walking at the nature center

we had a wonderful post-christmas celebration with the stahl's and before we headed home we spent the afternoon at the nature center. it was the perfect ending to a great visit. the weather was amazing and the kids loved walking on the trial and playing on a giant playscape. even graham enjoyed a few trips down the slide! the kids all loved having g and g hold their hands and run and play!

post-christmas with the stahls

we had a great post-christmas celebration with the stahls! more gifts . . . rollerblades for the big girls, a gas station for b.c., and a lalaloopsy for kam! and some really cool p.j.s and toys from they cousins! we had a wonderful christmas dinner and dessert too (kind of made up for the christmas dinner of pancakes that we'd had!). so nice to have everyone together. makes my heart smile.

christmas 2011

from the barbie dream house to the big four wheeler, the pirate ship to the trendy toys, we had some happy bailey kiddos on christmas morning! the look on the kids faces as they were coming down the stairs was awesome! everyone got everything they asked for . . . and then some! we took most of the day to open and play with presents, taking a break fro breakfast and hot chocolate. we were in pajamas all day, hanging out, and playing and watching movies. we had pancakes for christmas dinner! does it get any better than that?

christmas eve 2011

this christmas eve was really wonderful. we went to church, had our traditional appetizers for dinner, decorated cookies, read the night before christmas, got our matching p.j.'s. too!
what a difference a year makes. we have so much to be thankful for . . . so much. a beautiful, healthy family. four amazing kiddos. a new extended family. and a bright future ahead!

girls night at the nutcracker

the bailey girls started a new tradition this year . . . and evening at the theater. the girls had so much fun getting dressed up for a night on the town! we went to see the austin ballet's nutcracker and it was AMAZING! the girls were soooo enthralled with it! ken and mck thought it was magical and were staring through the whole thing. kam loved it, but felt the need to talk in my ear, non-stop through the whole thing! (it was a little too much silence for her. we can't wait to do a special evening out again next year!

our gingerbread village

making the gingerbread village is now a bailey tradition . . . a little house for everyone! it was amazing how independent mck and ken were this year . . . they did everything themselves. and even little kam knew how she wanted each piece of candy! b.c. wanted help from daddy to decorate his cabin! it really turned out cute! now we just have to keep b.c. from crawling ont he counter to steal pieces of it!

k's choir performance

ken's first choir performance was wonderful! she loves choir and is so enthusiastic about learning all these new songs! the performance was a great collection of holiday songs from around the world. . . so mck, kam, and b.c. enjoyed learning new songs too! the performance was even more special because ms. s. and her family came to watch . . . ken felt so special! then it was home for coffee and dessert with everyone.

lights in belton 2012

this may have been the best year at the belton lights . . . ever! we went early and during the week so the crowds were minimal. we even got to hop out and take some pictures in front of the lights! nothing beats the excitment you can feel in the car as the kids first see the lights and we turn on the music. this is truly the magic of christmas. it's so wonderful that we still get to share this tradition with our friends . . . not wishing time away, but i can't wait until next year.

magical moment with santa

i don't think it gets much better than this . . . the kiddos got some one-on-one time with mr. claus on the g'town square. the girls were a little bit in awe and b.c. was a little shy at first, but after he gave santa's beard a little tug he was comfortable. they got to share their wishes for christmas . . . ken - a caboodle, mck - a caboodle and doll stuff, kam - a pony (not a real one!), and b.c. - a firetruck! not sure we'll ever be able to top this one.