Merry Christmas, Hartman Style!

Our Christmas celebrations began with our annual Christmas Eve Dinner at our house with my parents and sister's family. This year, Chris did not want a kids table, he wanted everyone at the same table. So... we set up two tables in our living room. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first...not eating in the dining room, but I actually liked his idea!

My mommy, sister, and me.

The best part about my sister and I living only 5 minutes from each other, is that our kids are so close. They act more like a big family with 8 kids than just cousins.

Nana and Poppop opening one of their gifts.

Group shot....

Every year, Santa drives through our neighborhood on top of a fire truck on Christmas Eve. As soon as we here the fire engines, we all grab our coats and head outside to wave to Santa as he drives passed our house.

A pic of our tree after Santa arrived, and before the kids tear through it.

Every year Santa leaves a gift next to everyone's bed. This year he left big horns. (Lucky me!!) This is how we were awakened on Christmas morning...at 530AM. You may be thinking that the 5 year old or even the 9 year were the first ones up.....NO.....the 17, 15, and 13 year old were up first and woke up the younger 2.

Our kids pic pollyannas during the month of December. They always exchange their gifts with each other in our room before going downstairs.

Here they are, waiting patiently while we turn on the the lights.....and more importantly....make coffee.

Next stop....stockings.

Best part of the day....watching our kids come running into the family room!

After gifts, a big breakfast, (the only day of the year I cook bacon in my house,) we head to church, then go visit with Grammy. Later that afternoon, Nana and Poppop come over. This year the Kelly Family also joined us for dinner.

The day after Christmas, we all headed over to the Geo Hartman house for our annual Hartman Family Christmas Party. The little kids had a shuv-un-da gift exchange. Too much to explain, but HILARIOUS!!!!! Then it's time for the adult shuv-un-da gift exchange. Even more HILARIOUS!!!

Group shot.

Once again, a beautiful Christmas, but could only be perfect if Tom and The Huck were there with us. Missed so much by all of us.

Here come's Santa

For the past several weeks Kamryn informed us that she did not want to see Santa Claus. She was too scared to see him last year too. After a lot of discussions, she finally agreed to see Santa ONLY if Avery want with her. She also told us that she would not sit on his lap OR talk to him. We agreed to her requests because I just wanted her pic taken. On Saturday morning Chris, all 4 girls and I (CJ was working) headed out to breakfast, then to the mall to see Santa. Kylie and Madison did not want to see Santa, so they went to Starbucks instead. While we were in line waitng, Kamryn informed us that she changed her mind, she did not want her pic taken at all. I promised her a Happy Meal if she got in the pic. She negotiated a Happy Meal plus daddy had to stay with her. Hope you love my pic of Santa this year as much as I do!!!!!

Our musical child!

This past Thursday Avery had her orchestra concert. She did such a fabulous job with her violin. I didn't get a pic of her. Orchestra parents seem crazier than sports parents. We got there an hour and 10 minutes before the concert and got seats toward the back. When the concert started parents would just stand up in front of you to look for their kid, or walk up front to get a pic, I have never seen anything like it. But no one yelled out their kid's name. Avery told Chris next time he should yell out her name like he does at dance recitals. Maybe he will start a new trend with concerts!

Avery is also in her school's chorus. The 4th grade chorus members sang on Friday at her school's Frosty Fest. We got much better seats here!

Our XMAS Tree

This year the C's joined us for our annual trip to a tree farm to cut down our Christmas Tree. What a difference this year. Last year we didn't even need jackets, but this year it was freezing!

Chelsey and Kamryn!

I love when my hubby gets in the spirit!

Our 5 amazing, fabulous kids in front of our chosen tree, Ricky. Yes, we name our tree every year. This year it was Kami's turn!

Me and my baby girls!

My hero...cutting down our tree.

CJ standing in front of Ricky. He's not quite 10 feet. (Ricky, that is!)

Lights and topper.

The decorating begins.

