Our little house guest

It has been a little noisier, messier,  and busier the past few days!  Our little buddy stayed with us while his Mommy was in the hospital with his new sister.  I will say...I have forgotten what the toddler years were like...already!  Our kids were such good helpers...and they love our little buddy!

He slept well, ate well, played hard, and got lots of hugs and cuddles from all of us.  Here he is distracting my hired help during yesterday's cupcake-a-thon!

Little boys...the first thing they want to do when they get up...eat!

Little M's sister...Little S!  What a healthy, beautiful little girl God has blessed this family with!

Do you know the cupcake lady...who lives on...

How many is 150...really?

She is hired!  Her title will be...shell placer extraordinaire!  You see...it is very important to get it just so...well...at least so you know that it is a shell!

Where do you store the finished product...when there are four children running through the house and a naughty dog?  In your bedroom...on tv trays and folding table...with the door shut, of course!  We will make the delivery today...hopefully, that part will go just as well as the first part!  We know they taste good...the little testers were happy!

When family is away...Mom takes a break...after

Auntie picks up the girls and Papa picks up the boy!  All the guys went in to a ball game together...a Christmas present for Papa/Men's night while James is here...and they watched the Bulls...win?!  Teddy said the score was "a one zero three".  He wanted to know why they built the basketball court so small!  (hee hee)  They were up pretty far!  Ted said he didn't say two words all night...but this morning...he filled me in!  He didn't miss anything!

I still had to be responsible...I had my little buddy!  He has a new little sister that will come home today or tomorrow!!!  We ran a couple errands and had some supper.  He barely made it till 6:00 p.m...I tried to keep him awake...but it was no use...he wore himself out exploring and playing...all day! 

I then got to sit down with a piece of pie and cup of coffee...and watch chick flicks...and fold laundry.  It was restful...and yummy!  Chocolate mousse pie...I think there is a piece left...

We had company for dinner last night.

Mmmm...love the potatoes and gravy and peaches!  Um...the beans, not so much.

Hey, little M, watch Mr. Ted eat his beans...mmmm.

Fill it up...I do it myself!

Gifts from Uncle James and Aunt Lindsey

Crafting kits!  And 3-D puzzles for the "little guy"!

"It says this is for a six plus year old to be able to put together!  How old are you?"  I don't know, can't you see with your glasses?  I bet Teddy can see.

We're not ready for part 22 yet!

I told you...you need part 22...and I bet the rest would go together more easily!  That's fine...don't listen to me...struggle!

How many hours did it take?  How many grown men did it take?  Oh...how many pieces were left over?  We know a couple broke...the Super Glue is witness! 
But one little boy was happy with the results!  Thanks, Uncle James and Aunt Lindsey!

America's New ER Epidemic

It is called Wii arms...probably akin to tennis elbow and carpel tunnel and etc.   Funny...the only one who wasn't suffering from it in our family...Grandma!?  How is that so?

Heard throughout the day

"Hey...you're cheatin'!  I'm gonna keep my eye on you!  Aunt Sara is watching you, little girl!"

"Here, Grandma, watch, 'cause I'm only gonna show you once. This is how you do it." explained Teddy.  After the Ants in the Pants game and being KO-ed by her while boxing, he was a little more competitive with his Grandma!

Daddy took him down "at his request"...otherwise known as a challenge that went something like, "You can't get me..." 

"Mom, can I have a snack?  I only had one thing and I'm hungry."  This was repeated every half hour, I believe.

Did you know that the game "Ants In The Pants" is a full-contact sport?

It is on TED'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY!  Just ask Teddy, Uncle Kenny, and Grandma!

Teddy...uh, the game isn't done...where are you going?  "Grandma flipped my ant on the floor...she's a big

 cheater!"

On the other hand...the girls played a more refined style of games...Princess Yahtzee...NO BOYS ALLOWED!

Christmas Day

"Socks...just what we needed!"

The girls who make the boys wait...all the time.

Monkey bread for Grandma's monkeys...a whole plate just for them...GONE!

Papa making his omlets...MMM...made to order!

Cousins!

"Whatever happened to the real Bible?" asked one uncle of the other techno uncle.  "What?!  I'm reading from the KJV!"Contemplating the story of Christ's birth...and figuring that for next year's Christmas program Sammy or Chevy would make a great lamb for the shepherd!

It was a wonderfully warm family day with lots of laughter!  We are thankful for the times that we have all together as a family!  We love it when Daddy is home with us!

The day after Christmas...

is beautifully white!  A good day to stay inside and enjoy the comfort of home and the warmth of memories and blessings!

I think we are the only family in America that is up and fully involved in a bowling tournament...BEFORE 7:30 A.M.!

"Dad, if you can't figure it out...just start pressing all the buttons!"  offered Teddy.  We have graduated to a new level in parenting...we can set it up...but the kids tell us how to get it set up and how to play!

The making the Mii for each of us is quite comical..."No, they are not that fat.  Glasses...you need glasses.  Try the beard.  How about stick up

 hair!"

I will need to write a note of apology to our neighbors...it has been a little loud here this morning.
Where-ever you are, what-ever you are doing...Have a very Merry Christmas with those you love...for they are one of the best gifts that God gives us! 

It was the little things...well, and one big thing.

You can't see the tears...but they are there...when a child writes a note from her heart...there is a joy that overflows from a parent's heart.  Ash doesn't always say much...but in her Christmas gift to us...she wrote volumes!

They make me giggle...heart necklace and nail polish called Twinkled Pink...that's my girls!

Teddy's truck will hold three Matchbox cars!

!

We saved birthday money up...and added Christmas money...let some fun begin.