Great Grandparents

We were so blessed to have my grandparents at my parents' house for Christmas this year.  They made the 8 hour drive down here to spend Christmas with their great grandkids.  We're so fortunate they are able to get out and about.  Here they are with the boys on Christmas morning.

I have to say that one of the highlights of the weekend was seeing these two play the Wii.  My parents got a Wii for Christmas, and we were able to convince them to bowl with us.  It was so much fun, and they were really great sports about the whole thing.  Granddad got a strike on his first bowl.  Why didn't I take a picture?  Merry Christmas Grandmother and Granddad!

Cousins

On Wednesday we were excited to have some company.  My aunt and uncle drove through with my cousin's beautiful girls.  Camden is four months younger than Clayton, and Emma is three months younger than Eli.  Meghan brought Lizzy over as well, and these kids had a great time playing together. 

This picture must have been taken before what will forever be known as the moment I almost had a heart attack.  My parents have this hot tub built into their deck.  There is a gap between the deck and the tub of about ten inches.  We've always been nervous that someone will somehow manage to fall through this gap, down to the ground.  It's probably less than three feet down, but it's still a drop.

I was sitting at the dining room table, just inside from this spot.  I looked up, saw Emma (the one on the hot tub) standing on the deck next to the tub.  Then I saw her wobble, and then that black curly hair just disappeared.  I just about had a heart attack.  My dad made it to her first.  Luckily she landed on her feet.  She was actually laughing as Dad pulled her out.  I can't remember the last time my heart beat so quickly. 

This is a little water fountain in the backyard.  Dad cleaned it out and turned it off a few months ago for the winter (I use the term "winter" loosely here).  For some reason all children that come into this backyard LOVE to dig out all the rocks in there. 

Aaron, Clayton, Eli, Emma, Camden, and Lizzy

Christmas Eve Pictures

 Merry Christmas!

Yes, this is the best picture we got at church.  It was either Eli not looking OR Clayton with his tongue stuck out.

Here we are at my parents' house in front of the tree.  Again, what's the deal boys?  In this picture Eli's not looking AND Clayton has his tongue stuck out.  We have about a hundred that are even worse than this one.  Let's just say that taking pictures was the last thing these guys wanted to do on Christmas Eve.

Meghan was able to get this sweet picture of my big boy.

I think Meghan was able to get some pictures of the cousins in their pjs that night.  Hopefully she'll share with me, and I can post some soon.

Annual Visit to Santa

Mom and I took the boys to see Santa at the mall a couple weeks ago.  Clayton was so excited to see the big man.  For weeks he had been telling me he wanted a trash truck and a Toy Story notepad (his cousin Lizzy has one), and when Santa asked, he knew just what to say.  Eli was slightly apprehensive about approaching Santa.  He was agreeable to sit on his lap, but he didn't want any interaction.  Aaron was just along for the ride.

Santa in past years.  They sure have grown.

Peanut Blossoms

They are my favorite holiday cookie.  I know they're really nothing special, but they are so yummy.  Yesterday I gave one to Clayton.  An hour or so later I looked over and there was a plain peanut butter cookie on the table.  That monkey had just eaten the Kiss out of the center and left the rest.  Thankfully, Eli shares my love of the entire cookie, or "key-key" as he has taken to calling them.

Serious cookie eater

He likes to eat the Kiss first too, but then he gets down to business with the rest of his "key-key."  Look at those deliciously fat fingers!  Looks like he's sampled a cookie or two in his day.



Frosty Does Not Live Here and Some Random Other Stuff

It's not really looking like Christmas these days.  I keep seeing snow storms blowing across the country, but they are not reaching us down here.  Yesterday was a record high of 84 degrees.  Today it was only about 75, but Dad still decided the hot tub was in order.  He added just a little heat, and he and the big boys took a swim.  They have a blast in this tub.  Eli is still a little hesitant about swimming, but Clayton can stand comfortably, and he loves it.  I think swim lessons will be in order next summer.  He's getting comfortable putting his face and head under water now.

My sister Meghan, Mom, and I have been busy baking up a storm the last few days.  All I can say is YUM.  Speaking of "baking up a storm," tonight at dinner I commented that Eli was "eatin' up a storm."  Clayton pondered this a moment and then said, "Mom, what does that storm thing mean?"  Hmm?  It means doing something a lot or with gusto, but why do we (or at least I) say that?  I don't know.

Speaking of Clayton, the other night we were talking, and something was mentioned about the three kings in the nativity.  Clayton asked, "And what did they ride on?"  I was a little surprised by his question, and didn't really think about it before I told him I didn't know.  Then he informed me that they rode on a "Cam-in-all."  Of course!  I forgot about that.  Lately he's also been very into telling me that DaBid (David) threw a rock at Goal-I-ep (Goliath) and hit him in the head.  That's really all he recalls from the story, and I'm a little concerned we will have a rock thrower on our hands.  I'm picturing his first victim, Eli.

I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas season.  We have a little company coming tomorrow, and then the Christmas crowd will be in on Christmas Eve.  Clayton is getting excited.

Christmas is Coming

I just wanted to share this shot of the big boy on the morning of his preschool Christmas party.  They had special treats and a book exchange.  Clayton doesn't understand the Christmas break concept, so he's still a little confused as to why we don't have preschool anymore for a while.