Christmas events pictures

I'm finally getting around to catching up on pictures!  Truthfully, I went to use Steve's work computer to upload the pictures earlier this week, and his charger cord was not working.  Add that to a home computer that won't stay on for more than two minutes at a time without shutting itself down, and I couldn't win!  But... last night Steve and I found a great deal on a netbook and we are now back up and running with a great new laptop! :o)  So... here are some pictures from some of our various Christmas events:

We spent Christmas Eve at my mom and dad's.  Steve was so blessed to have these boys climbing all over him!

My brother and his children, Camden (9), and Oriana (11)

Grandma and her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren.  What a BLESSING to get to spend Christmas with Grandma this year!

Nolan was SO EXCITED for his gift from Great Grandma Grinstead!

Silas was too.  Grandma got him a guitar and he ran and hugged her.

Grandma got Avery a keyboard to replace his broken one.  He was very excited.  We were happy to find that it has a microphone too (that happens to not have a volume control... lol!)

Chaille LOVED her baby doll from Grandma.  Every year for Christmas, Grandma has sent money for us to buy the kids something from her.  I think that this year it meant SO much more to them because they could thank her in person.  What a lovely time they had with her!!

There was also Birthday Cake for Jesus at Grandma's house!  Chaille loved it, AND the bath that happened after :O)

And there was good conversation.  Silas was being so mature here talking with the adults!

Grandma and her oldest grandchild.  Oriana is getting so big, and is really into cheerleading and gymnastics.

We came home from Grandma's and got ready for Santa.  The boys left him cookies and milk.  They went up to bed at about 9:30. 

In years past, they have gotten up several times to check to see if Santa had come.  This year, I reminded them before bed that Santa only comes when the kids are asleep.  They stayed down without one child getting up to check this year.  Of course, Avery and Silas woke up for the day at 4:10, but at least we didn't have any kids spoil it for the others by peeking for Santa all night.

Sorry for the blurry picture, but I was in a hurry to capture this.  Nolan and Chaille slept until the boys woke them at 7:20.  Nolan woke up and yelled "Santa!"  Then he came down and ran to the tree saying over and over again, "HE CAME!"  To me, the innocent joy that Christmas brings to the children is what makes the day so special.  Especially because all day long, you could hear this little boy singing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus!!

Silas was so happy for his bow and arrow!

And Avery was so excited for his BB Gun!

Chaille enjoyed Christmas, but seemed almost overwhelmed with ALL of the new things.  She bounced from one thing to the next.  She liked her doll house and dress up shoes the best!

Nol was such a delight this year.  He was just so appreciative for everything.  Actually, they all were.  But Nolan was the most outwardly excited about each and every aspect of the day!

Silas finally had enough!  He dozed off around 4:30 in the afternoon.  And slept for almost 3 hours!

Daddy and Nolan enjoyed some snuggle time!

Avery is such a handsome boy!  He was so happy with our Christmas this year! I think his favorite part was spending the whole day with his parents and siblings, playing with his new toys.

After spending all day Christmas together at home, we headed to  Steve's parents to celebrate with them.  Avery has been wanting an electric train for years now, and he was delighted to receive one from Grandma and Grandpa this year!

Chaille was such a pretty girl in her Christmas dress from Great Grandma Marjorie!!

The kids all got new sleds for Chrismas from Grandma and Grandpa.  Chaille couldn't wait to play in hers.  Hannah and Silas had fun pulling her around!

Grandpa and his girl!  She is all about her papaws!

Uncle David and his family were down and we were able to visit with them at Randy and Deb's.  Chaille enjoyed entertaining Tamie and Christopher!

Avery just loves to be with Uncle Scott and Aunt Suzanne!

Nolan woke up from his nap very cuddly, and enjoyed supper on daddy's lap!

Chaille enjoyed supper on Grandma's lap!  They had fun, although Grandma was not feeling very well.

Monday, we made it to Great Grandma and Grandpa Shell's house.  Chaille kept asking grandpa to "rock-it" in this chair.  I bet she rocked for a half an hour!

Grandma made up cookies and milk for the kids.  I'm not sure who enjoyed this time more, Grandma or the kids??

Grandma and Nolan were laughing together over his snack.  So sweet!

Chaille let Grandma hold her like a baby.  It was so sweet.  She doesn't hardly ever let anyone hold her that way any more!

 I know that I said it in the earlier post about Christmas, but we had a WONDERFUL Christmas this year.  I am so thankful for the many blessings this family has, all year long!!!

Merry Christmas 2010!

We have had a very BLESSED day!  On this day, our Savior was born, and for that we celebrated all day long.  The kids sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus several times.  That just makes my soul smile to know that they "get" what this day is all about.

Avery and Silas came down stairs at 4:10 this morning and were so excited to find a letter from Santa on the tree and lots of gifts under it!  I didn't dare wake the toddlers to start our day that early, so I started the Polar Express and they did well through that movie.  When it ended before 6, I had Avery start another movie.  He chose The Christmas Story.  It has been his favorite movie this Christmas season, because he asked for a BB Gun too!  Thankfully, Santa came through with his very own Red Rider!

When we finally let the older two boys go up and wake Nolan and Chaille, we listened over the monitor.  As soon as the door creaked open, Nolan shouted "SANTA!"  He had not forgotten overnight about today.  He rushed down the stairs and stared in awe at the gifts and kept saying "he came!"  Oh, how that made our day.  He was full of that genuine excitement and innocence that a child SHOULD have!  We talked for a brief minute about Jesus, and His Birth, just to remind the children that today was not about gifts, but about celebrating.  Then, they did so great!  They took turns opening, shared toys, and were just a delight to be around.

