Christmas 2010!

Wow, Christmas 2010 was a doozy.  We traveled to the midwest this Christmas to visit with family and ended up in four cities in seven days!  Thank goodness Grandpa's van had dual DVD players for all that traveling.  

We arrived late at night in Milwaukee (at midnight!) yet all three of the kids decided to stay awake, much to the chagrin of mommy and daddy.  They were troopers though and we headed up to Sheboygan, WI the next morning to visit with their Great-Grandma Wellhoefer.  She will be 90 in April and she was funny and charming just like I remember her.  She was particularly fond of Luke because, as she told him, she is partial to little boys, seeing that she raised two of her own.  

See the little Elmo Addison is clutching.  Great-Grandma had that ornament up and Addison was so excited to see it that Grandma gave it to her.  

Addison and Great-Grandma doing kissy lips to each other.  It was so sweet.  I also loved when Amelia, Luke and Great-Grandma sang Christmas carols together, very touching.

After traveling to see Great-Grandma the kids couldn't wait to get in the snow!  We scrounged up some snow gear and off they went.  

Merry Christmas Eve!  The girl cousins, Addison 23 months, Amelia 7 years old and Annie 7 years old.  The girls and their curls :)

The boy cousins!  Max, 6, Luke,5, and Evan, almost 10!  The cousins had a great time seeing each other and running around Grandma and Grandpa's house.  We wish it was more often but glad they have so much fun when they get to hang out.  

Our family.

The whole gang!  

Being silly.

Addison loved her Abby Cadabby from Grandma and Grandpa.

Jammie time.

Addison adored Evan and would follow him everywhere saying, "Evan, where are you?"  Thankfully Evan is an awesome cousin and loves Addison just as much.

Love these girls!

Sesame Street heaven.  Best Christmas ever for an almost two year old.

On Christmas Day we traveled to Indiana to go see Stephen's side of the family.  Auntie Sue had everyone over for Christmas and we had a good time catching up with everyone.  

The kids with Uncle Joe and Grandma Joan.  

The kiddos with Great-Grandma Pouka.  

The next day we went to visit with our best friends the Ruzas, our old neighbors from Indiana.  Amelia and Luke had a blast with Abby and Sam and even had a sleepover one night, thanks Marcie!

My buddy.

More sledding.  This hill is behind our old house, the house Stephen grew up in.  Abby and Amelia ready to head down the hill.

Addison loved sledding and would yell, "More, More!" as soon as we got to the bottom of the hill.

Addison and Mommy, whee!

Addison's first time in the snow!  When she came out of the airport into the Wisconsin winter cold she curled up into my shoulder and said, "Brrrr, cold."  Yup, you said it baby.  

Sam and Luke, buddies sledding.

We also were able to visit with our friends the Yankeys.  Paul and Steve have been lifelong friends so we always love to visit with Paul and his mom, Donna.  The only "timer" picture that worked out, the other two normal shots had the guys heads cut off, whoops.  While in Indiana we also got to visit with the Hansen family, he and Jeff grew up together so it was great to see them too on Christmas, as well as the whole extended family.  It felt like old times.

After we got back from Indiana, we traveled over to Madison, WI to visit my sister Amy's family.  Here are all the kids ready for more snow action!

The girls about to take a run down the hill.

Our family enjoying the snow.

The kiddos with Grandma and Grandpa.  Addison sure misses them and now asks at bedtime where Grandma and Grandpa are.  What a great visit with family and friends, we wish we could have seen everybody.  

Well after a week of traveling, it was time to come back to warm Mississippi and see if Santa stopped at our house.  Although the kids were pretty certain they were getting coal this year, Santa must have seen they have good hearts after all.  Merry Christmas morning, actually December 29 afternoon but hey, whatever works.  We had gotten up at 4am that morning to get on a plane so everyone was a little groggy.  

Santa sure knew Addison loves Cookie Monster and he was a big hit.  Another favorite Addison moment was when she got some jingle bells for her wrist and she put them on and sang Jingle Bells while spinning in a circle about 10 times.  

Amelia and Luke got spoiled by Santa too but the favorite was the Harry Potter lego castle.  Now, to put it together....1400 pieces!  Oh joy.

Daddy was thrilled with his Christmas present this year.  He has been hinting he wants to start playing the guitar so now he's all set.  I think it's a good look for him!  Mommy was spoiled too with an awesome Southern Sweet Tea maker and a photography course (so pumped) but the biggest present was not having any pictures of me after getting up at 4am.  Yikes.  Merry Christmas to all!  Can't wait for 2011 :)