Popcorn Balls 12-31-11

Emy, Mike, David, and Thomas were here for Christmas, and it is a Bailey family tradition to have a "popcorn Sunday" before Christmas.  Each year the Bailey family gets together and makes all different kinds of popcorn balls and caramel corn.  This year it was just Doug, Sue, Emy's family and our family and we did it on New Years Eve.  The kids really had a great time, they loved getting their hands in there and making their own popcorn balls.  Of course they all love eating it more than anything, but it was fun to see the kids all in there having a great time!

Davy and Tyson

Karissa

YUMMY!!!

Jeremy's and Megan's visit 12-24-11 to 12-27-11

We had the privilege of having Jeremy and Megan here for Christmas!  They arrived Christmas Eve and were here for about three days.  Tyson and Karissa absolutely LOVED playing with Uncle Jeremy!  Tyson and Jeremy especially were constantly wrestling and having a great time!  I don't get to see much of my family so when they can come out to visit us I get so excited!  It is a great way to spend some one on one time and catch up.  The day after Christmas I had the opportunity to spend the day with just Megan.  We spent the day shopping the after Christmas sales, finding deals and just talking and having fun.  It is hard to believe that she is 14 now.  She has grown into such a beautiful young lady.  It seems like just yesterday that she was calling me Auntie Ice Cream because I would take her to get an ice cream each time she came to visit.  Time flies too fast, but I am grateful for the memories I have. This visit is just one more to add!

Cousins!

Jeremy, Megan, Tyson and Karissa.  LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Me with my little brother and my kids.

Wrestling with Uncle Jeremy.

Christmas morning 2011

Christmas this year was so much fun!  Karissa was old enough to get into and and both the kids got so excited!  It was a very busy day with having the gifts to open, make breakfast, get ready and be at church at 10 am.  I will be honest and say that having Christmas fall on a Sunday is not the most ideal of days, especially with little kids.  Having to wake up Karissa to start Christmas (she woke up a bit grumpy), then with all the candy she consumed and the excitement of it all, she was not very pleasant to deal with during the hour church meeting.  By the time we got home we gave her some real food and put her down for a nap...AHHHH, all was finally peaceful in the Bailey home.  Thankfully she woke up happier!  All in all it really was a wonderful Christmas and having Jeremy and Megan here to share the day was perfect! We all had fun giving our gifts and playing with our new toys.   
Most importantly though, we have been so blessed and are truly grateful for Christ's birth , His life and His atonement for us!  There really is no greater gift!

New toothbrush and coloring books.

Tyson's new laser tag gun!!!!

Megs and her new clothes.

Karissa very carefully and strategically sorting her candy!  The candy was the best part of Christmas for her especially since she got to eat some of it first thing!

Uncle Jeremy's new knife.

Ben's new knife.

Uncle Jeremy

Star Wars transformer!

New pillowcase specially made from Grandma Ambler!  It even has a secret little tooth fairy pocket for his teeth as he starts to lose them.

Karissa love candy!  She would eat it all day long if we let her.

Tyson's huge Optimus Prime transformer from Uncle Jeremy!  They worked together to transform it.

Tyson was so excited to pick out Daddy's gift and finally give it to him.  He actually kept it a secret too, way to go Bud!!!  He gave him a special screwdriver.

Megan opening her new makeup.

Tyson loves this game!

Karissa's gift from Uncle Jeremy, a new My Little Pony!

Karissa opening her gift from great uncle Mike.

A big pink elephant chair!!!!

A remote control car from great uncle Mike!

Daddy's new .22 handgun.

Bell craft 12-13-11

This year for a Christmas craft I had some large jingle bells I've had for years so I saw an idea of making bells using egg cartons.  Karissa made hers first while Tyson was at school but I forgot to take pictures.  I cut out the egg carton and the kids painted them a color of their choice...Karissa chose green.  Once the paint was dry we punched some wholes in the top and used metallic pipe cleaners to put it all together.  These little bells were a big hit in our house.  I didn't even mind listening to them and the kids played with them.  It was a fun and simple craft!

Karissa holding the finished product.  I had to have at least one picture of her in here! (This picture was actually taken a couple months later and the bells are still here...a little worn looking but still here!)

Family pictures Oct. 2011

I almost forgot to post these.  It had been 18 months since our last family portraits were taken.  Karissa was just 9 months old in our last ones, both the kids have grown and changed so much that we needed updated ones!  We went out in mid October to take advantage of the fall colors but obviously some of the trees hadn't changed yet.  No matter, I think they turned out great anyway!