13 Of My Favorite Things in 2013

Hard to believe that another year has come and gone!
Thinking back over 2013,  here are 13 of my favorite memories...

 



#1 - We got a little bit of snow, not a lot, but enough to excite Caleb. 

#2 - Ella let me paint her toenails for the first time and her hair was finally long enough for pigtails. 

It is the little things, but things I had look forward to since having a girl! 

 

#3 - Caleb's 4th Birthday and his Superhero Party.

Even though the weather was terrible, he had a great time with his cousins and close friends and that was all that mattered! 

#4 - Owen William Raynor was born

I had another sweet nephew (the first on the Raynor side).

I have loved watching my brother be a daddy.  He is such a good one! 

#5 - Beach Trips with both sides of our families.

We went with the Raynors in June and the Taylors in August.

We loved spending time with our families.  Kids had a blast with their cousins and grandparents.

 

 #7 - Lazy Days of Summer
We always have fun at the lake - from riding the boat, jet ski and sail boat to skiing and tubing and swimming, to eating ice cream and just hanging out.
We also got to experience Snowbird for the first time - what a great week!  We had a blast with all the activities they had and while we were physically exhausted after the week, it was very spiritually freshing for me!
Not to mention all the fun playdates we had with friends throughout the summer!

 

#8 - Ella turned 2!  She had fun at her tutu and ties birthday party.

All of our family and close friends were able to attend so that made it extra special!

 #9 - The kids started school in September.  It was Ella's first time in school and she adjusted so well, so quickly.  Caleb was an old pro (this being his 3rd year) but this year especially he has learned so much!

#10 - Caleb played soccer for the first time and loved it.

He scored some goals and we were so proud of him! 

#11 - My cousin Amy got married!

It was a wonderful weekend with lots of time spent with the Raynor Girls!

So thankful we are family cause they are some of my favorite girls!    

#12- Holidays - such as Easter, Halloween, Christmas

Getting to spend time together and making memories as a family! 

#13 - Last but not least - spending every day with these two and sweet moments like this.... 

 

Thankful for many wonderful days in 2013 and looking forward to 2014! 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun with our Christmas Presents

After all the crazy days leading up to Christmas, we were glad to have some free days the Thursday and Friday after Christmas to stay at home, rest and enjoy our new presents.

 

Making all kinds of food with their Play doh kitchen

(and we were also working on potty training which is why Ella is in her underwear :))

 Caleb and Daddy putting the trampoline together

Trying it out - kids had a blast 

Racing with their big wheels

Ella pedals for a little while but then she gets tired and wants me to push her. 

Hope she will get the hang of it soon. 

The boy can go so fast!

He loves his big wheel!



Last Christmas Gathering - Raynor Style

We had our last Christmas gathering this afternoon/evening at my parent's house with the Raynor side of the family.  The kids had a great time playing and we enjoyed a delicious meal of beef tenderloin, potatoes, salad, strawberry pretzel salad and homemade chocolate chip pecan pie.

Eli and Owen checking each other out

The big kids wrestling - Ella can hang with the big boys! 

Sweet Cousins - Aiden and Caleb 

Ella is outnumbered on the Raynor side - she is the only little girl.

It is so different because Kent was always outnumbered growing up as the only boy and now the boys outnumber the girls! 

Kent and Nicole with their babies on their 1st Christmas

Time for presents - the big kids were ready! 

Eli ready to open his present 

Owen checking his present out 

 Chris had a lap full of kids when he started taking the presents out of the packages for them.

 Then it was the adults turn to open presents - we draw names every year

 Our annual cousin picture with what we got

 Sweet baby boys and their mommies

Bath time before everyone had to head back to Oxford

 

We sure wish we lived closer so we could have these type of get togethers more often.  We always have such a good time when we get together.  Can't wait to see ya'll again soon!



A few more pictures from December

December has been a busy month with lots of pictures but I have a few more that are too cute not to post.

Caleb is still wearing his Halloween PJs - they glow in the dark and he wants to wear them every night! 

Ella needs one more baby in her bed...don't you think? 

Isn't she cute???  Looks like Mrs. Claus! 

Every time my dad sits down in his chair, she gives him his neck pillow.

Ella decided she needed one too so she could be like granddaddy! 

The kids stayed with my parents and did some Christmas crafts! 

Look how cute they turned out! 

Love these sweet little feet! 

Love what they made!

Christmas at Granddaddy and Mammy's House

After breakfast at our house, we headed over to Granddaddy and Mammy's house to have Christmas with them.  The kids rode their big wheels while we waited on Kent, Melanie, and Owen to get there.

