Merry Christmas!

It's hard to believe it's already here. We don't really celebrate Santa Claus at our house because we have always wanted our kids to understand why we celebrate Christmas not just look forward to what their going to ask for. We tried to get Elijah to believe in Santa when he was smaller but he never fell for it so we let it be. We just talk about the spirit of giving and why we give. Holidays can be stressful if you take the focus off of why we have them. After all God has already given us the greatest gift and it should be celebrated all year round. John 3:16

Elijah relaxing with his Xbox 360

He was extremely tired as well. He stayed up late playing games with his Uncle Rick.

Zane relaxing after all the excitement

A toddler can only handle so much!

Christmas Day at Nannys

We always spend Christmas Eve at Grandma Bettys and Christmas Day with Nanny and Pa and my brothers and their kids.

Christmas Day with Nanny and Pa

Dakota riding Zanes new Power Wheels car

Elijah and Sarah

Off to Aunt Amandas to open more presents

Uncle Shane helps me open presents.

Austin and Elijah playing with the remote toys

Zane loves balls but this is a little much even 4 him!

Uncle Shane bought out Toys R Us for the boys and he got Zane a ball as big as him and he still managed to lift it over his head and heave it across the floor.

Opening gifts at Grandma Bettys

Christmas Eve

Dakota and Zane

Christmas at Dollywood!!

We went the day before Christmas Eve to Dollywood with Nanny, Uncle Rick, Aunt Kimberly and Dakota. It was beautiful but very cold. The kids were worn out but loved all the beautiful lights.

The boys favorite part was the lego table

Uncle Rick, Aunt Kimberly and Dakota

We all watched the parade at Dollywood.

Nanny and Elijah bundling together

Elijah, Mommy, and Zane

The only cold part of my body that had feeling by this point was my nose, that's why it's the color of a radish!

The Church in Dollywood

Zane and Dakota. 2 is easier to push at once.

It's really cold Daddy!!

Elijah and Zane getting ready to go!

Zane relaxing like a big boy.

Zane laid here and watched The Wiggles for an hour like a big person watching a movie with his feet propped up. He has learned a lot from The Wiggles. He can say 5 different animal noises and identify the picture with the noise, he's learned to sing and dance which is his favorite thing to do! I wonder if he'll be a performer one day!!

Zane concentrating on The Wiggles

Merry Christmas Granny!!

We went to Maryville to see Brians Granny. She opened her presents and got to see the boys.

Zane playing peek-a-boo with Uncle Shane

Merry Christmas from the Atkins!!

Things started out a little silly but they both did great. Zane wanted the hold the Mickey Mouse so we let him but then he ended up doing a jig and flirting with the female photographer before we settled him down and he got comfortable in front of the camera.

My big sweet boy

Elijah really makes it a lot easier taking Zane and trying to keep him from getting into everything. He always chases him and holds him and helps me when I need another set of hands. Zane calls him "Zshizsha".

My handsome boys!

Mr. Ham in front of the camera!

Zane thinks its all about him when we do photos so he wants to clap and laugh and sing but just not where you want him to. He did great after he got his little performance out of the way.

They definitely look like brothers!

Sweet boys!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We have so much to be thankful for this year! We spent Thanksgiving day with Brians family at Beths house. Elijah wasn't able to be with us unfortunately. He spent Thanksgiving day with his daddy. We missed him but he had a good time with his Dad. My Mom and Dad went out for dinner and my brothers didn't come home for Thanksgiving but we will have a house full at Christmas! One thing we are definitely thankful for is no sickness for either child so far since its been cold.

O Christmas tree!

We decided to put up our blue and silver tree this year since we have a toddler in the house. I have a very large gold, burgundy and mauve tree that has alot of expensive, glass fragile ornaments that I ususally put up in the living room and then I put the smaller tree in the sun room but we just put this one up so Zane couldn't destroy the other one til he's older! I love having 2 trees because I couldn't decide between the blue, silver and white snowy look or the fancier burgundy and gold one so it's nice to have both, but that will have to wait til he's bigger.

Zane and his finger in the cake pan!

Zane likes chocolate cake, so he decided it would be good to eat it out of the glass cake pan with his fingers. Aunt Susan said he could so mommy couldn't tell him no!!