Prairie Lights 2010 & Crazy Kids on NYE! (not really)

Ahhh, the Prairie Lights of Grand Prairie, TX…gotta love ‘em. Its an annual Steece tradition. Here are some pics from earlier in December with Papa and cousin Carter. We had a blast! (please note: you are driving less than 1 mph, so yes- the children are allowed to roam around the “cabin”…and BOY did they love it!)

 

 

Ethan getting a head start on that learner’s permit

 

 

Cousin Carter having an interesting conversation with Frosty the Snowman…finished with a sweet little wave.

 

 

Andrew trying to “assist” with the driving of the burb

 

 

Ummm..okay…now we have 3 out of 4 quads IN the DRIVER’S seat. (ha. this is what I feel like on any given day…get it? the KIDS are in the driver’s seat?…nevermind)

 

 

Awwww…. gummy smiles. Me and Drew.

 

 

the “Tweedles” (as Auntie Gen likes to refer to E & A)

 

 

Hmmm..okay, not gonna lie. This one’s a toughie. I’m gonna take a stab at it and say Andrew on the left, Ethan on the right. (yep, I was right—I went back and looked at the other pictures)

 

 

Having SO much fun! Sweet Carter LOVED looking at all of the lights! Especially sitting in Papa’s lap!

 

 

The kid’s favorite light scene: the "Abombidomidabido Snowman” (as we like to call ‘em)

 

 

Utter mayhem.

 

 

Time to get out and ride the free rides! (Yes, this little light tour is pretty dern cool. You DFW peeps should make the trek out to Grand Prairie sometime during December…groovy set up). Joe being a nerd…as usual. God love him. (Ben left, Ethan right)

 

 

Sweet Savi and her rooster?

 

 

Drew havin’ fun!

 

 

Back in the ‘ole burb to finish out the lights. Love Ethan staring at me in the side mirror.

 

 

Savi’s sweet smile

 

 

Cooooold wind in our face…but well worth it.

 

 

Oooooooo….the tunnel of lights!

 

 

 

So, it has kinda become our annual Steece family tradition to do the Grand Prairie Lights again on NYE- as a family. It is a drastic change to how Joe and I used to spend New Years Eve (a short pause for reflection……sigh)---but SO special to enjoy it with our kiddos. (AND because NO ONE, and I mean, NO. ONE. goes to the lights on NYE- so we practically have the place all to ourselves!) We brought Uncle Col, Aunt Ashley, and cousin Carter along for the ride as well!

This picture is from NYE morning. We were getting ready to run errands with the kids and Sav says, “Mama! We match! Let’s take a picture!”…so cute. So we did. Love her.

 

 

Leaving our house to hit the Lights! Drew, Me, Sav (and her triple chin- lol), Ben, Joe, and E-bud.

 

 

Quads taking over the cockpit again! (Ben leading the way)

 

 

Ridin’ the carousel! Woo hoo!!! (in between funnel cake consumption and Holiday Light Shows in the tent)

 

 

Collinsky and Carter-man

 

 

Crazy-A-Joe and his Crazy-A-faces. (I do believe that this picture is almost identical to the previous carousel ride a month prior). NERD.    (love you hunny!)

(In case you were wondering, Joe & I were in bed by 11pm…and barely made it to midnight- while falling asleep to “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the ‘ole DVD player- Joe’s favorite)

 

Ben, Joe, Andrew, Suz, Sav, Ethan, Collin, Carter, and Ashley

Hope you all had a safe, exciting (or relaxing) New Years celebration as well! Here’s hoping for a year filled with love & laughter…and for a fresh start/new beginning to re-focus & re-prioritize the things that are most important in our lives.

 

Blessings for 2011,

Santa Left Us Bikes!

Santa MUST have coordinated his presents with the McNulty quads, because he left us bikes too!

Sav, Ethan, Ben, and Drew returned home from our trek across Texas for the holidays, to find that Santa had also visited our house as well!

 

We also set up the train table that had been sitting in our garage since the kids were babies! Fun times…

Christmas with the Hoags 2010

Christmas morning, we headed from Austin to Waco for more celebrating. This group shot is hilarious because even the dogs wanted in the picture (by their own doing).

 

 

Right when we pulled up to my parents house…this adorable little man (my nephew, Carter) ran right by me…wearing this shirt…

 

I stood there… stunned for a sec, processed it in my head…and then immediately screamed and ran and hugged Ashley! My sis-in-law is pregnant!!! Yaaaay! SOOOO EXCITED!!!

 

 

The kiddies eating their Christmas food. My darling daughter has her Mama’s love for black olives, apparently.

 

 

Took a nap and ready to open presents! The boys weren’t too thrilled about having to take a picture first… (Carter, Sav, Ben, Andrew, Ethan)

 

 

Let the mayhem begin…

 

 

More babydolls for Savi

 

 

lovin’ this grin!

 

 

Don’t you love how you can spend tons of money on these nice, extraordinary toys…and they just fall in love with a $3 light-up wand?

 

 

“Uh-Ohhhhh…looks like someone is going to time out!” If you guys ever wondered what my “Mommy” face looks like, here it is. (Thanks for snapping this pic, Dad. Jeez). You do NOT, I repeat, do NOT want to experience this Mommy face! lol.

 

 

How cute is Savannah Leigh and her giant Christmas cookie? This little sneak LOOOOOVES candy/sugar, etc…I have to constantly keep an eye out for her, digging around in the pantry. First it was a mouth full of decorating sprinkles…next a fist full of marshmallows… I tell ya, she is somethin’ else.

 

 

I LOVE this picture of Carter, staring at Papa’s fishies.

 

 

How adorable is this boy???!!! Seriously, he is the most gorgeous little baby/kid that I have EVER seen!

 

 

My handsome little men, dressed for church, in their new clothes from Aunt Ashley and Uncle Col. (Drew in blue)

 

 

Ethan (of course, holding a new car)

 

 

Benny boy (looking like his Uncle Col in this pic)

 

 

and the sweet little Princess in a Christmas outfit from Granna. She looked so beautiful.

 

 

Papa Hoag and my precious nephew (who always laughs at his Auntie Suz from behind the camera!). UH-DOR-ABLE!!!

 

We had a wonderful time in Waco! We even got to see lots of friends at church that we hadn’t seen in a while- which was very special. Funny to see the friends that I grew up with, sitting in the pews with all of our kids now.

Thanks for a wonderful Christmas and all of your hard work, Mom & Dad. It was magical. We are so blessed to have you for parents/grandparents.

Love you,