Freckles

I have always said..."We will NEVER have an elf!" so as usual, Friday night the kids new elf came to town with a bang! Freckles Frank Glitterbum was sent by Santa to spread good cheer and the greatest news of all, the birth of our Lord. He has played some jokes on the boys and help encourage them to be sweet and obey. This morning our entire Christmas tree was covered in underwear! He has been writing a letter to them every night and it usually has something about what he did that night and an encouraging word and bible verse. He's a sweet little elf so I guess he can stay :)

Saylor has been so sick this week and had the croup, this was our first time to have that, we I am sleep deprived but glad she is on the mend. The boys went to the Crager's house while I ran Saylor to the doctor and on the way over there I was going over the rules and told them not to take all of Collin's toys out and make a mess. Harrison said, "Yeah you're right Mommy we need to take Brantlee's toys out too".  Ha ha!

Here is our little guy Freckles, he rolled the living room and was hanging from the paddle ball on the ceiling fan his first night in!

Our gingerbread house for 2012, they get better at doing these every year!

Our "Underoo Tree" ;)

By the way Hudson has asked me to change his name to Hulk Hogan! And of course I said sure! I didn't think it would last more than a second but he got back in the car from school today and would only answer to "Hulk Hogan". Harrison is very upset about this because "its not right!" Ha ha. We will see how long this lasts...

Newtown

I will keep this simple for documentation purposes, after the senseless tragedy that happened on Friday in Newtown, CT my heart has been weighted and sad. Along with every other parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher etc. I just can't wrap my mind around it. I do know this much..... Our Lord has blessed Joel and I beyond measure and all I wanted to do was to put these babies in my arms and hold them and shield them from anything that might harm or alter their pureness. I am so grateful for them and the magic, innocence, laughter and craziness they bring to our entire family's lives. These are our most precious gifts and it made me more aware of how fragile they are and how quickly they can be taken or traumatized beyond repair. 

Lord, I come to you with a grateful heart and I am humbled beyond words as to why I am so blessed to be able to hold my healthy children this weekend. You have given the ultimate gift to us, Your Son. I can't begin to understand what has happened but I pray for peace beyond understanding for that community and those families who lost their precious children. Lord, I pray that you will impress upon the angry hearts to forgive this man, I know not what they harbor for him but I know that You have provided us with the capacity to do so. Father, I pray for your guidance as a parent to make the best decisions for our children and to protect them when we can't. Thank you for this precious and most meaningful season, we love you. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen

Disney on Ice

This past week was full of Christmas time activities, it is so busy but I have to say sometimes the hustle and bustle with Christmas music in the background is fun and exciting! We went to Disney on Ice in Biloxi with Joel's family, it was so cute and all of the kids loved it, even Saylor clapped and danced the whole time. We went on a light tour of Laurel with my parents and Liam and we watched a few Christmas movies! I can't believe we only have a week left, it went by too fast. Here are some pics from the week.

We were on the top row which was good because the princess needed to stretch her legs a few times ;)

All the Pierce cousins, Kali with her new snaggletooth grin, we ate at McElroy's after and it was DELISH!!

Just a moment that made me smile....

Mawmaw and Pawpaw bought all the kids cotton candy that came with a hat...they wore the hats on the ride to school everyday this week!

She was a big girl and had a ball!

Exploring the lights in Mason Park!

Santa!

Santa came for a surprise early visit at Nanny and Pops house last night. He said he was just checking in to make sure everyone was being nice. Harrison explained to him privately (as saylor is crying) that she doesn't like fake Santa's but she loves the real one... Can't get anything past him! They all got an early present and were over the top excited! We took them to Lewis Lights after. It was precious and magical!

THE season has begun!

There are a lot of great things about living in a smaller town that I am realizing more and more. We have started all kinds of holiday traditions and EVERYONE is in the spirit, stores, streets, people, cars, classrooms and in talking people always mention Christmas, or Christmas Tree, or Christmas Parade etc.... We are loving it. Here are a few things we have done since the Christmas season has begun!

We went to see the Polar Express at the Laurel Little Theatre and got popcorn and a drink. It was precious and magical. The kids clapped and cheered through the whole movie. Very sweet, we will for sure do this next year too, in our pajamas! 

We have remenisced about Christmases past and watched videos from them on the iPad. 

I got this awesome present for someone and took a pic to send Joel and he said he put it on facebook, I knew he knew better. This may be just as bad but its my blog and I think this mask is so neat.

We went to the Christmas Parade in Laurel and the kids loved it!! The swamp people, RJ and Jay Paul were the Grand Marshals, it was fun to sit with our friends  and all the boys friends from school. Saylor thinks she is just as big as they are.

