"The fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect, and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and his purposes, and to send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully."

-Sally Clarkson from the Mission of Motherhood

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Christmas and New Year's


Ok folks, long post here, but I'm documentin for the family archives...
Since this was our year to go to Midland for Christmas, we celebrated with the Jurgensens the weekend before the actual day.
I love this picture because it so authentically represents what it's like when we open presents.
Josh, Brooks, and AM checking out B's new toy

Clark with Caroline
Brooks was beginning to be on the move!
The best pic we could get of the cousins!

Mommy stealing some sugar
The boys at the end of their patience span for the photo op
On the 23rd we headed to Midland for the big day. This is a pic of AM and C on Christmas Eve. We went to the church where Granddaddy Clark is currently preaching. It was so neat to be there while he did the service!
You'll notice that Clark is wearing his pajamas. That's because he, in a very timely manner, proceeded to poop through his ADORABLE outfit just as we walked through the church doors. Aaahhh, it's a miracle I even had these in the diaper bag.
Poor thing, just to document, he felt TERRIBLE over the holidays. He was getting his eyeteeth the entire time, and was a faucet with chapped cheeks the whole time. Bless his little heart.
After the service we headed over to Grandmommy and Granddaddy's house where we enjoyed a feast of all sorts, thanks to Grandmommy. We always know she will outdo herself!
Cousin Madison is pretty much the coolest thing to this little girl.
Next it was time to leave some goodies out for Rudolph!
AnnMarie had been waiting and waiting for this!

The Clarkster finally got some "boy toys" instead of taking sister's sloppy pink seconds! :)
Sister's spread from Santa. I realize now that this looks hugely lopsided, but it makes a big difference when one is fully aware and the other not at all! :)
AM's first glance and taking it all in. It was hard to make her wait until we all got ready to walk in together!
Captured the moment!
Brother checking out his goodies
Daddy and son
Santa got a big thumbs up for these two gifts: Ariel wedding dress and "sick girl" as she calls her. (The only thing she requested from Santa----you have to feed her medicine and help her blow her nose, etc.)
sweet EARLY morning hugs
another (albeit surprisingly) big hit from Santa---a pink cape which automatically turned her into SUPERGIRL! (yes, she played the part exactly)
Grandmommy loving on little bear
Playing with Granddaddy (poor buddy, you can see how glassy his eyes were!)
with cousin Mackenzie (she has claimed Clark since apparently Madison got AnnMarie) :)
Clark got the CUTEST cow from his cousins
AM showing off her Fancy Nancy doll from Gamma (she also hit the jackpot with these Jasmine pajamas!)
Playing it cool with a princess discman from the cousins
Sweet Aunt Allison
These kids are loved to pieces!
Our trip is not complete without AnnMarie taking a spin on her Barbie jeep. She's actually a really good driver!
Clark flirting with the ladies
Christmas Day wore this little one slap out
It was hard to say goodbye to Gamma and Pepaw, but we had a great visit with lots of happy memories!
The week after Christmas the Jurgensens from Memphis came in town, and we decided to try out our new Chuy's. It was worth the hour long wait!
Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum ready for action:
Josh and Julia went to the Barking Ball New Year's Eve so I got to take Brooksy out to Mom and Dad's to spend the night with them. I had a little taste of what having twins is like.
Brooks is trying to figure out what's wrong with Clark.

What a wonderful Christmas we had with many, sweet moments. And these two little ones were our extra special blessings this year!

7 comments:

shannonmichaelis said...

Girl, were those photos taken with the new Canon Rebel? I've never seen such clear Svoboda photos - those were awesome! Welcome to the world of good photos....

Katy's Neverending Story said...

Katy, your kiddos are just so darn cute!!! Can't wait to meet everyone in May!

Caryn said...

SO FUN Katy - looks like you guys had great holidays!! The sick baby doll cracks me up. I am certain that had I myself had a pair of jasmine jammies I would have lived in them. Very fun. C & AM look adorable. Hope his little chompers are in soon.

Shannon said...

Those Jasmine jammies are something else! Love it! The pic of the Jurgensen house is GREAT! Looks a lot like the Boyd house after we have all gone to town opening gifts. And really - a Canon Rebel? Trying to make the rest of us "point and shoot" people look bad, huh?

MLP said...

AHHHHHHHHHHH...you guys are too cute! Love those two little love bug boys!!! And that AM! She looks ADORABLE in her Jasmine jammies!

rackersfamily said...

Riley saw that picture of AM's Santa stash and said "I want that, and that, and that, and that and... mommy, will AM let me play with that?" Santa did good! Poor Clark... even when he doesn't feel good... he's such a cutie. Oh, and I can I have Mackenzie's eyelashes... geeze!

Sally said...

OMG..how cute are these pics??? you captured it all so well, loved all the family pics and of course, Brooks and C-man are too cute together.
great job capturing the joy of cmas with AM's face with the castle!!

love you guys, you have such a fun & wonderful family!