Sunday pics, Monday at BB's and Santa

Sunday pics- (a neighbor walking by with his dog said, "want me to take a family pic"- how nice is that?)


















Speaking of Mr. C- he is calling everybody by their names now.  His favorite thing in the world is a "ball!" and he loves to say his letters.  He's 15 mos right now.




Every Monday the children have a PE class near my parents' farm.  We always go by BB and Poppy's after class and have lunch and play.  They LOVE to ride their bikes and gator up and down the long driveway and around the cul-de-sac.



Did I mention Sissy learned to ride a bike without training wheels?  We are all so excited for her!










See my new haircut?  No fluffy curls, but still a cutie.





AND finally- tonight while Marky was at boys' choir we had dinner at the mall.  Santa was sitting there all by his lonesome so we decided we should swing by and say hi.  At first Tucker and Sissy were scared, but I said, "why don't you go tell him what you'd like for Christmas?"  And Tucker RAN up and said, "Hi Santa- I would like to have Thomas things for Christmas."  Santa said, "you like Thomas the train?" and Tucker said, "yes, I do, Santa! "  :)  I loved how he called him by his name.  Sissy just said, "horses."  Basically ANYthing we can think of that involves a horse would make her happy.  :)  And biggest shock- Charlie LOVED Santa and laughed!

The boys' first hair cuts

Did you say "FIRST" hair cut, Donna?  For Tucker?  Isn't he almost four?  Why, yes, he is!  And the Lord has seen fit to give him hair that doesn't grow bangs or grow long (it still doesn't touch his collar)- it just gets thicker and more spiraled and so here we are three years 10 1/2 months old and getting his very first hair cut- EVER.  Not one piece of hair on his head has ever been trimmed.  :)  It was still hard for us to want to do it- I love his crazy every-which-a-way hair.  But it was time.  Zaza is an AMAZING hairdresser and did a great job "fixing" his hair.  We didn't tell him we were cutting- we just said, "let's fix your hair."  :)

Here's a good picture of his hair from this summer-

It's actually quite long when you pull it out- it just springs back into spirals.  :)



A little LIVE-action- :)

 

The end- a little baby powder on his neck to help the hair brush off- Nice and neat-

 Thank you Zaza!

Then it was time to give Charlie just a little, bitty trim. I'm not ready to lose the curls yet!  So we just cut his bangs and side wings.    "Mommy, what are we doing up here?"

 

 "Mommy, talk to me- why are you smiling? What are we doing?"

 

 "As a matter of fact I do NOT think my curly hair wings make me look like a baby girl. Let's just leave my pretty wings, okay?"

 

"Why does Zaza have scissors?"

 

"Oh no!  I do NOT like this at all!"



We don't have an "after picture" because he was just too upset.  But he looks very nice and still has a lot of curls.

Thanksgiving 2012

We had a great Thanksgiving. Zaza and Grandpa drove up from Florida to celebrate with us. BB and Poppy drove over for the day and we had nice, family dinner. BB brought DELICIOUS ham and homemade potato salad, and I made the rest (all but the dressing was homemade)! (It didn't occur to me until just now that Charlie was asleep and missed Thanksgiving) :)



Turkey, dressing, ham, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, green bean casserole, potato salad, ambrosia, cranberry sauce, biscuits and sweet tea- Yes please!

 

My favorite kind of meal- the kids run off after eating and the adults linger and talk and laugh over watered down tea and pie. :)
 

Time for the group to chat while doing dishes. Charlie finally wakes up- hey- did I miss Thanksgiving?
 

Marc and I are biased, but we think we have beautiful parents. :)



After dinner it was play time and story time for Charlie- B is for Bear is his favorite book ever- just like it was Julia and Tucker's.
 

We had a wonderful visit with Zaza and Grandpa. Friday we got up and headed out to Bass Pro Shops and got some great stuff at their Black Friday sale- and our kids think Bass Prop Shops is like Disneyland. We went to Five Guys for lunch and then Marc and Grandpa went to the movies, while Zaza and I took the children home so the littles could nap and the older ones watched a movie. That afternoon Zaza gave all SIX of us hair cuts! :) We had our leftover Thanksgiving meal and then played Apples to Apples, Jr.- a game the kids LOVE. After the game it was time to roast marshmallows in the fireplace and head to bed.


Saturday we got up and realized that the babies had gotten in bed with Zaza and Grandpa. First the boys woke up and came down-




Before long Sissy was cuddled up too-
 

After breakfast, Marc, Grandpa and Marky went shooting with friends. They had a blast and even used exploding targets which the boys thought were AWESOME! Zaza and I took the three little babies to lunch and to the mall.
 

After watching football and having chili for supper we all made sugar cookies and the kids got to ice them and put sprinkles on them. Then it was time for a couple more games of Apples to Apples.
 

This game makes the kids crack up!
 

Charlie and Tucker just walked around while we played- and for a while we kept Charlie occupied in the high chair with his iced sugar cookie-
 

Playing with Grandpa after we got him cleaned up! :)





Such a nice visit with a lot of sitting by the fire and reading stories-




Everytime the kids ask me what we are thankful for this Thanksgiving all that comes to mind is that I'm thankful the soul never dies and that by the saving work of Christ on the cross, our sweet nephew Noah is whole and healed and filled with exceeding joy in heaven.  We love you Noahbug and we are thankful God shared you with our family.  We sang "Where the Soul of Man Never Dies" in high school and I have had it in my head all week.

To Canaan's land, I'm on my wayWhere the soul of man never diesMy darkest night will turn to dayWhere the soul of man never dies
Dear friends, there'll be no sad farewellThere'll be no tear-dimmed eyesWhere all is peace and joy and loveAnd the soul of man never dies
The rose is blooming there for meWhere the soul of man never diesAnd I will spend eternityWhere the soul of man never dies
A love-light beams across the foamWhere the soul of man never diesIt shines to light the fires of homeWhere the soul of man never dies

My life will end in deathless sleep
Where the soul of man never dies
And everlasting joys I'll reap
Where the soul of man never dies

I'm on my way to that fair land
Where the soul of man never dies
Where there will be no parting hand
And the soul of man never dies

Dear friends, there'll be no sad farewellThere'll be no tear-dimmed eyesWhere all is peace and joy and loveAnd the soul of man never dies