MOMS Christmas Play Date

Adrienne hosted our MOMS Christmas play date this year-and why wouldn’t she. . .she was only leaving for the UK for 2 weeks 12 hours after we left!  Anyway, as usual it was super fun, and Adrienne had set up a wonderful craft and we all made shirts with the kids hand or foot prints.

Here are a few shots of the book exchange and craft.

Below is Brenda, McKenna, Karin, Jackson, Jordan and Ellie with their books.

All of the kids having fun.  Can you believe the little guy in the cameo pants in Charlie?  He’s getting so big!

And representing Baylor with his green and gold sweat suit from Aunt Mandy is little Bear. 

Thanks so  much to the help from the super creative Adrienne I got these two awesome shirts.  Bear’s foot print made the cute little Christmas tree and Jackson’s foot prints, hand prints and thumb print made the Rudolf shirt!

Thanks for hosting yet another awesome play date A!

Jackson’s School Christmas Play

On December 9th Jackson had his Christmas play at school.  He was so excited but unfortunately, just like last year didn’t get a good night’s sleep the night before. 

The day before as I looked at his clothes and chose a sweater for him to wear he acted shocked and said he needed a new suit and tie for the play.  He wanted to be fancy!  So, off  to target we went to get the nicest and fanciest suit that the red dot boutique carried! 

The play was, as always adorable and it was great to see Jackson along with his class mates and pals Ellie and Cain in the show.  All of the kids did a fantastic job and the funniest part was the very end when Cain and Jackson were both looking at their mothers and got into an argument screaming , “that’s my mommy!”  “No, that’s MY mommy!”  Their screams were heard above the rest of the singing during the finale performance which included the whole school.  Very funny stuff from these kiddos!  Anyway, sadly we didn’t get any great shots but here’s what we got!

 

Ellie and Cain are in the Older Two’s class.

Here’s Jackson’s Young Three’s class.

At one point Jackson completely turned around and just sang backwards. . .why. . .who knows!?

This is one of Jackson’s sweet  little friends Sophia.  As Jack was getting dressed on Thursday morning he asked me, what do you think Sophia will wear?  Do you think she’ll look like  princess?

Ellie, Cain and Ella’s class coming out again!

Here’s the last song with the whole school where Jackson and Cain had the mommy debate!

Part of Jackson’s fan club, Papa, daddy, Heather and Johnny.

Grandmommy and Bill were also of course there.  I don’t  think they have ever missed any performance in our lives or our kids lives! 

Little Bear getting some love from GM and Bill.

Baron at 10 months

Sweet little Baron is cruising around like crazy lately.  He’s pretty much always happy and smiling.  He’s a pure joy and just so much fun to play with.  When Jackson was a baby I could just look at him and make a funny face and he’d burst into laughter-Baron is the exact same way!  I just love being with him because he’s amazed by everything and just so easy going and always in a great mood.  He now has 4 top teeth and two on the bottom.  He has only actually stood up on his own twice and only for about 10 seconds each time.  He’s super ticklish and also loves to snuggle.  He gives the best hugs where he pats you on the back and then just nuzzles into your shoulder.  His personality is so sweet and gentle and while I don’t want his baby phase to pass too quickly I’m also eager to see his precious little personality develop.   He’s just now starting to eat more which is nice because this week I’m finally going to start only feeding him once at night.  Hopefully he’ll continue to be an easy baby and adapt quickly. . .my fingers are crossed!  I’m looking very forward to only getting up once at night.  And then soon after I’m going to go to not feeding him any at night.  Awww, sleeping through the night sounds like heaven!  But back to Baron. . .these pictures were taken the day he pulled the stocking and it’s heavy iron holder down from the mantle onto his face.  Poor little guy busted his nose but it didn’t seem to bother him much.  He was still thrilled to play in the living room!

His poor little nose!

I love my sweet baby so much and thank God every day for my precious children!

The Watch Rescue Mission

About 11 months ago Jackson informed us that he had flushed daddy’s watch down the toilet.  Due to the fact that I was about to have a baby and the craziness of his statement we dismissed him.  Fast forward 11 months and have the plumber tell you about a “blockage” in the line and we revisited his words.  Luckily-I am  blessed with a husband who can figure out how to do most anything by watching it on youtube.  Jay took apart the toilet and cleared the blockage and what do you know. . .there was his watch!  I advised him to cut his losses, he soaked the watch for 3 days and sterilized it and yes it’s true, has begun to wear it again.  Jackson never ceases to amaze us with his loving and sweet spirit and also his total “boy” behavior!

 

Here’s the bathroom being taken apart.

And the watch, after being in the toilet for 11 months, being sterilized for 3 days.  And just FYI- the dish was thrown away after the watch came out!

The Heard Museum with Nana and Papa

The first weekend in December Papa and Nana took Jackson to the Heard Museum.  He was SO excited.  Jackson just LOVES to spend time with his grandparents and is so blessed to have so many grandparents who all love him so much.  Anyway, he of course had a fantastic time and is still talking about how much fun he had with his Nana and Papa.  Unfortunately they forgot their camera but here are a few shots of the 3 of them after their day together.

