A Very Merry Christmas...

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and really enjoyed spending time with our family.

On Christmas Eve day Papa came over to exchange gifts with us. He gave Payton some money to pick out new shoes (yes, that boy is obsessed with shoes!). And Elyse got several cool toys including large letter beads and play ice cream cones.

That afternoon we traveled to Joplin on Christmas Eve to spend the day with the Duggers. We had the traditional oyster soup along with some other delicious food made by Nanna. The kids had a blast playing together and opening gifts. Elyse got some dress up clothes, dolls, and all sorts of other fun toys and some cute clothes. Payton got some new Jordan sandals to wear to basketball games (by the way, he's barely taken these off since he got them) and plenty of other Nike clothes. He is one stylish guy now!

Family pics

Elyse and Poppie

Note to Reader: You will notice that there are a disproportionate number of pictures Elyse and Payton in this post. I promise it is not because I favor one child more than the other... rather it is because of this...

I guess I have to work on my "secret" picture taking skills. Have to snap the shot before he notices it's coming...

Alex and Elyse

Cousin Alex was lookin' so cute in his Christmas sweater! What a handsome little guy.

Katie and Elyse in their matching Christmas dresses. What beautiful little ladies.

Sweet girl

Me and my handsome hubby

Elyse was helping Nanna cook

It was sleeting and snowing on Christmas Eve, so our visit in Joplin was cut short as we rushed to get home before the weather got to bad. The drive home was pretty bad. The roads were slick...we passed so many cars that had run off the road. By the time we got to Rogers, the snow was coming down so hard that we could barely see. It was not a fun drive, but Ryan was very careful and got us home safely.

Once home, the kids went straight to bed while Ryan and I stayed up to help Santa assemble some things. On Christmas morning both the kids were so excited to see what Santa had brought. Payton got some new clothes and two new PS3 games that he's really been wanting. Elyse got a castle...

Note to Reader: I realize that she is wearing her dress from Christmas Eve. She slept in her Christmas dress because she just loved it so much!!

Once she saw her castle, she was in heaven. She didn't even open any other presents that morning because she was having so much fun playing princess.

Payton also got some really cool new basketball shoes from Nana. They were personalized just for him. They were his AAU team's colors, had a hawk on the side (Arkansas Hawks is his team), said 5 on the tongue, and had Willis printed on the back. They are so cool!

P-Dub opening presents

Trying to decide which one to open next... Decisions, Decisions.

Meanwhile... Elly is still playing in her castle. Oblivious to all the presents under the tree. :)

Cool dude.

We ended up getting about 3 inches of snow. So after opening gifts and eating a yummy breakfast, we headed outside to play. Payton had gone over to his dad's for more gift opening, so it was just the three of us.

Bbbbrrrr!

Checking out the snow. She didn't want her mittens on so her little fingers got chilly.

Sweet little hand prints.

We had such a wonderful holiday and we are so, so blessed to have such a wonderful family. We love you guys!