Christmas 2010

We had a great Christmas this year!  This post might be long because we’ve had a lot going on this past week.
Last weekend, we went on a Mission Trip to Quemada, Texas – it’s a very small town right on the border.  We could actually see Mexico across the river.  My uncle has a ministry and they provide gifts for underprivelaged children every year.  This year we were able to go with them to hand out the gifts at a big birthday party for Jesus. 

It was really impactful for our kids to see how blessed we are.  Ellie made some really sweet friends.  A couple of the girls were able to come over and play games with us at the church that night.

We got home on Sunday and AnnMarie and the kids came to visit for a few days.  We won’t see them until the 29th so it was fun to have some cousin time before Christmas.  We baked and decorated cookies for Santa.  Fun!



They left on Wednesday and we had a couple of days to be at home and play with friends.  Jody was off all week so he took the kids to the skate park a couple of times.  They love to go and ride their ripsticks there.  I’ve never been but it sounds dangerous.  So far, no serious injuries. 
Thursday night, I told the kids they could sleep in our room on the floor.  I made the mistake of referring to it as a “campout”.  The next thing I know, they’ve moved the furniture and are putting the tent together (Jody’s idea)!  Life would be pretty boring for the Redding kids if they didn’t have a super fun dad!  I didn’t make them stop but the whole time I was thinking of the mess I would have to clean up the next day in the midst of all the cooking, cleaning, gift wrapping, and last minute shopping I needed to do.  Oh well, I did have to clean it all up but they had so much fun I guess it was worth it! 

We went to Granny and Grandaddy’s house for Christmas Eve dinner.  The kids were dying to open presents  so we let them open a couple. I thought they might be disappointed with snuggies instead of toys but they loved them! 

We hurried home to get in bed so that Santa wouldn’t pass our house.  We read the Christmas Story and our favorite Christmas book (besides the real story) called "The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snithcher."  The kids went right to sleep.  Jody and I stayed up late and the kids woke us up at 4:30 am to tell us that Santa had come.  They were so excited!  Granny and Grandaddy came over at about 7 am and we opened gifts. 

Santa gave Cole a new bike.  I bet it took him forever to put that together

Poor 3rd child, Jacob isn’t used to being the center of attention so when he is, He goes wild!  He found a new way to open his presents!

Jacob is so fun to buy things for because he gets so excited and LOVES everything anyone gives him.

This picture is a little far away but you can see Ellie singing with her new microphone and stand.  She entertained us all morning!

Ryan had a great day watching football with his dad and Grandaddy!
I decided to monogram the kids snuggies around 10 am so Cole was sitting there talking to me and then I looked over at him and he had fallen asleep in the chair.  So, here is another picture of Cole sleeping!

We had a nice relaxing day with cold weather.  It was great!  Oh, almost forgot.  The kids got me a Ripstick for Christmas!  It is so much fun!  I still don’t think I will be joining them at the skate park!  I guess that's about it.  The kids are all spending the night at Granny's house tonight.  Jody is in the superbowl for fantasy football so we might go on a date to eat somewhere where we can watch football.  If he wins, he wins $500 and we can add it to our adoption fund!  He's been in the Superbowl of fantasy football 3 times already and he's never won so he really wants to win!