More Christmas

It was a pretty typical Christmas morning. Here's the proof in the exciting pictures.

Leah and Max

Adam and Nate

The only picture with me in it. At least there's proof I was there.

Max and Grant in their super, cool Power Ranger underwear.

The Big Morning

Christmas morning I woke up around 7:00 a.m. I went and checked on the boys. Sound asleep.
I put the monkey bread in the oven, made coffee, found the video camera and started cleaning up the kitchen a little because what else can you do when you're just waiting for your kids to wake up?! After 8:00 I heard Max in the living room. He was looking at all the cat stuff and had a funny expression on his face. I read him the note from Santa. His eyes got HUGE and he started to run to the garage. I told him he had to wake Grant up first. It took Grant about 4 seconds to process the information that Santa had been here and there were cats. They bolted to the garage and found a big kennel with 2 overly terrified cats inside. Max reached to unlock the kennel door and one of the cats let out this hideous hiss and swiped at the door. The boys quickly stepped back and we agreed that maybe we should leave the cats alone for a while and open stockings.
This is Max right after the cat assault incident.

Grant with his best fake smile.

Jack just liked to help other people open their presents. I don't know if he ever realized any of it was actually for him.

Max wrapped Adam's present all by himself (it was a crock pot).

Mom and Dad surving the crazy morning.

Preparations

Playing Santa is a lot of work. Here's what the house looked like when Nate and I finally got to bed around 2:00 a.m.

The note says:

Max, Grant & Jack,

Enjoy the cats! (Look in the garage.)

Merry Christmas!

SANTA

(P.S. Thanks for the cookies.)

Christmas Eve

Before we can even think about celebrating Christmas we celebrate my mom's birthday which unfortunately for her, is Christmas Eve. This year Leah made the traditional gingerbread.


Happy Birthday, Mom!

Christmas Eve service

We went to Fellowship for the kid friendly Christmas Eve service. It was perfect. They handed out candles to adults and glow sticks to all the kids. What an amazing idea! Micky started by making parents and grandparents take an oath swearing not to get uptight or upset at their own or other's children because this night was for them. We sang kid friendly songs as well as adult friendly songs. The kids got to stand on the chairs and sing a song by themselves. There was a puppet (annoying, but I'm sure the kids liked it). Right as Jack couldn't take anymore and Nate started to walk him out it was over.

Thank you, Fellowship!

Cookies for Santa

The boys decorated cookies for Santa Christmas Eve morning before our guests arrived.


Jack really enjoyed the sprinkles. At one point I looked over and he was trying to drink the few remaining sprinkles left in the shaker after pouring the entire bottle out into his bowl. He then proceded to eat sprinkles by the spoonful.

Grant kept asking when he could eat the cookies.

Max created several masterpieces. He told Grant he couldn't eat them because they were for Santa.

Jack had green lips, Grant was covered in icing, Max chose his perfect cookies to go on the plate for Santa and I cleaned up the mess. Joy to the world.

Mistaken Demons

I thought Jack had somehow found some little demons and eaten them. He has been absolutely HORRIBLE the past week. He's been screaming, saying "NO!" to everything you offer him, not sleeping, coughing, resisting having his nose wiped, saying "TOP!" (aka. STOP!), hitting, flailing on the floor and did I mention screaming? I told Nate that someone had somehow traded our sweet baby with this horrible one and that I wanted trade backs.

I called the doctor's office Friday. I told Jenifer, the nurse we love, that Jack either needed some strong medicine or some demons removed.

We saw Dr. Jackson that afternoon. Apparently, the mistaken demon possession was a case of bronchitis and early pneumonia. Dr. Jackson was listening to his lungs and said, "Do you see how rapidly he's breathing? How long has he been doing that?" Ummm.... I told him I was pretty sure I'd notice if he ever stopped breathing but that I had no idea and had not noticed the rapid/labored breathing. I am definitely out of the running for mom of the year!

Jack fell asleep on the way home. I laid him in his bed at 4:30 pm knowing full well it was way too late for him to take a nap but knowing he so desperately needed one.

He didn't wake up until 7:30 this morning. Yes, we thought his labored breathing had overcome him multiple times and checked on him constantly.

PRAYER, ear drops, zithromax and sleep is a sure-fire way to get rid of demons. We can't wait to see you again, sweet Jack.

Forgetten Funny

Ever since that raccoon wandered into our house the boys have been terrifed to go to the bathroom by themselves. It is beyond ridiculous. Apparently, they were both traumatized since they were in the bathroom when they saw the raccoon's glowing eyes in our bedroom. So, every single time one of them has to pee they say, "I need to go potty. I need somebody to go with me." Boys pee a lot. Often, when they announce their need to go what they say just becomes back ground noise and I don't really listen to the content. Besides that, I do not have time to add bathroom observer to the many duties I perform throughout the day.

