Christmas with the Family - Traditions

One of our favorite parts about the last few days leading up to Christmas, is spending some major quality time with the family! This year, we had Christmas with Mom and Bill and all of us "kids", a few days before Christmas. We ate our traditional mexican dinner, and let the kids decorate cookies! They all had so much fun! When it came time to open presents, we took our time and let the kids open each of their gifts so they could play with them. Later we opened up stockings that we draw names for. It was crazy, loud, and perfect! 

Our family just keeps growing! 

These boys are my world

On Christmas eve, we headed over to Dad's to spend the afternoon with him, Renee, Bryce, and the Blackburns. The kids decorated a fun rice krispie treat train, then opened and played with gifts until they couldn't make anymore of a mess! We love our tradition of spending the day with Dad, and each year we add another kid or two, just to keep it interesting! My Dad bought us tickets for the bowl game to watch OU play, so all of us big kids were pretty excited about our gifts too! I wish I took more pics this night! :( 

Christmas afternoon, we headed to Nana and Papa's house to have dinner, and of course, open more presents for the kids! Gavin and Crew bring such big smiles to their faces, and they love being with them. They opened tons of new toys, and then we had a great Christmas dinner that Debbie made. We spent the day relaxing and playing with toys until both boys gave in and fell asleep. Gavin passed out on Papa, which has become a tradition at their house! Overall we had an awesome time with them, and the boys were, once again, spoiled beyond belief! This was our first Christmas without Grandma Rose, and we left her seat empty at the table. We talked about the fact that long after we were all finished eating, she would still be sitting at the table bc Grandma was never in a hurry. :) We all definitely miss her.

There's never enough days to celebrate Christmas with our family. This year was so much fun, and I know that each year will just keep getting better! Merry Christmas! 

Tommy the Elf

Our Elf on the Shelf made his debut this year. I wasn't sure if Gavin would be old enough to understand or care about him yet, but after several different explanations, here is what we got: 

We named him Tommy (after Thomas the train) 

Gavin had actually wanted to name him "get presents" 

He understood that he goes to see Santa at night, is in a different place each morning, and that he would "Be Right Back" 

We asked why he went to see Santa and he would said "Go see Santa, aaaaand, get presents!" 

He never really grasped that Tommy was watching him so he better be good, and I never placed him low enough that Gav could get ahold of him because I know how well that would've gone! 

Overall, Tommy was a success! He left Gavin a note on Christmas Eve telling him that he had fun, that Gavin and Crew were good boys, and that he was going to go spend some time with Santa, but would be back next year! It took a few days to convince Gavin that Tommy was gone, but I think he'll be very excited next year when he comes back! 

Crew is 10 Months Old

Crew Baby...Crew Bear...my love, my love bug! You are all these things to me, and my obsession with you is getting worse by the day. I can't get enough of your cheeks, your smile, and especially your overall happiness! You are such a busy boy as you crawl all over the place, and pull up on everyting. You even let go and stand alone for several seconds before something catches your eye. Today you took a few steps toward me, and I about freaked out! Im so proud of your determination in all that you do, but for real...NO RUSH on the walking thing! I already can't take my eyes off you as it is! Im in so much trouble when you start running one way for the bathroom and Gavin heads another for the kitchen stove. 

At 10 Months: 

- Wear 12-18 month onesies, and 12 month pants. 18 month are way too long and kinda big, but we like to be comfy. 

- Still wear size 5 shoes

- Size 4 diapers

- Sleep 7:30 to almost 7 with no nightime interruptions

- Jabber nonstop and can say "Mama" and "Dada"and just about anything else you want. But not much else makes sense to us! 

- Eat any and everything I put in front of you. You love to eat off my plate and drink out of my cup. We are two peas in a pod, and you eat those too! 

We love Xmas Lights and Frosty

This year Gavin has been so much fun with all the Christmas lights and decorations, and pretty much everything else! He is in love with Frosty, who just happens to live across the street. And he is obsessed with Christmas lights as well! We took the boys to Chickasha to see the lights festival, and the Bakers came too. :) 

Daddy & Gavvy Time

Throughout this past week, we have been doing something "Christmassy" with the boys each night. Last night was Eric and Gavin's turn to make a rice krispie treat train together. We could've made a gingerbread house, but who doesn't love a good rice krispie treat! They had a great time making an decorating the train, and then we all ate a little bit of it! I love watching Eric spend time like this with Gavin. :) 

Crew Baby 9 Months

My little love bug....you and I are like 2 peas in a pod. We spend our entire days together and love every second of it. You are 3 months away from your 1 year birthday, and that blows my mind. I don't feel like you should be old enough to have a real birthday yet. But you definitely think you are older than you are. I would buy you toys, but the only toys you want to play with are your brothers. You are constantly playing trains with Gavin, but mostly you are demolishing the track and Gavin and I are rebuilding. You also love the remote, my computer, and anyone's phones. People keep asking me what to get you for Christmas, but all I can think of are things like "a really awesome old remote" etc! 

We are close to the walking phase, but for now, you are content to cruise around the house on all fours. You pull up on everything, and you love your walking toy. Other than that, you are the smiliest, happiest baby on the block! 

At 9 Months, you: 

- Sleep 7:30 to 6:30 without waking us up anymore

- Eat 3 solid meals a day, and still take about 16 oz of formula. 

- The only juice you've tried is when you steal Gavin's cup and get some of his. 

- You wear 12-18 month clothes, and 18 month Carter onesies. 

- You have HUGE feet! Size 4 or 5

- Wear size 4 diapers

- Love all food still, and will devour whatever I put in front of you. Im trying not to let you be a picky eater, and making you all kinds of healthy things like steamed apples, baked butternut squash, yogurt, fruit, and all other veggies! :) 

- You love to scream still, and can say "Mama" and "Dada" Other than that, you just jabber

- You already love the hot dog song from Mickey, and smile so big when it comes on. 

That's it for now, keep on smiling my love. :) 

Rest In Peace Grandma Rose

 This post is long overdue...I just didn't know what to write. In life, we lose people who we are close to, and it's always hard. And as hard as it is that we no longer have Grandma Rose with us, I can't help but smile everytime I think about her...EVERY TIME! I don't know why, but maybe just because she was soooooooo lovely, and funny, and witty!

Although her last years were full of drs appointments and hard times health-wise, she always had a great smile and was so excited to see us and the boys. In several of her pictures that I have, her eyes are closed. It's not likely that I always caught her at the wrong time. I think she always ended up closing her eyes when she was smiling bc I think she was soaking it up, taking it all in and feeling so blessed at that moment, for her family. Rose was a beautiful beautiful woman, and I want nothing more than to remember her that way. Im so lucky that she got some quality time with each of my boys and could take that with her.

She passed away on November 9th, 2012, with Debbie by her side. We miss you Grandma, and know that our family get-togethers will never be the same without you! Love love love you

With Gavin at 7 Months Old - July 2011

Christmas 2011

Feb 2012 - with newborn Crew

Her beautiful memorial on November 12, 2012