Christmas 2009

This post has a lot of pictures, but there were so many fun times that it was too hard to just narrow it down to a couple of pictures...so grab a diet coke and a butterfinger, or a half of a candy cane if you can and enjoy some of the fun memories of this past Christmas.

This year Troy wanted a Thomas the Train track.

Josh was so cute when he saw this tent he went right inside, sat down and smiled for the camera!

Grant didn't know what he wanted from Santa for a really long time...finally after much diliberation he decided on an all terrain remote control car. This is a lot of fun...a ton of power. My baseboards are proof of that!

Savannah has had a cell phone that we bought her about a year and a half ago...the cheapest one out there. For Christmas she said all she wanted was a better, cooler cell phone. I told her that I bought her a phone already, and if she wanted a nicer, better, cooler phone SHE could buy it. Well, Savannah out smarted us by asking Santa for that nicer, better, cooler phone!!!

Forrest is so excited because Santa brought him his beloved DSi. This was very much hoped for, and he managed to barely make it off the naughty list just in time for Christmas!

Santa brought the whole family the Wii fit plus. This has been so much fun. No one is allowed around when mom is on the Wii fit though. ;o)

I love this picture of the kids. They were so sweet helping Josh open his presents. Josh is always way more interested in the candy in the stocking than in his presents. So, once the older kids were done tearing into their presents, they were more than willing to help Josh.

And here it is...every year there is one kid that is crying during this picture on Christmas Eve. It has been a long day! I wonder who it will be next year? Probably the mom!

Christmas Eve

These next couple of pictures are from Beckie's house....I think someone may have spiked the eggnog!

What else could explain THIS?

I believe it was him....he looks pretty guilty don't you think?

Me and Beckie

I feel so blessed to be so close to my family and to spend the holidays with them. I cherish the memories of Christmas Eve dinner at Claim Jumpers(one day I hope to enjoy that dinner without trying to keep Josh's food from flying too far in the restaurant) and the nativity Christmas pageant, Christmas morning breakfast tradition, a candy shaped cinnamon roll made by Beckie, the presents, and going out to a movie on Christmas day tradition. These are all things that I have done my whole life for Christmas and I love that I get to share these traditions with my kids and Brett.

My parents. Thank you for starting all these traditions. They are so important to us all.

My kids all love going to Aunt Beckie's house. She always has something fun to look at or play with.

Each year my parents give the grandkids new Christmas PJ's and an ornament. Josh opening his ornament.

Fun with our cousins in Oregon



two seconds later.....

I love the look on Jim's face!

Christmas 2009 was a lot of fun, and I even managed to get a few pictures where kids sat still!

"Aint no mountain high enough"

You don't have to take your eyes off of Josh for very long before he is up to no good! This is what I get for thinking I could go to the bathroom without company. These pictures cracked me up...he had no idea I was taking the first two pictures, which makes the look on his face when he sees me standing there priceless. I look forward to the day I don't have to get a kid down off of the counter. I keep hearing that one day I will miss this stage.....hmmm. This used to be a safe spot to put things, like a DS or a cell phone or an ipod

Not anymore.

I love the way he pokes his head around a gives that great smile!

Which one should we use for our family Christmas card this year? It is so hard to decide when you have 2 GREAT pictures to pick from! Oh dear.

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Our newest addition to the family.... Grace

I know there are some of you out there that know our family and our pet issues and are shaking your head right now! We know, we know......

Savannah is so happy with her new kitten

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Josh playing football. He needs a little work on his catching. ;o)

Oh boy!

OK....seriously, I don't even know what to say about this room! Literally can't see the floor! "Savannah....are you in there?"

This is what happens when the mom gets sick for 2 weeks. ugh!

