Juillerat Christmas

We headed over to Tyler for a long weekend the weekend after Christmas. 

Nana wanted to take a few family pictures.  The whole family. 

Nana, Papa, and the grandkids.

 

Just the kiddos; Abby, Jack, Caden, Annabelle, Hallie, and James. 

 

Bob's family. 

 

Our family.

Nana and Papa with their kids. 

 

Once we were done with family pictures, it was time to open presents.  The kids in front of the tree.

 

Mommy and Annabelle ready to open presents. 

 

Caden and Jack had fun shooting a bow and arrow and a bb gun at targets in the backyard and in the woods behind Nana and Papa's house. 

 

Annabelle, Abby, and Hallie playing a game. 

 

Hallie and Annabelle had so much fun playing with Violet. 



Christmas Morning and Our Jolly Family Christmas

Christmas is here!

A family picture before we open presents.

 

Ready to see what's in their stockings...  

 

Digging in...

 

We gave the kids a new basketball goal.  Brian put it up a few weeks ago, so the kids could start enjoying it early.  I'm so glad he did, because the weather the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas was really nice.  And the weather from Christmas day until the start of school has and is supposed to be freezing cold!  Caden putting the net up.

 

Caden only wanted games and books for Christmas, but Annabelle really wanted an American Girl Doll.  Grandpa gave her one.  Here she is starting to open the present.  From the shape of the box, both kids had guessed this present was the doll, despite my efforts to convince them otherwise.  

 

She was so excited to have matching pj's.  I went to a name blog, and gave Annabelle about 8-10 names to chose from.  She chose Violet; then she wanted her to have a "J" middle initial, so her monogram would be VJJ, since her's is AJJ.  Meet the newest addition to our family, Violet Jane Jolly :). 

 

Safety first!  Violet buckled in for her first car trip over to Mimi's house.  We also gave Annabelle a puppy for her doll.  Annabelle named Violet's dog, Snowball.

 

Midday we headed over to Mimi and Tia's house.  A picture with the Jolly cousins.

 

We can't forget to include Violet! 

 

A family picture.

 

Annabelle's present from Mimi and Tia was a "Perfect Pet".  She really wants a dog, but this is as good as she's getting at this point.

 

Wesley meeting Annabelle's new "dog". 

 

Wyatt got a hover board for Christmas.  Caden had fun giving it a try. 

 

It's been so cold here.  Some indoor fun...making slime!

 

Later in the week, we headed to Collin Creek Mall for more indoor fun.  Annabelle bouncing on the bungee trampoline. 

 

And Caden flying high! 

 

The kids also rode these mechanical animals around.  They had a blast! 

 

There's also glow in the dark mini golf there.  The kids lined up before their round of golf. 

Christmas Parties

The first semester of 2nd grade and Kindergarten has come to an end.  The kids are loving 2nd grade and kindergarten!  On each of the kids’ last day of school, their class had a Christmas party.

Audrey Thomason, Zoey Seale, Bailey Shannon, and Annabelle.

 

The kids playing musical chairs.

 

The whole class, back row: Beckham Farrell, Brooke Stevens, Ann Elise Goebel, Annabelle, Audrey Thomason, and Dylan Horner; Front row:  Bailey Shannon, Jonny Klinefelter, Hutch Giddens, Boone Traxel, Miller Rodriguez, and Zoey Seale.

 

Annabelle and Mommy.

I was in charge of food for Annabelle’s Party. Snowman head cake balls, banana santas, and popcorn.

 

Caden's party was the next day.  Caden and Mommy.

 

Adeline Monwai, Cade Crane, Annie Pattison, and Caden working on their craft. 

 

The whole class, back row: Gigi Parker, Samantha Davis, Caden, Luke Baker, Daniel Crow, Cade Crane, and Preston Wilson; Middle row: Liam Fesler, Adeline Monwai, Willa Lewis, and Annie Pattison; Front row:  Sutton Bruce and Gigi Gravlee. 

 

The party was all about celebrating Jesus' birthday.  I made a Christmas tree cake. 

The Start of Basketball Season

Caden is playing, and Brian is coaching, basketball again this season.  They had two games in December to seed the teams, and then they will bracket them according to ability.  Hopefully, this will make all the games competitive.  Caden had one game last year when the other team was winning so badly that the refs turned the scoreboard off.  Although, through two games, these boys really seem to have improved significantly from last year.

I was scorekeeper the first game, so I was unable to take any pictures.  But Caden led his team in scoring with 4 points the first week, and his team won 13-12.  The second game, they played one of the other Covenant teams.  Caden played great again.  Here he is attempting a free throw.  He scored 1 point, and his team won (14-11) in an exciting come from behind victory.

 

Two of the Tue/Thu Explorer girls hosted an ornament exchange Christmas party one Friday morning.  It was so much fun!  The girls ready for the exchange.

 

All the girls lined up with their ornaments after the exchange.  Back row: Bailey Shannon, Ann Elise Goebel, Adelaide Breed, Lily Stewart, Hadley Sullivan, Brooke Stevens, and Lily Pace; front row: Gentry Lewis, Zoey Seale, Audrey Thomason, Ann Holland Crow, Abby Hawk, and Annabelle.

 

Decorating cookies. 

 

Annabelle and I went to see our studio's performance of the Nutcracker again this year.  Ready for the show! 

 

Annabelle and I went ice skating with a few friends from school. 

 

Jonny, Annabelle, and Audrey. 

 

Annabelle did great for it being her first time skating.  She's never even attempted roller skating.