Christmas Afternoon

Christmas afternoon, Amy Dale, Dawn and the boys all came to our house so we could do Christmas with them I cooked lunch, an actual Christmas dinner! Complete with a ham and everything. I was slightly proud of myself since I've never cooked a whole meal like that before. And the best part is that it actually turned out really good! We did present with them and let the kids run wild for a few hours. Dawn got Ryleigh a laptop and Tanner a guitar. She got them some other things to but that was their main presents. And guess what she got me...a Vera Bradley Hipster!! (it's a purse). I've wanted it forever but couldn't justify spending that much money on myself. So between that, my camera and the Toms Ryan got me my Christmas pretty much rocked!

Amy and Ryleigh being silly. Ryleigh actually wore that stuff the stuff the rest of the day!

Ryan playing with Tan Man's guitar.

I always said once Ry and Tan got old enough to realize what was going on I was going to get a Happy Birthday Jesus cake every year. We have an actual party at Nana's but we also wanted to do something on Christmas day. I decided to wait until the afternoon so Lincoln would be there.

I'm going to post the pictures from Nana's party to, I know I'm going backwards but that's what being off of work will do to you!

Christmas Morning!

Christmas morning we got up around 4:45. Tanner came in our room but he wasn't coming in to get up he didn't even realize it was Christmas morning. He was coming in to go back to bed. Ryan was to excited to go back to bed. Here are pictures that I took of their stuff after they went to bed. 

Tanner waking Ryleigh up. At first she didn't want to get up but once she realized it was Christmas she shot out of bed!
Tanner playing his drums. He actually didn't really like them but I think they are growing on him. 


The one thing she asked for over and over again...a baby high chair!
This is her face when she saw the baby high chair...that was the best $10 I've ever spent! 


I think this is actually kinda scary! I'm sure this will become his Halloween costume!
Ry and Tan opening Gi Gi's presents for her. They couldn't stop, everything they saw they wanted to unwrap!
After Christmas morning at out house we walked over to moms. 

Even though I look awful I like this picture of the 4 of us!

Look at this wrapping! Tammy's wrapping is insane! I love it but I'm not that patient to wrap like this.

New scooters from Aunt Tammy and Mr. Jimmy. 

Tammy made this picture for me. I LOVE it!!! She also made this one for mom and Larry. I love how it says The Barnes Homes! Since they live in Wilmer and Irvington! The real reason she did it was because it was off centered and she needed one more letter. 

We had decided to not do present between me, mom, Larry, Ryan and Tammy either. (Mom was secretly heart broken) but we all ended up getting each other things anyway. You all will be happy to know that mom and Larry got me a new CAMERA!!! I was so excited. It's a small one that fits in my purse/pocket! The picture above is of what Tammy and I got mom. We did a whole wall in black frames. It took forever to do but I think it turned out great! I love it and I think she did to. She was so surprised!

After we got done opening presents Nana, Paw Paw, Velvet and the boys all came over for breakfast. It was the best Christmas morning! 

That afternoon Amy, Dale, Dawn and the boys came over but I'll do a separate post for that! 

Christmas Eve Night

I mentioned before about our Elf "Scout the Window" it ended up being so much fun. Every morning they would race to see who could find him first. Well this was the last night he would be here because on Christmas Eve he flies back to the North Pole and doesn't come back again until the next year. this is them telling him bye. They were actually kind of sad. 

Ryleigh said yesterday that she was going to get real wings and fly to the North Pole to bring him back!

Another thing we started this year was letting them buy each other Christmas presents. They picked them out and bought them with their own money and wrapped them their selves. 

They got each other a swimming Barbie and Legos. 

In their Christmas Pj's. I LOVE this picture!!

About to read the Christmas story before bed. 

putting out reindeer food. After we did this I was wondering how I was going to make it disappear before the morning but thankfully Gus really likes reindeer food!!
And lastly putting out cookies and milk for Santa. The next morning Tanner got really upset that the cookies and milk were gone. I don't think he really got what we were doing. 

I love all the traditions and things we started this year it really made this Christmas the most fun yet!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is aways very busy for us since it's when we do both sides of our extended families. We start off at Ryan's Granddad's around 3:30 and then went to Aunt Lisa's around 7. Since these pictures uploaded backwards I'll start with Aunt Lisa's. 

Everyone was there and we had the best time! Usually we play Dirty Santa or draw names but this year we opted to do neither. We just ate and hung out. I brought pictionary to play and it was a lot of fun. I think not doing either of those was fine but it didn't go over to well with mom! So since she thinks she's the boss I'm sure next year we will be playing Dirty Santa again!!

Trying to get a good picture of the 4 of them is like trying to get oil and water to mix!I wanted to be in this picture but Ryan said I'm not "family!" (he was kidding) I'll have you know though Ryan if it weren't for me you wouldn't have those two beautiful children!! Aunt Lisa playing pictionary. Our family was surprisingly pretty good at this game. I thought we would all be terrible!

Ryleigh and our Gi Gi

This just makes me laugh....Somehow Whitney got something white all over the back of her pants and Aunt Lisa was nice enough to get it off for her. 

Getting ready to eat!

Ok, So lets just take a minute to look at HOW TALL JORDAN IS!!!! I would also like to point out that Lindsey has on heels. I think he is like 6'6...Is that right? Anyway it doesn't matter other than the fact he is going to go play pro something and make us millions! I can't wait!

The 3 girls...Look how happy Lindsey looks to be there! 

These are the pictures from Ryan's Granddads. We ate over there to but thankfully thy had gumbo so it was nice to have something different. 

Who wants to be first to open presents?? Tanner actually got to go first because he was the only one who didn't raise his hand. Probably because he was in his own little world!

Ryleigh took this picture and it's actually pretty good! She loves to take pictures. 

I like this picture of the 2 of us!

Ryan's Granddad and the newest addition to their family Franklin Elijah. Isn't he so cute in his little Santa outfit! 

Tomorrow I'm going to have the Christmas eve pics from when we got home and traditions we did with the kids this year. 

Exciting new changes!

For those of you who don't know I resigned at BBVA Compass last week. I was really sad at first but I'm hoping it'll be for the best. I had an offer with RBC Bank and it was a better opportunity. I start there on January 4th which means I have 2 weeks off paid! 

I;'m very excited and think that it fell at the perfect time. I get time off right around Christmas and get to start the new year with a new job! Wish me luck!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Love, The Stokley's

You will have Joy and Gladness and many will Rejoice at his birth.

Luke 1:14