Art Installations by Adelyn Hughes

Adelyn is a very organized and creative child.  During the month of December, she treated us to some interesting projects that we have termed "art installations" using various toys, books, etc...  Sometimes we don't even realize she's up to a new project, until we find something like this on the coffee table...

Many of the art installations have involved the Little People Nativity set given to her by Mimi Jo and Papa Carl.  Notice the addition of "Frosty the Snow-Duck" on the left.  He was not originally a part of the Nativity set, but rather a gift from a classmate from school.  However, Addy has revised the scriptural scene to include him in each installation.

This one involved an egg crate.

This one involved placing members of the Nativity scene on top of toys and containers scattered all over the kitchen.

And of course, in the letters of her name puzzle.

She was very proud to have an installation by the kitchen window too...

Here are some fun videos showing more of her installations involving books ...

Keep reading below for more recent Hughes Happenings!

The Rest of December, 2011

Keep scrolling down after this post for several recent new posts...

December was a busy month in the Hughes household... I can't believe how fast it went!  We have had alternatively warm and cool weather - kind of unpredictable.  Here's the little people in the family dressed for a neighborhood walk on a cooler day!  I think by the end of the walk, Holton had managed to take off his hat, mittens, shoes, and socks... cold feet!

We have also enjoyed many trips to Breckenridge Park on sunny days...

Christmas this year was all about family (as it should be!), and we got to see so many special people! Brian's sister Amy and her family came to visit from Nashville. Our kids had so much fun playing with their older Nashville cousins, who in turn were so sweet to play with our little ones! 

We had several family gatherings during Christmas week.  On December 22, we celebrated Grandmother Gracie's 96th birthday with the entire Hughes clan.  We set a record for our house so far by having 31 people (including kids) over!  It was crazy but fun and great to catch up with everyone!

I like Darren and Marla's family backrub train - we're going to have to teach this to our kids!

This is Grandmother Gracie with all 12 of her Great Grandchildren!  So amazing to have all of them together in one room!

Getting ready to blow out birthday candles...

Next, on Christmas Eve, we got to see much of the Cranfill side of the family.  Brian's cousin from New Mexico was in town with his family.  Grandmother Crickett was able to be there, and it was special to have the kids spend a little time with her.

T-Pa and Holton...

Crickett with her Hughes grandchildren.

We met at a restaurant and the little man got a bit restless!

Crickett and many of her Great Grandchildren...

And finally, my only picture from New Year's... We continued our now almost annual tradition of celebrating the New Year with our friends Kendall & Lisa and John & Jennifer.  We walked to a neighborhood Mexican restaurant for dinner and then had a wonderful evening at Kendall & Lisa's home enjoying some of Kendall's mean margartitas (oh, and maybe a few tequila shots too, but don't tell anyone!)

  Love you guys!

Christmas Day, 2011

I have several blog posts to post, so make sure to keep scrolling down to see Holton's 11 month photos in the post before this one.

Christmas was truly magical this year - especially getting to see it through the eyes of a 2 1/2 year old and almost 1 year old.

We spent Christmas morning with just the four of us, and then went to Mimi and T-Pa's for brunch and Christmas dinner and lots of fun family time with them, Brent, Erika, Harper, Amy, Clay, Faith, Isaac, Eve, Eli, Beth, and Jarod.

On Christmas morning, the kids got to open their Heiffer gifts - Goats!  We are trying to focus on Christmas being about giving, so we are continuing the annual tradition of making a donation in their names and teaching them about it.

Holton ready for his FIRST Christmas and some Christmas breakfast!

And birthday cupcakes for Jesus' birthday!

Stockings...

Not exactly sure what he's supposed to be doing... 

But she knows what to do...

One of the favorite gifts this year - colored scarves for playing with and dancing to music, just like they have at music school.

And also, name puzzles (thanks Erika for inspiring this one!)

And the ultimate - the "black jingle bells" Addy requested from Santa!

The wrapping and tissue papers were the best part for Holton!

Post-present bliss... even for Ringo!

Cool new drinking straw glasses!

Then after the kids' breakfast, we moved on to Jim and Kathy's...

All the kids opened gifts in the afternoon so they would have time to play and enjoy their new things.

Addy took great pride in helping to pass out the gifts...

Holton got a chef's hat, and Addy and Harper got aprons from Mimi

Addy wore her apron all day...  She also loved playing with her new bubble gun!

Addy and Holton received matching folding chairs personalized with their names from Brent and Erika...

Christmas outfits!

See some of Addy's handmade ornaments already adorning our tree?

Mimi and T-Pa gave Holton an adorable wooden train that spells his name...

And Beth and Jarod gave the kids this "ball pool" - it's been a huge hit - playing in the pool, rolling/throwing balls, organizing balls by color (Adelyn), chewing on the balls (Holton), etc...

We were so blessed this Christmas - mostly to be surrounded by loving family in warm homes with yummy food and lots of Christmas cheer. Seeing Christmas through my children's eyes gets more and more amazing each year.