Santa Baby

After waiting outside Santa's house for about a half hour, you can see the boys excitedly looking in, knowing their turn was next.



The boys couldn't wait to tell Santa what they wanted. All three were Thomas the Train related.

Wyatt told him he wanted, "ice cweam Thomas and the ice cweam truck"

Jaxon said, "pinchy toes and the breaks and the chugas"

Lucas requested "Lady with the chugas and the breaks"




This year has been lots of fun. They get how exciting Christmas is and still are at an age where ONE present from Santa is enough to keep them happy. They love all the Christmas lights and with so many deaths this past year in both our families, (as well as losing two family dogs) we have talked a lot about heaven and they really grasp the concept of baby Jesus' birthday. Well, as much as a four year old can, anyhow.

This holiday season seems to be one of much happiness!

Preparing for Christmas

Besides the normal shopping at Toys R Us or online, we have been getting our home ready for the holidays.




Nana helping the boys put together a ginger bread train.


The boys decorated our Christmas tree.


I made an ornament wreath (using this tutorial).


Don built the manger for our nativity scene with a little help from the rest of the family.


And last, our Christmas lights are finally up!

We match!

As I was making the boys lunch on Sunday, I heard them get excited as they noticed that they all had the same shirt on.

"We match! We match!"

Wearing the same shirts is not a new concept around here, they have a few shirts that are exactly the same, but they were being so good and especially lovey towards each other on Sunday. I looked over my shoulder and they were hugging about wearing the same shirts.



See? Totally hugging and exclaiming "we match" and then hugging some more.

I am not sure what had gotten into them for the few minutes here, but I will take this random hugging and being sweet to each other over the random crying and fighting any day!

My Weekend Out

For the first time in over 10 years, I went away for a weekend by myself. My cousin Anne in New York invited me to stay with her and I took her right up on her offer. We did things like go to eat at a place the kids would never allowed me to go, as well as drive by my Great Grams house.



The weekend included a night of chatting and laughter with some of my closest cousins.



A day learning a family recipe of homemade raviolis, followed by a big Italian family dinner of everyone sitting around the table laughing. And ended with watching You Tube wedding videos.


A day hanging out with my grandparents who have built and lived in the same house since they married some 60 years ago.



Followed by an evening with my brother, Dad and the best pizza and wings in all of New York. And the next day I got to catch up with my step mom and have a real conversation in the first time in about 8 years and all without the many interruptions that come with kids and men.

The weekend was wonderful and the only thing I would have changed was to have more time to spend with everyone. To really catch up with my family and get to sit and chat with them instead of a hello on the go was so good for my soul.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was just what it should have been. The kids had lots of family around -Aunt Judy and Uncle Ray came as well as Brent, Jessica and Reagan. Of course my Mom and Dad were there -it is their house after all. And Leigha, her boyfriend Ed and us, made for 14 of us hanging out and watching football while eating Aunt Judy's famous "Hurl" recipe with some chips. YUMMY!

Dinner was delicious! Ham and turkey, sweet and regular potatoes, corn, stuffing, rolls and more filled our plates and our bellies. The boys loved the pumpkin and cherry pies for dessert and during half time of the Texas A&M game (against the Longhorns) we ran out the door so we could catch the other half after we got home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

From our turkeys to yours :)

Snap shots

Yesterday we went to Mount Charelston with some friends in hopes of getting some new pictures for Christmas cards. The boys loved being out of the car and just wanted to climb up on the mountains, so they were not thrilled when we wanted to take pictures first. They did a pretty good job though and we all had a nice day being in the fresh crisp air.