Friday, December 30, 2011

Hunter's Stats

Hunter and I had a "date" yesterday. He had his 6 year old doctor's appt and he and I decided that we would make it a date.  He was so cute with how excited he was to "go on his first date."  On the movie Cars 2, Sally and Lightning McQueen go on a date so he kind of got the concept that just he and I were going somewhere together.

We went and ate lunch together, went to the mall, and then went to Toys R Us for a bit.

On our way home, I realized how long it had been since just Hunter and I had gone somewhere together.  He is turning into such an amazing little man.  We had a great time. 

His doctor's appt went great.  He is healthy and got a clean bill of health.

Here are the stats.
Weight:  52 lbs (81%)
Height:  48.5"  (94%)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

25th to 27th

As mentioned in the last post, we had been super busy with Chad's side of the family.

With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, we got up and got our family presents opened before heading off to church.  The boys really liked everything we got them.  We did keep it pretty simple this year though... their "big" gift was the Leap Pad Explorer.  We only got 1, so sharing will be in order.  

The boys with their stockings
 
Shep was not quite awake during the stocking time.


When we got back from church, we packed it up and went up to NC to my Grandparents house.  I love going to their house.  There are so many memories when I pull up in that driveway.  I am so thankful that my kids get to experience GorDean's house too. 
Question: How do you know when your kids are tires.
Answer: When 2 of the 3 fall asleep in the car
Once at GorDean's, we did our last batch of opening presents. 

This picture just makes me smile.  My AMAZING grandparents with my adorable kiddos.  
 
What can I say?  That is my father.
GrandmaDean got a Kindle
 
Grandpa Gordie hugging all his presents while Mantis opens his.
Shep sporting Mantis' new hat.
 
Shep looks so grown up here.  
Nolan convinced us to go to McAdenville that night to look at the lights.  Supposedly, this little town is in the top 10 Christmas towns in the country... I think.  Last  minute, we decided that Shep was not going because he was DONE- absolutely exhausted.  Chad stayed back with him.  So, Hunt, Ash, Nolan, and I did the lights.
Don't you just want to pinch him?


The boys were so excited to get out of their car seats to look at all the lights.   


We decided to stay the night so we could meet up with dear friends of ours at the Chick fil A in town.  Our boys and the "T" boys had a great time playing together and it is always good to see Matt and Olivia!
Luke, Ashton, Noah, Shep, and Hunter
After that we went back to GorDean's house so we could visit with my aunt, uncle, and my cousin Stephanie. 
My newly wed cousin and my aunt saying their good byes to us.
 
We got home Monday evening in time for the boys to play with all of their new toys for a couple hours.

Today was a gloriously uneventful day.  My parents had Molly while we were out of town so we went to pick her up this evening and ate dinner with mom and dad.  Here is a picture that is taken with the boys new Leap Pad Explorer.


It was another whirlwind of a Christmas, but I again humbly walk away knowing that we are so loved and so blessed.  God is truly good. 

Saturday, December 24, 2011

23rd and 24th

The 23rd and 24th are normally slammed with Chad's family get togethers and this year was no exception.  We had a really good time continuing in the traditions.

On the 23rd, Grandma asked us to come up a little early to make gingerbread houses.  The boys had a really good time and Hunter and Ashton actually stuck with it until they finished their houses.  Shepherd ate more house than he actually did work on it.

This is what Shep did... bite of cookie
 
... put icing on finger...

... lick icing off of finger...
 

... rest on daddy.
 


You could tell Hunter had done this at school  He did really good on his own
Hunter mastering the decorating
Grandma helping Ash with the bag of of icing
Ashton begins decorating
 

Papa Hub helping Charlee

Finished products.  From left to right- Ashtons, Hunters, Charlees, and Shepherds.
*** Just a note, the other side of Hunters was way better than the side I took a picture of, he put the tiny ball candies in 4 even rows.  And Shepherd's was really done by Grandma.  And I love the way Ashton noticed the smaller details like decorating the yard.

Then we went to Tommy and Sandee's house for what I will call the SBS (last name initials) get together.  This one included Chad's mom and dad, his sister and her family, and his aunt and uncle and their kids (with a girlfriend).  Love this smaller gathering!  We still feel the absence of Chad's grandpa though.  He had such a presence when he was in a room.  He didn't even need to say a word and you knew he was there.  I miss that.

The 24th began at noon with the "G" get together.  The food at this gathering is enough to feed a small army.  I neglected to take the 1st picture... oops.  For some reason my camera hardly ever makes it out of the bag when at this get together.

