The End of an Era (of Thumbsucking)

Just before Christmas Kendall decided to stop sucking her thumb.  I think it was originally because she had a loose tooth in the front and so it felt strange or maybe she couldn't create the same suction, but then she made the conscious decision that she did not want to suck her thumb any more.  A few nights into this decision she was having a hard time going to sleep, so I promised her that we could go do something fun as a family once she reached the 2 week mark of no thumb sucking.  So after much debating about what she wanted to do, she decided that she wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for her reward.  We went on a Friday evening there together as a family, and it actually wasn't too crazy.  In fact, we had a really fun time together as a family.  We are so proud of you Kendall!

Bedichek Christmas 2013

Cousin picture- Bailey, Brooklyn, Avery, Kendall, Braden and Judson

After a nice Christmas morning at home we headed over to Doug and Sheila's house in Coppell to spend Christmas Day with the Bedicheks.  We had a great lunch and then the kids spent the afternoon jumping on the trampoline, playing Just Dance on the XBox, and just playing and hanging out with their cousins.  While Judson took a nap, Avery, Bailey, and Brooklyn did a little piano recital for us and then Scott and Memaw took a turn playing as well.  Avery did a great job on her songs and we were really proud of her.  Then, adults played our usual gift card exchange game, only this year I added a twist.  In order to steal someone's gift card away from them you had to correctly answer a Christmas trivia question.  Not sure if we will do it again next year, but it was kind of a fun little twist.  The younger kids opened their presents and then spent the rest of the evening playing with those.  Avery, Scott and some of the others played Crazy Uno while Kendall, Memaw, Dedaw and I played Cootie.  One of Judson's favorite things about the day besides playing outside was playing with all of Brooklyn's toys.  She had a huge lion that he loved to sit on and pretend to ride.  It was a fun day together as a family!

The girls headed immediately for the trampoline when we arrived.

Jumping with Brooklyn

Judson headed for the slide first

Then he hit the trampoline.

Someday I should do a post of nothing but pics of my kids on the trampoline in Doug and Sheila's backyard.  I have taken pictures of them on it since Avery was a baby, and now I've got 3 babies jumping on it!

Judson riding on Brooklyn's lion.  Sheila tried to get her to part with it so Judson could take it home, but she wasn't quite ready to give it up.

Avery and Brooklyn playing Just Dance on the XBox

Braden and Kendall dancin' it up

Just the girls!

Avery and Kendall each got a Lego Friends set from Uncle Mike.  Aunt Sheila and Uncle Doug gave them journals and coin purses with their initials from Justice.

Memaw and Dedaw gave the girls cozy bathrobes.

Uncle Mike gave Judson this Jake and the Never Land Pirates sword and spyglass set.  Memaw and Dedaw gave him the Jake Lego set that's beside him.  Aunt Sheila and Uncle Doug gave him a singing Christmas puppy and a Little Man Shaving set.  Now he has to shave every time he gets in the tub!

Avery taking her turn in the piano recital.  She played Star Wars, Crunchy Flakes (which is the same as Jingle Bells), and Lightning Ranger.

She did such a great job!  I was super proud of her.

Then Scott took a turn and showed off all his hard work gaining his piano skills back.  He played Linus and Lucy, Great Balls of Fire, and some others.

silly Kendall!

Scott introduced everyone to Crazy Uno.

Avery gettin' her game on

Judson had some leftovers for dinner while Crazy Uno was in full swing.

Cross-eyed Kendall ending the evening on a silly note!

Santa Came!

Since we were in Red River last year over Christmas, this was our first year to spend Christmas morning at our new house.  It started bright and early around 6:45 AM, maybe 7:00.  Santa brought all the kids bean bag chairs this year as their big gift, and of course filled their stockings with all kinds of good things. The girls had candy, gum, nail polish and bath fizzies, earrings, hair clips and rubber bands,stuffed animals, and stamps in their stockings, while Jud had Cars cups, a tube of dinosaurs, chocolate and suckers in his.  The kids each got a few small presents from Scott and I as well.  Avery got a password keepsake box and a new backpack, Kendall got a Boo dog and a Frozen magnetic set, and Judson got a cuddleuppet, a nerf gun, and a t-ball set.  the girls also got a Lego friends book/building set to share.  one fun surprise that Scott had for me was that he had taken the van to Car Toys and had them program a new remote for it which locks/unlocks, opens the back passenger door, and starts it.  It was a very thoughtful and useful gift!  After breakfast burritos and banana bread, the kids played with toys and we all got ready to go spend the rest of the day with the Bedicheks.

