Cousins rule!

We had the awesome chance to hang with our cousins Xavier, Cheyenne and Jaylin.....
But missed hanging out with these cousins :( (which is a small bunch of our crazy beautiful family)!

However, we are planning the "Cousins" reunion tour summer '09!

Miss you, love you!

Holy Christmas Goodens!

Here is the invite that sparked the madness! :) We hosted the holiday fun at our house!
Here we go.... backwards through Christmas!
I planned the normal photoshoots! A selected few "good" shots:

Dad and girls

Lauren and Manda= BFs, not a couple: not that there is anything wrong with that! :) (Happy Hanukkah Lauren!)

Mom and girls

Gteam

Grammy and Grampy

Gaga and Gapa

Meme and Pap

Again- I love this pic!

Aunt Stephanie

Aunt Manda

Auntie Lauren
Taking pictures with children is frustrating, side-splitting and exhausting... especially with farm animals all around! ;)

The family, fun and food:

Some highlights:

Feliz Navidad D-roni, thanks for the hoochie doll!

We finally used my dining room table! woooooo

Pap won both the plate game and pin the nose on Santa.... cheater! :)

Gapa doesn't understand how he didn't "win" singstar!

In the morning we had Gaga, Gapa and Aunt Manda over for Christmas!

They went OVERBOARD gifting. We are so appreciative!

Prior to Christmas they took the girls shopping for us at the Dollar Tree. This is one of my beautiful, precious gifts!? I laughed so hard I cried. Liah thinks it is exquisite. It sits proudly on my dresser!

Gaga got jams to match Liah!

Watch out neighborhood, we got Gaga and Gapa matching bikes!
More fun:

Christmas morning we were up at 7 to see if Santa came. Liah saw Rudolph's red shining nose through her window, she just knew he had been there!

Maia and he Micka Mows!

Look at Liah on the TV rocking out on Dance Cam! Love this one!

Sharing.... momentarily!

Score! :)

Cheesin with Yo Gabba!
Christmas morning:

The elves hard work: :)

What an awesome event! We are ready for 2009!

On the 9th Day of Christmas

My true love went with me....
To get pics of Liah and Maia Lee!

What a difference a year makes....

How about these takes.....

I adore my family and the holidays!

On the 5th-8th Days,

Be it my true love, Santa, God, the Grinch....
I got a lot more than I bargained for (don't ask)!
We've turned the corner... Christmas here we come!
Now on to my next task!

On the 4th Day of Christmas

My true love gave to me...
The absolute best Mom in the world!
A renewed teaching cert. and rainy day.

A ride on the Polar Express,

And a pink baby come what may!

Current Christmas conditions: Dad still laid up with neck, Mom still in need of a color, Maia still pox-ing to the max, Liah trying to help.... but darn it the fun goes on! Falalalalalala!
I am really starting to feel like Griswald. If a squirrel flies out my tree someone may need to commit me! :)

On the 3rd Day of Christmas....

Santa gave to me.... some time to "flair"my walls,
But no time to do my locks...

Time with my gal Liah,

And a case of chicken pox!!?? AHHHHH

Yep, Maia started popping. Yep, she had been vaccinated. Yep, Chris hurt his neck. Yep, I must be on the naughty list to receive this!!!!

On the 2nd Day of Christmas...

On the 2nd day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me....

2 big girl beds... and one crazy fun family!

Today was full of milestones in the Gooden home. Liah turned 3 1/2 (yeah we celebrate half birthdays!) and Maia moved into a big girl bed! Sniff sniff, Mom aged herself another 6 months stressing over it all! Maia has been refusing the crib, the move was needed. For the first time in four years we are crib-free. Yeah I am getting the itch.... I can wait! :) We had a girls' night and went to look at lights in the neighborhood. We loaded down with goodies and enjoyed the oooohs and ahhhhhs of all the lights!