 

Ella getting the hang of hers 

Caleb can go "super fast"  

The kids presents all set out and ready for them 

 The kids closing their eyes while walking into the living room

Owen got a wagon full of presents! 

Ella got a baby crib, highchair, and changing table 

Caleb got an Imaginext City 

Owen in his new wagon 

 Ella playing with her new baby doll stuff (and sword :))

Caleb checking out his new city and all his new car stuff 

Owen wasn't sure what to think about all this! 

Ella and her pile of presents (along with some of mine in the polka dot paper) .

Mama loves buying presents - can you tell??? 

Caleb and Ella showing Owen his new presents 

 Owen got some new clothes...

...and a bunch of new toys!

Melanie and her sweet baby boy on his 1st Christmas 

Cute little family of three 

One happy baby! 

 Caleb and Ella wanted to help everyone open their presents

Melanie got some new clothes 

Owen helping her open her presents 

Her new North Face vest 

And new jeans!

Kent got some new golf balls ...

... and new tennis shoes

...and a gun safe plus the vest he has on! 

Owen's 1st Christmas  

Ella opening her presents 

She got a baby doll and all the accessories including diapers... 

Silly girl trying out the baby's paci 

....and a monogrammed Vera Bradley diaper bag for all her baby stuff! 

Ella got some stuff for her piggies... 

...including some nail stickers and wanted to do them right then.

Love these little feet! 

Ella had a hard time getting into some of her presents 

More baby stuff - love this sweet girly girl!

Sweet brother and sister helping each other! 

 Caleb got some clothes and some pop thingys from Kent and Melanie

He got new rain gear - an umbrella... 

...rain boots

and a new raincoat! 

He loved his new sword! 

He got some movies...  

and some superhero stuff - including his favorite, the Hulk! 

 I got a new coat (and clothes)...

 ...some new boots

a Thirty one bag and more! 

Corey's turn....what could this be? 

 A propane tank

 A preppy boy package (as he called it) - some new clothes!

He got a puzzle he had to figure out 

 Caleb and Corey working on his puzzle

which was a gym membership at Planet Fitness for a year!

And a new car jack!

Corey and Doug have a running joke about these undies - so Doug wrapped them up for Corey for Christmas!  I am sure that won't be the last we see of them!

Mama got a handprint ornament from Owen 

And a bag full of stuff... 

...for her cruise in February including a spray tan, manicure and pedicure and a Royal Refresh Package! 

Looking at Mammy's new calendar with pictures of her sweet darlings 

Granddaddy didn't open many presents (cause he was holding babies and the kids wanted to open them for him).  Here is Ella with some of his chocolate coal.

He got some stuff to keep him warm at the car wash and gift certificates to go eat! 

Granddaddy with his babies 

 We all got new coats/vests to keep us warm!

 Granddaddy, Caleb, and Ella all got new crocs!

Caleb asked us about 100 times if he could open his stocking - but we always do those last so he had to wait ;) 

Finally time to open his stocking! 

Ella's turn for her stocking 

Toiletry stuff in my stocking and a new wallet! 

Corey and Kent with their Qtips! 

We were joking on Corey with new arch suports - what an old man ;) 

Granddaddy making Owen laugh 

The present opening wore everyone out! 

Owen finally crashed! 

Corey's turn for a nap 

Granddaddy and Caleb playing 

Caleb loves his new city and kept asking people if they wanted to play with him.  When we would take a break he would say "Hey, why are you not playing...I thought you were playing with me" 

Trying to figure out Kent's new gun safe that works off fingerprints 

Uncle Kent is always a fun uncle - trying out the popping things he gave them! 

 Playing our traditional game on Christmas night.

The big kids got a new game "5 seconds" and the little kids got a new game "Surprise Slides" so we played both.

Papa came to eat dinner with us.  We had a delicious meal of ham, roast, rice, mac and cheese, corn, string bean casserole, deviled eggs and more!  Mama fixed everyone's favorite dish! 

Then it was time to open presents from Papa  - Ella got some Minnie stuff. 

Caleb got a hotwheels track 

And Owen got a camera - plus they all got money for their college fund! 

 Kent and Owen

One happy aunt - feeding Owen his bottle 

What a big boy sitting up all by himself! 

Owen talking to Ella - and getting all in his face 

 Owen finally learning to fight back - he had Ella down with a hand full of hair!

Kids had fun playing with the bubble wrap! 

Caleb's turn 

We snapped one last picture of the kids with Papa and Uncle Carl and then headed home to bed.

 

What a wonderful Christmas!  We had such a great time spending time with our families.  The kids love all the presents!  We are blessed!