interested in the nativity scene she has out in their room. Of course, they had to add their own twist to things...

(this took about an hour to finish)... As you can see, there was lots of hay in the manger...there were many more animals than originally thought (pigs, lions, tigers, horses, a cow, and a sheep)...horses were watching over Baby Jesus... and the (wounded) lion, with a huge band-aid on it's back, was conversing with Mary, Joseph and the Sheppard...
Tonight we took the kids to see Christmas lights in the neighborhood and Emmy said, "I saw Baby Jesus...and Mary and Joseph...and the Sheppard, too!"

Polar Express

Tonight the kids wanted to watch "The Train Movie" (Polar Express). I put it on for them and they decided to arrange their chairs "like a train".

Emmy kept complaining because she could not see... Tate was VERY excited about the movie.

Tate relaxing a little, so Emmy could see the movie.

They put the chairs this way and Tate said..."Wanna talk, Sissy?"

Playing

Emmy checking out an ornament off the tree.

Tonight when we were watching the movie and they were talking about the North Pole,

I asked Emmy where Santa lives

and she looked sraight at me and said, "The mall!" Too funny.

The Trains at North Park

On Wednesday, Honey (Aunt Julie) took the kids to North Park Mall to see the trains. The kids had a great time looking at the ducks, turtles and trains. Plus, they got to throw "peee-nies" in the water. Thank you, Honey, for showing Tate and Emmy a great time.

They love spending time with you and your gang! :) Watching the ducks and turtles
Emmy in her Santa dress. (Thank you Mimi for the cute outfits!)
Tater

Watching the trains

Posing in their train hats

We Miss Our Daddy...

Here at the Greene house we are missing someone very important this week...DADDY!!! He is hunting this week and we are really missing him. The kids don't have anyone to wrestle with and Mommy has no one to help with the "mouse situation" in the garage. (Let's just say, he owes me! :) ) We are so glad Daddy is having a great time, but we are ready for him to be home. After all, how could he possibly stay away from this thing we call "the craziness" much longer. The silence in the wilderness must be driving him crazy. :)

We love you, Daddy...come home soon.

Oh, Christmas Tree...

On Friday night, we decided to put the ornaments on the Christmas tree, so we got the kids dressed in their cute pajamas (thanks, Mimi!) and started putting the ornaments on the tree. The kids enjoyed it for a while, but got bored with it quickly. I did manage to get some cute pics...


Just for comparison, here they are last year with the tree...