Saturday, December 30, 2006

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was full of excitement and flying paper. Braden is becoming a professional unwrapper. He got a lot of great toys/games that he will actually play with.
Here are a few pictures: The joy that comes with a Chipmunks' Christmas on DVD!
Deal or No Deal handheld game (Jon takes this very seriously)
Holy Cow! That's is a huge Nerf gun!
Roller blades! And these actually fit.
Worst-Case Scenario Survival Game. (You should hear Braden try and read the name of the game.) He got some other great board games. We've had a fun time playing with them all.

Jon's Christmas

Jon and I have learned that Christmas morning isn't too exciting for ourselves now that we are grown. (Prior to Christmas Day, Jon and I received some pretty great gifts from our family.) But today Jon had to be content with new boxers, a pizza cutter, and this..... The Amazing Penguin Pooper! (he loves penguins for those who might be confused) And yes, that is what his hair looks like when he doesn't have a hat on!

Dallas' Christmas

Dallas enjoyed opening her rawhide-filled stocking on Christmas morning.
She stayed busy while Braden tore into his gifts.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Braden gets to open one present before bed.
This year he decided to opened his gift from G'ma Peggy and G'pa Gordon (Jon's grandparents in Oregon) because that allowed him to open two presents. They sent him the majority of the state quarters and a display case. G'ma also sent some duplicates so he would have some to put in his bank! He thinks it's pretty cool trying to find the missing states and really enjoyed putting the quarters in their slots.

It's a Revolution!

Braden got Dance Dance Revolution for Christmas this year. Since my mother got it for him, he was able to open it when she was here (several weeks before Christmas). It is the greatest PlayStation game ever! ! I love how into it he gets, and an added bonus: he's up and moving!
Jon is pretty hilarious given his lack of rhythm.
Also, DDR provided hours of entertainment when Megan, Amanda, and Phil were here. Braden is currently hoping to have some "friends" over for a dance party in the near future. **friends = grown up cousins and someone from his parents' Sunday School class. (Kids don't seem to have the desire to keep at it as long)

This last picture is a little blurry, but I love his expressions when he's so focused!

Friday, December 29, 2006

Halloween (a flashback to days before Blogger)




He might just be cuter than his dad is in uniform! Maybe.

What a little lady!

Yes, Dallas is quite the lady.
She won't even let a big stretch get in her way! (You can't help but love her)

Thanks Ry! ! !

I'm on my way. I have a little tweaking to do to get my pictures a little larger, but there is light at the end of the tunnel..... and a ton of holiday pics to post!

Thank you RyAnn! Your expertise was a huge help.

Part 2

Here is my little chef! Isn't he adorable in the apron?!?
And side-by-side you really get the full effect. Grandma's kitchen will be too much fun for the grankids!
Where are the older boys, you may ask? Where else but in front of the Playstation!

PICTURES!!!!!


Here are two pictures from when Jon's family came to visit. RyAnn (thank you so much) is directing me on how to post pictures, but now I have to learn how to move them around on here so I can post multiples. Here are the first 2 pics of Braden and Grandma decorating gingerbread men in Grandma's stylish presents!!!

Sunday, December 24, 2006

He Never Learns

Merry Christmas Eve to all! And to all: please say a prayer for my idiot husband! Exactly one year ago today, where was he? Throwing up everything he had ever eaten or ever thought of eating.
Fast forward one year. Where was Jon last n
ight? Same place!
Last year involved super hot tamales he had to eat while drinking a glass of milk, a glass of water, and some type of juice. (Totally ate away at his stomach lining I'm sure) Then we have dinner at Chili's and he spends the night and following day hugging the pot.
This year involved tamales again. Not super hot, but lots of them. Then he goes to Buffalo Wild Wings with some friends and eats artery clogging wings.......... and spends the wee hours hugging the pot!
Does anyone see a pattern developing?

So, I am forced to go to our COUPLES Sunday School class alone..... ON CHRISTMAS EVE!! Have we learned a lesson? I sure hope so. Next year, Jon gets cereal and sandwiches on the eve of Christmas
Eve. (Someone please remind me!)

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Grrrrrrr!

I have transferred all the pictures from my camera to the computer. Why can't I get them onto this stupid blog? Every time I try..... nothing! Someone please help me before I scream!
Two more days until Christmas!!!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

A Van Cleave GingerTree


Every year, Braden and Jon decorate a gingerbread house together. This year, Jon went picked out a ginger-tree. I was very proud of their (meaning Jon's) hard work. It turned out great!

And Years Later, I Married Him

Quiet

The house is quiet!
Jon's family has been here visiting for the past 4-5 days. They headed back to Texas this morning and the house is sooooo quiet. Jon is working, Braden is at school, and most of my in-laws are packed into a Ford, bound for home. I'm really lonely! But I'm determined to learn how to connect my camera to the computer today. So, I will busy myself learning to post pictures to my blog.

Merry 4 Days Before Christmas!!!!!

I hope to have an interesting blog created for you soon.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Ten More Days!

With only 10 days until Christmas, what better for my first-ever post than a Christmas Q & A?!?!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? If I must, homemade egg nog.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa is a wrapper. In previous years, Santa even had his own wrapping paper. That seemed to go unnoticed, so Santa and I are sharing a roll this year.
3. Colored lights or white lights on tree/house? This year there are white lights on the tree. The multi-colored lights will be back next year though. As for the house, good luck getting Jon on a ladder!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope, my husband doesn't need a reason to kiss me!
5. When do you put up your decorations? Usually on Thanksgiving morning, while we watch the Macy's parade. This year, on Thanksgiving Eve.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Does Mexican food at my aunt and uncle's count as holiday?
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I can remember sleeping at my grandparents' house with my cousins. We would wake up Christmas morning to be biggest pile of presents I had ever seen! -- There was also the one Christmas I held my cat over some of my presents. Her claws accidently ripped the wrapping paper. Oops!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm not sure. Mid-elementary years?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We always opened one present on Christmas Eve when I was younger. Now Braden opens one.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? I have lots of purple ornaments, tons of ones Braden has made at school/church, garland, and no tree topper!
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it if I don't have to go anywhere or shovel too much. I hate when it gets all dirty on the roads.
12. Can you ice skate? Sadly, I have never been ice skating. I am alright on roller blades, which makes me feel confident in my ability to stay upright should I ever try ice.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I love getting cards/letters from Jon on holidays! When I was younger, I got the She-Ra (sp?) castle one year.
14. What's the most important thing about Christmas for you? Spending time with my boys. I love to watch them open their gifts on Christmas morning. And later, as they to figure things out and play.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Hmm.... I do love a Christmas cookies or two.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating the tree on Thanksgiving, baking for Braden's Christmas parties, wrapping anything I can get my hands on, singing carols in church......
17. What tops your tree? The ceiling! Even if I could find the perfect tree topper, I don't know if we could squeeze it up there. This house has such low ceilings.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love giving! I love shopping for people and watching as they open their gifts. I hate being watched as I open my gifts.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Anything sung by Dean or Frank. Especially "Baby It's Cold Outside." This year, I am being haunted by the Hippo song. It gets stuck in my head for days at a time!!!!
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I hate peppermint candy canes. I used to love (and haven't seen in years) orange CRUSH candy canes!!!