Fun in Taylorville

We spent the last couple days of our time in Illinois with Matt's family.  One of those days, we headed to Taylorville to see everyone and hang out.  Landon had a great time playing with Nathan, and it was fun to catch up with everyone.  It had been a couple years we thought since all of us were together at the same time.  

 Landon & Nathan being silly!

 Hanging out

 Keegan playing with Papa

Grandma & Grandpa Sherline with all the grandkids.

 A group family picture of all of us.

 Cute pic of Daddy & Landon.

 Chuck pulled and pushed Keegan around in a box and he loved it....he was all smiles the whole time!!

 Landon had fun playing on the drums.

 Our little elf, Keegan!

 Once we got back to Sherman that night, Landon helped Grandma dip some Oreo cookies in chocolate.  He was a mess but had a lot of fun!

 Licking the spoon...yum!!

 Once Keegan was in bed, Landon made all of us sing and act out the "12 Days of Christmas" with him.  Each of us had to do certain things and Landon was very specific in his instruction!  We are on "5 Golden Rings" in the picture!  Good times at the McQuality household!!

Stay tuned for pics of our last Christmas in Sherman!!

Christmas in Lincoln

Well, we had planned to stay in Ohio for Christmas and our families were going to come out and stay with us for a few days.  However, plans changed and we headed to Illinois Christmas day after we opened at our own house.  We are glad we got to spend time with all of our family....we had a great time!  We were in Lincoln the first two days and Taylorville and Sherman the last two days.  Here are the Lincoln pictures.

We opened presents at my Granny and Grandpa's house with Aunt Missy, Uncle Kevin and Kayla.  The boys had a blast opening presents.

 Although this is a ridiculous face that I am making, it is a really cute picture of Keegan and Granny in the background!!

 Landon had all of us play "Hot Potato" while we were there...fun times!!

The next day we had Christmas at my parents house with my brother and his family.  Here is the best pic we could get of all 4 of the grandkids.

 And all 10 of us!!

 The kids opened presents in a free for all and it was mass chaos.  We had no idea what anyone got, but they had a blast and it was so much fun to watch them.  

Chloe & Ade opening

 Landon opening

 Keegan playing with his snow balls

 Cute pic of Chloe....she looks like such a big girl here!

 Ade getting ready to throw snow balls!

 Jeremy in his floppy hat....he was so excited to get this to wear at the lake!

Chloe, Adelin and Landon playing the piano...love this pic of the kids!

Christmas Morning

We had a great Christmas and hope all of you did as well.  Landon was especially excited this year to wake up on Christmas morning and see what Santa had brought him.  

He found that Santa got his letter and goodies and left him a note as well.  It said:

Landon,

Thanks for the cookies and milk.  I loved them.  Alvin and I will be back next year!

Love,

Santa

Keegan opening his stocking

 Landon opening some presents.

 New toys to play with.

This toy does help Keegan walk and he pushes it all over the place, but he can now walk on his own too!!  He took his first steps on Dec. 20 at Landon's school Christmas party and he has taken a few more every day since then.  He isn't real steady all the time yet, but he is getting more brave each day and can walk from one side of the room to the other now.  He will be chasing his big brother around in no time!! 

 

The big present that Santa brought Landon was a tent for all of us to camp out in the back yard.  It was set up in the family room when Landon went downstairs on Christmas morning so that is the first thing he saw and he was very excited!  If we didn't leave for Illinois later that day, I'm sure we would have had a family camp out in the family room that night!

 Landon playing in his new tent.

 The boys helping me open a present from them.

 And helping Daddy open a present from them as well.

 Showing us his new long sleeved Count shirt!

 Playing with the candy that was in Daddy's stocking.

 This was Landon's very favorite present, what he asked Santa for every time he saw him...it is Woofster (the dog) from Super Why and a new Super Why figurine that fits in his Why Flyer.

Landon got Sesame Street cooking utensils (spatulas and cookie cutters) for Christmas so he is using them to make us pancakes for breakfast.

 Keegan liked the pancakes!

 Here is Landon's plate....he made some Sesame pancakes and some Christmas pancakes!

Christmas Eve

Since having kids, we have made some Christmas traditions in our family.  Most of them were traditions that we did in our own families when we were growing up. Our Christmas Eve traditions include: going to church, taking family pictures, reading "The Night Before Christmas", setting out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and writing Santa a letter.  Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve. 

Alvin was in our Christmas tree for the last day that he would be with us this year.  He is holding a note for Landon that explains that since Santa will take him back to the North Pole tonight on his sleigh, he doesn't need all of his magic.  Therefore, it is okay for Landon to give him one big hug goodbye until he comes back again next year for the holidays.  Landon was very excited that he would actually get to touch Alvin and give him a hug.  

 Landon looking so spiffy and cute in his church outfit.

 A family pic before we headed to church.

 Keegan all dressed up in his church outfit!

 The boys sitting in front of the fireplace.

 Another cute pic of Landon in front of the tree.

 What a little cutie!!

Another family pic after church.

 

 A picture that Landon took of Matt and I!

 Getting ready to read "The Night before Christmas".

 Landon giving Alvin his big hug goodbye.

 The goodies we left for Santa and the reindeer.

 Writing his letter to Santa.

 The letter he left for Santa.  Landon did a great job writing this, but in case you can't read it, it says:

Santa,

Here are some cookies and milk for you.

Love,

Landon & Keegan

Bye Alvin