Jumpy fun!

 On Christmas Eve, we met my cousin Steven, his wife Karen, their girls-Joy, Katie, and Sally and Aunt Ann for jumping and lunch.  Ann lives in Colorado so it was really fun to get to visit and catch up with her and the kids all had a blast jumping and playing!

 These were a couple of my attempt to get a picture of all 6 kids but even with the camera on sports mode, they were blurry!

 These are covered metal poles that the kids could climb wearing a harness-Scott was nervous at the top his first time because he said his feet were sweaty and slippery!

 Ryan thought it was awesome! 

 Joy trying out dodgeball!

We had a great lunch together too-left side is Ann, Katie, Ryan, Sally, Ashley, and Greg.  Right side is Karen, Susan, Joy, Scott,and Steven.  It was very convenient to put ours in the car for the drive home after exhausting them with all the jumping.  We'll have to go back-Ashley was SO disappointed that they wouldn't let her do the harness thing climbing the poles because she is not 8 yet.

Other December Happenings

 Scott's scout troop had a Court of Honor where they receive merit badges and rank advancement.  He received merit badges for scuba diving and horsemanship!  He is well on his way to how many he has to have to make Eagle Scout. 

 Greg came home from his trip to Poland and Denmark and brought presents for us all-Ashley got a Frozen scarf.

 The boys each got a Christmas Lego set for their rooms!

 We shared balloons with Max which he REALLY had fun with but we picked up all the pieces really fast when he popped them!  The first one he popped really scared him, then he was a little more gentle but still popped them all pretty fast!

Ryan's Class Christmas Party

 Ryan's class is a lot of fun too!  Both his and Ashley's classes had an elf on the shelf to watch their behavior in December.  Ryan's class named their Red and Ashley's was Elf-is Presley.  We have good, creative teachers!

One of our room moms, Jill, made these adorable reindeer cupcakes.  She was sad this was her last year to do it.  Her 5th grade son is her youngest child and she said-they don't want reindeer cupcakes in Middle School.  Ryan thought they were so cute, he didn't want to eat his!

 The kids played reindeer games at the party-no real reindeers were harmed in the playing of these nutty games!

 The first was trying to get a cotton ball stuck on your nose, which had some vaseline on it!

 Absolutely hilarious to watch!

 Next they had to scoop "reindeer poop" with a spoon and fill their team's cup-it was really cocoa puffs cereal!

 Then they had to make antlers-blow up 8 balloons, stuff 4 in each leg of a pair of pantyhose (new ones), and then someone on the team had to put the "antlers" on their head!

 it was harder than it looked!

 Of course snacks were involved too!

 Then a drawing game on a plate on top of your head-couldn't hardly tell what Ryan had drawn!

 Great fun!  Then Ryan and I went to get Ashley and we came home-let the Christmas holidays begin!!!!!!!!

Fun Christmas in Atlanta

 Love all these crazy guys!

 It rained a ton during the week before Christmas and anytime it was not raining we tried to herd all the kids outside.  Here they were playing Mother, May I?

 Scott had bought Ryan a light saber for Christmas and was DYING to give it to him early-so I let him!

 on the condition that the light sabers had to live in the back of the car-they weren't even allowed inside Grammy's house!

 Bev, Ashley, and Blythe playing spot it!

 We had a sweet visit with Uncle Wayne and Aunt Boo!

 girls playing an around the world map puzzle game

 Cute smileys!

 Brave scooter riders to go down Grammy's steep driveway!

 After church at Passion City on Sunday

 Playing at a park

 We met Katherine and visited while the kids were playing at the park and then had a yummy dinner at Cracker Barrel with her

 We had a great visit with Grandaddy and Granny Joan too!

 Grandaddy brought the boys some cool scout patches!

 We had Greg open a present we had brought him so that Grandaddy and Joan could see.  The boys REALLY wanted him to have this Yoda Santa hat with the great ears!  It says "Happy your Holidays Will Be"

 Uncle Jake got in on the light saber battling a little.  The boys all went Monday afternoon to see the new movie together!  They gave rave reviews and I was happy not to have to go!

 Joy and Grammy reading together-after some chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast!

 We had fun playing tricks on Grammy! 

 Can't believe our firstborn will be a teenager in May!!!!!  We already can't keep him in groceries and pants that are long enough

 Ashley had the idea to play spa with all the girl cousins-she did hair and I did nails!

 On another break in the rain, we decorated the driveway for Christmas and many miles were put on scooters!

 Blythe loves a good worm to play with!

 Gingerbread people!

 Now Greg has the lightsaber

 Ryan is still fond of trains!

 Stratego!

 An awesome gingerbread house!

 Scott in the butler's pantry getting a little snack-how many pieces of fudge did you say I could eat?????

 Stockings!!!!

 Grammy is holding back the masses!

 One of Ryan's favorite things is canned biscuits!

 Uncle Jake got some dynamite popcorn!

 Ashley got a new watch!

 Craft and Lego central!

 The annual cookie decorating extravaganza!

 Cousin sandwich squeezes goodbye!  We had a great time (missed all the Gregory cousins though) and drove home from Grammy's on Christmas Eve-with a fun stop on the way-for the next post!)