The Little Snow that Could Not plus CLEMSON

So, last Friday, all the weather forecasts said we were going to get between 3-5" of snow... turns out, we got 1/2" of snow with some funky ice underneath.

However, since it was the first snow of the year, the kids (and dogs) still managed to make the most of it... one time.  We pretty much stayed in the house for 2 days.

The one posed picture where they were stilll... which led to....

... a pile.  Love Hunt's face here.

This snow wasnt good for much but the boys did manage a small snowball fight and some icy trampoline jumping.

Watch Out

Chad warming up his hands

Pretty smile...

... and pretty eyes

It's 11:30 and the club was jumpin, jumpin

Do you want to draw a snowman? (sing it)

Nolan got to go to the the National Championship football game... GO CLEMSON!!!!!  So, we had Riggs.  Riggs Richard, as we call him, and Moses had quite the time together.  They are highly jealous of the other getting their attention, but they are really good friends.

Pups patiently waiting on their snowballs... The patience didnt last long

Riggs is done waiting

Moses jumping to get his snowball.

 We made pepperoni rolls for lunch.  Let me just take a minute to talk about pepperoni rolls.  I have learned that pepperoni rolls are a West Virginia thing.  You can seriously buy them almost anywhere in WV.  When I was in high school, the special needs classes would sell them in between classes.  I have had my share of the delicious little treats.  It hit me recently that I hadnt had a pepperoni roll in over a decade.  So, I looked up how to make them and Shepherd and I whipped some up.  You can make your own dough, which I will try sometime.   But, for a quick lunch/ snack this recipe cant be beat.  I half each dough biscuit before spreading it out as I like them a little smaller but either way works.  If you dont want to refrigerate them, just dont put the cheese in.

Such an easy, yummy lunch/ snack.

 We really had a nice few days doing absolutely nothing with my 4 favorite kids, 2 awesome dogs watching the Tigers win the National Championship.

Waiting on the game to start. 

My boys loved sharing my lap.

Go Tigers!!!

The Month of December and Christmas

December is always so busy.  From sports to Christmas programs to Hunt's birthday to traveling to Christmas itself; it sure is easy to get totally distracted from Jesus.  Driving back from our Christmas travels, loaded down with lots of stuff, I felt like maybe, we got a bit away from Jesus.  With all our get togethers, the name of Jesus was scarcely uttered besides a quick prayer over food and a precious Happy Birthday song to Jesus.  Honestly, I felt burdened about it and I am already thinking how to remedy the problem for next year.

Convictions are quite personal things- where the responsibility lies solely with the one being convicted. (AKA- me) With that being said, any family reading this, please dont feel like I am slamming our time spent together over break (as we were all quite spoiled and loved on.)  Simply, I need to do a better job of focusing my family around Jesus... not just over Christmas but every day.

In November, I started doing a study on the Armor of God and I purchased a kid devotional study on the Armor of God that I am doing with the boys.  We put it aside for the month of December as we focussed on Advent with the annual reading of Ann Voskamp's book, "Unwrapping the Greatest Gift."  We will pick up our Armor of God book once we finish the advent book (we are a bit behind.) :)

As I mentioned December is busy!  Here are some pics of our happenings of the month.

Church Christmas play-  The play was called A Rockin' Royal Chrismtas and it was so good.... probably my favorite so far.

Hunter was King Herod and had a long solo that he nailed!

Hunter singing with soldier Bennett guarding him (never thought Bennett and Graham looked alike until this picture.)

Ashton had a sweet solo as well... He was the inn keeper.

Shepherd didnt have a roll since he was in 1st grade but he knew all the songs and sang loud.  

Bennett, again, as soldier.

Ashton is doing 3rd grade chorus this year and they had their Christmas program at school.  It was cute and short.... my favorite.

Chad's family over Christmas

6 of the 7 (dont know where Joey is)

The adults getting ready to eat.  This is one of my favorite traditions.  It is Christmas Eve Eve (23rd) and it is a soup supper.  Seriously, the perfect dinner leading into the heavy foods that happen the next two days.   Thanks for hosting us Sandee.

This... right here... is why I love my father in law.  Totally rockin' the onesie as he cooks us breakfast.

Like father, like son.  Food coma.

I got a new dog niece... meet Dolly.  Sandee and I went to pick her up on Christmas Eve for the girls.  

Opening family gifts

Uncle Tommy and Aunt Sandee got the boys fishing rods and instead of wrapping them, they wrapped a box inside a wrapped box, etc until they got this piece of paper.

Uncle Tommy wrote the note.

Moses enjoying the unwrapping.

My parents house

Round 1- Boys opening presents from Chad and me

Bennett is ecstatic that he finally has the Air Patroller

Each boy got a Kindle Fire... which Shepherd said is his favorite gift ever.

 Round 2- With Zach's family

Miss Eva sporting her scarf I knitted (thanks to Grandmdean for the knitting lessons).  I gifted four of my knitted scarfs this year.  :)

Cool gift from Owen and Caelum to Ashton (Wide receiver gloves)

Nolan and a keg ornament

My pretty mom in her favorite role as Christmas Cathy! :)  

Kid 1 and 3 sporting new hats.

Dog love.

A little football action.

Caelum gets run down by Uncle.

While the big kids played football, the littles ate and ate ate.

Just some funny pics... Hunter got virtual reality glasses from Chad's parents.  The top 3 are my boys trying them out... the bottom three are my brothers and mom trying them out.  People are hysterically funny when trying this for the first time.

