Christmas Round #2

Out of order.  Not edited.  No time for crap.  Second Christmas Post.  I'm not doing another one. 

Christmas Morning!  Santa came!  I love tired eyed Christmas morning pics!

Daddy loves Christmas morning as much as the boys, but I think he was down in the dumps a little because he thought he wasn't getting anything.  Boy was he wrong!  He got the gift he had wanted (only better) later.  Sorry no pics.  It's not that exciting just a toolbox, but I made up for ruining Christmas last year when I thought it would be a good idea to surprise my boys with a puppy!

Holding a gun to Santa's head.  Man those gang suspicions just keep popping back up in my head.  He was actually telling Santa thank you in the most sincere voice.  It was actually pretty cute.  I'd like to throw this gun in the freakin pond!

The boys got candy in their stockings.  Guess who had it all eaten before breakfast was a thought in any one's mind?!

At my mom and dad's.  My nephew, Will all GQ'd up.  Such a cutie.  That's his momma, Anna.

Wyatt made an awesome Santa passing out all the gifts.  He was so good about it and didn't even care that he got his gifts last.  So proud of him.  I think he actually liked seeing them pile up.  My family spoils these boys! 

Got the little bro some undies just for his reaction!  This little joke runs back a few years.  Should have put some poop stains in there.  Oh my gosh that would have been funny.  Damn!

All the boys got new home made hats from my Aunt Chillone.  So cute!  Thanks so much, Chillone!  Miss you guys!

My sister and Chad got all the boys hats, gloves, and scarves.  Too cute!

These gloves were his brother's but he wouldn't take them off.

Here's Nayners in his!  Couldn't you just eat this little guy up?  He is irresistible!

You know he is tired when he falls asleep eating! 

This is Christmas Eve while they were picking out their 1 gift to open.  I love this picture!  This is a tradition daddy wanted and I like it.

"Merry MissMass" (Christmas) is what he is saying. 

How long before this truck was in a pile of tiny pieces?  Oh, about 2 seconds!  Lesson learned!

So it's all over.  The big thing missing?  Christmas with the Sharp's and another trip to KS not taken.  I hate that.  We miss everyone so much and wish it was different this year.  But, it is what it is and we are plowing through. 

Christmas was pretty great besides the fact we couldn't celebrate in person with a few.  The gifts are unwrapped and put away.  The house is clean again.   And those after Christmas blues actually hit before Christmas after our 1st round of company left.  I think I cried the rest of the day.  Hey, I have an excuse this year. 

Another year gone.  Another year of unexpected events.  Some were good, really good and some were bad, really bad!  That's life and we are ready to see what 2011 has in store for our families.  What miracles, what heartache, what small moments widen our smiles, what will we have in store?  One thing I am hoping to do is to remember to take a step back and take it all in for what it's worth and what it is doing in the moment.  Our lives are changing in a big way again just around the corner.  Happy New Year, all! 

Wordless Wednesday - Snowmen

 We haven't had a lot of snow so far this year like many others, but we made due with what we had.  Well, I mean Dale did.  We also had another white Christmas.  It was nothing like last year, but we will take it!

They started out helping, which only lasted a few minutes.

Then it was torture the poor blown up snowman time.

The finished product.  He kind of lost balance overnight!

For other Wordless Wednesday fun click here.

Christmas Post #1

I mentioned that our Christmas might be a bit crazy and it sure was. But it was great. It was really great to get together with some college friends we have missed dearly. Dale's college roommate, Craig and his other friend from college, Lewis (all football buddies from the first few Two-a-Days freshman year)have been getting together since the first summer break in college. Now that we all have families of our own it makes it much harder to get together. These guys are like brothers to both of us. Seriously, I think I give Lewis more crap than I give my own brother! I've posted about them several times before. Anyway, everyone arrived on Tuesday night. We got to meet baby Cami for the first time. I have been dying to get my hands on this adorable baby girl. She didn't disappoint! She was even more adorable and good in person.

(Warning: You're going to have to forgive me, I'm not going to edit any of these photos. There just isn't time in the day and my editing doesn't do much for them anyway!)

Craig and Cami - told you she was adorable!

 What the bruthas spent the night doing.  We were supposed to be opening gifts together with the kiddos!

 We finally got to it even though two littles missed out due to some much needed sleep.

I got all the baby toys out, you know, for the BABIES!  Guess who spent the majority of the time playing in them!  Never mind the large person in pink in the background eating ice cream.  I have no idea who that is.

Celinda, Craig, and Lew Dog

Wyatt playing with some old toy and Little Lew Dog enjoying his new toys.

 I think the boys enjoyed having Cami in the house just as much as I did if not more.  They LOVED her!  Here Waylon is tickling her feet.

 Wyatt playing dragons with her.  Does it get much cuter than that?

Oh wait, it does! Both of them playing dragons with her.

Tired Daddy!