Last week I was on the computer and Grant had to go to the bathroom. I ignored him thinking I could at least finish checking my e-mail. A few minutes later I heard an unfamiliar sound (which is often scarier than hearing familiar sounds). I got up to find Grant peeing in a little doll baby bottle in the hall way. Fortunately, he had good aim and coordination and didn't spill.

I really don't like that raccoon.

The Square

Nate and I thought it would be fun to take the boys by Murphy park and the square to see the lights. Some nice family time taking in the beauty of Christmas.... or:

1. Refusal to put on shoes and jackets before we even left the house.

2. Immediately making seeing the lights a horrible game where the "winner" shouted, "I see Christmas lights, BINGO!"

3. Grant crying because he didn't like the hot chocolate I brought for him. He wanted regular milk.

4. Popcorn in the car.

5. Grant crying because he wanted to be carried around the square.

6. Jack screaming because he wanted to follow the horsie.

7. Max pouting because Nate told him not to run on the lights.

8. Having to pay to take a picture of the reindeer (with your own camera) which the boys really wanted but, who brings money to walk around the square?

But, the lights were pretty.

leaves

One of the benefits and downfalls of living in an old neighborhood is the old trees. They are beautiful when the leaves are changing and all the leaves are still on the trees. They aren't so nice when only a few of the leaves have fallen off and your yard is already completely covered forcing you to wade through the ankle high leaves to walk through the yard. Jack has to hold someone's hand since the leaves are knee height on him. Grant is missing a pair of shoes and I'm pretty sure they are buried in the backyard...

Max and Grant don't seem to mind.

Thanksgiving Mississippi Style

We hit the road Wednesday after Nate got home from work heading toward Natchez, MS.... home of G.G. and Grandpa. (We made it in record time...7.5 hours... with only 1 stop! There is definitely something to driving while the kids are sleeping.)

The boys wanted to "help" with the turkey. I think they really just wanted to touch it.

Max tried most of everything (after his first attempt of only getting corn and a roll).

Max wanted to pray for the meal. His prayer went a little something like..."Dear Fodder, Thank you that the pilgrims had a safe trip to their first Thanksgiving feast. Thank you that they ate good foods for them. Please let them have safe trips again. Your heavenly Fodder. Amen."

Soon after this picture was taken Jack was put in his bed. No, it wasn't bedtime but who can enjoy Thanksgiving with a kid in their lap? Don't worry. I got him back up for pie.

8 years of glory

8 years ago Nate and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into...

I'd do it all over again in an instant.

Happy anniversary! I love you, Natey!

McGoo Craft Corner

The boys and I expressed our inner craftiness tonight by making a turkey roll holder.

(Max wanted to make placemats like he did in school but given that I don't have a laminator here at the house I went online and found something else we could make.)

Everyone lent a helpful (or in Jack's case, not-at-all-helpful) hand.

Grandma has no idea what is about to land on her table amongst the fine china. I hope it fits.

Max's Field Journal

Max volunteered to take pictures early on. Here is the safari from his perspective.

Wild Wilderness Drive-Through Safari

The actual day of Max's birthday we celebrated by going to the Safari in Gentry with some friends and family. It was the first time through for many of the people with us which added some extra fun.

Drew kept going back and forth from window to window throwing out whole pieces of bread. He was not afraid of the big, slobbery animals.

Benjamin was mesmerized the entire time.

On the look out. (That black trash bag is full of loaves of bread)

Jack got to sit up front and center with Leah.

David, up close and personal with his new buffalo friend.

It doesn't get much better than throwing stale bread to wild animals from the open windows of the redneck limosine.

Six

A week ago today Max turned 6 years old.

(I'm just a little behind in the blogging world but I'm even further behind in the scrapbook world; there he is only 6 weeks old).

Soldier Celebration

Max turned 6 years old so we decided to send him to boot camp.

We turned our backyard into Fort McGooden. The kids checked in when they arrived and received their gear when they were ready to join the Army. Then they searched for soldiers MIA, threw paratroopers onto the landing pad, ran an obstacle course, threw grenades at (plastic) soldiers then finished off their training by bombing the general.

Meet the general.

Soldiers waiting patiently for basic training.

The tank cake. Nate wanted it to be a grenade that would explode blowing out little army men but we "settled" for a camo tank. Thank you, Kathy! You are amazing!

Military family and friends.

I don't know where Max learned this army move but he insisted it was one.

Happy Birthday, Max-o!

Cousins

Bekah and Ava came to visit Friday since they couldn't come to Max's party. Grant asked when Ava was going to come live with us. We love that baby!

Of course, everyone had to hold her.

This was the best cousin picture we got. Pathetic, I know.

Bekah and Ava, come back soon!
(I think we wore the poor little thing out.)