Avery's bean bag and owl from Santa that was in her stocking

finding more goodies in her stocking

Judson with his tube of dinosaurs

Sitting in his bean bag with his Cars cups

Avery's happy already and we hadn't even tackled the presents under the tree yet!

Kendall trying out her bean bag chair.

Avery's password keepsake box.  You can record memories on each key to match up with the items you place in the box.

Kendall with her Boo dog.

Not sure who likes the Nerf gun bettter- Scott or Judson.

Kendall's "Frozen" magnetic set

Showing off their Anna and Elsa dolls from the movie "Frozen" that Aunt Amy and Uncle Chris got them.  The dolls have magnetic hands and when you put them together they light up and play music.

Judson opening his Lego farm set from Aunt Amy and Uncle Chris

Christmas with Mimi and Poppi

This was our year to spend Christmas Day with the Bedicheks, so the Saturday before Christmas we celebrated with Mimi and Poppi at their house.  We had Cane's chicken strips and some delicious sides that my Mom made for lunch- green bean bundles, fruit, salad, potatoes and more.  Then we opened presents.  Some of the big things Avery got were giant bear with lots of personality, a Nerf Rebelle, a salon chair and clothes for her American Girl Doll, 2 DS games, and a cuddleuppet.  Some of Kendall's gifts were Bouncy the Furreal puppy, a Nerf Rebelle, a bed and clothes for her American Girl Doll, and a leapster game.  The girls also got a horse for their American Girl Dolls and a new Wii sports game.  Judson's big gift was a train table, which he plays with nearly every day.  He also got a dragon that walks and makes noise, a Dusty plane, and Dusty backpack and sleeping bag.  The kids were thrilled with all their gifts.  Scott and I got money for fireplace tools, a new large suitcase, lots of restaurant and movie gift cards, and several individual gifts like clothes, $ for shoes, gift card for weights and a weight rack, etc. Mimi and Poppi always go way overboard and bless us with so many wonderful gifts.  We spent the afternoon napping, talking, and playing with toys, then the kids stayed with Mimi and Poppi for a few hours while Scott and I went to the Texas Mystery Dinner theater in Grapevine for the office Christmas party.  It was great Christmas with Mimi and Poppi!

Avery and her bear, Pinecone.  She sleeps with him every night now.

Kendall with her Furreal dog, Bouncy.  When this little dog barks and bounces around it actually reminds me a little of Kendall when she's excited.

Jud and his dragon.

Helping Kendall open her doll bed.

I loved the surprised, happy faces at Christmas.

Avery got the salon chair for her doll, which often doubles as a school chair since that is one of her favorite things to play.

Cuddling with Pinecone.  She loves stuffed animals so what could be better than a giant one?

Checking out his Dusty plane.  He told Santa he wanted a "bwue pwane" for Christmas, but I think this one will do just fine!

Avery was excited about her Nerf Rebelle bow and arrow.  This was one of the top things on her list.

Kendall got a Nerf Rebelle too.

Kendall showing off one of the doll outfits she got.

Mimi actually managed to get all 5 of us in a picture that wasn't posed!

Avery and Kendall with their doll horse to share.

Judson really liked his Dusty backpack that came with this Planes sleeping bag.  He even slept in it for his nap.

Avery found all kinds of things to do with the bear.

The girls got glasses to go with their Nerf Rebelles so Judson got some too. He looks like he's striking a GQ pose here.

Kendall's doll riding the horse.

And Avery's doll taking a turn.

Scott had fun with Avery's cuddleuppet.

Scott and Josie playing with the cuddleuppet.

. . .And sleeping with the cuddleuppet

Eating dinner with Mimi and Poppi while Scott and I were at the office party.

Jud eating his dinner

Avery using Mimi's foot massager.

After dinner the kids helped Poppi put together Judson's train table.