Jake is 5!!

Jake turned 5 January 2.  I can hardly believe it.  We had a great, eventful day celebrating his birthday.  His birthday began with a special breakfast...

It's hard to tell, but the pancakes have a Christmas theme: Santa, Rudolph and an elf...

In the morning, Jake and I met friends at a fun indoor park called Safari Champ, then headed to Chick-fil-a for lunch.  Daddy was able to come home early from work, so in the afternoon the entire family went to the aquarium. 

This is our 2nd trip to the aquarium.  The first visit, Jake wouldn't even put his hand in the sting ray tank, but turning 5 must have brought out his bravery because he was loving it...

Luke liked hanging out at the aquarium too...

As no big surprise, Jake requested his birthday dinner to be at Double Dave's, so after the aquarium we were off to some yummy pizza...

Jake also requested ice cream for his birthday; no cake, just ice cream so our birthday candles found a new location this year...

Aledo

After G-ville, we headed to Aledo for more Christmas fun. Luke was officially introduced to Freddy Teddy...

 Just chillin...

 Here's the boys playing with a few of their favorite presents compliments of Papa and Grandmama...

 We also had an early birthday celebration for Jake, and he got his very first big boy bike! 

 So cool!

Christmas Eve and Day

Here's the boys in their Christmas pj's Christmas Eve night... 

 The fam as we headed out to Christmas Eve candlelight service...

 Reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas"...

 Christmas morning arrived!

 Santa ate almost all the cookies...

 Jake with his elf toy...

 Jake in half his elf costume which was one of his special requests for Santa, and of course, Santa always delivers!

G-ville Christmas

We headed north for Christmas and had a great time.  It was especially great to see C5, and see all the kids together...

 This year we went caroling at a nursing home and delivered some gifts.  The kids did great, the residents loved it, and I think it will be something we continue as a Lawson tradition...

 Luke enjoyed his first Christmas...

 He especially enjoyed all the love from Channing and Campbell.  These next photos were taken as a special request from Channing... 

 We got some special time with Mom Barr...

 The kids performed a nativity play.  Here are the actors ready to perform....

 Here's Mary riding into Bethlehem on the "donkey!"

 Another sweet cousin pic...

 Luke having fun with the best present of all; the tissue paper!

Lights

This year, we decided to go Christmas light looking in our pjs!  Here's a few pics from the night (with mostly closed eyes from the pesky flash!)... 

Cookies!

It just isn't Christmas without cookies, so Jake and I made sure get our fill of cookie making. We made it a two day project: one for baking, one for decorating and we had a great time...

 Here's Jake with finished cookies getting ready to deliver to the neighbors and doctor's office...