Christmas in Reverse

So, though we still have a few days until it is back to the school grind, here are some of the highpoints of this Christmas season... in reverse order.

First, GO CLEMSON!  Woo Hoo!  Lots of excitement in this house of the Tigers win tonight.  We have even converted Chad to a pretty hard core Clemson fan.  Ashton and Hunter are both trying to stay up tonight to ring the New Year in... plus Alabama is playing (Ashton's favorite team, so he is in hog heaven!)

Here are just some random pictures of our New Years Eve/ Clemson watching tonight.

This right here is my little world.

Precious boys.Bennett loves his big brother

There is only one.

This just makes me laugh.  Caught Ashton is mid jump making a face....

No words

See?!?!  My husband is actually really rooting for Clemson... He is vested!  Love it!

My Molly girl

This is my country boy.  No shirt with his Timberlands

And, Riggs is visiting for a few days. Anyone, besides Chad, who sits in this chair will have  DBD (damn brown dog) on their lap in seconds.  Love these three boys.  

Second,  we did our normally Christmas traveling spending 25th -27th with my family and the 23rd- 25th with Chads.  We had a great time and the boys got some great gifts that have kept them quite occupied on these messy, rainy days.

At Aunt Sandee's

These four did a little hand bell performance to Jingle Bells

And Hunter played Jingle Bells on the guitar.  

Opening some presents

Joey girl.

 At Papa Hubs and Grandmas

Tractor fun

Charlee, Sami, and Joey all got American Girl dolls from H and P.

Sami opening one of her gifts

Hunter was surprised over Guitar Hero.  

Again, there is only one.

Patsy and Hub have a tradition to see who can do the best gift for the least amount.  Patsy took one of Hub's old guns that was rusted and just a mess and had Tommy fix it up.  

Hub got Patsy a bikini top that reminded him of the first time he saw her and he wrote a sweet letter.

And shout out to my amazing, talented, awesome sister in law for highlighting my hair.  It had been 10 months... plus it was fun to spend some time with her without our precious children.  She had many doubters in her hair highlighting ability but she cam through.  

 Mantis and Queenie's house
I neglected to take many pictures. I get so distracted when I am "at home" that the camera is an afterthought.

 Two of these three never take naps... they were WIPED out!!!

 Mantis and Queenie along with Papa Hub and Grandma paid for the boys Carowinds passes this coming year!  Thank you!  Mom and Dad also got the older three boys bikes which they were in desperate need of.  The day after Christmas, the boys got to go and pick out their own bike.

Hunt is a natural

Ashton getting the feel of the new bike.  Shepherd was around on his bike but I missed getting a picture of him

Bennett stomach surfing on his tractor from PapaHub and Grandma.

Third, the boys had their church Christmas program on the 13th.  The play was titled "Christmas in Reverse" and was super cute.  I helped a bit with the "directing" of it since our children's director was, in my opinion, unfairly fired from her position.  I will not get on that soap box.  ANYWAY, the play was great.  My older three were the shepherds and had "rapping" solos in the song when the 2 and 3 year olds (Bennett's age) came down the aisle as sheep.  Unfortunately, my camera was dead so Chad's mom snapped some with her camera phone so though the quality is not good at least I have something.

The whole group (minus the 2/3s AKA the sheep)

The boys during their solo.  Look at Shepherd's hair thing.  I was on the floor and looked up at him and frantically signalling to Hunter to take off Shep's hair thing.  He finally understood me and yanked it off in the middle of song and threw it to me.. It was funny.

This was right after he de-capped him.  Dont have a clue how Shep managed to mess it up that badly.  Thankfully it was just his hair and not his lines.

Look at my precious little sheep.

Fourth, Hunter had two engagements with his chorus group from school.  The marched in the parade and had a Christmas program at school.  Again, the photos are camera phone quality.

In the parade... Hunter is right in the middle of the pack

love this... Hunter is obviously a bit tired.  

Such a great time of year celebrating our Jesus and the greatest Redemption story.

Happy New Year!  And GO Tigers!!!

A Visit to A-ville to see the A-tons

Just loved today!  First, the boys only had a half day leading into Christmas break.  So, after I pick them up at 10:30, we head to A-ville to see Zach, his family, and meet new baby Eva.

Eva is seriously a doll... like, could really be a doll.  Such a sweet baby. Of course, she was perfect while we were there and I wanted to pack her up in my car and take her home... at least until I started thinking about all that newborns require, then I decided leaving her was the best idea.  :)

Anna looks beautiful and makes it all look easy... Zach has also stepped up to help out.  He was fortunate that Eva's arrival butted up to his 2 weeks off from work, so he is home almost a month to help out.

The other three kids seem to be adjusting great.  I didnt see a whole lot of Owen and Caelum as they disappear with my kids.  Esme is Esme... goes from full on smiles and laughing to crying and drama (such a girl).  haha

I mean, come on... amazing!  This is 10 years on a couch (an extra long couch)

And just to zoom in on the two blanket babies/ toddlers/ small children.  Look tired?

Anna asked if I would take a couple pics of Eva...  Of course.  I also managed to get a couple family shots and kid shots.  I  thought I would post my favorites.  Hope I am not stealing your thunder.

I posted the B/W vs Color.  I always have a hard time with baby pictures on deciding between the two finishes...

With the headband...

 With the hat (bought by her daddy)

With my pearls...

The 4 A kids!  Love how Caelum is looking down at Eva and holding her hand.  

So sweet!

Between Owen's painful smile and Esme's absolute refusal to participate (can you tell she just had a meltdown?), this is as good as it gets... the one below tells the story a bit more accurately.

I told them all to just cry  It was quite loud.  I love Zach and Anna's faces in this one.  

Here are some other pics from the visit.  

Caught the little snot smiling.  She is such a pretty thing. love her dimple.

Bennett and Es playing together

The boys on the Wii... Hunter hung with the adults most of the time because "(I) am just too old for them"

The babies of their family

I should go back but I think that I have a picture very close to this of Hunter holding at least half his cousins in their first few months.  So sweet being the oldest kid on both sides.

 They opened gifts from each other since Zach and the family will not be able to make to Christmas this year.  Ashton's present from the A family was the pie in the face game.  It was a huge hit.

Ashton right before getting hit

Caelum meets the whip cream

Owen cautiously taking his turn

Zach flinching... 

... and for good reason, gets it

Shepherd made it through 3 rounds before finally getting faced his 4th time.

It was a great visit.  Love you guys... and gals.

Niece #5 and me (thanks for taking this Anna)