Christmas is almost here!

In some ways it seems like we have been celebrating Christmas for a long time this year (especially since we went to Dollywood before Thanksgiving and it was all decorated for Christmas already!)  In other ways, Christmas has really crept up on me.  I'm just now finishing up shopping and wrapping.  The past few weeks, we have been busy attending Christmas parties, and I have been packing on some extra pounds due to all of the eating at these parties.  We had our Sunday School progressive dinner, the Huffman Party, the McConnell Party, and another party with some of my dearest friends and their children just in the past two weeks.  The boys have gotten super spoiled by all of the new goodies they've received as well as eating so many sweet treats during all of the festivities!  I hope among all of the hustle and bustle that we can instill in them the true meaning of Christmas which is celebrating Jesus's birth.

Huffman Party Pictures:

Aunt Mick, Dianne, and cutie patootie Eleanor

Brotherly love at the tree

Uncle Bill, Joey, and Mama

Jackson and Will snuggling after the party

Katie's Party:

Opening presents

Aunt Loni and Will

Kolas and Jackson checking out their new toys

Princess Jaymes

McConnell Party at my Parents:

Ready to open gifts

Michelle and Will 

Love Will's face, He has had the best time with his "candy can gun"

Pigeon Forge and Jackson's Birthday Celebration

We were in Pigeon Forge the week of Jackson's birthday, so we had a mini family party there.  He had requested a Ninja Turtle cake so with my great baking skills I just purchased a Pepperidge Farm cake and put Ninja Turtle figures on it.  I know I wouldn't win any cake decorating contest, but Jackson thought it was pretty cool.  He loves getting any new toys, so we he was pretty stoked about all of his gifts.  We had his favorite food, spaghetti, for dinner.

 Family B-Day Picture

Opening Gifts

His new mask

Mimi and Ninja Turtle Jack

Ninja Turtle Cake

Making a wish

We stayed in a really beautiful condo right down the road from Dollywood.  Will slept in a big boy bed and did pretty well.  The weather was really cold for part of the week.  We still had a great time.  Some of our favorite things were taking hikes, going to Dollywood, and going out to eat.  The boys both loved the kid rides at Dollywood.  Mama and I got to go to some of the shows during the boys' nap time.

The condo was already decorated for Christmas, I loved the tree!

Riding the ducks

This was the boys' favorite ride.  Jackson kept trying to hang his head over the side.

Jackson is FOUR!

Wow, I just can't believe in a few days my first born will be four years old.  I know I must say it all of time but I can't believe how the time has flown by.  The pictures below fit his personality right now.  He loves to draw and make silly faces.

Jackson-
It seems just like yesterday I was being admitted to the hospital about to deliver you.  You were such a wonderful great sleeping baby, other than your reflux the first few months you were a very happy baby.  Overall, you have been a pretty tame toddler and preschooler (minus your whiney stages, but according to Mimi you get that from me.)  You are still a very observant boy which I love (especially since your Daddy is not!)  You always notice when I have my hair done or when I paint my toe nails a different color.  You always notice my jewelry.  In the last year, you have become a lot more snuggly and affectionate.  I love when you run up to me and give me hugs and kisses out of the blue.

You have been doing the cutest thing lately when you are excited about something.  Some days when we are going to school, church, or a party you will say "Mommy, I just can't stop smiling, I'm so excited!"  You like to sing, but you have been really shy about doing it in front of other people right now.  You and Will love to sing Katy Perry's song Roar to the top of your lungs in the car.  Your favorite church song is Who is the King of the Jungle.  You are still really tall and skinny.  You haven't been eating much of anything lately.  You have had a really small appetite lately, so it has been hard for me to find pants that will fit you, especially since you only like to wear pants with elastic waists.  You love going to school and will do a lot more for your teacher than you will for me at home.  You pretend like you don't know your letters and bible verses at home, but at school Mrs. Crystal says you know them, You little stinker!

