HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We welcomed 2011 with steak and crab,

horns, hats, streamers, party poppers, and dad's specialty....

FIREWORKS!

Dino-Dakota

Dakota likes the tv show Dino-Dan - so we really thought his remote-controlled roaring dinosaur was going to be a big hit on Christmas morning. However, he wouldn't go near it! We gave him some time and the next day Mom coaxed him into seeing how it works.

Once he warmed up to it, he loved it! Stomping, roaring, and chasing his sisters!

And the cat! Oh dear, maybe Spike wasn't such a good idea after all!

Christmas Night

Christmas night was spent at Grandpa and Grandma Franklin's.

"Come on Bro! Play with us Bro!"

After eating, it was time to open presents. The living room is lined with chairs - with Great Grandma, Grandpa and Grandma, 7 siblings and spouses, 23 grandchildren, and now even great-grandchildren there is always a lot of excitement!

Here is RyAnne opening one of her presents with Grandma looking on.

Bailey and Dakota ready to start ripping!

Ready for the Rose Bowl!

A Very Merry Christmas

RyAnne was the first one up Christmas morning awakening everyone with the announcement, "He came, he came! Santa came!"

The kids were SO excited to open their presents. Seeing all the smiles and joy is what it is all about!

Grandpa and Grandma Carter came over for brunch and we opened our presents we gave to eachother.

And spent the rest of the day playing!

The Night Before.......

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandpa and Grandma Carter's house. We've learned to open the presents first, before we eat, because the anticipation kills them every year!

The kids started opening presents first and they couldn't rip the paper off fast enough!

Next, the kids assisted the adults with their presents!

Stockings as big as the kids!

Before bed we continued our tradition reading Twas the Night Before Christmas. However, this year it was read by RyAnne.

All ready for the big night!

Early Christmas

Great Uncle Terry and Aunt Carol brought over some Christmas gifts. They knew the kids would be excited about them...a little bit of Christmas came a week early!

Dakota LOVES big trucks - and what is bigger than a firetruck?! Here Uncle Terry is helping him take it out of the package and telling him how everything works (Uncle Terry is a retired Madison fireman).

It was not long before Dakota had his beloved "Bear" (and Santa) putting out five-alarm fires!

Bailey is totally into Disney princesses.

Dressing and undressing(and Aunt Carol would agree); so many outfit to choose from!

Just in time for the Rose Bowl, RyAnne's American Girl Doll (Julie) is now dressed and ready for the game.

Not much better for a 13 year old than a Best Buy gift card....score!

This thing is HEAVY!!!!! AN OFFICIAL firefighter helmet!

This weekend everything has been on fire in our house - the dog, the cat, the tree, even Mom's cooking?! Dakota LOVES his truck!

Snow Fun

Dad and the kids built our annual snowman and the kids like him BIG......

I guess there was not time for any more pictures because in the process of making the snowman, they discovered snowballs...and snowball fighting. The cameraman needed to protect himself. Mom went out to see what was going on, and OUCH, those snowballs were icy!

This one should last awhile...he's one big solid iceball! We couldn't even get arm twigs in him the next day!

TWO TRAINED TWINS

YIPEE - NO MORE DIAPERS! Dakota was the easiest of all our kids to train. One day, last summer, we bought him underwear and said, "Let's wear underwear today!" He said, "Okay!" And he went potty in the toilet from then on! Bailey was a different story....she had NO interest. We finally just put her in her underwear this week and after one accident she caught on!

They look SO cute in their undies....now if Bailey would just stop changing them 2 to 3 times a day :-)!

Seeing Santa

Santa visited Great Uncle Terry and Aunt Carol's house - the kids were SO excited!

YIPEEEE - SANTA!

No more fear! All the kids sat by Santa - alone- and told him what they wanted. RyAnne - a doll (she said, "Mom, I couldn't think!") Bailey, "Hungry Hungry Hippo!" And Dakota, "Big trucks and motorcycles!" Don't worry Zachary...they told him you want - Black Ops - too!

Oh boy, Santa brought some small gifts!

The family with Santa.

Even hugs from Dakota - WOW! Santa must be special!

Grandpa and Grandma Carter and the kids. Happy Holidays!

First Snowfall 2010

The kids had a blast playing in the snow! Zachary was a trooper pulling them around in a sled!

WAIT? What is THIS?

Oh well, what goes around comes around I guess!

AhHHHH...warming up by the fire.