Christmas Eve

Jan, Jackie, Kara, Kevin, and Jeanne came over for lunch on Christmas Eve. The boys were so excited to finally be able to open some presents. They had waited soooo long. Jackson had decided that Santa had already slowed down the time because it was taking forever for Grandma and Papa Jack to get to our house. We played our annual "Dirty Santa" and everyone was way too nice again. We ended the day with our annual Chrsitmas Eve candlelight service at our church. Jackson sang "Happy Birthday Jesus" with the children's choir. It isn't the traditional "Happy Birthday Song", and it is stuck in all of our heads. Days later you can catch one of us either humming the tune or singing.

To keep Jackson busy during Adam's nap the day before, he decorated a gingerbread house. I was busy in the kitchen remaking the Happy Birthday Jesus cake (the first one turned out awful and the second was "decoratable" and quite delicious) and let him work on the house by himself. I think he did a great job!

Kevin let me open one of my Christmas presents early. Adam just had to help. It's a pretty nifty souped-up flip camera. So, if I can figure it all out you will soon be seeing videos on this blog.

I just couldn't do it all. I was trying to get the table set and lunch started, and as it usually happens, Sarah got hungry. I had Jackson feed her. He always makes sure that she burps. She looks almost as big as Jackson. He is such a proud brother and a good helper too!

Sarah got a Bumbo seat and Adam thought the box was a great seat- until it broke in half!

Jackson got a Crayola Glow Station from Grandma and Papa Jack. He loved watching the marks glow and then disappear.

Sarah loves her Bumbo seat. She can sit up and look around at everything. A perfect gift for a nosy little girl!

A Day at Home

We spent the first day of vacation at home today. Jackson, Adam, and I made some Puppy Chow Mix this morning, and Sarah was on her best behavior all day. She hardly cried at all. She and I took a nap on "Gramma's bed" during Adam's nap. I was watching her sleep, and when she woke up, she looked right at me and started smiling and cooing. Jackson joined us laying on the other side of her, and she just kept turning her head from one of us to the other. What a sweet girl! Tomorrow the boys have haircuts and we are all going to attempt to get a picture with Santa. Better late than never! We'll probably make some chocolate covered pretzels, too. YUM!

I never could catch a smile with the camera.

Sarah and Jackson are having a very serious conversation.

Last Snow of '09?

Last week was a crazy week. I had last minute things to take care of before school got out for the holidays and Jackson ended up with some strange stomach bug on Wednesday and Thursday. He was only sick until about 11:00 each day. Weird! Poor thing missed the special Polar Express day where he was going to get to wear his pajamas. (Thanks again to Aunt Jamie for those- he's just about worn them out and it's not even Christmas yet!) Then the next day was his class Christmas party. He tried to go back for the party on Thursday but made it only a few steps in the building before getting sick. I promise I am not a horrible mom- He kept everything down (except breakfast) and he and Adam were wrestling with each other Wednesday night. He returned to school on Friday, the last day before Christmas break, and only had to stay for a half day. They were calling for snow so the school system decided to close early- and it actually snowed! We got about 2-3 inches of snow and then some freezing rain. This was Adam's first snow- sort of. When it snowed earlier in the year he was sick and couldn't go out to play, so he was ready to get out there this time. He saw Seth eat some snow at the babysitter's house, so that was all he wanted to do. He kept asking to go out to eat snow. Jackson keeps guessing which day the snow will all disappear. So far his guess is for tomorrow, but I'm not so sure about that!

Adam had a little trouble walking in the snow boots. Thank goodness we found all of Jackson's old snow gear.

Making snow angels. The snow was a little icy because of the rain so it was difficult to make an impression in the snow.

Jackson's snowman. There is actually a "real" looking snowman that someone made down the street from us. It's huge and will probably be around for a while.

A Busy Sunday

Today we had three major events happen. Adam and Sarah were baptized this morning. Jamie, Roger, Natalie, Nana, Mom, and Daddy were in attendance. Both Adam and Sarah cried when Pastor Jeff dumped that cold water all over them. Adam's hair was still wet at the end of the service! We all went to the Olive Garden for lunch to celebrate Natalie's 26th birthday. Then Jackson and Adam sang during the church's annual children's Christmas Musical.

Sarah was even awake for some of Natalie's party.

The birthday girl with her cake.

I want to help you, Natalie!

Ooh! What else is in there?
Natalie also got a doll with a stroller, high chair, and play pen from Emily and Joe. I think it was everyone's favorite present- Natalie's, Adam's and Jackson's. The boys couldn't wait for Uncle Roger to get it all put together so they could play. Don't worry- they did let Natalie play with her doll for a few minutes.

Adam and Jackson singing. Yes, Adam is actually singing. Our child who can't talk is singing away at the front of the church.

Jackson said his lines perfectly- loud and clear and sang his THREE solos just as well.

They performed the play, The Best Christmas Present Ever.

All Ready for Christmas

The saga of our Christmas Tree continues. Kevin added more lights to our tree and got the rest of them working for about 24 hours. I was sitting in the living room one night and heard a click. I looked up and half the lights on the tree were out again. AHHH! So, Kevin worked his magic again and they seem to be working...for now anyway.

We were finally home on a weekend to finish decorating the house. Kevin put the wreaths out and got the spotlights up and running. Now we just need to find some replacements for our little trees on the porch, and we'll be all done. They are pre-lit trees and most of their lights don't work. Do we see a pattern with lights this year? They are also not looking too hot after being out in several windstorms for the past three or four years.

Our house- all lit up.

Here's our tree. The lights are finally working!

Adam and Jackson were watching The Polar Express last night. I came into the living room and found them sitting in a box. We do have bean bags for you, boys!

Mebane Christmas Parade

The Mebane Christmas Parade was last Friday night. Kevin, Jackson, and Adam braced the cold and rode on the Boy Scout float. Adam had fun waving and saying Merry Christmas! Most of his Merry Christmas's came out as Christmas Tree though. (Sarah and I stayed home enjoying the warmth of our house.)

Fighting Over Sarah

I will have to start off apologizing. I am sorry I don't have pictures for this entry. Kevin just left with the camera. He took the boys to the Christmas parade here in Mebane. Jackson was so excited that I think he is actually hopping down the street.
Sarah went for her two month check-up yesterday. She weighs in at 13 pounds and 9 ounces and is 23 1/2 inches long. She's huge! She had to get 3 shots and screamed and screamed. She finally calmed down once we got in the car and started moving. She slept pretty much the rest of the day and has been a little cranky today. I'm hoping she will be in a better mood for Aunt Jamie's birthday celebration tomorrow. At least she'll have lots of hands holding her.
I had changed Sarah's diaper a little while ago and asked Jackson if he'd liked to hold her while I washed my hands. Of course, he said yes and immediately sat down in the chair assuming his "hold Sarah position". Adam comes running trying to pull Jackson out of the chair because he wants to hold Sarah. They were both arguing over who was going to hold her. It was too funny. Needless to say no one held her. I put her safely away in her Pac 'N' Play.
I know I promised a picture of our tree. Again Kevin has the camera, but also we no longer have a beautiful tree. Most of the lights went out last night. The bottom and top portions of the tree are the only sections lit up now. In order to fix it, we will have to undecorate it completely and start over. That's not too bad on a 7 or so foot tree. Our tree is pretty much 10 feet tall and we have to pull the ladder out to decorate it. One of my friends on Facebook suggested we leave it alone because now the tree has character. I guess it matches the house, huh? I know one thing- we'll be buying new Christmas tree lights soon!