Hughes Christmas

So January 7 is a bit late to post about Christmas, but we've all been sick sick sick around here! If Christmas decorations are still up in our house, it's still technically the Christmas season, right!? :)

We spent the week before Christmas and Christmas Day with Ryan's family this year.

What's Gavin's favorite thing about staying at Gram and Papaw's (other than the tractor, of course)? Candy! He was attempting to climb on the box to get to it:

All week we had fun with family, but there are just too many pictures to post. I will try to post some on facebook, though.

Here's my favorite of us:

When we went to the mall to see Santa, Gavin got to ride on one of these things for the very first time. He loved it and danced the whole time!

And on to the main event...Christmas morning!!

Gavin giving his sister kisses (with banana on his lips, I'm sure) first thing when he came downstairs.

His proud reaction after we all said, "Aww how sweet!"

This boy became a pro at opening presents this year and wanted to help everybody!

My mom always gave us an ornament every year growing up, so now our tree is full of my memories. I love it! So I wanted to start the same tradition for my kids. Gavin got a John Deere tractor ornament. He flipped out and wanted to play with it of course!

We also got him a kid-size guitar that he LOVES. This is him singing and playing. He closes his eyes with intensity when he sings. It's hilarious. If you didn't see the video of him playing it, go here to see it.

Aunt Amanda declared it a "PJ Day" and it was so fun!

This boy loves his Dad:

Snuggling with Aunt Amanda:

After we played in the snow, we finally got cleaned up for the day and took some family pictures. We dressed Gavin in his overalls because Papaw got a new pair for Christmas!

And pictures of the kiddos by the tree. Henley is actually screaming her head off here, but let's pretend she's smiling since Gavin is smiling so big...

This boy truly does love his sister:

He still pats her belly and says, "Baby!"

Oh, Henley Jane, you are so precious!!

This picture CRACKS ME UP!

My brother called her "Henley Lou Who" from The Grinch with this hat on. She was a tired little gal from her first Christmas!

More pictures from my family to come!

White Christmas

We are finally home after spending 2 weeks in Chattanooga. It was such a fun time spending so much extra time with family!

Christmas morning, we woke up to this at Ryan's parents' house...

We couldn't believe we really had a real White Christmas! It got up to about 5 inches! We all stopped opening presents to go enjoy it!

Gavin changed his mind about the snow and decided he liked it when he could sled in it! And we didn't bundle him up a ton.

Papaw getting ready to take him sledding:

Dakota loved it when we went sledding because she would chase us the whole way:

If you blow these pictures up you'll see that this boy is grinning from ear to ear!

Still not wanting to go inside yet!

This video shows how hard is snowed all day!

We bundled Henley up to enjoy her first White Christmas, too. She wasn't too impressed:

We had to put her under the overhang because the snow was so wet and getting her face drenched!

I of course had to make Henley touch the snow. She was not a fan.

Papaw had the idea to take Gavin riding on the tractor in the snow, so there was no more sledding the rest of the day! Only tractor riding!

This is Christmas evening. It stopped snowing but there was still so much on the ground!

Who needs presents when you have a White Christmas!?

Gavin the Guitarist

I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the pictures we took at Christmas, so while I'm sorting through those, enjoy this video. We bought Gavin a kid-size real classical guitar for Christmas off Craigslist and he loves it. He had a lot of fun with Unk making up a song about my Mom's dog, Belle, using the microphone and all. Words can't describe my love for this little boy...

Merry Christmas!

Many more Christmas pictures to come!

Hope everyone has a wonderful (and white!) Christmas!

Polar Express

Monday night, we got to ride with both sets of grandparents to the North Pole on the Polar Express!!!

This boy was so excited about the train!

Of course with 3 teachers on board, we had to bring the book! And I was the only adult that insisted on dressing up in pajamas and bathrobe just like the book...along with Gavin and Henley, of course!

Waiting to board:

"All Aboard!"

Gavin was just a few months old the last time he rode a train, so it was so fun for us to see him so into it this time!!

Like the book, we got a treat on the train...gingerbread men cookies and Yoohoo!

Love the guys dressed up just like the book!

Gavin was a fan!

They also read the whole book over a microphone while the kids ate and drank, so I'm so glad we brought the book to read along!

After about a 30 minute train ride we got to the "North Pole" all decorated.

Gavin loved seeing Santa waving outside!

"Why can't he come on the train with us!?"

Little did this little guy know, he was going to come on! We sang Christmas Carols in the meantime with everybody on the train. Gavin danced in the aisles. Sugar rush!!

You can see the top of Santa's hat right above the seat. Gavin was very interested...

...still interested...

...not so sure...

...ummm...

"No, Santa, get away!!"

He settled for a high five instead of sitting in his lap.

And we all got a jingle bell at the end of the train ride, also just like the book!

It was such a fun night!! Too bad Henley missed out on all the fun!