Photo shoot

We got pictures of the boys done awhile ago but I haven't posted the pictures because I didn't want my mom to see them (they were her Christmas gift). We actually got all of the grand kids, which is 8 little ones to be exact, together and attempted to get a group shot for her. They turned out great even though they wouldn't all sit still and look at the camera at the same time. Our original plan was to go to this great place, Duncan Gardens. I remember doing family pictures there when I was a teenager and the scenery was beautiful. It is actually just somebody's backyard. So we show up the morning of the photo shoot and we cannot find the sign marking the entrance. Hmmm...interesting. We know that this is the place so we continue to look around. After a few minutes of searching, our photographer decides to go into the people's garage that was open and knock on the door. They answer the door and inform us that it was no longer open to the public. Bummer!!! We made do anyways and found this really cool tree with red leaves on the side of the road, and proceeded with the shoot. They turned out great, thanks to an incredibly talented, yet affordable photographer, Michelle. Her blog is www.shebreathestudios.com if you want to check out her work.

A new year!!

I love the start of a new year. The idea of starting over fresh and leaving your old junk behind, is very...oh, I don't know the right word...exciting!! I am not making any resolutions because I never keep them, but I would like to strive to be in God's word more and to try to be content with what the Lord has given me (which is a lot and I am very thankful)! Here's to a new year, everybody!

My Grandma

My Grandma passed away a couple of weeks ago. Although I knew that death was in her very near future, I have had a very heavy heart about it. It is comforting to know that I will be reunited with her someday in Heaven and that she is with Jesus right now! She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a few years ago and it has been a very rough road since then. It is so hard to see someone that you love struggle with everyday tasks and eventually forget everything and everybody they love. I loved spending the night with my grandma and grandpa when I was a little girl because they spoiled me rotten. I got as much soda as I wanted (which was not the norm at my house) as well as fudgesicles and cheese and crackers. I remember when she picked me up from school when I was sick and I was able to go back to their house where she took great care of me! I knew that I was loved when I was around her! I will miss her, but I know that she is in a better place smiling down at me- and that makes me happy.

Cold!!!

It has been so darn cold here. Waking up in the morning and looking outside to all of the frost has been fun...until you have to go outside to drop kids off at school. Max doesn't seem to mind the cold weather at all. The other morning, it was around 8:30 am, he requested to go out and play in the back yard while I was cleaning up all of the breakfast mess inside. I thought he would come running back inside after a few minutes, but he was happy as a clam riding his bike around in the freezing cold. It was so cold that I had to go out and defrost his bicycle because it was so icy!! I just love this kid!!


can you see all of the frost on the grass?

Shopper

It is so nice to only have one kid to do errands with. Now that Sam is in school, I am able to do all my shopping in the morning with only ONE- yes count them- ONE kid!! And Max is such a good little shopper (as long as I have snacks!) Here is a sweet picture taken of him in his car seat on the way to the third store yesterday morning:

1st Big Boy Haircut!!

I have been wanting to cut Max's hair with clippers for so long now. I just haven't mustered up the courage to do for fear that he would look funny. Well, tonight I was tired of the scraggly hair that he had and he needed a haircut, so instead of using scissors and not really giving him much of a style, I used the clippers. It is really hard to cut the hair of a 2 yr. old. He is very wiggly, so we used a sucker to bribe him. He sat pretty still until I got to his neck. It was a bit tricky because he is ticklish on his neck, but I couldn't be happier with the results. Max either. He is very proud of his new style. And he looks so much older. He is my big guy now!!!


All the hair we cut off


I couldn't catch him. He was running around acting like a silly guy!

Thanksgiving...part 1

We have lots of Thanksgiving celebrations in my family. 3 to be exact. My sweet and generous parents do their dinner the Sunday before so all of us kids can go to the other side of the families' and not have to rush around on the big day. On Thursday, we always go up to Raymond in the morning to visit John's dad's side of the family and then we head back down late afternoon to celebrate with John's mom's side of the family. So we had our first of three dinners yesterday, and it was yummy. There was 14 adults and 8 kids total. My mom had the garage decorated so beautifully and we ate in there. It was so nice to not have to cram into the kitchen. We all had plenty of room to move around. It was kind of a zoo, but fun to watch all the kids play. Now if we could just get Max to play nicely, life would be good! Here are some pictures:


We always take a family picture at my parent's house. It's tradition!







Notice this scratch above John's eye. He missed his mouth when taking a drink of his soda and cut his eyebrow! What a nerd!