Levings' Family Christmas - December 17th, 2011

Okay, first of all.....I am way behind in getting my blog posts caught up. So sorry for all these entries. I still have a few more to go to get caught up, so hang in there with me.

Secondly, I got a new camera for Christmas - thanks to QVC and Easy Pay. They got me -  hook, line and sinker.  So let me set the stage of what made me pull the trigger.  They got me the night my beloved O-State Cowboys lost to Iowa State.  I was crushed, and what makes me feel better.....retail therapy.  But what is open at midnight? QVC is!  Channel 23.  And what did they happen to be showing????  The EXACT camera I had been doing a lot of research on. I already knew which camera I was going to buy - and this was it.  I was just trying to make it to Black Friday to find out who had the better deals - and actually - I even knew the Black Friday deals thanks to a squealer website, so I really was just waiting on Black Friday to arrive. But then OVC stepped in and offered the same deal I was going to get on Black Friday without me having to step into a dreadful store on that dreadful day. So when I found out I could do Easy Pay and get it shipped to my house for free before Thanksgiving - I was in.

So what does all this mean? Well, it means I know NOTHING about my camera, except to keep it on automatic and let it do the thinking and the work - and so far - I LOVE IT. I love getting these awesome face shots of subject matter that I hold dearest to my heart - my family.

Back to Christmas.....we celebrated the Levings' side of Christmas on Saturday, December 17th.  We certainly haven't spent a lot of time together this year, so it is always such a joy to get together. It's crazy and chaotic, but it's expected, so anything less would be disappointing.  This year my oldest niece asked Me Ma if her boyfriend could come with her.  This must be true love, because this boy not only survived the day, he fit in really well.  Ahhh...cute. Our little Mak is growing up.

And we also celebrated Courtney's 13th birthday a few days early. 13? Say it isn't so.  The kids are just growing up so fast.   So after an afternoon and early evening of munching on yummy dips, chocolate, and having the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs.....it was time for opening presents.  And unfortunately, in our now annual Dirty Elephant game (yes, that's right - I didn't mess up the words - that is what us Levings' call our game), I didn't capture any pictures from it because I was too busy playing.....so next year, I have to step back a minute and capture pictures of our game madness!

Here we go....pictures of some happy kids opening their presents, and one VERY sweet 1st Christmas for Ryan James, who managed to nap through most of the madness, and then wake up to have his own special time.  And these pictures loaded out of order.......so I did my best to explain each one.

Ryan James likes his "Lyon"

This boy is so beautiful. Pretty hair. Pretty head. Kissable cheeks.  Chubby legs.  Mmmm....he is awesome.

Yum, yum, yum

No, Sissy. I can do it.

Grandpa getting help

He was so excited to open this......sweet boy.  He could not have been happier at this moment if he tried. It was awesome.

Aunt Julee searched high and low for this special doll

Princess gets lots of help

This sweet pea is so darn cute.  Showing off his gift.

He is just beautiful

Taking his time. I just love his face.

Big "D"

Opening her Miss Me Jeans - so happy. Love this face.

Beautiful Mak

Me Ma and the boys

Madden 12 - thanks Me Ma

My babes

Getting a cat nap in before the festivities begin

Pretty girl and her new TOMS shoes

Hmmm......what can I tear up with this?

Overwhelmed by everyone staring at her

Everyone wants to help the cute one

J likes her gifts!

Court loving her jewelry from Me Ma

Giving Me Ma grief about something!

Now the pretty girl can smell pretty like Me Ma

Happy with her Vera Bradley wallet

Birthday girl opening her gifts

Happy 13th Birthday Courtney Kaylyn

Surprise

Beautiful

Beau's School Christmas Poem Reading

So I missed it.....ugh....I hate missing events like this, but I had to travel for work. So Daddy was awesome enough to both video and take pictures of our guy reading his Christmas poem with his partner Brittany.  Just going to post a video for this post entry.  Brian said he was one of the few kids that you could actually hear and understand.

AND it was his first day wearing button/zip jeans to school (I know, I know, I failed here as a Mom), so I was more nervous for him getting them up and down in the bathroom that day.  Nevertheless, he did great - with both things.  Love, love, love this boy.

Beau's first MAYB Tournament

So being new to this basketball Mom thing, MAYB stands for Mid America Youth Basketball and Beau participated in his first tournament in Newton, Kansas the weekend of December 10th and 11th.  They played four games on Saturday (Beau had some SORE feet that night), and they only got one game in on Sunday.   Bub played really well and we were really proud of him.

I think I made every play with him.....and even his Dad tried to get into the action a bit (with a ref!).  We are really going to have to chill out if we expect to make it the next 10 years!!!  So here are a lot of pictures and I'll try to tell the story with the captions...

He loves to do the jump ball

Solid rebound

Clean Tip

This is my favorite little baller (besides Beau, of course), that loves to fight for jump balls. He is an animal!  

Calling for the ball!

Free Throw #1

Not sure this one went in

Shot #2

Couldn't even get the ball in range here....hmmm....

Oh, here it is.....going in!

Fight, buddy, fight!  Get that ball!

This is a picture of my two favorite ballers talking strategy as one subs in for the other

Get it, Beau!

End of the game "good game" shakes. Notice our friend and fellow basketball mom in the green shirt talking it out with the ref after the game. Yeah, it was a messy game.

Brenley gets invited to her 1st Birthday Party

So Brenley got invited to her first friend birthday party at Pump It Up. It was for her friend, Evan. And she loved it. She loved it because she loves to jump. She has talked about this jumpy party ever since we left......guess what we are going to have to do for her 4th birthday???!!!!

So here she is..... (she is pouting in this one because she didn't want to stop jumping). Oh, goodness.......

This is the birthday boy, Evan. Cutie.

Eating with her besties from NorthRidge

Brenley, Dale, and Harper

Pretty girls

#1 Feels Good

One championship win down, now hoping the Cowboys can pull off Championship #2 today!

It's Saturday night.  Cowboys on TV against the Sooners. Oh the rivalry.....hoping beyond hope that my Cowboys can pull off a win.

But speaking of win, that's what our Tiger basketball team did today in their end of winter session tournament.  I am so proud of our boys.  They got a 1st round bye because they were tied for first in the league.  So we played Friday night and won - a nail biter - with bad officiating.  Thought my husband was going to get thrown out at one point - he was right - of course.

Beau played a STELLAR game Friday night. Saw a lot of playing time since we were a little lopsided and had 9 players instead of our even 10.

So with that win, it meant we were playing the other #1 seed - the Grizzlies  - for the championship today at 2PM.  And again, another nail biter!  Mommy was probably more vocal this time than Dad, but at the end of the game.....we won......in the last ticking seconds. Whew!  It was awesome and exciting as a 3rd grade basketball game can be!

Here are some pic's of cute, cute boys and their smiling winning faces!  But first, pictures of my boy in action......one proud mama typing this!

Receiving their 1st place medals

#1 feels good!

And then, there is Bren. There is always Bren. Equally proud of her brother and sporting a super cute OSU dress.  My girl....