Horsley Family Christmas 2009

We celebrated Christmas at the Horsley's on the 27th. We enjoyed lots of great food and great company. Did I mention, that I love Christmas?

Avery opening some presents...

Papa Bill likes his new shirt. Too Funny!

Grandma Horsley opening her present...

I think she likes it...

One of Grandma's favorite sayings, "Getting Old is like Chicken Poop." I think I'll have to agree with her.

Grandpa Matthews and June

Avery with more presents...Where is Alexa??

Papa Bill and his new hat. It will be great for the Christmas tree hunt next year.

The Horsley Grandkids...(Left to Right) Avery, Kira, Alexa, A.J., Alex, Shelby, J.T., Sean, and Junior

Time for a family picture.

Carrie's Family

Eli's Family

Papa Bill's Family

Grandma Niece, Papa Bill, Grandpa Matthews, and June

Jeff, Carrie, Eli

Sean and Junior enjoying each others company.

One of the best Christmas presents was a surprise visit from Aunt Kibbie. The girls were really excited to see her since we don't get to see her often enough.

The day ended with a competitive game of Dominos. For any of you that have played games with the Horsley's understand what I mean by competitive. I think Kibbie ended up winning, she credits "beginners luck." I'm not so sure she hasn't played Dominos somewhere else before.

Wilson Family Christmas 2009

After our house, we head over to my Mom and Dad's for breakfast and Christmas with my family. Oh, how I love Christmas morning breakfast. It has always been a favorite of mine.

Grandma Joy with the big girls.

Katrina with one of the twins...I'm guessing Hallie or Remie...It could very easily be either one.

Alexa with her new pajamas...Yahoo, we love new p.j.'s!

Avery and Alexa opening their present from Rylie and Sydnie. New Littlest Petshops!

Avery opening her present from Aunt Courtney and Uncle Nate...Dress-up and a Dance Outfit

After the "Christmas Bomb" went off at my Mom and Dad's we just relaxed and ate leftovers. I love Christmas!

Christmas Morning 2009

Every year we get to enjoy Christmas morning at home. We give the Grandparents and early wakeup call and they come over to watch the girls open their gifts.

Patiently waiting for their Grandma's and Grandpa's to arrive...

Wow, Santa brought them each a Nintendo DS and he even knew that they would love pink ones!

Alexa and Jeff checking out the new Leapster game she received. It is some Science game that can teach her all she wants to know about animals.

Avery's only "want" for Christmas...Makeup. Wow, Santa sure is a great guy!

We all got new watches. They are pretty cute and so are we!

Avery with her new boots...and her early morning Christmas hairdo.

The surprise of my morning...Jeff bought me a Silhouette. I have been wanting one for a good year now. I love it!!

Wiggles and Libby after the Christmas bomb went off in our house.

Our Poor Little Libby

Libby got to spend the Holidays in a diaper. Maybe we should have gotten her fixed along time ago. Oops! All she wanted to do for about a week was sleep. I know how she feels!

Oh...How I miss him!!

Normally, my dreams come and they go not really leaving me time to recall what exactly it was I dreamed about. I couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have a dream about my Grandpa Wilson. I'm not sure what really triggered my dream. It could be the holidays, Avery constantly reminding me how much she misses Papa Loren, or the Anniversary of his passing fast approaching. Whatever the reason, I am so grateful for my dream...My Grandpa had just bought a new truck and I went over to see it. He was shining it all up and just getting ready to rotate the tires. (For any of you that knew my Grandpa, knew that he was meticulous with his vehicles. They looked brand new from the day that he bought a vehicle until the day he traded it in.) I sat there under the carport and visited with him for what seem like hours. We talked about so many things. Mainly, my life now and my little kids. He wanted to know about all about the girls and their current interests. He asked about our new little baby that we will soon meet. It was as if he had been on a vacation and he was trying to catch up on all that he had missed. It was like he never left us... My dream reminded me of so many things that I miss about him. I miss his smile, the way he walks, all of his help, his "sweet tooth", watching him interact with my girls. I miss our visits in his chair and his sourdough pancakes. I miss the times he would fall asleep while the rest of us were visiting with Grandma. I miss the times that he would just drop by our house to say "hi" or drop something off on his way home from the grocery store. I miss him. I am so grateful to of had my Grandpa in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity my kids have to live so close to their Grandparents and make so many memories with them. I am grateful for the knowledge and I have and the opportunity that I will have to enjoy another long visit with my Grandpa and catch up on all the things that I think he has missed. I love you, Grandpa!!
Love, Kristin

The Horsley Thanksgiving

For the Annual Horsley Thanksgiving, we help Papa Bill and Grandma Niece decorate their larger than life Christmas tree before we eat dinner. The kids love it!!! Jeff and I really enjoy it, too. If I could just stay away from the clam dip...less eating, more decorating!!

Marky Mark and J.T. showing no fear on the ladder.

Our little Avery helping decorate Papa Bill's and Grandma Niecie's tree.

Junior even gets into the decorating action.

Jeff and Avery decorating some of the higher branches.

Alexa and Avery pause for a photo opp.

Grandma Niecie helps Avery while Alexa and A.J. load up papa Bill with ornaments.

Cheese!!!

Avery and Kira playing on the stairs...have had enough decorating for the day!!!

Two sexy beasts!!!

Little Junior...too cute.

A somewhat "normal" family photo!

This is more like it!

Grandkids photo.

J.T. enjoyed pulling Uncle Jeff's beard...Uncle Jeff did not enjoy it so much.

The finished tree welcomes in the Holiday season for the Horsley's!

The Horsley Christmas Tree Hunt

As a Horsley Family Tradition, we help decorate Papa Bill's and Grandma Niece's Christmas tree before we eat Thanksgiving dinner. So, today the "Charlie Brown Tree Hunters" went out in full force to find the perfect Christmas trees. (I love the purple gloves, Mark!)

Obviously, they enjoy their time together Christmas tree hunting. I think that they may need a little supervision.

Posing with Papa Bill's 19 ft Christmas tree. I usually send Jeff out with some pretty high expectations for our Christmas tree. I have been told that I put a lot of stress on him over the perfect tree. But, I think the added stress is working. We usually have a pretty great Christmas tree.