Sam's 5th Birthday Day

Monday was Sam's 5th Birthday. We woke up that morning, opened presents and then went to the boys favorite restaurant...Krispy Kreme...for Snowman donuts (and a Pumpkin Spice Cake donut for me...yummy!) Here are some pics from our day. Sam's good friend Tucker came over that afternoon and they exchanged presents, Tucker's birthday is 2 days after Sam's.

Happy 5th Birthday Sam!

5 years ago today, I was giving birth to my first born. It's been the shortest 5 years of my life. I can't believe my baby is 5. I really wish I could go back and relive December 3rd 5 years ago. It was really one of the best experiences of my life, I think about being holed up in the hospital with all my friends and family welcoming this little angel into the world and I just get warm fuzzies! I LOVED being in the hospital, giving birth to Sam was a big party and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I remember when we went back 2 weeks later when Carly was having Maggie, I was jealous, because I wanted to be back doing the same thing! I also remember not feeling comfortable breast feeding Sam around anyone, so when he got hungry, the only private place I could think of was the bathroom. So, I fed him in the bathroom! How gross is that? Why didn't I just ask a nurse if there was an empty room? Or better yet, grab a blanket and feed the kid! No one would have cared! When Maggs was born, Sam was sound asleep in his carrier in the corner of the room, with a full tummy!

When I look at Sam's sweet face today, I can still catch glimpses of that little baby, mainly because of those cheeks he has. My favorite thing to do every day, is to go check on the boys before I go to bed. I fix their covers, make sure their "ni-ni's" are in their hands, and I lean down and put my cheek against Sam's cheek. I love the way his cheek feels next to mine. I love breathing him in. I love listening to his stories, hearing him tell me about his day at school, watching him get excited about something, watching him learn to write his letters and to watch him start putting together the fact that those letters make words. I love his curiosity, I love his seriousness, I love to watch him play with his brother, love his family and friends and see his sweet, sensitive little heart. I'm so proud of how communicative his is, of how well he can clean up his room, of how well he uses his manners (most of the time!), of how eager he is to help me, Neal and Gabe. I love to hear him pray to Jesus and to thank him for all the things he is thankful for, I love to hear him pray and ask Jesus to help him listen to his teachers and then get excited when he does.


I'm so proud of this boy, I'm so thankful to have been blessed with the priviledge to raise him and teach him about Jesus. He is such a gift, my heart...walking around in 5 year old form.

Happy birthday Baby! I love you!

Decorating the tree

We got the tree up and decorated last weekend and I am just now getting around to posting pictures. The boys were anxious to help, after a few broken ornaments and a couple of time outs, we finally got it done. The loaded all their ornaments on the same few branches, right at their level. I had to go back and re-distribute them later that day! Here are some pictures...

 

 

 

Christmas Getting to Know You

Carly posted this on her blog and put me down as the person most likely to respond to this, so now I have to! Actually, I love these things too.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper...there is something so satisfying about tearing into that paper!

2. Real tree or Artificial? We've done both. Last year, my friend Nicole gave us a 7 foot artificial tree that they didn't need anymore and it's beautiful. I think it looks real, and it's not messy at all! It's nice to not have to fork out the money every year for a real tree, but I'm sure we will do it every once in a while...you can't beat that smell.

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving weekend. I would do it earlier, but it just doesn't seem right!

4. When do you take the tree down the tree? Usually around New Years, although this year it will probably be soon after Christmas, so the house will be back to normal when Luke gets here.

5. Do you like egg nog? No, but Neal loves it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I got my very own phone line for my room when I was in high school...that was an awesome gift.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, my mother-in-law gave us a beautiful one a few years ago and I love it. The boys also have the Little People one that I would highly reccommend getting if you have kids.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and father-in-law.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Sam and my sis-in-law, Laura.

10.Mail or email Christmas cards? mail

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Yikes, I guess stuff I can't use? I don't know, thats a hard one.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story, Frosty the Snowman, all the animated shows that come out. We've been watching Shreck the Halls and the old school Grinch. I also love Polar Express and Elf.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint Crescent Cookies, fudge, cracker candy, Amish Friendship bread.

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

16. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We used to go to Houston every year, but now we make sure to be in Nashville for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We usually try to make it to Houston sometime in December, but are sticking close to home this year. No sitting in the car or airplane for hours for this pregnant Mommy! Everyone is coming to us this year!

18. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Doner and Blitzen...but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all...Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, etc. etc. I just kept Carly's answer on this one! I'll admit I'm a cheater, but I have no idea!

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open one on Christmas Eve, usually pj's and then the rest on Christmas morning.

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic and crowds

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? Every year since I was born, my Granny would give us an ornament. When I got married, my mom boxed them up for me. I LOVE getting out the tree box and going through all those ornaments. I have some absolute favorites that always have a special place on the tree. It's very nostalgic. I'm also a big fan of anything red, so this year I did red and silver balls with red ribbon. I have to admit, I don't think I'm a great tree decorater. Decorating a tree does not come natrually to me!

22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Spiced Tea, green bean casserole.

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? I wanted wood floors in my kitchen, my house painted, a new room upstairs for the boys and Luke's room done. Santa granted me all those things early this year! I also want a new set of pots and pans...fun huh?

24. Who is most likely to respond to this? Carrie (you have to do it now!)

25. Who is least likely to respond to this? I never answer this one, like Carly said, I don't like to set up someone to be an under-acheiver!

Now it's your turn!

The boys

We had our annual Fall "photo shoot" the other day. I try to do this every year at this time to get a good yearly picture of each of the boys. I bribed them with a movie and marshmellows and they actually did pretty good. It's maddening trying to keep them still and to smile on command. It often doesn't work, but I always end up getting some great pictures of them. My favorites are the ones where they aren't smiling perfectly. Here are a few...