You love your brother, but at times you can not keep your hands off of one another.  You are either wrestling or sword fighting with some type of kitchen instrument or our toy swords.  You get so frustrated with him when he wants a toy you are playing with or he just won't leave you alone when you are concentrating on something, but if he is hurt or really upset about something you are really protective over him.  If he is not home for some reason which is really rare or if he is sleeping, you always miss him.

Right now you love to play with play dough, and you still love books.  You are soooo excited about Christmas.  You love the Christmas tree and you talk to me about the ornaments every day since we put it up this week.  Your other favorite things include Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, robots, superheroes, and ninjas.  Your favorite shows are Calliou, Little Einsteins, Sofia the First, and Henry Huggle Monster.  Your favorite movies right now are Pocahontas (I really can't figure this one out, but for some reason you and Will want to watch this a lot.  It's not a bad movie, but it doesn't seems to have that much excitement for preschoolers.), The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Return of Peter Pan.  Your favorite foods are fruit, pasta, and chicken nuggets.

I'm so excited to see the little boy you are becoming.  You are definitely out of you toddler stage.  You are such a precious gift, and I just love you soooooo much!  I pray God will protect you, and you will grown into a strong Christian man who has a passion for learning about the bible and serving others.

Leaves, Leaves Everywhere!!!

Last week the boys and I raked some leaves in the yard (although now you can't really tell, because it is mostly covered again.)  The boys have had a glorious time playing in our leaf pile.  It will be interesting to see what we recover from it once it deteriorates a bit.  We have already lost several toys in it.  It was such a gorgeous fall day to be outside, I'm really enjoying this season so far.  God is really blessing us with some beautiful weather!

Will is mad over something

Jackson is loving it!

We had a lot of leaf throwing fights

Caught this shot when he wasn't even posing, he was so joyful

These pics aren't really about leaves, but I also took them this week-

We started getting down our Christmas stuff this week so Will was helping out

 They both love the tree, but don't want to keep their hands off of it

Will doing one of his favorite activities getting into our silverware drawer and playing

Halloween 2013

This year our church had a small Halloween party for just church attendees and friends.  Jackson and Will had a wonderful time in the bouncies and eating popcorn.  On Halloween night our friends came over and we ate pizza.  Then we walked around the neighborhood trick or treating.  The weather was fabulous, so we didn't even need jackets.  Will's favorite part of the season was watching Toy Story of Terror numerous times.  I DVRed it and we had to watch it several times a day the week before and after Halloween.  Thankfully, Jackson enjoyed watching it too, so at least they weren't arguing over the television.

The only picture I could get of both of them smiling at the same time

Will's ninja warrior/ Superman pose

Checking out our Jack-o-Lantern

Princess Jaymes and Katie

Grif and the boys

Jacob and Cain as Wayne and Garth

All of the kids and Katie

Cowboy Kolas and Iron Man Jack

October 2013

It has been awhile since my latest post, I have just been lazy about taking pictures and writing.  Last week, we went with Jackson and Will's preschool to Callaham Orchards.  It was dreary cold day, but the major rain fall held off until we were leaving so that was a blessing.  The boys had a fun time.  Will said his favorite thing was milking the cow, and Jackson's favorite was the tractor ride.

 Will milking the cow

 Jackson has a turn

Jackson's sweet 3K Class

The tractor ride with Emsleigh and Parker

A couple months ago Jackson finally mastered potty training fully.  He finally got it. Yay!!!  I kept promising him that when he would successfully master #2 in the potty we would go get a power wheels.  We went to Wal-Mart, and he got a dune buggy.  He has had so much fun on it.  Will still isn't so sure about it, I think he is a little scared of it, but Jackson wants to ride it every day.

 The boys riding around the yard

Jackson riding down the drive way

My Birthday:

This year the boys and hubby did an awesome job for my birthday.  They made me feel very special.  When I arrived home from bible study that night, Brian had transcribed sweet messages from the boys and put them up on our chalk board.  Jackson picked me out some beautiful flowers, and a yummy chocolate cake.  While I am creeping on into my mid thirties, I wouldn't want to go back to being a teen or my young twenties.  I am really treasuring this stage of life with little boogers!

Doing a silly pose in front of the cards they made