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Happy 38th Birthday Brett

September 24th is an important day for two reasons. On this day in 1971, my future husband was born. Fast forward 19 years and September 24th becomes the date of our first date. Today I have known Brett longer than I haven't. I was 18 when I met him, and it has now been 19 years since then. That is a strange milestone. I have been thinking about our first date....it started out with him making dinner for me on his birthday...I am not sure I knew then that it was his birthday until that day. The fun doesn't end there, shortly after dinner Brett says to me "I don't know how to tell you this, but I have another date, he went on to tell me that he had set up this date before he had met me and didn't know how to get out of it", then, are you ready for this?... he said..."but you can come if you want to." Crazy, right? So, right about now I am feeling pretty dumb, and say to him "of course I am not going to go on the date with you." Once he realized I wouldn't be joining him, he told me that he would go to the movie with her and then drop her off and come right over. I remember thinking..."yah, right!" So, after being taken back to my dorm, I told my roommate about our date, and we decided we would go on the date with Brett, he just wouldn't know. I needed to see who my competition was. During the first part of the movie we were looking all around to find them, and couldn't see anything. Just as we were about to give up, I looked all the way down the very same row that we were sitting on, and wouldn't you know it...there they were. Imagine my horror! My roommate and I quickly and quietly slid out of our seats and went home. We waited, wondering if he would really drop off his poor date right after the movie and come over. Sure enough, a few minutes after the movie got out, there was a knock at my door and there stood Brett. True story. Makes me laugh and shake my head all at the same time each time I think about it. I learned a lot about Brett that day...
1. He likes to cook

2. He thinks of others before himself

3. Not the best planner

4. He doesn't like to hurt other peoples feelings

5. He kept his word

6. He loves me!
Brett when he was 3.

Brett was a huge fan of " The Dukes of Hazzard" can you tell? He told me that once he jumped out of the car window while the car was moving just like in the TV show. I am glad that show is off the air now! Love the hair~


The things I learned that day 19 years ago are still true today.
Happy Birthday Brett- I love you.

Happy Birthday Josh

THIS LITTLE GUY PLUS THIS

EQUALS THIS (instant light sabers)

Yesterday was Josh's 2nd birthday. The party was fun, lots of food and cake, family and presents. It is so much fun to watch a 2 year old open presents and absolutely love everything. I also love the simpleness of what makes him happy. Josh loves to sweep, so I got him his own. It was the first present he opened and he was thrilled to death.
Once the mess was finally cleaned up and the kids were in bed way after their bed time, I took some time to just sit and snuggle with Josh on the couch. I thought about what I was doing 2 years ago at that time, I thought about how much I loved being pregnant with him, and I remembered how much I wanted the delivery process to slow down and not go too fast...I just wanted to hold on to all of it knowing that it would be my last time. I can remember the quiet time I had with him as a newborn in the hospital when he was so new...just me and Josh alone in my hospital room. What great bonding time. I remember feeling sorry that this would be the only quiet time he would know in his life...as soon as we are home it is so much crazier! As I had all these thoughts and feelings last night I couldn't help but feel the inner sadness all Mom's must feel as they realize the baby of their family is growing up so fast. You know that sharp twinge you get in your stomach when you see a new baby and you just want to hold it so bad you can't stand it-feeling? No more birthdays where they just tear into the presents and just love the paper~no more cake and ice cream smeared all over every part of their face and hands. I held him real tight and asked for a couple of juicy, slobbery kisses that he gives, wiped a tear, and then was knocked back into reality as a brand new light saber hit me in the head. Thank you Josh for coming to our family at the time you did....you make us laugh, their is so much personality inside of you....one look at your face and anyone can see it!

"Just try 2 keep up"

In case you can't read what the back of this shirt says....."Just try 2 keep up"
There could never be a shirt that is more perfect for this guy! This is what my day consists of, consistently! I love the #2, how fitting since he will be 2 on Monday.

May the force be with you

This is a daily occurrence in our house....someone is Darth Vader, (everyone always wants to be this guy) and the other poor soul has to come up with some other costume and improvise. Troy is simple, big boy pants and a Power Ranger gun.