Then it was off to open presents at Chad's parents house.  We just let the kids go first and then tried to shove them in a corner with their toys so we could enjoy watching Grandma and Papa Hub open their gifts.
 Opening presents
 



 

Papa Hub's book we made him.  I got the base idea off of pinterest... here is the link to the blog.  We tweaked it a lot though by doing a two part book instead that 1) had pictures from his 60th birthday party and 2) had family  members and friends send us their favorite "Hub" story.  I put a picture of whoever told the story with the story right beside it.  He really loves the book and I loved putting it together.  I learned a lot about my father in law.



Uncle Tommy and Aunt Sandee watching the kids play

The last get together on Chad's side of the family is in the evening on the 24th.  This one is at his grandma's house.  The food was good and I really enjoyed it.  The people are real and quite genuine... which I totally appreciate.

Unwrapping gifts at Mamo's house
Miss Charlee loving her new "princess" toy
  Mamo W and the boys
 Mamo W with the boys and Grandma

Though we are worn out, we have a had a great 2 days. I think the boys now own almost every piece of Car and Cars 2 item ever invented!  We have also started quite the Lego and Batman collection as well!  Thank you to Chad's parents for always making this time of year a special one for both the boys and us.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

tooth numero dos and other things


First, I promise that I am not going to document every single tooth loss, but this is a cute one.


Hunter was eating a snack after dinner tonight and looked up at me with big eyes and said, "I lost my other tooth."  He had a whitish colored thing in his hand and handed it to me.  I look at it and tell him that is not his tooth and to open his mouth.  He opened and got to see the hole in his mouth where his tooth had come out... I also got to see a mouthful of crunched up Doritos.  I did not however see a tooth.  So, I guess he swallowed it with all the crunching of his chips.

It reminded me of the tooth I swallowed when I was eating corn on the cob at GrandmaDean and GrandpaGordie's house.  

  Here is his note to the toothfairy.  

He will be quite excited in the morning when he has a new chapter book of LarryBoy under his pillow.  :)
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And just a cute Ashton story, he got paid $2 to pick up pine cones at mom and dads house today.  We stopped at Barnes and Noble to kill about 30 minutes and he promptly found a book to buy with his money and enthusiastically took his money and book to the front to pay.
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And poor Sheppy has been running a fever for 2 days now.  Because of Christmas, I decided to take him to the doc today to rule out and ear infection.  Thankfully, no ear infection just the croup.  Hopefully he will start to feel better in the next couple days.





Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Birthday Trip

As mentioned, Hunter turned 6 last week.  In our house, we only do a "big" party every 3rd year... for example, you get a "big" party on your 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th birthdays.  This means I only have to do 1 big party each year.  Since Ashton turned 4 this year, it was his year... Next year, Hunt will be 7 so it will be his year and then Shep the next year when he turns 4. And it just rotates from there.

I told Hunter that we would still do something fun for birthday, he could either take a couple friends to the movies or our family would go the big zoo in Columbia (we had never been).  He decided on the zoo.
So, this morning, we packed it up and drove the 2 hours to the Riverbanks Zoo.  We had a great time!  The zoo was wonderful, the weather perfect, the food was good, boys were well-behaved, and the crowd was non-existent.

I guess I could tell you all about it, but pictures are really worth a thousand words... Be prepared, there are a lot of pictures... but you guys wouldnt expect anything less.
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The Animals
Grizzly Bears
Gorilla
Bat- Mom, Hunter wanted to take this picture just for you.
  
Elephant drinking water through his trunk
 

The Lions and Tigers

 Flamingos
 

Penguins

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The Boys + some animals

Hunt and Ash with the kangaroos



My boys, somehow Chad managed to miss all the elephants in the background


 In typical man fashion, Ashton took over the map
 They got to feed and pet his giraffe... his head was huge!
 We ate at the Kenya Cafe... good food.
 Shep and those baby blues
 The birthday boy
 Smash waiting on his food
 Posing beside the alligator pond
 Though Santa did not come until the evening, we stole his chair for a quick picture
 Ostrich making an appearance

 Feeding goats
 again
 and again
 Hunter watching the shark
 

 Family shot
 


And Dad, this one is for you.  If only I had your name for Christmas... you would be receiving a pile of COMPOOST.
 
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It was a great 1/2 day trip and the boys were great.  

Happy Birthday Hunter bug!  We love you so much!