Christmas- Part 5- My Family

Last stop on our Christmas activities is at my mom and dads house. Thankfully, GrandmaDean and GrandpaGordie were able to come down to celebrate the birth of Jesus with us.

Here is our annual group shot... of course, we are missing Zach, Anna, and Owen but this is as good as it gets for now.

We got to moms about 10:30ish and by 11 we were opening presents. Hunter kind of knew he and Ashton were getting a Power Wheels from Mantis and Queenie so he was really excited to get there. Of course when we got there he went barging in and didnt see it. He then got kind of mellow- you could see him thinking.

Here are some pics

Hunter is ready to do this
Ashton got his McDonalds play stuff.
Shepherd waiting for his turn
Mantis got Lucky underwear... hmmm, that is kind of gross!
GrandpaGordie being a goofball.
They LOVE this thing... Ashton is pretty scary on it as he is still figuring it out but Hunter has it mastered. We will bring it to our house once they both get semi- competent on it.

Again, we had some delicious food and company! We are so thankful for my parents and grandparents. They are amazing examples for us with our family.

Christmas- Part 4- Our family

The nice thing about being so close to family is getting to open our gifts (to each other) at our house.

Chad and I had a limit of $60 for eachother which was fun. I, however, forgot to take pictures of Chad and I with our stocking stuff. But, here are boys...

Shep

Ashton

Hunter


Next stop- Mantis and Queenie's house.

Christmas - Part 3 - Smith stuff

Christmas Eve is always slam- packed with events. Chad's family does all their Christmas stuff on the 24th.

First, was the Gravely get together. It is amazing how big that group is getting. The food is always really good and the boys always get a bunch of energy out.

Second, opening presents with Chad's parents, his sister and her family. This is always fun because it a smaller group.

Uncle Tommy, Ashton, Aunt Sandee, Charlee, and Hunter patiently waiting.

Hunter with his Pillow Pet that he named Potato. Funny story- I asked Hunter what he should name it and he quickly said "Potato." Ashton also got a Pillow Pet and before I could ask him what he should name his, he told me his was named "Rice." They both then agreed that Shep's should be Pop Tart though Chad and I tried Pasta or Noodle. They are so funny.

These two could get into a lot of trouble together!
Charlee could have cared less about her book so Sandee had the honors
Papa Hub and Grandma opening up gift from the boys
Charlee was flat worn out from her busy week. She woke up from this nap with a fever of over 102.

Last is a get together with Chad's moms side. Every year I go I enjoy it more and more. This family is so real and genuinely kind. There are so many different kinds of people with so many interesting stories.

It was a busy Christmas Eve but one that we always enjoy.

Christmas - Part 2- Dec 23

The next day- Thursday- we started the annual Christmas stops. Chad's dad's immediate family always gets together two days before Christmas. With the death of Papa Edgar this past May, I wondered if the dynamic would change at all and I know he would be proud that it didnt. Though we missed his chuckle this year, we all know he is having the best Christmas of his life. Ok, enough of the sad stuff.

Here are some pictures.

The men

Chad's awesome aunt and uncle. Let me tell you- my kids LOVE this woman... and so do I!

Opening gifts-
More gifts!

My niece- Charlee

Shepherd hiding beside the god-awful camo recliner ;)

Christmas - Part 1 - Hollywild

... thinking about how to blog our Christmas activities since I neglected to do it when it happened. So, here is goes- in chronological order.

Wednesday night we decided semi-last minute to go to Hollywild and look at the lights and see the animals. Chad and I had been once before when we were just married. Mom, Dad, and Nolan agreed to go with us so off we went, all 8 of us in our van.

Thankfully we got there right when it opened and only had to wait 5 minutes or so to drive through. When we were leaving, traffic was backed up for at least a mile and that was only one of the 3 ways to get in.

The lights were nice but the highlight of the trip were the animals just strolling about while you drive through.

You are probably thinking- "what is so special about a cow?"

Maybe this picture will explain it- Yes, the cow is as big as that Ford Expedition.

Some more of the animals- Zebras and there were also tons and tons of deer

Towards the end of the light show you can get out of your car and go see animals that are behind a fence. There were camels, llamas, horses, cows, bulls, goats, etc.


Mom, me, and Shep

My family

Group shot minus Chad

And the reason we do all of this...
Manger scene

Time for Guesses

... getting excited for the arrival of my 3rd niece/ nephew.

Zach and Anna are about 3ish weeks away from welcoming their 2nd baby and our family decided to throw in some baby guesses since they dont know what they are having

Hannah's Guess:

Boy- Jan 10 -6 lb 10 oz - 19.75" (I changed my original weight guess because after seeing Anna on Skype, I am going bigger... no offense Anna ;) you look great, just very pregnant )

Nolan's Guess:

Girl- Jan 9 - 6 lb 5 oz - 19"

Queenie's Guess

Girl- Jan 12 - 5 lb 14 oz - 19"

Mantis' Guess

Girl - Jan 14 - 6 lb 6 oz - 19.25"

Chad's Guess

Boy - Jan 7 - 5 lb 9 oz - 19"

Zach and Anna (or anyone else for that matter) feel free to guess in the comments!

