just a note:

I want to take a moment to apologize to ALL that I have not kept up with the blog as well as I should have. I want to reassure that there are SO many wonderful and special memories that I want to share, and I plan to share them as I am able.

I did not want to let Christmas pass without sharing our moments with you. So I jumped ahead to hopefully be a little part of your holidays as well.
Hang in there, and please forgive me.

I finally was able to get to the computer long enough to get Christmas loaded up, so please enjoy... :)

Merry Christmas 2010!!

Christmas Eve is here and all the preparations are complete! Time to grab some hot cocoa and drive around to look at Christmas lights!

Get ready to see the Christmas lights kiddos! We are so excited!!!!

After a full evening and leaving Santa cookies and milk, and a carrot for the reindeer; everyone finally settled in. Shawn was super excited as this is his first year of knowing what Christmas is about and anxiously anticipated the fun in store!! He had a tough time falling asleep and asked me if Santa could wake him up when he got here. I assured him I would leave a note for Santa.

Boy did Santa come!! He did not wake Shawn up, but he left a thank you note for Shawn! I am sure he was a little too busy to play but maybe next year Shawn.

Meadow enjoyed the excitement of her first Christmas! Toys everywhere!!!! Santa brought Meadow a little kitchen and Shawn a dump truck with a crane!

After checking out their toys, they had to check out each others as well!!!

After seeing what Santa brought, we enjoyed home-made cinnamon rolls (I told you I went a little baking crazy!!) They were yummy though!

Then we got all dressed up for church.

We truely enjoyed a full day of gifts, family, and love!! We enjoyed visiting with family via web cam. It was wonderful spending it with them even if we are all far apart.

Shawn LOVES the cars movie and has watched it numerous times!!!! He loves to quote the movie and make the "Mator" face. "Mator" is the tow truck that has a crooked smile...pretty good impression!!!

Just a few of his cars...

Meadow loves paying with all of her toys, she has constantly been going from one toy to the next. She received a walker and does pretty well walking with it...all around the house!!

We wish everyone a warm Merry Christmas!!! We love you all!!!!! We are keeping you all so very close in our hearts!!! Thank you for everything and for making our holidays even more special!

Preparing for Christmas

This Christmas came fast as we found ourselves preparing quickly for the holiday! This is by far my favorite time of the year! I think I almost went a little overboard trying my hand at new goodies. Both Shawn and Meadow joined in the excitement and helped out where they could! Meadow is happy to be getting an apple before the house was full of the wonderful sights and smells of chocolates and sugar!! She will soon find out!!

I found the best little recipe for Oreo Truffles!! I don't think I will lose this recipe, I have fallen in chocolate love with these little bites of chocolate heaven!! We had fun making them too!!!

Shawn got to actively help in making and frosting sugar cookies this year and he proved to be an expert!! Shawn is a natural in the kitchen, especially when it comes to good food :)

Here are the cookies Shawn frosted (I think he was hoping the brown frosting was peanut butter and opted for different colors when he realized it was all the same)

A few of the favorite cookies :)

We also baked up pumpkin muffins, million dollar fudge, peanut-butter fudge, chocolate chip cookies, and muffins. We (...ok...I...) went a little baking crazy! I heard no protests though! We were able to share many goodies with friends and neighbors.

I think Meadow was hoping Shawn would be super messy and share some...sorry Meadow, Shawn is still learning to share :)

Once the goodies were all prepared, we were able to focus on wrapping gifts and keeping them under the tree (untouched...haha!) The first minute we turned our backs, Meadow went straight for the bows. She peaked my curiosity with the noise of her crawling across the floor with the bow in one hand, until she got clever and figured out how to carry it in her mouth.

The best gift I could have :)