Christmas toy fun

One of Caleb's Christmas presents this year was a bike. Unfortunately, I choose one that was too small for him. It bought it for the right age but he was actually too tall for it. Go figure! Caleb too tall for something is a first.

Jason, Caleb and I returned it before Christmas at the Germantown Target only to find that all the boy bikes were sold out in his size. There were just two girl bikes left in his size. Plan B occurred quickly. Instead of a bike, we chose a big wheel. This is the Razor 360 flash rider with sparks that shoot out when you pull the hand brake. Caleb's a little afraid of it right now but he likes it and it will grow on him. I think he really likes it best when his dad and siblings ride it. They make it spin and shoot sparks. It's very cool. I just need to teach him how to ride without spinning and shooting sparks. One day, we'll play outside again when it's not spitting snow and below freezing.

Christmas 2012 in Knoxville

Continuing with our tradition, the 6 Hills opened up their presents to each other before leaving for Memphis and Nashville. It's a little easier on them and gives us some sweet family time and memories. They also remember what "Santa" brought them.

Here's what the kids all received this year. Mostly the big gifts were from all their grandparents and Jason and me as well.

Andrew:
new camping backpack (perfect for Scouts)
Call of Duty wall poster
Playstation 3 gaming console
Boy Scout vintage wall sign

Stocking:Tin cup, gold chocolate coins and a pioneer style wood toy.

Ethan:
PS3 game
Winter coat
Boots
Gyro toy
Juggling balls
Lego Minifigs box

Stocking:
Tin cup, chocolate coins and a pioneers tyke wood spinning top

Hannah:
Winter with scarf, gloves and hat
Clothes for her Elizabeth doll
Lego Friends City Cafe
Wii game, Littlest Pet Shop
Lego Minifigs box

Stocking: coins, tin cup and wooden pioneer cat on string toy

Caleb:
Grey bean bag
Big wheel
Lego Minifigs box
Rockem sockem blow up punching toy

Stocking:
Tin cup, coins, wooden pioneer acrobat toy on wooden sticks with string.

Jason gave me two books on woodworking and home projects as well as a new camera. He received some gift cards and a new Tupelo Honey restaurant hat.

After opening gifts, the kids played all morning. Jason went off to work for a few hours and I packed the car for our trip. Before we knew it, it was time to go travel to the other side of Tennessee and time to start celebrating Christmas with the extended family.

Church Christmas Party

Hannah and I attended our first Christmas party at our new church (Fellowship Church) Friday night.   Hannah was on cloud nine. It was a mother and daughter date night because Jason and the boys were attending a Boy Scout lock-in. We ate pizza, decorated cookies, watched a Veggie Tales Christmas movie,  took silly pictures, and made almost 10 new homemade ornaments for our Christmas tree.

On the way out, some of the kids were putting their ornaments on the church tree in the lobby. My sweet Hannah took her favorite one, the white snowflake that she had just decorated with jewels and quickly put it on the tree. She's the BEST!

The cutest part was that all the kids wore their Christmas pjs and the adults wore their ugly Christmas sweaters.  Before we left to go, I let Hannah open a Christmas present super early because it contained her new pjs. She loved them. She's been growing like a weed.  She just outgrew her Hello Kitty pj's that we bought in October.  Guess she's trying to keep up with her hair.  It's almost long enough to give away to Locks of Love. She needs 10 inches total and she is almost there with about an inch or so left to go.