We are so excited for the newest addition.

Hunter's Party and Stuff

... busy today. We have had Hunt't 5 year old well child check up scheduled for a couple months, so off we went this morning. He did great... quick finger prick, weight and height check, and the normal stuff. The big surprise is that he has an ear infection! He has woken up 2 of the last 3 night crying and saying his ear hurt. He hasn't had an ear infection, that required antibiotics, since before he got tubes in Feb of 2007. So, you may be wondering how you get a child who doesnt take medicine to take antibiotics... turns out if you mix it in Dr Pepper it tastes like cherry flavored Dr Pepper.

His stats: Weight- 46.6 lb (84%) Height- 45.75" (94%)

Hunt and I then finished up my Christmas shopping. Came home, dropped Hunter off and then went to the grocery store and took Shep. Shep has been sooooo fussy the past 3 weeks, snotty nose, wet cough, not sleeping great- so he was a bear at the store so I called the doctor and got him in for this afternoon. And, back to Gville we go. His prognosis was not ear infection but a probable sinus infection. So, antibiotics for him too.... thankfully, he takes it easily.

Now let me add, I HATE ANTIBIOTICS... I don't overuse them at all. In fact, I try to have my kids fight off ear infections and the like on their own before immediately going to the drugs, but with Christmas right around the corner and the fact it has been so long since either has had drugs, and Shep having been fighting for this for already 3 weeks, I decided to go ahead and use them. Hope it works!

Now for the fun stuff... We had Hunter's party on Saturday. We kept it simple- had doughnuts at our house, opened presents, then headed over to The Rat's house (aka- Chuck E Cheese) to play for a bit, we then ate lunch with both sides of the family at Jason's Deli. It was simple and a lot of fun.

Here are some pics from his actual birthday and his party.

His birthday
Eating his un-iced cupcake... he is a strange one
Opening presents
His big gift was the comic DVD's of Larry Boy. He was quite excited to get them all
Blurry but the only picture I have of me and him from his party or his birthday... that is what happens when you are the solo photog
His Party

Blowing out the candles on the doughnut "cake"

Present time- he got... a science kit, K5 workbooks, camera, clothes, Thomas playset, and money

Chuck E Cheese
*** Notice the majority of these pictures--- it is the adults playing

PapaHub, Grandma, and Ashton

Mantis- turns out he is not quite as good as he remembers

PapHub, also, not as good as he remember and Chad

Grandma watches as Ashton cheats

Queenie had Shep duty

Grandma helping Charlee while Aunt Sandee watches

Queenie and Shepherd racing

Mantis, Ashton, and Chad

Grandma helping Hunter get that horse moving

"God made you a mommy"

... thinking about the day I became a mommy 5 years ago! Yes, 5 years ago my first baby was born. How can he be 5?

Hunter,
I don't even know how to begin. You have taught me so many things about myself and about life. You have always had and still have the sweetest spirit. I pray that you will never lose your empathy for people. You have a way of seeing when people hurt, truly caring about them, and wanting to fix it. Your eyes will "water" over the slightest bit of bad or sad news. Yet, you are already so strong.... a little man in the making. How many times have you told me that you loved me right when I needed to hear it? How many times have you given me a hug at just right the moment? You truly have a gift, I pray you never lose this!

You are great big brother. You fit the oldest sibling mold to a "t". You are bossy and demanding, yet thankfully, you understand how to be patient and wait. You always help me with your brothers. I am so thankful that they have you as somebody to look up to. You are a Bible scholar! I swear you know more about the Bible than many church going adults. I love the way you look at your Bible everyday and now my Bible time is with you. I used to try and get my reading done before you guys got up, but now you want to listen to me read in the morning. You have reminded me countless times to read my Bible when I would have probably just "done it later" or not at all.

As you have already starting pre-school and will start kindergarten next year, you are moving into an age where you will be exposed to things that I wish I could shield you from. However, I already know Who you belong to. I have surrendered you to Him and I am already so sure that He has claimed you. Remember to always follow the narrow life and to always look up and not out.

Hunter, I have always wanted to be a mommy and I have prayed for you since I was a little girl. God is awesome and he answered my prayer by entrusting you and your brothers to me. I love you so much! You have so much to look forward to this year and I can't wait to see how you grow.

Happy Birthday Hunter!

And for the title of this post- I told Hunter that he made me a mommy and he replied, "No, I didn't, God you made you a mommy." Even at the age of 5, he understands that we are so little and God is so big!

Your life in pictures!

The day you were born6 months
1 year
1 1/2 years

2 years

2 1/2 years

3 years

3 1/2 years

4 years

4 1/2 years

5 years old!!!

Love you!