Some of My Favorite Christmas Memories 2010

I am going to post pics and such, but I wanted to record some of my favorite memories from this Christmas.

• Riley was so fun this year.  He is really into opening gifts and his face lights up when he sees something he asked for.
• Riley got to see Santa two times this year at house parties in intimate settings and he loved him.  It was so cute the way he interacted with him and asked him questions about why he arrived at the parties in a Ford truck as opposed to a sleigh. 
• I LOVE the fact that Riley knows scripture and Bible stories.  He knows more than some adults I gurantee and that touches my heart.  He actually listened at the Christmas Eve service and was asking some intriguing questions about King Herrod and the birth of Christ.
• Riley and Bentley both rocked out at the Christmas Eve service.  They both love music so much and it was awesome to see them dancing and singing the music at church.
• Bentley went crazy when she opened Beauty and The Beast and her pillow pet.  We could have just given her those 2 things and she would have been content.
• Anytime Bentley hears the words Santa Clause mentioned, she says Ho Ho Ho.  So cute!  She didn't want to sit on his lap or touch him, but she did enjoy him from the back of the room. 
• Bentley is such a DIVA.  She loved wearing her Christmas tutu this year and getting dressed up.  She opened her first gift at Nana's and it was a dress that had some tulle ruffles and she thought it was a ballet dress, so right there, she starts taking her clothes off to put it on. (as we speak, she is having me this dress on her)
• Bentley does "ballet" all the time.  She twirls around and makes the cutest faces while doing it.
• Memaw gave her a dog that she really wanted that walks itself and I kept pushing to name him Max and she told me no Mommy, his name is "BOSS."

They were both a joy this year!  I am so blessed to have such sweet and good kiddos!!!

CCPS Christmas Program

Last night was our Christmas Program at the school.  This was my first year to attend as a teacher. It is kind of hard to have 2 children in the program as well as the 13 children that I have in my class, but it worked out.  Daddy, Memaw and Elyse went to Bentley and Riley's classrooms after the program was over and had cookies and lemonade with their classes.  I enjoyed visiting with all of the kids and their parents in my classroom.  As for the performance, Riley was AWESOME.  He sang his little heart out and he is so animated.  Miss Nikki, his music teacher, told me yesterday that he blows her mind with all of the words and how quickly he picks everything up.  He has been rehearsing for days for this program.  You would think he had the lead in a broadway musical.  All of his hard work paid off and Casey and I are so proud of him!!!  He is such a good kid.  Now, there is Bentley.....well, she looked like a million bucks, but she did not want to be on that stage at all.  She clung to her teacher, Ms. Sharry the whole time.  She would alternate her finger from her mouth to her nose (just a habit, not picking it).  Oh well, there is always next year Sweet BB girl.  By the way, I have to give kuddos to both of the kids teacher.....they are all four wonderful, but Ms. Sharry and Ms. Alba go above and beyond to Bentley.   Casey was telling me last night that he could really just see the love they have for her.  I know she can be a bit particular and it warms my heart to know that she is so loved when she is in their care.  It also shows....she ADORES them both.  Thanks CCPS for loving my kiddos!!!

Here are some pics.  I will post video later.

This is Ms. Lori (AKA Lois) my lead teacher

Ms. Sharry carry your Highness on the stage

And here is all she did!!

Riley's group sang "We Three Kings" and he knew EVERY word

In Bentley's class having lemonade and cookies

Daddy and Bentley

My little Showstopper Riley!

Waiting for his cookie!

Happy Birthday Jesus

Today at preschool, Riley and Bentley had their Happy Birthday to Jesus parties.  They have been looking forward to these parties all weekend.  Bentley told me this morning she wanted to look pretty for the party (so cute).  Riley was also very pumped because he was bringing the goldfish.  Here are some pics and video of them at the party. 

Bentley singing Happy birthday to Jesus (I think she thought she had to bow her head?)

Riley singing Happy birthday to Jesus

Riley cheesing it up!

Icing his cookie

Bentley getting ready to eat her icing

Mom and Bentley

Santa Clause and his Early Appearance

Last Friday night, we were invited to a party and Mr. Santa made an early appearance.  He was getting out of a white Ford pickup when we pulled up (he was 20 minutes early), and Riley spied him.  He started asking me where his sleigh was and his reindeer.  Already so darn inquistive about that situation at 4 years old.  I had been talking a big game about Santa all week long in hopes that Miss Bentley would enjoy St. Nick.  She was excited at first, but ONLY if he was at least 15 feet from her.  She stood in the back of the crowd saying "Hi Santa."  Riley ran right up with his friends Anna and Cole.  Santa read Twas the Night Before Christmas for the kids and they all really enjoyed it.  It was a great experience, much better than the mall scene.  There was tons of good food and great company.  We all had our picture made with Santa, well, as close as Bentley would let me get her :)

Me and Melissa

Guess what I want for Christmas...

Bentley loved following Anna around that night!

Love this pic!!! 

Don't leave me here mom

Riley and Santa

Family pic....Bentley was not about to take her eyes off Santa

Riley and his girlfriend Anna :)

Attempt at Christmas Pics

I really wanted some nice family pictures this year for Christmas.  I am still not really ready to pay someone to take our pictures because Bentley is so difficult to photograph.  First of all, her patience is only good for about 15 minutes and secondly, she really doesn't like to take pictures with Riley.  She did ok this summer for she and Riley's pictures, but I just didn't want to spend money on the four of us taking pics and none of them come out.  So I had Elyse just snap some pictures of us.  Don't worry, you all will get a formal Christmas card with some pics on it (still not great, but not too horrible), but these 2 photos really sum up our photo shoot.

Such a nice family photo....but wait, we have 2 children...where is ???

BENTLEY