A Bateman / Cadwallader Christmas

What's the old saying... "Better late than never."  Because of the snow, LOTS of snow, we didn't get to see our cousins when we'd originally planned.  Oh well.  We still had a wonderful time.  This year instead of buying toys, we bought books.  As a teacher you can imagine how excited I was about these gifts.  I have to say though, I'd forgotten some of the wonderful upper grade books since moving to 1st grade.  It's sad how much my mind forgets in only 6 months.  Notice Cara's obsession with tutus continues.  She's my only girl though so I indulge her.  What can I say... she's a bit spoiled.



Cara & Harris

 Hannah & Cara

 Meredith & Cara

 Playing with Harrison's new Thomas book

 Hannah & Lindsay with their mom Jennifer

 Mamaw with her great grandchildren - Cara was DONE!!!

The "other" gifts

I'm sure everyone has given gag gifts before.  Here's our exchange with the Donley's.  There are pictures of everything but my condom wreath from Devin.  Chris didn't take very good pictures.  Of course Nick found my wreath in the back of the car and wanted to know if he could play with my "balloons".  Umm, NO!!!  Then Nick wanted to know why my balloon had money and stuff in them.  Did I mention that each condom held a special surprise inside?  Oh yes. a screw, a washer, a bolt, some fake money.  It was a really wonderful "surprise" gift.  Thanks Devo!

Chris got a lovely whistle wrapped in crepe paper.

 What's that I hear???

 Handmade craftstick picture frame (picture included).

 What's this?

 A bright orange C.D. paper weight.  However did I live without this?

 A cup of crushed peanut shells

 A handmade scarf

 Wine Rack

 Ready for dinner

 I love you Toph!!!

Thanks for the wonderful gifts!  Can't wait to see what next year brings!

Merry Christmas!!!

Each year it seems I rush, rush, rush around to get everything ready for Christmas, and it still always sneaks up on me. Our plans got changed a little this year due to the SNOW, so we didn't get to see all our relatives this year. Sad, but it was nice to slow down and enjoy just being with our children.

The Christmas celebrations started at Nana & Pepaw's with the kids' cousins.

Our sweet nieces, Mia & Macyn

This is Macyn's FIRST Christmas

 Chatting on the phone

 Check out my new tractor!

Um, Dad.  I think you're a little too big.

 Cara loved feeding her new baby doll.

 Nana with her baby girls.

Like most people, we leave a snack for Santa on Christmas Eve.  After church, we dressed the children in their Christmas pjs and took pictures with the special Christmas plate Aunt Beth got us several years ago.  Surprisingly, the kids actually cooperated and smiled for the camera.  I know, shocking!

Cara is ready for church.

 I know, he looks so sweet and innocent.  What's that about?

 The Cadwallader Clan

 Two of Santa's helpers

 Someone loves his baby sister.

 Isn't this the coolest plate ever!

 Always the ham.

 Yea, so I ate all of Santa's cookies and we had to leave Moon Pies instead.  Welcome to the South, Santa!

 The boys left food for Santa's reindeer outdoors.

On Christmas Day, we spent the morning with the children watching their faces light up with each gift.  Harrison was the most fun.  He LOVED EVERYTHING!!!  "Mom, look, I got underwear!"  Didn't matter what it was, he was excited.

Where's Cara?

 "Okay, someone help me here!

 

 CUPCAKES!

 Santa's big gift this year was a play kitchen.  What three good looking chefs we have!

After nap time (for the kids and MOMMY) we headed in the SNOW over to Mom and Dad's at the lake for more presents and family.

Cara is obsessed with being a princess right now.  Guess it was a good thing she got two new tutus for Christmas.

 The snow on the trees and waterfront was gorgeous!

 The kids' favorite gift was the whoopie cushions Chris put in their stockings.  His one mistake?  He only got two.  Little miss was left out and she was MAD!

 Back to his normal face.

 Helping Aunt Andrea with her presents.

 Big Dan, what do you have in there?

 Chef Nicholas

 And not to be left out... Chef Cara

 Andrea made this for Big Dan's garage.

 Big Mama and her granddaughter

 Our Family

 Nick was being a big dork and refusing to cooperate, so I cropped him out of the picture.  Don't the four of us look nice?

 Here's all of us - again Nick with the dork face.

 So we had SNOW on Christmas for the first time in like 40 years.  It was so pretty and peaceful watching it fall.  Of course we got stuck in my dad's driveway and had to be pulled out by the tractor.  Still...  the kids had a ball.  I enjoyed driving Nick's 4-wheeler up and down the road.  Thinking I'm going to need an adult sized one for me and Toph.

 Uncle Dan took the boys for a ride on the BIG 4-wheeler

Someone did NOT like the snow

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

Love,

Chris, Suzanne, Nicholas, Harrison, & Carrington