Oh, the love and cuteness!  These two boys also fight like they are brothers!  It is getting better and I think they enjoy the majority of time together now without fighting every 2 seconds.

The whole group together.  Next year there will be at least one more to add to the mix!

Waylon (2), Wyatt (4.5), Landyn (1), Lewis (4), Cami (5.5 months)

We joke about our visits a few years down the road when Cami is bossing all the boys around and making them play barbies with her.  It will be here before we know it.

She was loved to say the least!

The Fosters!  Love you guys!  Cel is short, Craig is tall and Cami is big for 5.5 months, but they make such an adorable family!

The boys and their kiddos!

More proof of who was really into the baby toys!

Dale loves me so.  Can't you see?!  Smooches sweetie!

Love how Lewis teaches the boys hand gestures as if they need help in that area!  Glad he toned it down a bit this time! 

Some things never change, Cucumber!

Landyn man!

Stay tuned for more Christmas posts. 

In a house full of boys/A story for the books

So daddy really likes to tell this story to all of his friends.  I have yet to tell it just because I don't feel the pride behind it like daddy does.  And most of you know that Dale is a great story teller and can do a much better job than I can. But, it is times like these we shall remember and laugh at later.  So here goes...

Dale was giving the guys a shower the other night when we were watching my nephew, Connor, he's 6. Usually Connor is in the kitchen with me making sure his homework is done or settling in on the couch to wait for his mom to come pick him up when the boys are showering.  But on this night the guys were joking around in the bathroom.   I think Dale was pouring cold water over the top of the shower door onto the poor innocent little guys below and brought Connor into the bathroom to laugh at the silliness.  They think it is hilarious.  I think it is the type of joke that can cause me to go into a teeth gnashing rage.  Let's just say that Dale doesn't pull this one on me anymore.  New victims with much more tolerance get the butt of this joke. 

So anyway, Connor happened to be in the bathroom when the guys were getting out of the shower to get dressed.

Connor starts laughing and pointing at Wyatt
Wyatt: "What's so funny, Connor"
Connor:  "You have a long pee pee"
Wyatt: "No I don't!  Shut up, Connor"
Connor: "Yes you do.  Ha, Ha! Ha, Ha!  You have a long pee pee.  Ha, Ha!"
Wyatt:  "Stop laughing at me!"

Dale laughing hysterically thinking oh, man just wait till you all are older!

To you and yours

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens;

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;
Brown paper packages tied up with strings;
These are a few of my favorite things."

It is Christmas time and Santa is being blurted out of the mouths of boys every .10 seconds and talks of presents and candy are all abound.  It's the sweet loving talk that gives you the warm fuzzies and makes you feel all cozy at home beside the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and decorated mantel. 

This morning I told the boys to have fun at their Christmas party at the babysitters.  And that's when our four year old little boy makes my mouth drop to the ground in pride.  "Mom, it's not OUR party.  This party is for Jesus."  We have had only one trip to church in the past several months usually we are regular attenders, but since the Bill's accident it has been way too busy to get there and visit grandpa all in one weekend.  I admit, I have not done my best this year to tell the boys about the true meaning, but someone has. And I couldn't be more grateful.  What a gift especially after the talk the night before:

"Mom, come look at this!"
"Hun, I gotta get dinner done, can it wait just a minute."
"Mom, you gotta come now and look at this."
"Ok!" As I dry my hands and start towards our entryway where he is urging me to.
"LOOK" as he points to the empty bench.
"What is it?"
"Uh, (like I am the biggest idiot) my cop died"
"Your cop died?  What happened?"
"He was killed by a man with a switch blade knife"
I burst into laughter thinking I had too many questions to blurt any of them out.
"It's not funny.  My cop died and you aren't supposed to laugh."
"I'm sorry hun."  I had to end it there as I couldn't keep a straight face.

He went on to describe the scene to his brother who was repeating the last two words of every sentence with all the body language and hand motions big bro was doing.  Talk about cute.  We don't watch COPS and we try not to let them watch any horribly graphic shows.  This left me puzzled.  Where in the world did he get that?  How does a 4 year old know about a switch blade knife?  Were my gang suspicions onto something?  No, surely in our little town a four year old doesn't start initiation that young.  (kidding) I finally got the chance to ask Dale where the heck that came from.  He blurted it right out, "For 43 dollars my friend lost his life."  A Country Boy Can Survive by Hank Williams Jr.  Oh thank God!  This has been one of Wyatt's favorite songs since he was about 18 months old!

So that's how it goes in the house of boys!  And with that I want to wish you all a warm fuzzy Merry Christmas and I overnighted your switch blade knives.  Happy Holidays, all!

