Christmas Part 2

(Was able to post part 1 and part 2 on the same night. If you missed part one, go back one more post before reading this one! Or just click HERE!)

Each year, we try to have a Family Christmas Date. Somewhere down the line it included a trip to the mall for a train ride and last minute Christmas shopping. This is followed by lunch/dinner out and a tour of lights around town! We usually do this on Christmas eve, but this year it had to be moved up because family was supposed to be here. Well, it was a bit interesting this year and actually had to be done in two separate days due to the "Blahhum Bug" hitting us! Emmitt started throwing up on the car ride home from the mall. So we postponed dinner and light seeing until the following night. On Christmas Eve, we went to my mom's house after church and had lunch and presents. We then went home. Christmas Eve night, my sister and her family had gone home so we did gifts between the kids and from Jesstine to Mommy and Daddy. We did our usual Santa videos, cookie and milk for Santa, and reindeer food. Then the next day the "Blahhum Bug" hit Jesstine and I EARLY Christmas morning. It hit Stephen the next day. So we laid low for a few days and then joined in at Grandmom's house on Friday. Today we are FINALLY really all feeling pretty good. Emmitt is a little off, but I am not sure if it is lack of sleep or what. So, here are our pictures:

 On our way for family date!

 

Train ride!

Loved pointing at various things and babbling.

Attempt at sibling shot.

Bungie jump.

 Detour on family date due to Emmitt getting the stomach bug!

 He started to feel a little  better later that night and tried on Daddy's shoes. He decided they were too big so he brought HIS shoes to me to put on him!

Resuming with our annual Chrsitmas light adventure.

Jesstine's Christmas light scavenger hunt.

Impressive nativity in the whole front yard!

Fun for fans of "A Christmas Story" movie.

Christmas Eve afternoon at Grandma Griffee's:

Emmitt got a rocking pony that talks and sings.

Jesstine got a Merida doll from Aunt Grace and a wig from Grandma Griffee.

Emmitt helping Aunt Grace with some crochetting!

Family Christmas Eve:

Emmitt got Jesstine some paints....

And a "Brave" book/playset.

Jesstine got Emmitt some pullback cars and a stuffed frog.

Next setting out cookies for Santa and food for reindeer:

Followed by the yearly video from Santa:

The Haul!

Insert flu bug here!!!!

Emmitt got a jump start on Christmas gifts from Santa while Jesstine and Mommy were recovering.

She finally felt well enough to sit on her bike that Santa brought!

Later it was back to recovery mode with some bananas and toast in her new tent.

A few days later (after Daddy came down with the flu bug), we went to Grandmom's:

Little People carnival for both kids!

Art easel/desk for Jesstine!

Thank you Grandmom!

Some bling from Aunt Jenni, Uncle Seth, Noah, Ian and Connor.

His first official Cowboys Jersey!! Thank you Uncle Seth, Aunt Jenni, Noah, Ian and Connor!

Finally all feeling better!

And some extras just for fun!!!

Such a ham! That is a clean swim diaper on his head!

Daddy really getting into Jesstine's new books!

Rocking on his pony with a John Deere hat!

Ready for what unfortunately turned out to be the last game of the season. Notice the socks!!

Jamming on his new guitar!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

In Him,
The Hutchins Family

Christmas Part 1

I have been very remiss about blogging. 'Tis the season! So, here I am finally in the land of the living! I guess since we have to start back to work later this week after the holidays, it is time to get back into a routine of blogging as well! I have a lot of ground to cover, so I am going to split it up into two parts. (I have to upload pictures using links to a photo website, so it takes a lot more time than just downloading and captioning.) Here it goes:

I am going to start with pictures of Mangle:

Doing some heavy duty work on the top of the fridge.

Reading the Christmas story to the little people.

Mangle got a bit mischievous this year! This was one of Jesstine's favorites!

4 days until Christmas in toothpaste on the mirror!

3 more days (zip line from the tree to the fireplace mantle).

Gift wrapped for the two day mark.

On Mangle's last night with us, he left the kids a note and some elf kisses. There were even some for Jesstine's cousins who were staying with us the night before!

Jesstine had a Christmas program at school. It was of course cute. Here are a few videos and photos of the show.

"Someone Has a Birthday"

"Happy Birthday"

 In the foyer of her preschool (it is also a church).

We also had a visitor at our church Christmas dinner:

(Sorry it is blurry. Will see if I can get the ones Gary took that night.)

On the left is Emmitt and his buddy, Gabe at last year's church Christmas dinner. On the right is the two of them this year.

I sang with the Wichita Choral Society again this year as a part of their annual performance of the, "Messiah." We also did a performance in Pratt, which is where I was born!

The church where we sang was very old and traditional (First United Methodist) architecturally.

Afterward, the bus driver took us through the city park which the City had paid to decorate and I guess they do each year!

Stay tuned!

In Him,
The Hutchins Family