box creations....

The boys love, love, love empty boxes.  They have such good imaginations, they are always re-purposing them into new and magical things...like a laptop computer complete with a mouse!

Day @ Grandma Dudley's

Thomas Christmas

Payne Family Christmas

Working on no training wheels!

Uncle Brian painting Taylor's nails.  This is just what happens when you have 4 daughters!

Christmas day was spent at Grandma Diane's house this year.  As always, it was good to spend time with Brian's family and Aunt Gail.  The kids spent quite a while riding their bikes!  They enjoyed another round of opening gifts and spending time playing with their cousins.  Mason and Brandon really LOVE Easton and as always, he was super patient with them. 

Christmas Morning 2014

I was the first one up this morning and enjoyed a little quite time to reflect on the year and the holiday.  Although having back surgery was the last thing I really wanted to do this year, it did give me the extra time around the holidays (conveniently) to spend with friends and family, who we are so fortunate to have in our lives.  I can't thank everyone enough for all the help and support you give us/me!!!!  Merry Christmas to all!

Mason was the first kiddo up and was sooo excited to find his bike from Santa

Brandon had been asking for this rover for months, guess Santa thought he deserved it!!!

My sweet little boys!

Action shot, he rode the bike around the house before demanding to go outside!

a boy and his bike, what a beautiful sight. Unfortunately, the other gifts he received this am were over-shadowed by the bike....

I love how the boys sit with their little feet tucked underneath them (they both still do this)

Notice the pill of gifts next to him....he just couldn't wait another minute to build the rover!

Mason is slowing off the latest addition to his ornament collection.  Thanks to my cousin Ruth, this is a tradition I started a few years back....each kiddo receives a new ornament that later in life I can pass on to them (you know when they are way older and have a family of their own).  I usually try to find ornaments that represent their likes/interests over the year. 

Vonderheide Christmas 2014

The kiddos on Christmas Eve

Allison, Aunt Patty, and Chloe

Allison

Chloe

Sarah

Uncle Paul and Sarah

This year the Thome household braved hosting the Vonderheide Christmas, complete with turkey, ham and all the fixings per Gram and Ray's request.  We are lucky to still have my grandparents around, who really know how to spoil the great-grandkids and who really enjoy watching the kiddos during the gift opening.  Mason couldn't have been more pleased with the variety of Ninja Turtle paraphernalia he received while Brandon was excited to get a chemistry kit, of course, among other great things.