After gifts, our day just sort of evolved based on what each person wanted to do (or in some cases needed, such as naps.)  The boys got to shoot in the basement (Avery his BB Gun, and Silas his bow and arrow, and Nolan shot his pop-gun.)  They tried each others toys too, with Daddy's help, of course!  Chaille played with EVERYTHING she could get her hands on.  She had 2 naps, while Nolan and Silas had just one nap each.  We grazed on all of our goodies in the house, and when it came to time to leave to visit others, well... we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it.  We were just having a PERFECT Christmas together at home.  It isn't that we didn't want to see our families, it was just that the precious time we had here with our children was so wonderful!  We will make up for it tomorrow! :O)

Friends and family, MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your families!  I pray that your day was also very wonderful.  I am thankful for you and I pray that today and always you will celebrate Jesus with us!  I will be back soon to add pictures from our last few days, particularly of our Christmas.  Bye for now!

Patrick and Beth

On Sunday, while we were visiting at Grandma and Grandpa Frye's, we had the pleasure of meeting Steve's cousin, Patrick and his girlfriend, Beth.  They are both from Oregon, but for the past several years, they have lived in Hawaii.  Needless to say, the kids and I have never met the two of them.  And for Steve it had been MANY years since he had seen Patrick. 

We just LOVED our afternoon with them.  Steve was so excited that they were not only "willing" to help split and haul wood, but actually enthusiastic to be helping him.  And the kids absolutely loved them too.  They warmed right up to each other and it was almost sad to say goodbye, knowing that it will likely be a long time before we see them again :O(  (although we would love to visit them on their tropical island early and often... LOL!)

Before we left for the night, we were sure to get some pictures of the kids with Beth and Patrick, so that we can remind them of when they first met:

Nolan, Beth, Chaille, Patrick, Silas, and Avery (who was pouting about having to leave!)

I just loved this picture of Chaille and Patrick smiling so big!

Nolan gave BIG hugs goodbye!

Aunt Ginger's Christmas Party

Last night we had Christmas with Grandma Darlene's family.  It was Aunt Ginger's turn to have Christmas, and we had it at her church.  It was a fun time, and we enjoyed a variety of soups, sandwiches, and desserts!  The kids really enjoyed all of the attention from their extended family as well.  Here are some pictures from the party:

We made crafts that used chocolate candies... Chaille endulged in the chocolate instead of making the craft!

The boys enjoyed listening to Landon play the piano while the kids craft table looked like this:

4 adults doing the "kids" crafts!  It required hot glue, so it really was more of an adult craft.  Oh well, the kids enjoyed helping!

Chaille loved being all dressed up in her Christmas dress

Daddy consoled her after "they all fell down" in ring-around-the-rosy and Chaille got hurt!

Avery's finished reindeer craft.

I took the picture to get Nolan, but I love how mom and Aunt Cindy are playing the piano together in the background.  I can just imagine them doing this themselves when they were my kids' ages!

Nolan had so much fun and ate so much sugar!

Avery was watching uncle Ryan make the crafts.  He enjoyed it greatly!

Aunt Ginger, Aunt Cindy, and mom.

Before we left, my Uncle Bob came over and tapped me on the shoulder and said "don't do anything, just watch your son..."  So, I stood there and watched and caught him in the act.  He was LICKING the icing off of the cake (to his defense, Grandma had made homemade cream cheese icing and it was delicious!)  Needless to say, he got his very own BIG piece of cake after this!

This picture was from this morning. Nolan and Chey climbed into our bed and requested milk.  When I came back with their cups, this is how I found the 3 of them laying.  So sweet!!!

To make you laugh...

The boys have been cracking up about this commercial.  What we find so funny is them trying to re-enact it for us!  It's funny!!!

Another SNOW day!

 Last night we got several more inches of snow, and the boys both had school cancelled today.  It was another very fun day at home all "snowed in!"  We started out nice and early with a 6:30 wake-up for the older two.  Mind you, I have to WAKE them on school mornings at 6:45 or so.  Anyway, by 9:00 we had ordered Toy Story 3 on the pay per view and were having popcorn.  They really enjoyed the movie!

Chaille watched for a little bit before heading with me to the basement to do laundry.

Nolan had a cozy spot.

Si was in his favorite chair.



But where was Avery???



Watching from his "clubhouse" on the stairs!

After the movie, we had a fairly early lunch and Chey headed for naps.  Then the boys and I rolled out our sugar cookie dough and used our cookie cutters to make Christmas cookies.  I didn't take any pictures from this step because it was a MESSY one for mom, but I did take a picture from after Nolan's nap, when they decorated them:

Nolan did his own this year!

Silas didn't realize how quickly the sprinkles would come out!

Avery was very strategic, as usual!

Nolan taste tested!

Silas did too!

And so did Avery!  Who can resist???

Silas' finished product (this is an angel.)

Avery's finished Christmas tree.

Mom made these 3 cookies for Chaille.  She didn't help make them, but she did help eat them!

She was so excited, and she ate the icing first.

After the boys finished their cookies, they headed outside to checkout the new snow:

Nolan cleaned off the back deck before going on to play.

Silas was finding icicles and throwing them in the snow.

After the snow, they came in and warmed up by the fire.  They played in the basement until supper time, and now have been WILD ever since!  It has been a fun day here in the Frye household, but boy oh boy is mom exhausted!!  Have a GREAT weekend, friends!