Thankful

What is it about cleaning and “have to” vs “want to”? The “have to” makes cleaning so much more unpleasant. I have kept the house clean for months and this weekend I had to make sure it was clean and stayed clean and hated every minute of it. Bad moods, short tempers, get out of the way’s, pick your stuff up for the millionth time’s, why is it taking you so long’s. Everyone was on edge, it wasn’t just me. Then we went out to eat and had a great time together at a crappy eating place with a surprise snow fall. It perked all of us up. Grease, calm quiet snowflakes, passing pretty Christmas lights, and I love you’s are a good combination! The house is clean and only a couple more things to do before all of our highly anticipated company arrives! I wonder who is going to poop or puke on the carpet tonight?!


Sunday was another drive to Columbia to see Grandma and Grandpa. This whole thing is so frustrating. Not the drive and not the family time. It is Bill doing so well one moment and so crappy the next. Before he left the vent weaning rehab he was off of the vent and doing so well on his own. Then he gets down there and is in ICU again for the majority of the time he has been there. The trach is back in and he can hardly stand being off of the vent. Now we don’t know what the next steps are or the next rehab facility or anything. It is so frustrating and mind boggling to have these setbacks! He is having so many spasms they have to keep his meds up and having so many meds weakens his diaphragm even more. That is the area causing him the most trouble right now. Bill and Linda are worn out. Linda is living in the ICU waiting room. It just doesn’t seem fair. We wish we could do so much more.

On our way there it occurred to me that the Christmas stress has not hit me. Every year it hits. I am usually behind on getting someone something with no time to do it. I am in my last month of pregnancy, my father-in-law is in ICU again, my mother-in-law is living out of her car and sleeping in a chair, Christmas is here and our routine is jacked, but what is keeping my head together and my mind from racing into a melt down? What’s keeping us all together? I am so thankful for our faith and the fact that He has things in His hands for us not to worry or fret on. He knows the best for us and I am just relying on the fact that He has the answers and is in control of this whole crazy, mind blowing mess. However uncomfortable or messy this thing is going to get, He will be there and that is all we can rely on to keep it together.

There are a ton of people out there that don’t hear the bells, that don’t see the beautiful lights, that can’t sit and just stare into a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the still of the night in their warm houses reminiscing about what all of it means. This time of year brings heartache to many and a sense of not feeling the love and meaning. I’m praying for all of them this week as such an important time frame passes. And I am thankful for where I am and where we are.

Portable North Pole

Recently I was told about this great service from the girl that cuts my hair.  I couldn't wait to try it out.  All you have to do is go online and create your child's profile and they put a personalized message from Santa out there.  This was so cool to me and it is totally free.  I was really excited about it.  Last night we let the boys listen to their own special Santa message.  Believe it or not, I think Waylon liked it the best even though Santa didn't know how to say Waylon's name.  I told you those two were back on good terms after this.

So for your totally cool viewing pleasure, here are the videos of them watching their special message.  Just google portable north pole to create your own. 

Wyatt's video: (Waylon happened to throw a terrible two fit right before this trying to push the tree down and all, that's why Dale is giving him such a hard time.)

Waylon's video: (the other little guy you hear is Connor, my nephew.)

So next week is a crazy week at our house.  We are so excited to be seeing the Davids family and the Foster family.  And then my college girls and their families, then Dale's mom's side, and his dad's side and then my side.  Our house is going to be one wild and crazy place and I love it!  So, I don't know how much blogging I will be doing, but I will for sure catch everyone up on the flip side.  Then the No Name Baby's count down should start up soon.  I can't believe we are there already.  We do have 2 names that are strong possibilities, but Dale and I don't agree on which one is our 1st pick.  At least we have 2 we both really like.  Stay tuned.  Until then have an awesome and safe weekend finishing up your shopping and last minute Christmas preparation!

Wordless Wednesday - Classics

Good Ol' Saint Nick pics....

Waylon has been talking about seeing Santa for weeks.  He has been so excited.  I couldn't get my clothes on fast enough for him the day we were to go.  He literally pushed me out of my bathroom to head to the car.  That's how excited he was.  He even had it all planned out that he was going to ask Santa Claus for; a sucker for Christmas.  Well, you will see what happened.

 My sweet Angel face!

 Wyatt pinching the crotch of his jeans was the last thing I was worried about.

 I think little man split his lip yelling so loud!

Thanks, Santa!

 

 I'm pretty sure he has Santa's fingers separated as far as they will go.  Santa might have had a cramp in his middle finger the next day.

 Santa's face!  HA!  And that tear rolling down his poor cheek.  I have looked at these a million times and still crack up!

Santa even offered him a candy cane, but Waylon could care less!

Don't worry, they made up.  He actually waived bye to Santa as we were leaving.  He also talked to Santa in his picture for quite a long time when we got home.  When asked how his visit with Santa was he flat out tells ya he cried and isn't ashamed.

For more Wordless Wednesday fun just click right here.



Random Post It Notes

I've never done this before, but blogging is kind of taking a back seat these days and all I have in my head are completely random things.  So, I'm going to give Post It Note Tuesday a try.  If you would like to do your own Natalie over at a Mommy of a Monster linked up too.  You can also go here to get started.

So yeah, random, but some things are off of my mind for now at least!