A Very Merry Christmas

We've had a festive week beginning with our annual birthday dinner.  This year, mom and dad changed things up a little and Holly got to pick the restaurant.  We ended up at Kanki Japanese House of Steaks.  Nobody complained.  The kids always looked forward to making cakes at the Angus Barn but this year, they enjoyed watching the Japanese chef cook just as much.  On Friday, we went to Holly's to have cookies with Santa.  Anderson, Jackson, and Jackson's friend, Richie, dressed up as elves and "helped" with the event.  Sawyer got to meet Santa for the first time.  Let's just say he's not a fan.  Maybe he was confused because he heard Granddaddy's voice but the man in the red suit didn't look at all like Grannddaddy.  Oh well, maybe next year!

I think this Christmas has been one of my favorite ones yet.  It's been nearly perfect, with the exception of a particular meltdown on Christmas Eve of one child who will remain nameless.  We had a wonderful lunch at Aunt Bonnie's yesterday.  I'm not sure how things run so smoothly with all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins but it does.  Aunt Bonnie's house was  beautiful and the kids were able to spend time outside playing which was just an added bonus.  The food is always so good.  I was born into a family of great cooks!  Last night, we topped the evening off at Holly's and enjoyed leftovers and appetizers, as if anyone needed to eat after the spread we partook of at Bonnie's.  Ha!

The kids exchanged gifts at Holly's and that certainly was a highlight of this Christmas.  The look on their faces as they opened gifts was one of the many joys of Christmas.  Cole got an Easy-Bake Oven, which her brother really wanted.  Bennett received an NC State Pillow Pet and a Bat Cave.  One would have thought that he won the lottery.  All of the kids were happy with their gifts.  One of the best gifts of the evenings, in my opinion, was Jackson's karaoke machine (thanks Granndaddy and Granny).  We spent several hours singing at Holly's.  Please see the pictures below:-)  Bennett, Jackson, and Sawyer entertained us all with their singing and dancing. 

This morning, Mom made a delicious breakfast and all of us were there!  Jackson took his new toy so Laura and I took everybody on a ride back into time and we preformed the Bangles, Manic Monday while Holly ran in and out of the room.  For those that have seen our old home movie, you understand.  We probably looked a lot cuter on that old 80's video but it couldn't have nearly as fun, or entertaining for that matter.  And....ironically as I type this, Webb is singing Jason Aldean.  Who says that growing older isn't fun?!?!?  Christmas is as fun as it's ever been.

Papa and Grandma traveled to our house this year and they just left about an hour ago.  We enjoyed having them.  We opened gifts, watched the boys play with their gifts, and then filled our bellies.  It was a fun and relaxing day.  Thanks, Papa and Grandma for the wonderful goodies and for coming to us this year.
Things are quiet for now.  Up next are a few birthday celebrations.  Mom has always done such a great job of making our birthdays special.  I'm looking forward to vanilla pudding on Tuesday, Bonefish Grill with Webb, and watching the Wolfpack play one last football game in 2011.  After that, it's onto Holly's birthday then I guess we'll get ready for 2012.  Life is so good, I wish time would just slow down.  Merry Christmas and love to you all!

Kanki Birthday Dinner

Santa is sitting to my right but Sawyer refused to make eye contact.

Bennett rejoicing over his new present.

Add caption

Playing the piano and singing.

New wheels from Papa and Grandma

One of Sawyer's favorite gift, a bucket of popcorn.

December 19th

It's December 19 and all of the trees have been decorated and redecorated, some of our gifts have been wrapped and unwrapped, my vacuum cleaner has worked overtime to clean up broken ornaments and one snow globe, but certainly, December has already brought lots of fun, joy, and excitement to our family.  It truly is one of the happiest times of the year. 

Webb and Jackson went to Asheville last week.  It was a quick business trip for Webb but a good chance for Jackson to see the mountains there for the first time.  Sawyer and I took two days to do mostly nothing but play and rest.  We also finished up 4th grade for 2011.  We're planning on spending this week doing a little math and science in the kitchen while doing Christmas baking.

Here are a few picture from this month.  I'm sure that we'll have more to share after this weekend.  Merry Christmas!

"Granddaddy Santa" makes a surprise visit to Jackson

Blue Ridge Parkway Pictures

Jackson said that his ears kept popping on the way up.

Picture taken by Webb after he gave Sawyer chocolate cake

Sawyer really enjoying a paper bag

Eying a jar of Christmas candy and probably pulling an ornament from the tree

Sawyer playing with a nativity set that was played with by Aunt Bonnie, Uncle Charles, and Granny

. 

  

                     

He loves to climb the steps.

Helping Mama clean, kind of.  

Playing some football with Anderson and Bennett

Silly Bennett

Drawing pictures on the whiteboard calendar

Super Sawyer....playing with the airsoft goggles.

December Already?

It's December 5th and I can hardly believe it!  November went by way too fast for me!  We finished the regular season of baseball in October.  The Padres played a close championship game but lost in an extra inning by walking in a run.  It was an exciting game and a great season, to say the least.  Jackson didn't take a break from practicing after that.  The summer team signed up for two winter tournaments and so we got to watch a few "Big Red" games in November.  Since then, we have enjoyed more relaxed evenings with nothing on the calendar.  The weather has been mild but nobody is complaining.  We have played outside until after dark each week and Webb and Jackson have gone out for a few afternoon hunts.  Also, Granddaddy recently purchased a few more dirt bikes so the cousins have been doing a lot of riding. 

We spent five days over Thanksgiving at the beach and as always, it was wonderful.  The weather was nice there also so we were able to spent time playing on the beach.  We also got a chance to enjoy the holiday festivities around the Boardwalk and the lake.  The annual 4 mile trail run was Thanksgiving weekend so I signed up again this year.  Last year at this time I could hardly run due to my recovery from the DVT.  I felt so much better this year and so I ran with a grateful heart and a healthy leg.  I am so thankful to God for so many blessings. 

The house isn't completely decorated for Christmas yet but we've gotten a good start on things.  Most everything is done around nap times this year so it may take me the rest of this week to finish everything.  Most of our shopping has been completed, thanks to my favorite website, Amazon.com.  We have so many birthdays to celebrate this month and so the shopping began in October this year.

That's all of the updating I can fit in for now.  Sawyer is pulling out all of the decorations that he can find.  It's not even 8:30 AM and  I've already cleaned up water from a Christmas decoration, a broken snow globe cord (yep, the cord broke right in half as he tried to pull the cord out of the wall) a box of shredded wheat, grits, and a few plastic nativity animals.  'Tis the season!