New Year's Eve

We laid low again this year on New Year's Eve. We went to Brio for dinner with Colette and KJ and Nesha kept M&M for us. The dinner was very yummy.



Colette and KJ came back to our house to bring in the New Year. Mason was tired and went right to bed about 9:30 or 10.



Little Miss Maya stayed up till about 11 I think. She didn't want to miss anything.

A few little sleepy creatures...

We had a fun evening!

Play Date

We went to see Christine, Kirsten and Ryan. Maya and Kirsten had a good time playing together.

Ryan followed the girls around some, or checked on his Mommy.

Mason wondered around playing with different things and drew a few pictures.

Cute girls....I'm so glad they love to play together. They only had one real squable over a baby doll.

Never Ending Christmas

Christmas is seems never ending this year! Chuck and Jeanne came over to give the kids Christmas gifts and go to dinner. Actually, we were planning to go bowling, but when we got to Main Event, the wait for a bowling lane was nearly 2 hours long. We passed on that. The kids each got a blue light saber. Maya got the Liana Barbie from Diamond Castle that goes with the Alexa she already got from us.

Mason got another NERF gun (and you can see Maya dancing in the background with Liana). They were both very excited.

Thanks Ms. Jeanne and Chuck! Y'all were very sweet to think of the kids!

Mason's bike

Maya was testing out Paloma's new red chair. Angi and David had not taken it home yet from Gigi's. She matched it perfectly and apparently it was comfortable.

Mason got to ride his new bike that Hidy and Gigi gave him for Christmas. Pretty soon, he will be trying with out the training wheels.

2nd Annual Toy Clean up

UUGGHH -- It's something I dread and look forward to all at once. I love getting the toys cleaned out, sorted thru, and organized.... when it is done... but actually doing it is quite an overwhelming task. With toys in Maya's room, Mason's room, the toy room and the living room nothing is with what is should be.

I took these pictures when I was maybe 3/4 of the way through. I worked on it for the majority of a day plus a little more on the days that followed. This year I labeled the bins so I'm hoping they will stay where they go... but we will soon see. Of course, you can see in one of the pictures Maya is taking things out as quickly as I am trying to put them in bins.





Some of the completed work -- some bins still missing labels.

I got a special trunk for all the dress up dresses.

Night Night Raider

Raider playing with one of his new Christmas toys and the kids loving on him.

This is one of the reasons he is such a great dog... he is UNPHASED by kids laying on him no matter what...

Christmas night at Gigi's

Gigi still likes to fill a stocking for each grandkid.

This year we decided to have Italian food instead of the traditional turkey dinner for Christmas day. I liked it for a change.

Christmas morning '08

Santa is pretty smart. Since he knows that Mason gets up early and Maya sleeps in late, Santa leaves their presents in big bags so they can open them together when everyone is awake.

Santa brought M&M a Pixos Studio Set. The kids had seen commercials for Pixos and both of them have asked for it. I had heard they were a mess and hard to do, but Santa got it anyway. (they have enjoyed it)

Santa did a good job bringing 7 Disney princess Barbies among other things.

Mason scored with some transformers and batman stuff.

Mason made a special picture for Grandmother and Pops along with a Gingerbread man.

Maya made a special Angel for Grandmother and Pops.

Maya got Gabriella "in her red dress." Then she opened a dress up Gabriella "white dress with the blue belt" and I predicted she would be changing from her dress up Alexa dress into that....and I was right. She immediately began dancing once she got it on. Julie, I don't know where you found this -- but it is perfect!

Mason made his way to Pops truck to find a new BASKETBALL Goal, or as Mason called it a "new basketball court."

Brian got new boots from his Mom and Dad. (and now Maya wants some pink ones)

Maya opened a Ballerina tutu from us... and again, she had to put it on right then.

Later Maya entertained us with her singing with her new Karoake machine.

Raider loved his new toys, treats and water bowl.

Maya playing with all her new stuff in her dress up Liana dress.





Later the basketball goal was ready for play.... Mason didn't forget how to shoot and score!


And Maya shooting the ball with yet her 6th dress of the day! This one, at least, was her Christmas dress.