What an excellent way to get the Holiday Season started...there is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than getting all your friends together to share in some Holiday cheer. This year Donna, Marvin & Tyson were nice enough to host. After several emails amongst the girls we all had our food item selected for the pot luck and each kid had 1 friend to exchange a gift with (grab bag)...Afterall, this day was not about exchanging gifts it was about spending time with those friends we all like to refer to as family!
Once everyone arrived we got down to business and filled our tummies...
Then of course it was time to hang out with friends...Lyla and Tyson are the closest in age. It is hilarious to see them stick with one another. Here they are sharing puffs with one another...ever so nicely!
Playing with all of Tyson's toys...oh what fun!!!
The perfect setting for kids and adults...the best of both worlds...the kids play with one another while the adults chit chat:)
The girls put on a wonderful dance recital for us...complete with a ballet/tap routine....and maybe some interpretive dance :)
After lots of playing it was time to open gifts...but first here is our attempt at getting all the kids to sit in front of the beautiful Christmas tree.
Just one kiddie missing...Jaida where are you?
Natalia picked Lyla's name...here she is giving Lyla her presents...so sweet!!
One of the best moments from the day was watching all the kids help each other open gifts...with not one tear shed!
Natalia got Lyla the cutest - bling bling - bracelets! She kept them on the rest of the day and in fact we didn't take them off until we changed her into her pj's that night:)
Natalia passed out cookies to all her friends....
Lyla was very happy about her cookie...
And thank you Reese for drawing everyone a very lovely picture...you are an artist in the making for sure!
And lastly, I will summarize this post by saying....kisses to the entire '"Crew". Looking back on the day here are a "couple" of the most cherished moments:
If you noticed each kid is pictured without their parents....which says alot. I say these are the most cherished because it means the world to me to know how comfortable we are to allow the kids to roam about, have fun and to know that someone is always watching. And the best thing to see are when the kids themselves go to any "adult" for help, to play, to sing, for food, etc... It is said often but maybe not often enough...from The Austin family to "The Crew" - we love you and are SO fortunate to have you all in our lives. Here's to many MANY more....XX.
1 comment:
It is said that it takes a Village to raise and child... Loved celebrating the holidays with everyone.
Post a Comment