Creede Trip

Early, early morning on the 26th we hopped in a van for the 14 hour road trip to Creede. Although it seemed overwhelming, the drive went fairly well for both kiddos. There was probably about an hour each way that was pretty tough. Kinley, Ty and I were all sick the first few days so, we spent the majority of the trip in the cabin trying to recover. I had lots of help from mom, Aunt Jan and Uncle Jimmy. I was SO thankful for their help and we all had a great time together.

Kinley and I played in the snow outside the cabin a lot and that is really the majority of pictures I took.

There was sledding....

snow fights....

and lots of snow angels...

Bart had a birthday up there that we loved celebrating!

And on the day everyone was home we loved playing with everyone else...

Everyone else skiied 2 days, then took a day off to hang out in Creede. Isn't it gorgeous!!

And then I got to ski with everyone on the last day! I cannot say enough amazing things about the weather. It was fantastic! Highs in the 30s and sunny every day. I skiied without even my ski jacket...just my shell. It was like Spring skiing during the winter. I LOVED it!!

from the left: Lauryn, Bryan, Ben, Me, Amy, Danny, Bart, Olivia, Scott & Katie...and Dad took the picture.

It was so much fun! Can't wait for Creede at Christmas in 2 years when maybe Kinley can ski too!!

Santa & Christmas Morning

Kinley and Ty must have been a good girl and boy this year because Santa brought them some great presents. I managed to snap some pics before Kinley and Ty woke up and got to look.

Even though she did great sitting on Santa's lap this year, Kinley was a little hesitant about Santa leading up to Christmas. She kept saying that she did not want any presents from Santa and that she did not want to see Santa. I think she was a little creeped out by a strange old man coming into her house while she is sleeping....which is a little creepy and I am not sure why we aren't all weirded out by that! But, boy was she excited about the presents she got! She just hugged Cinderella all morning...and look at that face and bed head :-)

Ty wasn't sure what he thought about it all..

but, Kinley played with his toys for him

Then Kinley was excited to jump in the car and go have brunch and present opening at Honey & Boss's

This is the BEST gift Kinley unwrapped from Ben and I. It is the Fisher Price Kid-tough digital camera and since Christmas she has taken over 140 pictures on it. She can flip the lens around to take pics of herself or others. It has a viewfinder so she can see what she is taking a picture of AND it can record video! I recommend it to anyone looking for a good gift for a 2-3 year old.

Ty slept through the present-opening at Honey & Boss's

Kinley played with everything

Uncle Matt was SO sweet to take out of the packaging and put together all Kinley's presents...

It was a great morning!

Extended Family Christmases - Joyners & Howes

I am playing a bit of catch up over the next few days to document Christmas. We had multiple family get togethers plus our own family Christmas and a ski trip over the last 10 days. Also,throughout the whole time everyone in our family has been sick. So, I will have a few posts this week to catch up. All in all, we are glad to be in 2012 and all starting to feel a little better. I sincerely hope your Christmas/ New Years went well!

I was very fortunate to get to have Christmas get togethers with both sides of my extended family this year. The excitement/anxiety level for each side is polar opposite considering that on one side, Kinley & Ty are the only kiddos and on the other side we have 8 ages 3 and under. I think the pictures speak for themselves.....and be prepared because there are a lot!

Our Christmas Eve we spent with the Joyner side of the family. We gathered at mom's for a meal and a mediocre Cowboys game and then were off to our parents church for Candlelight service. Kinley and Ty got some sweet presents from family.

And we took a lot of family pics. Most are very calm and happy, with little drama....

Grants & Montemayors

Momma Gay & Pepa and their kids

Howes/Harrisons

Harrisons

of course, the obligatory stair-step picture...

and everyone after candlelight...

Kinley had fun walking on the pews...

On Christmas Day, we got to spend the afternoon with the Howe side of the family at Lois & Jack's. It was truly hilarious. There was not a dull moment all afternoon / evening. I think at some point every kid had a meltdown...not usually at the same time..it seemed like one after the other. Kinley threw a couple fits because she did not want to stop playing and come inside from the garage or downstairs to eat. Shocker! But, all the kids really did get along well though and had so much fun. We also got together on Christmas Eve Eve at Josh and Kristy's house and that was super fun too. Everyone had a blast together...but, I don't have any pics of that. I realized how hard it is to take pictures and hold an infant at the same time. That is why my pictures from Christmas are mainly ones my mom took with my camera since I was holding Ty alot....but, I digress. I think it was my cousin David that mentioned how special and important it is to him to get all our kids together as often as we can because we all grew up close and he wants our kids to grow up close also. I could not agree more. It is mass chaos...but, so much fun and definitely unforgettable.

There was a lot of mingling and catching up.

Natalie is pregnant with great-grandkid #9 and looks amazing!

The "Big" Kids table consisted of Kinley, Aubrey, Winlon and Luke. "Big" meaning over 2 years old. Ha! The idea was for them all to sit down and eat there together but, I don't think there was ever a time where they were all there at the same time eating.

How cute is my god-son!?

Ty was great and let lots of people hold him with a big smile on his face.

All the kids got lots of presents from lots of family. That was also mad chaos and I am not too sure I know what they got from whom...but, I know Inie & Bull gave everyone tractors and I love this pic of Kinley and Aubrey and their faces. They are so excited!

They also got these super soft Christmas blankets that Kinley immediately layed down on.

Also, Kristi made these amazing poufs for all the kids that are truly perfection. They can be used as booster seats, pillows, tables for reading or whatever. I LOVE the fabric she picked out for every one of them. She said she picked out the fabric specific to each kids room. She sewed and had piping on them all that popped...they are amazing. I wish I had gotten picks of all of them!

And then there are these family pics....a little more chaotic!!

Knowles...Speight is asleep on David's shoulder. Ha!

Parker / Holmes

Harden

Howe/Harrison...we discovered the key to Kinley behaving in a picture is to let her put her arm around Ty.

Inie & Bull and their kids.

And how about attempting a picture with Inie & Bull and all 8 great-grandkids...pretty impossible! For some reason it was like the last thing we did and everyone was silly/tired. Speight was asleep through some so David jumped in and Ty is already in his carseat.

Bull needs a little help...

Do yall's pictures of kiddos look like this??