My Big 10 Year Old

For Ethan's 10th birthday I talked him into choosing one friend to take out and then stay the night.  I didn't give him the option of a huge party. ;-) We went to Top Golf for some food, golf, pool, and Xbox fun! We love that place! Although I wouldn't recommend going on a Saturday...it was a bit crazy. :-/ But we toughed out the wait and ended up having a super fun time!

The boys played pool while we waited for our golf spot to open up.

Caleb enjoyed some dancing games on the Xbox. Fun and exercise all in one!

The big boys had to get in on the fun too.

Good old Colton. One of Ethan's best buds.

So if you've never been to Top Golf, there are these little cubicle type things where each person has their own "green". You wave your club in front of the little light and the ball pops out. There are different colored flags you aim for depending on what type of game you want to play and then you get points for hitting a certain flag. Hard to explain...but it's fun!

After golf they wanted to do some more dancing. I think the game they were playing was "Just Dance". I really need to buy that! They had so much fun and were so sweaty!

As soon as we got home Caleb said there was something he HAD to do and was all secretive. He found an old birthday card and put one of his own dollars in it with Ethan's phone and gave it to Ethan for his birthday. He's the sweetest!!

Caleb also gave him a birthday crown. ;-)

His birthday cake is "Slugterra". Some Netflix cartoon series. Again, this is why I make my kid's cakes!

On his actual birthday we went to Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. The boys love to go there and run around. It was hard to grab a picture!

Then we headed out to dinner...Pappadeaux is what he picked. He loves fried shrimp. :-)

Oh my little Ethan-poo....you are so sweet and caring. You love anything to do with guns/army/spy stuff. You think you are about 18 and can't wait to be grown up and married with kids. I have to frequently remind you to enjoy being a kid! I can't believe in just a few short years you will be in middle school. It's time for time to slow down! :-( Love you Buddy!

Happy New Year 2015!

We rang in 2015 with our friends and neighbor the Joyce's. The kids had a great time hanging out and getting to stay up late to see the ball drop.

Tyler and Ethan enjoying some of my chocolate cupcakes.

Maddie and Caleb playing a little air hockey.

The big boys playing a little xbox.

These two are so cute together!

I don't know why this is sideways....anywho, a little playdoh design from my neice Hailey. We spent New Year's Day at my parent's house.

The annual smashing of the gingerbread house. That sucker is pretty hard!

Ethan obliterated it!

Christmas!

The snack spread! Seriously, I look forward to the snacks more than the presents!

The best family pic we could get.

Money!

It's loud chaos with all of the kids opening gifts...but it's awesome. :-)

Papa showing the kids the train. Always a big hit. :-)

Then it was off to Aunt Tina's house to celebrate with Mondo's side of the family. The kids drew numbers and exchanged gifts.

Mondo's mom and siblings.

The kids had a great time with their cousins.

We also celebrated Abel's birthday! Stinks to be born on Christmas day. Yes, I made him a cake. :-)

Then it was back to Nana and Papa's to stay the night. The boys sprinkled their reindeer food on the front lawn.

We set out milk and cookies for Santa.

And then Santa came! Ethan requested a real German Shephard but Santa knew that wouldn't happen...so he got a stuffed one instead. ;-)

Caleb wanted an orange cat...so he got a stuffed one too. Man that Santa has a good sense of humor.

Some blessed boys.

Crazy-looms!


I thought he would be disappointed but he said, "I don't care if he's not a real dog, I love him!" He named him Striker. ;-)

 

Mmmm mmmmm mmmm, Christmas breakfast!

Ethan gave Striker a bowl too. ;-)

Veggin out with the couch "spreaded out" (that's what I called it as a child).

Playing new video games from Santa.

And a little pumpkin pie to top the morning off. :-)

We got an Elf on the Shelf this year. The kids named him Elfie and they had a great time discovering where he was every morning. Elfie wrote them a note on Christmas that he was returning to the North Pole but they were able to hold him and give him a hug before he left. (You're not supposed to touch the Elf on the Shelf or he loses his magic.)

Caleb was scared to touch him but Ethan wasn't!

Adorbs! It was kinda sad when Elfie was gone the next morning. We missed that crazy guy. ;-)

Grandkid Pics

For the longest time I've wanted to give my parents a picture of all of their grandkids for Christmas. Well this year I finally coordinated all of their schedules and managed to get some pics done! I was really just hoping for one good one but so many turned out great that it was hard to choose! So I framed one and my sister made a book with the other ones. I love these pics!

From left to right: Madilyn, Caitlin, Hailey, Morgan, Caleb, Ethan, Blaine.