Christmas Eve at home

This year was our year to go to Lubbock for Christmas so we decided to celebrate Christmas with our family of four on Christmas Eve.  Santa even stopped a little early with the kids gifts!  Chance was so excited to see what Santa brought!  He really wanted a bulldozer and dump truck and of course Santa knew just what he wanted.  Hallie even got in on the excitement and when she saw the presents out she crawled right up to her gift!  Funny how she knew which one was hers!  We opened presents and then while Hallie napped and Chance played with Ben I made a Christmas lunch and a cake to celebrate Jesus' birthday!  Chance really loves birthday parties so this was right up his alley and he even got to blow out the candles.  Gran even came by for lunch while Big Daddy was battling the stomach bug:((  We had such a fun day!  We ended the day with the Christmas Eve service at our church with the Nichols family.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

They both did really well with the tree this year and were very respectful of the ornaments

Our attempt at a gingerbread house! We tried.

Presents from Santa

Hallie with her new door and bracelet

This picture really captures Hallie's love for her brother

Getting ready to sing

She was blowing as well!

Lunch table (burned bread and ALL)

Sitting with his best buddy Ty

Chance with Grandpa Bruce (Tyler's grandfather)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Hembrees 2012

We celebrated Christmas with Ben's parents the Sunday before Christmas.  We had a great time just hanging out and watching all three kiddos play with one another. It is really harder to get pictures now with trying to keep up with both kids and open presents, etc.  So thankful for such a fun time to celebrate with family.  Picture overload here we go!

Someone has been eating a few too many orange veggies!

He was so excited about Christmas tree ornaments this year and helped Gran decorate the tree

Posing in front of his presents!  He was so excited!

Opening up his new ride!

Taking it out for a spin

Everyone had a chance to ride. Some were more wild than others!

End of a wonderful day!  Poor Hallie was DONE!

Hallie: 11 months

I am so far behind in blogging but I will work hard on getting back up to date!  Luckily I made notes in my phone of what little Hallie girl is up to! 

• She crawls like crazy and pulls up to her knees, but not to her feet
• Loves to pretend talk on her phone (her hands, remotes, various toys)  
• Likes to cuddle, give kisses, and pull Chance's hair (she loves to touch him which annoys him:)
• Loves Chance and vice versa (he calls her Hallie Lou and Hallelujah, Gran sings a cute song to her that he picked up)
• She likes to make people laugh
• You know when she is near her breaking point and starts to spit that she is really mad
• Likes to sing or her version anyway in the car
• Enjoying books more this month and turns the pages (most of the time the wrong way)
• Loves bath time and when you ask her if she wants to take a bath she crawls to the bathroom
• Barks at the dogs and loves to see them
• She flaps her hands and arms when she really wants something
• Tries to talk, mama, dada, bubba, tree, bye-bye, uh oh (she purposely drops things so she can say this)

This was a more difficult picture session!

Talking on her phone

so excited to be facing Chance in the double stroller

So funny we had a little breakdown during pictures because I took away her necklace in the previous pictures!

Trip to Bonham

Ben's grandmother had never met Hallie so the weekend before Thanksgiving we went up to see her.  Debbie and Keith also were there to help entertain our crew.  Both kids did wonderful in the car!  We left late on Friday night so both fell asleep in the car and we made it safe and sound about 11:30.  I had the pleasure of sharing a bed with Chance while we were there, which we rarely do, so needless to say a toddler airmattress was ordered right after our trip.  Both kids loved seeing Grandmother, Keith's mom.  I think she really enjoyed the visit as well.

Right as we are leaving to come home and breakdown city!

Hallie: 10 months old

Our sweet little thing is 10 months old.  She is looking more and more like a little girl than a baby.  Her personality is very vibrant in both good and bad ways now!!  She will let you know if she unhappy very quickly but at the same time is quick to laugh and smile!
Fun facts for 10 months old:  (i will have to add pics later I am still getting out of storage:(()

• She can say mama, dada, called Chance Bubba the other day, and likes to wave and say Hi to all the dogs!
• Points with her little finger when she sees something she wants
• Started to crawl the Friday after Thanksgiving and already trying to pull up on things
• She crawls after Chance, his toys or the dogs
• Has started to refuse to eat babyfood.  This is a real tricky one because she still only has two teeth and will gag on things very easily.  She drinks her bottle great!
• Takes two great naps a day. 
• Signs all done and can blow kisses
• When we go get her from naps or in the morning she is as happy as can be.  She will smile great big at you and throw herself down in her crib and look up and laugh!
• Her mommy and most people think she is a little version of her daddy!
• Her hair is getting long but LOVES to rip out her bows
• Her favorite thing to do right now is to scrunch up her little nose laughing at you!  

SANTA!

We went to see Santa Claus at Bass Pro Shop in early December to beat the rush!  Believe it or not we still had to wait in line about an hour to see him.  The nice thing is they give you a card so you can shop around the store while you wait and come in line for your scheduled time.  Smart folks that have!  Chance was excited to see Santa and tell him what he wanted.  Everything changed once he was in line!  He watched as several kids in front of him cried as they sat in Santa's lap and I could tell he was getting nervous the closer we got!  When it was our turn Chance looked and me and said very matter of face, "I don't like Santa, mom I don't like Santa!"  Well we had to get our free picture so I placed my frantic two year old in Santa's lap and Ben held Hallie in his lap because Santa was clinging to the crazy child.  Hallie on the other hand was fascinated with Santa's beard and stared at him in amazement.  Ben and I had not planned on being in the picture but we did!  The picture says everything!  Once it was over Santa offered Chance a candy cane which he of course took.  As we were walking off Chance looks at me and says "That was fun!"  I am not exactly sure where I was then:) Great memories.

So excited

He loves the fish (freaks him out when the big catfish swims at him though)

In line.....getting nervous

Great set up!

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Parade and visit from MiMi and Pops

My parents made a trip to see my sister the week after Thanksgiving and made a pit stop at our house to stay overnight on the way home.  My mom went with me to get my hair cut and she got to be pampered as well.  It was fun to spend the afternoon just relaxing with my mom.  That evening was the Boerne Christmas parade so we all loaded up and went out to eat downtown on Main Street.  Then we walked to the parade once it started.  It was fun!  Chance LOVES parades and the marching bands.  Both him and Hallie would just sit and wave at all the floats.  Chance also really enjoyed all the candy that was passed out.  Chance also got to see Santa on the last float and he was excited to see him.  He does not like him up close and personal, but that will be our next post!

Mimi and Chance

Pops and Ben

One of the many parade floats

Parades are exhausting

She agrees (I love the leg prop)