Christmas Week

Wow- I can't believe that Christmas has already come and gone. This year was so much fun because it was the first year that Kenley really got into Christmas. She talked about Santa, was excited to open presents and even "sang" about Santa. It was such a fun time.

In Fort Smith there is a little train in one of the parks and at Christmas they decorate the park with Christmas lights and you can take your kids out and ride the train. Our sweet friend Emily had the idea of getting some friends together and going to ride it this year. So we met up with the Beaty's and the Edwards for dinner and then headed to the park to ride the train. Here is a picture of all of us girls freezing in line.

Kenley and I waiting to get on the train

Kenley and Daddy on the train

Going through the tunnel of lights. I love her eyes in this one.

The sweet Edwards family on the train

Our family on the train

Our family in the park.

We had a great time and look forward to riding the train this summer- when it is a little warmer! :)

Since we were planning to head to NWA on the 24th to start all of our family Christmas' we decided to do our "Christmas morning" on the 24th. So the evening of the 23rd was our "Christmas Eve".....make sense? ha! Anyway- On that day I kept telling Kenley that she better be good because Santa was coming that night to bring her presents. Anytime I would say it she would run to the front window, open the blinds and look for Santa. It was precious. After dinner we let her decorate some cookies for Santa. I baked the cookies and then let her ice them and add the sprinkles. She had a lot of fun.

After she finished she decided that Santa didn't need all 3 cookies that we decorated for him.....

She didn't actually eat the cookie, she just licked all of the icing off of it, so she thought it would be fine to leave it out for Santa. :)

Waiting for Santa to come!

Our tree on our Christmas morning!

Kenley coming down the stairs to see what Santa brought

Finding what Santa brought

Putting her new baby into her new baby crib

Watching her baby sleep- I just love how she is standing in this picture.

Checking on her baby

Giving her baby a bottle

Giving herself the bottle.......

Needless to say- she was really excited about her presents from Santa. We had so much fun sitting back and watching her play!

After we had our Christmas morning, we headed to NWA to do Christmas with my parents and sister. (Andy got me a flash for my camera this Christmas- SO excited about it! So you will be able to see a difference in the pictures from here on as I was playing with it and learning how to use it.)

Kenley and Emma under the tree at Nana's house. They just had some of PahPaw's WONDERFUL hot chocolate and that is why K has chocolate all over her face.

Maddox was ready to get started

The girls patiently waiting for Nana to pass out all of the presents

All of the kids with Aunt Amby

After we did Christmas at my parents house we went to Andy's grandmother's house to visit with his family. Since his brother moved to San Antonio we don't get to see them much and we were really excited to get some time with them. And I think Kenley was the most excited. She and Uncle Cary played until they were both ready to pass out!!!

They found this little blow up chair and were flipping Kenley over on it!! She LOVED it and thought Uncle Cary needed a turn on it!

When Grandpa walked in the door Kenley tricked him into coming and setting in the chair.....and YES, his sweet sons flipped him over in it too. I'm sure you can tell by their faces in this picture they are up to something.

Kenley and Uncle Cary!

Playing hide and seek under the chair!

The next morning (Christmas morning) we started the day by going to Andy's parents house for our Christmas there. They have a train set up that goes around the coffee table and Kenley loved watching it......and throwing it off track.

Kenley and Grandpa reading one of her new books.

When we finished Christmas with the Bostian's we headed back to my parents house and did the big Piker family Christmas. We had a BIG lunch that was wonderful! After lunch we all set around and watched the kids play some. Here is a picture of Kenley and Maddox playing with the car. They are so cute!

As I have posted before- picture time is like the paparazzi showed up. There are about 15 cameras going off and you NEVER get a picture where everyone is looking at the same camera. I was looking at this one and thought- hey this one isn't bad......then realized whoever took it cut out Mike and Emma............

So- I guess they zoomed out and tried it again..... but as you can tell there are 3 very tired kids in the picture. Kenley has actually switched from mom to me and is tugging on moms ear. Oh well, at least we got some pictures.

Kenley was so tired by the time we started opening presents- but she did think that Maddox's new toy was pretty fun. Thanks for sharing Maddox.

So.........by Christmas night we were exhausted and all crahed! We had a wonderful time opening presents, eating and spending time with friends and family.....BUT...........most of all we had a great time celebrating the TRUE meaning of Christmas, and celebrating the birth of Christ.

On another note: Christmas morning for my sister and Mike was a little bittersweet this year. While opening presents with their kids they got the call that Mike's grandfather had lost his battle to cancer and was now at the Big Birthday Celebration in Heaven. Please remember them this week and keep the entire Baker family in your prayers. Thank you!

Hope you had a Very Merry Christmas!!