Christmas 2011

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"   I would have to agree!  I just love the family time, the laughs, the look on Bryce's face when she opens her presents from Santa.  I just can't get enough!  Christmas for our little family is very busy!  We start on Christmas Eve at my grandma Rogers' house and have dinner and open presents there.  We started a little earlier this year since we had to leave earlier to get B to church for her first Christmas Eve service.  I love going to my grandma's.  It something I have always done and Christmas wouldn't be the same without it! 

After my grandma and grandpa Rogers', we headed to church with my parents and brother (Matt) for Bryce's first Christmas Eve program.  She was so excited and practiced her songs all week!  I was a little nervous that she wouldn't do that great due to not having a nap and it being so close to bedtime... She did AWESOME!!  She sang so great and recited more lines than I thought she would.  She adores Mr. Luke (her Sunday School teacher) and I think that had A LOT do with her doing so well. :) 

The pictures are not the best.  It was hard to get good lighting in church.

After Church, we headed over to Grandpa Banick's for some more family time and presents.  I forgot to bring some "jammies" for Bryce and her cousins had changed into their "jammies", so thank goodness that Great Gramma/Grampa Rogers' gave her a new pair!  She is so darn cute in "jammies"!

She had a blast playing with her cousins and being a "wild child" at grandpa's house.

Kyle's sister, Carrie made books about Patsy's (Kyle's mom) life.  It was very neat to see all the old pictures and see how much Kyle resembles his mom. (But she had hair! :))

After Grandpa Banick's, we headed home to get Bryce to bed before Santa came.  She surprisingly went to bed pretty easy.  We needed to go to the 8:15 church service to fit everything in that day, so we had to wake Bryce up around 7.  She was so surprised to see all her gifts!

After church, we headed to my parents.  If you want to see LOTS of gifts spend Christmas morning at my parents! :)

Then we drive south to Oxford, Kansas for the Hamilton side.  Bryce was "wild child" again, but we had a blast!

It's beginning to be look a lot like Christmas....

I love Christmas time! 
(It's kind of a shame that things aren't going the greatest during this wonderful time...)

Bryce and I headed to Cowtown for their Victorian Christmas.  We had so much fun!  We listened to Christmas carols in the church, colored a snowman ornament in the Kids Emporium, rode the horse wagaon, and talked to many Cowtown people.  I love these times I get to spend with her, just the two of us.

Listening to Christmas carols in the church.

Saying "hi!" to Rosie the cow.

Coloring her snowman ornament

Looking inside the Bank.

We love Cowtown (especially during Christmas!)

After Cowtown, we picked up daddy and went to look at Christmas lights in College Hill.  We popped popcorn and made hot cocoa and ate/drank while we admired all the great light displays.  I wish every neighborhood would decorate for Christmas!  Wouldn't that be great??

Only 14 more days until Christmas! Do you want to know a secret?  I really haven't even started my shopping.  We've picked up presents for B here and there but that is it.  We are going through some financial problems with our house not selling yet, my surgery bills and everything else going on in our crazy life, so shopping doesn't sound great right now.  But on a positive note, my flex spending check came in the mail yesterday!  We definantly needed that!  Too bad that money can't really help with buying presents, but it's still a blessing!  I just need to trust that God will provide and get us through this time. 

I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful Christmas time!

We are ready for Christmas!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, new doggies and Christmas decorations

This Banick family had a great Thanksgiving! We got to eat 3 Thanksgiving meals and see both our families. YUM! My twin, Clint even came home for the first time in a LONG time and he brought his girlfriend. I didn't get many pictures because my batteries died.

My parents got a new dog, Max before Thanksgiving. He is a cutie and so sweet!  He loves to play fetch and does it for a LONG time.

And my little brother, Matt also recently got a new puppy, Kameron (or Kam for short). He is also a cutie!!

Tonight, Bryce and I put up the tree and the Christmas decorations.  She loves it all!  Her face was lit up the whole time!  She did an awesome job of putting the ornaments on the tree WITHOUT my help.  She is so excited for Christmas and to celebrate Jesus' birthday!

Bryce and Santa (Dec 16, 2010)

Since we didn't get a picture with Santa at Botanica, mommy and Bryce went to the Lights on the Lake at Heartsprings to see Santa (again). We got there right when it opened, so we were first to see Santa. When she saw Santa, she got a little scared and walked out of the room. I told her to ask Santa for a candy cane (which he didn't have) and she walked right up to him and sat on his lap. Santa asked "What is your name?" and Bryce replied "Christmas tree" Hahaha, what a crazy little girl! :) He then asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she said a big kitchen. I'm so proud of her!

SURPRISE!!

The day after Christmas, Bryce gave me one more gift. I was changing her diaper and she decided to pee all over me. While I ran upstairs to get a new diaper, she rolled over and then wet the blanket. Naughty girl!!

Last pictures from Christmas

My cousin Jamie's daughter, Kylee holding Bryce.
Grandma holding Bryce on Christmas morning.

Cousin Treydon was a little wiped out! :)

Cousin Alajiah and her new dog, Biscuit.

Daddy holding Bryce...looks like he is having fun!

More pictures! (Christmas at my parents)

Opening up her cow that vibrates!
Riding her new giraffe! I love this thing!

Her very first baby doll..first of many I'm sure!

Cousing Treydon riding his giraffe. What a cutie!!

Look at that giraffe!

More Christmas pictures! (Christmas at home)

Mommy helping Bryce pull out her toys.
After Santa came!

Playing in her new saucer...which she loves!
Daddy helping Bryce with her stocking.
Look at all those presents!