Hunter

Ashton

Shep

Uncle Zach

Uncle Nolan

Queenie

We have had an amazing December.  Heck, we had quite a blessed 2016.  Many many many changes are coming up for our family this next year.  From a move back home to me going back to work to school changes for all the boys to moving in with my parents for a bit, it is shaping up to be an interesting year.  

Back home

Checked off Shepherd's bucket list... a trip to the Lego Store.  

Moses was tired from our travels.

Thank you family for a great Christmas break full of laughs, food, and sweet memories.  

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.... 

Oh, and what about those Tigers?!?!  Go Clemson!

Ash and Shep- The Stats

First, let me say how thankful I am that my middles had another year of no health issues.

Second, let me say that I hate taking these two to the doctor together.  It is one of those humbling experiences.  They are sooo goofy, laughing over every little thing the doctor asks them to do.

Nurse- "Please undress to just your underwear. Would you like a gown to cover up with?"

Kid- "hahaha, ok."

Other kid- "No, I will just stay in underwear."

Doctor- "Any diarrhera or constipation?"

kid- "hahaha, no."

other kid- "what's constipation?"

Doctor grabs a glove and does the "cough" check.

Kid chuckles

Other kid full out laughs while it is happening to his other brother.
Both kids preface this experience with, "do we have to have a weiner check?"

Doctor "jump up and down ten times."

Kid - you would think he has zero athletic ability with the way he is jumping around the room

Other kid- making all kinds of weird faces while he jumps

I am so thankful they get us in and out quickly because by the end, I am about to die.  These boys are just too much.

The middles!  Love this duo. Yes, I cropped Hunter, Bennett and even (gasp) Moses out of the picture.

Ashton 

Weight- 56 lb (21%)

Height- 52.5" (46%)

Shepherd

Weight- 67 lb (94%)

Height- 52.75" (99%) 

***He is officially taller than his older brother.  We knew the day would come, but didnt think it would be when he was 7.  I went back and checked on Hunter at 7 as Hunt has always been tall for his age.  This puts Shep's size into perspective.  Hunter weighed 57lbs and was 51.5" tall at 7 so a good bit smaller than Shepherd.

After the doctor's appt, we met up with Olivia and baby Isaac for lunch.  I love her being so close to do quick meet ups!  I got to love Isaac for a little bit but he is already quite a momma's boy and wasnt truly happy until he was back with him mom. Thanks for meeting with us Liv.

One One

11 years ago my epidural was cut off and I pushed for almost 2 1/2 hours...  All this was done to get to hold this scrawny little 7 lb 2 oz baby for the first time.  Of course I loved him from the moment that I found out I was pregnant, but, for me, it was awe at first sight.  I was in absolute awe of this little person.  By his one month check up, he was up to 10 lb. 13 oz and by six months was over 20 lbs.  I feel like I just blinked to the present.

This kid knows how to take a picture.

My Hunter is growing into such an amazing young man.  He is a thinker... sometimes overly so.  He is obedient to a fault (if there is such a thing.)  He completes his homework without any prompting from me or any complaints.  He fits the mold of the oldest child and is quite the caretaker to the younger three.  During football season, he helps me tremendously around the house and with his brothers. He is compassionate and hurts when others hurt.   He is funny.  I love that he now gets all of my sarcasm and will softly chuckle when I say stuff to his brothers that will go right over their heads.

He loves his Clemson Tigers

He loves Jesus, knows the Bible amazingly well, and loves going to church.  He still loves all super hero shows and movies.  As I mentioned before, he and I can have a 2 hour discussion on the latest Arrow or Flash season.  He remembers trivia (AKA trivial facts) and is in dismay that I do not share his love of history facts, science info or random knowledge.  He still loves for me to read to him.  He is not an avid individual reader, but will come running if I offer to read to him or if he hears me reading to the other boys.

Opening presents

Ashton made him laugh.  Still opening presents

His favorite present (the arrow was a Christmas gift) was the quiver and more arrows.  He is posing here as the "Green Arrow."  I told you we slightly in love with Arrow and Oliver Queen. Well, he is in love with Arrow.  I am in love with Oliver Queen... hahaha

It's funny how God knew exactly what I needed when he loaned you to me.  Hunter, you are such an amazing kid.  You are a bit weird and you totally own it.  I pray that your mold is always fashioned after Jesus.  Surround yourself with like-minded but dont be afraid to get into this messy world and love on people.  As we are studying the armor of God, prepare for battle daily.  This armor is the same divine armor that Yahweh used in Isaiah.  We have access to Jesus' armor!  I take great comfort that you are equipped to handle the "flaming arrows of the evil own" because you are covered by Him.

Blowing out his birthday brownies.  He requested Zaxbys for dinner and I caved.  

I love you so much!  You have a lot of exciting things happening in the next year and I know you are ready.

Happy Birthday,
Love,
Mom

Height- 5'2" (not in inches anymore- that sounds so tall.)
Weight- 98 lbs
Shoe- 8.5 or 9
Shirt- Youth XL or 14
Pants- 14
Gosh, you are growing up so fast!

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And because I dont have enough to make it its own blog.  We were able to head up to Asheville to celebrate my niece, Eva's, first birthday.  She is such a beautiful, precious little girl.

Eva Claire is 1!!!!

She knew just what to do with the cake... double fisting it.

So, happy happy birthday to Hunter (and Eva).  While I am at it, Happy Birthday to Nolan too.  From December 7 to December 14, our family has a bunch to celebrate (actually, Happy Birthday to my cousin and maid of honor in my wedding Stephanie who hit the big 33 yesterday!)

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To sum it up- Hunter, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."  Eph. 6:10-11