TA-DA..... Our 2010 Christmas Tree!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving started out with our Annual Turkey Kickball game! This year our teams were the Gingerbread Men vs. The Mittens. The Mittens won 10-5. It was such a magical morning because it also began to snow!We also had a visit from NaNa and PopPop before the Hartman's showed up for dinner. Since George always forgets the names of everyone, Trysha made name tags for everyone which read, "Hi Uncle George, my name is....or Hi Poppop, my name is ......."
This is always an amazing site. 2 people, Kay and George fell in love many, many years ago and created such a huge family. Even more amazing is that everyone gets along and we actually enjoy being together.

Ladies table!

My two guys!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I think I need a bigger dining room!

Every Sunday night we have a big family dinner, the 7 of us, in the dining room. My thought is that eventually as my kids get older, they will still want to come home for Sunday dinner because its a part of what they know. Very often either CJ's girlfriend or Kylie's boyfriend have joined us on a Sunday dinner. This past Sunday both came for dinner. Since we don't eat dinner with my parents on Thanksgiving, we also invited my parents up for dinner. What does that add up to??? 11 of us for Sunday dinner! My only problem with this is that I can only fit 10 around my dining room table. We ended up putting a second table in the corner of the dining room for Avery and Kamryn to sit at. But I realized that I really need a table that seats 12. I am not even sure if a table that big would even fit in my dining room. I think I just found another project for my hubby to work on!!!! Lucky guy!

My Birthday!

Thursday was my birthday and I celebrated it the best way ever...with my family! We headed out to dinner. Here I am with Kamryn after I opened up her card.My kids made me a poster of all of their handprints....I love it!!!!!!

Chris's turn! 2 more charms for my Pandora bracelet! He did so well!!!

We never got a group shot at the restaurant, so I took one of everyone heading back to the van.

As soon as we got home Kami and Kylie passed out on the sofa.

The old couple!

I wanted a pic of the kids and I. Since I had to wake Kamryn up, she was not very cooperative.

Our fabulous date!!!!

Last Sunday, my fabulous, amazing, awesome hubby surprised me with tickets to the Eagles game. Although I have been to a game before and he has been to many, we have never been to one together. We headed done early to tailgate and had a blast. It was a great game, (they won!)...we had great great seats, (Thanks CJ Quirk!) With 5 kids and 3 dogs we dont often get an entire day to just ourselves. It's good to know that after 20 years together, we still love being together and can still party like we did in our 20's!!!!!!

MY HUBBY ROCKS!!!

Halloween 2010

Any one who truly knows Chris and I, knows that Halloween is not a favorite day in our house. But as a mother of 5 I think I have done a good enough job at making my least favorite holiday a good day for my kids. This year I am a homeroom mom for Avery's class, so I was part of the 'party planning' for her room. I bit the bullet and through her class a kick butt halloween party. No one could have possible known that I am really a Pumpineezer Scrooge. Above is a pic of Avery with her friends.

After her party, it was time for Kamryn's parade at preschool. My only 'shy' child was a bit uncomfortable walking around the playground in front of a bunch of parents. But you have to admit...she is the cutest damn Spider Girl EVER!!!!!

Here is Avery right before she left to go 'trick or treating' with the neighbor kids. One of the dad's volunteered to take all of the girls, so we didnt have to walk with Avery.

Spider Girl

Trick or treating is tough work!

Our Jack-O-Lantern

This Fall has been a very busy one for our family. Every weekend was packed and we never ended up apple picking or pumpkin picking. In a very anti-climatic pumpkin pick trip, Avery, Kamryn, and I ended up just buying this pumpkin at the grocery store. Although it was not the family moment I craved and did not involve a hay ride, at least we got a pumpkin. And it's damn near perfect!

Since I couldn't get my family moment to pick out the pumpkin, I insisted on a family moment to carve the pumpkin. CJ looks so thrilled. Doesn't every 17 yr old boy hang with his family to carve their annual pumpkin???

YUMMO!!!!

So, after the top was cut off Chris and CJ disappeared, leaving just us girls to scoop out the insides and separate the seeds for later.
After the scooping was done, everyone left the table but Avery and I. So I was left to do the carving. Thank you Avery for snapping the picture.

Avery's turn to carve!

TA-DA..... Our Jack-O-Lantern!

After Avery and I finished carving we roasted, toasted, and caramelized our pumpkin seeds!