Floss

Chase has discovered floss.  He loves to pretend with it.  He loves to brush his teeth and floss...but only when he gets to do it himself.  He hates it when we do it for him (which is the only time his teeth actually get CLEAN).  It has to be done though...his tiny little teeth get grungy looking.  We try to tell him he has to let US do it first and then HE can do it.  He still gets mad but I figure maybe if we keep sticking to it he'll get the hang of it eventually. 

Lunch Date

D.J. randomly called me on the day we were getting the snow and said I should fix him some "breakfast".  This was at 12:30 in the afternoon...haha.  Someone must have slept the entire morning away!  I thought he was crazy for getting out in the mess but I figured he probably wanted to go play with his huge truck...and I was right!  Luckily I already had chicken tortilla soup on the stove so I didn't have to actually get busy and make something - he just helped us eat that.  I don't see that boy often enough - but when I do it's always good.  Also - don't you love how Chase had to get up on the table and hang out and be one of the guys?!  : )

Ladie's Night

Every year the ladies on Ruth's side of the family get together.  They used to do lunch but the last few years we've done supper.  We were missing Taylor and a few others but it was still a decent turn out.  It was short and sweet.  Kind of wish everyone would've stuck around and visited a little longer (because I hadn't been out of the house in days) but it was still nice. 

Spreading Christmas Cheer

We got to enjoy a Christmas treat package from our neighbors this year.  We delivered to them earlier in the month and then a few weeks later they delivered to us.  It was perfect timing because we had just ran out of our own stuff!  Spreading Christmas cheer feels good on both the giving and the receiving end. 

Chase appreciated the package too.  He discovered he has a love for candy canes.  : )

Sunny Day

The day before the first snow was beautiful and sunny out.  So much so that we took the boys for a walk and played outside for a bit.  It was funny because during our walk Josh says "yeah..I don't see snow in our future anytime soon".  Boy was he wrong!  Crazy that it goes from sunshine and beautiful to dreary cold and snowy overnight though. 

Cuddly Boy

Chase felt a little under the weather for a few days after we had Christmas in our jammies.  We did lots of cuddling and taking it easy.  Mommy has no problem with that! 

He drinks the milk out of his cereal bowl like a big boy now.  I remember thinking it was so cute when Owen did this at his age - and now Chase is doing it too and it's equally cute! 

Remember Forever

Josh got home in the middle of the night one night last week.  Chase woke up to pee - so I took him.  He didn't know yet that Daddy was home.  He was half asleep and peed with his eyes closed.  When we got back in the bedroom Josh was standing on the other side of the bed and I said "hey bub..who's that?" and he got a HUGE  smile on his face and looked at me with his sleepy little excited face like "Mom - did you see that?!  Daddy's here!".  It was so adorable and a moment I want to remember forever ever!  : ) 

Christmas In Our Jammies

 We had our "Christmas in our jammies" night at Mom and Dad's last Saturday.  We actually gathered around 1:00 and spent the rest of the day there.  Mom and I spent a lot of time getting ready for the occasion.  I helped her wrap her presents and made her pork balls and wrapped her smokies for her the day before and I still think she was up until midnight working her tail off. 

We did it again!!  We decided this year to stack the presents with everyones all put together instead of just Mom's so it would be even bigger...and it was HUGE!  The kids all get so excited.  Can you blame them?!  We built the "tower" of presents, ate some appetizers, and Mom did a gingerbread house with the kids. 

Mom got each of us Mommy's a giant ruler to document our children's growth.  I love the idea because if we ever move or remodel it won't be on the doorway, it'll be on here.  It'll always go with us!

I tinkled on the piano a little to make it seem a little more festive.  It was noisy and you could probably hardly hear me play but I hope Mom got to enjoy it a little. 

"It's a baby!" says Rose.  :)  She's so funny!

We hung out a bit and took pictures and what not until dinner was ready.  Mom made us a nice spread of deliciousness.  She said prayer before we ate and prayed that we all will always be a close happy family.  I couldn't agree more and pray for the same thing.  Dad ended the prayer with "God bless Debbie".  : )  I love that he chimed in. 

After we ate we all got in our pj's and got ready to do gifts.  I was SO excited when I found my boys' jammies this year.  They say "best gift EVER".  ...and it's totally true! 

Colista and I ended up with the same friggin' pants.  My fault because I took back the ones I originally bought and got these ones not remembering she already had them.  Ugh! 

I thought Josh's Christmas shirt was awesome!  He did too but he didn't think me taking his picture in it was so awesome.  Haha. 

Our group shot turned out hilarious!  Cullen didn't want pants or underwear or a diaper or anything on and he was throwing a fit - so I ran and grabbed him and it distracted some of us so we're all looking all over the place.  I think it's perfect though because it shows the way we really are.  Love it!

It was stinking HOT in there like always.  Everyone got some awesome stuff and all the kids were excited for new things. 

I love everything I received - but I'd say the most special gift I got was a sewing kit from my Mom.  It's an old fashioned looking box and has a cute pin cushion and everything.  I could tell she put thought into putting it together for me.  I love it!  I see it being something that I'm known for having by my kids and grandkids and something I can pass along as a keepsake.  : ) 

Milo did so good all day but was ready by the time we finally decided to leave - he was just plain old cranky.  When we came home he was peachy just laying down.  I think he was just tired of being held. 

I think these are adorable little measuring cups.

Chase loves his new toys.  He minded his own business and played with them for quite a while after we got home.  Josh and I were like little kids too - tearing into everything and "playing". 

It was another awesome celebration of Christmas as a family.  Love our family so much!  One big happy family we are.