Parker's School Program

Parker had his 1st grade Christmas Program on Monday. He was so excited to be performing at the performing arts center for us. They had 2  programs, one at 1:00 in the afternoon and one at 6:00 in the evening. There weren't very many people at the afternoon one, but Grandma Yancey and I were able to make it to watch Parker and his class sing their songs. The evening performance was huge, there were close to 1000 people there to watch the 1-3 grades perform. They all did a great job, but the first grade was the best! (I can say that) Parker actually sang, which is a bug improvement from his Kindergarten program. He is loving being in 1st grade and loves his wonderful teacher.

A New Tradition

We have started a new tradition at our house this year. The Elf on the Shelf. We had a special visitor come to our house, the day after we werent feeling so great. So it was such a nice suprise to see something good and to have something fun and exciting to look forward to. The kids and I named our special elf Fritz. Fritz was sent to our home from Santa Claus to help watch after the kids and their behavior before Christmas time. He then reports back to the North Pole each evening and lets Santa know what the kids have been doing. He can watch them and the kids can talk to him, but he cannot talk back and the kids are not allowed to touch him, because his magic will wear off. So far the kids love getting up each morning and seeing where Fritz is hiding. They talk to him and they are quick to do something I ask them when I remind them that Fritz is watching. Paxten even gets excited when he spots our special Elf. He has also been really great not to touch him. We are thrilled that this has become a tradition and we look forward to the rest of the month and many more years with our new favorite Elf Fritz!!

Sickness

Parker stayed home from school a day last week because he had been up all night throwing up. I was not thrilled about him missing another day, but the poor kid was miserable. Matt was nice enough to stay up with him during the night, but I didn't get much sleep either, I hear everything that goes on in the house! I was so hoping that Parker would be the only one to get this horrible bug....but I was wrong. Parker was up Wednesday night/Thursday Morning and was feeling better by Thursday night so it was just about a 24 hour bug. No one else was feeling yucky on Thursday so I thought we were in the clear. The Friday afternoon I started to feel it coming on. I let Matt know, he was working a double shift the day. He came home about 6:00 to check on us and while he was home on a break Paige started to feel sick. So Matt called into worked and told them he needed to stay home and take care of me and Paige. Luckily they let him. I am not kidding when I say that within the hour of him being home, he got horribly sick as well. Then Paxten. It was miserable!! All 4 of us sick, with one bathroom! It was one long night and I think both Matt and I thought we were going to die. There is nothing worse that feeling so miserable, and still having to take care of other people and their illness. It was so hard!! We did make it through the night and the next day and by Sunday night we were all starting to feel like our selves again. I don't think Matt has ever been that sick since we have been married. So I know it is a bad bug when he gets it too and it affects him like that. Anyways, we are glad that is over with and we are back to normal at our household!

Big Sister

Paige is a pretty good big sister! I often find her and Paxten on the couch with Paxten alseep in her lap. Sometimes they cuddle together on the couch and she puts her arm around him and it just melts my heart. Then before I know it Paxten is alseep and she is telling me to be quiet so I dont wake him up. It is just so cute! Paxten is at the age where he thinks he doesn't need a nap and it is often a fight to get him to take one, so days like this are cherished! Love these kids!

Grandpa's 80th Birthday Party

This year was a special one in our family, our wonderful Grandpa turned 80 years old. His kids planned a party in celebration of him and his wonderful life and the poseterity that he has raised. It was so much fun to get together and to see family that I haven't seen for a long time. Grandpa has 10 kids and 9 of them were able to make it. Roseanne (Gus), Grant (Gwen), Serena (Paul), Marilyn (Val), Zina (Kyle), Sarah (Tim), Kyle (Katie), Krystel (Kevin), and Rebecca (Travis). Most of the grandkids were there as well. We were only missing Garrett (Arial), Chad (Ashlee), Carrie (Erick), Courtney (Paul), Lauren (Rhett), Lyndsay (Brenden), Mandy, Jacob, & Cody. We missed Loretta, who is living in Michigan and couldn't get away with it being the Holiday weekend. There were 91 people that attended and about 75 were from grandpa's line, the others were Sharon's kids. It was so fun to let the kids play and the adults visited and caught up with each other. I have great memories with all of my cousins and I feel like we have had great opportunities growing up to be able to spend time with our cousins and to get to know them and for them to become some of my greatest friends as well. I am glad that our family is so close and that we love to get together and spend time together. I seriously could spend weeks with all of these people and never tire of them. I love them all and I am so grateful to be a part of this truly wonderful family. I am also very grateful to call Richard Williams my grandpa!

Thanksgiving Day

For Thanksgiving this year my Parents had dinner at their house with just my sister and I, and our families, attending. So it was a smaller bunch, but we had a fun time together. My mom made the turkey, potatoes, gravy, and rolls. Charyn made a relish tray with the very important pimento stuffed celery, and pumpkin pies. I made the stuffing and the sweet potatoe casserole. All of the food was so delicious and we were all so full afterwards. It made it very easy to all contribute to the meal and not at all stressful. We played a few games together and then Matt and I went to visit his mom who is staying with his brother Jared right now because of a knee surgery. While we were there visiting Josh and Lydia came to visit and Brad and his boys. So we were able to see 3 of his brothers in one visit. We had good intentions of making it out to Moreland to see the Keller clan, but time got away from us and we didn't make it out there. It is getting hard to split the day into thirds and I am sure we are going to have to start rotating holidays soon, but how do you choose. We have such wonderful families, that we are lucky to get to spend time with all of them.

Family Photos

I like to take a few family snapshots at Thanksgiving time each year. These are the ones that I was able to get in the short amount of time the kids would cooperate. Notice there isn't an individual of Paxten, because he would not stand by himself to let me take a picture. He is at that age, and I didn't want to fight him for a bad picture of him crying. It was freezing cold, so Parker and Paige didn't last long outside either. Nevertheless, we got a few good ones! Matt 30, Erika 30, Parker 7, Paige 4.5, Paxten 20 months.