At the museum gift shop they bought a little tree that you add water to and it grows.  Jackson LOVED watching the progression!

Thanks to Nana and Papa for such a special day!

Funny Friends

In early December we had Ellie and Charlie (and of course Adrienne) over for some pumpkin and banana waffles.  The kids had a great time eating together and then afterwards playing.  Jackson, who is very serious about shaving each morning, was very insistent that Ellie watch him.   And she was very insistent that if she was going to watch, she was going to document the experience.

Thanksgiving with Nanny and Paw Paw!

We had SUCH an awesome Thanksgiving with Nanny and Paw Paw!

I have nicknamed Beach City “heaven for little boys” and it truly is!  The ENTIRE time we were there Jackson was happy-and how could he not be?  Two awesome doting grandparents, lots of land to explore and ride his bike through, veggies to pick, food to help cook, wonderful aunt and uncle and neighbors who let him ride on their 4 wheelers!

Jack riding his red tricycle in their backyard.

 

Picking oranges with Nanny.  Jackson LOVES to work in the garden with his Nanny.  She got him a knee pad and gloves and he gets so excited when he gets to use them.

Jackson’s “secret pirate club.” Jack built this secret club and then put his elmo chair and pirate ship inside.  He spent a lot of time playing in here.

We got to spend a lot of time with Aunt Ree Ree this trip which was really special.  Ree Ree is just about the sweetest person in the world and both boys of course adore her and Uncle Dennis!

Nanny is a very talented musician and we love hearing her play the piano when we are there.  Baron had a great time sitting with her and “helping” her play!

Jackson always has fun playing with Jay’s childhood toys.

I love this shot of them looking at each other.

Nanny and her boys!  You can tell how happy my kids are by these pictures.

Paw Paw and Bear.  Paw Paw is one of the most “into kids” men I have ever met.  He is so good not only with Jackson but also with Bear.  He loves babies and they love him.  My boys are so blessed to have such wonderful grandparents.

For a very special treat Jackson got to help Nanny make cookies.  This was his first time ever to taste a chocolate chip cookie.  He was allowed to have 1 cookie.  He consumed two. 

Can you tell how excited he was to be cooking with Nanny?!  She taught him how to crack eggs and hear when they are ready.  He talks about that lesson when we make eggs each morning .  Nanny loves children so much and it shows.  Jax has such a great time being with and learning from Nanny and Paw Paw.

The finished product!

Tasting his first chocolate chip cookie. . .

Another really special thing that happened while we were there is that several of Jay’s relatives that he hadn’t seen in 15 years came by.  Jay had organized a little mini-reunion with the family and it was so cool to see them all together.  Apparently they used to get together constantly and do all of their holidays together years ago.  One thing they always did was sing gospel music while Nanny played the piano.  So, of course when everyone got together they were just itching to sing.  It was a very cool experience that really meant a lot to Jay.  I loved meeting every one and hearing all of the stories.

Baron hung out with Uncle Dennis and Paw Paw while I took pictures of the reunion.

Bear gets really excited when he sees Paw Paw.

Nanny is definitely one of those super fun, play on the ground, kind of grandmothers.

Some group shots.

On our second to last day poor Nanny was sick so Paw Paw made us breakfast.  One of the sweetest things about Paw Paw is that he always tries to include Jackson in whatever he does.  So, of course he asked Jackson to help him make breakfast.  Jack loved it and was so proud to help.  It’s probably this way for all children but time is definitely Jack’s love language and he gets TONS of quality time in Beach City!

Jack and Bear in the sunroom. . .also known as the play room when we are there.

Time for Jackson to open his big Christmas present.  He was so excited and had told Paw Paw all he wanted for Christmas was a “dangerous bike like Ellie’s.”  -His idea of a dangerous bike is a 2 wheel bike as opposed to a trike.

And. . .it’s a DANGEROUS BIKE!!!!

He was VERY happy to say the least.

Finally getting to ride his very own dangerous bike!

Here is the cool pirate ship and pirate island that Nanny and Paw Paw got for Jackson.  He LOVED it and it has inspired a serious love for pirates in Jackson.  It was so fun seeing him set up his entire pirate set and play with it each day.  He would beg us every night not to put it away. 

On our last night we had another really special experience.  Jay and I were able to connect with his former foster sister Amie.  Amie and her sister had lived with Jay and his family for almost 3 years when Jay was in high school.  They hadn’t seen each other in 15 years and it was awesome to see them reconnect and hear the stories.

Whew!  I have been meaning to blog about this fun trip for quite some time but wanted to be sure to include all of the great pictures.  Thank you so much to our awesome Paw Paw, Nanny, Uncle Dennis and Aunt Ree Ree for such a great Thanksgiving.  We love you so very much and can’t wait to come back!