Charlie went to get one of his bi-annual baths and grooming, it was getting cold at the time (right now its 75 degrees!) so I thought he should be clean in case he needed to come inside.

Thanksgiving Break

These are some pics from our Thanksgiving break.... It was interrupted by the flu, Saylor had it bad! The boys spent 3 nights away from us in hopes they wouldn't get it. That was a long time for us and it was so great to get them back in my arms. Thanks to our parents who really stepped up to help during their break too!

Sissy girl with Woody when she started going down hill.

We had a great day of cooking at the beginning, the boys are really old enough to be helpful and not just in the way... kind of.

Kayla had her 4th birthday party and it was a circus, literally, it was so cute and the cotton candy machine was my favorite! (Looks like it was Harrison's fav too! haha)

Here is Mawmaw and Aunt Barbara with the newest member to the Nelson family, Hanna Brook, she slept most of the party until she woke up and was ready to go home, I think she will be a home-body like Hudson.

Joel was the parent on Thanksgiving and took the boys to the Nelsons for lunch and then to the Pierce get together that afternoon. It was so pretty outside, they played football, tag and hit the baseball with Pappy.

We got all of our decor up and this was the night that the boys came home, I wasn't the only one glad to see them back ;)

This is a picture of Joel when he was 5 (he thinks) and it is a striking resemblance to Hudson...don't you think?

Pappy was giving him instructions on how to hit :)

This was the night they stayed with Nanny and Pop in Hattiesburg, they wore some of Grayson's (11 year old cousin) clothes and they thought they were big.

Where is Saylor?

Although we had a non-traditional Thanksgiving, I have to say I am so thankful for the health of our family, young and old. We have all been blessed beyond measure with health and after seeing my sick baby girl this week I don't want to take that for granted. I'm thankful for parents who live close and aren't scared to take on two 5 year-olds in a pinch, and I am the most thankful for my children and husband. It is so fun to just be at home together and laugh and play.... as my boys are yelling "Mommyyyyyyyyyy!" from their beds, let me go and get 2 cups of water and 2 blankies and 2 hugs and 2 kisses...rituals I don't really mind.

The first sparkle

I feel like the holidays officially started on Friday....my birthday! I say this every year but it gets better and better with kids... the holidays that is. Its so fun! Here is what our weekend looked like....

We had to go to the bank and my van was DEAD because someone had left the back windshield wiper on and was listening to kid songs from the CD player...and the only one who knows how to operate that...rhymes with schmudson. It's not often, maybe ever that I've taken all three in the truck with just me, it was neat having them all sitting together right behind me. They love to go to the bank for the suckers!

Tonight we are having a pallet party so they can watch the new Disney Princess movie, Sofia the 1st! Harrison has been worried about missing this all week!

My toy soldier said, "Momma look I'm a toy!"

My parents had all their grands at their house for the first time in awhile so we attempted some pictures at various locations and what do you know that the best one came right from Nanny and Pop's front porch...we should've known. Love all these precious kids, they play so well and so hard together.

The "gun show"...Saylor and Lucy are in good hands ;)

They made movies on the ipad .... kids these days

A few of my oldest and best friends happened to be free for dinner on my birthday which is very rare, we all needed some laughs and adult conversation. Food was great and company was even better!

We have started our slow process of Christmas decor.... and let me say that the magic of this season is like no other especially when you hear the gasps of little boys and a girl at the beauty of a little Christmas tree lit up in the dark.  Everyone went to get in the bath and Harrison grabbed my hand and said,"Will you please take my picture by my tree, it is so clean and sparkly"

Sissy Sue is 1.5

Our little sugar and spice turned 18 months old last weekend! She deserves her own post. Saylor is a sweet girl who seems to be pretty mild mannered so far. She will throw down on the floor but not for long and I just walk away and she gets up and moves right along...I'm sure that wont last but for now its not too major. She knows what she wants and most of the time it is one of these: Take her outside, put her up in my bedroom chair (with pacifier, blanket and juice and she knows when one is missing!), or spread her blankie out on the floor and smooth it out so she can lay on it! She has really gotten into her babies and being a Mommy in the past couple months. She still takes 2 good naps a day and will go to sleep at night around 8:30 and wake around 6:45. She loves to be outside the most. She doesn't talk (word wise) very much but she gets her point across. She is going to her Khaki's house every Mon-Thurs from 8-12  and loves it there, which makes it easy for all of us. She reaches for her every morning and walks to the door smiling saying "Momma!" when I come get her! She leaves her bows alone in her hair (so far) and loves shoes, wants them on all the time or wants to change them. She is a happy girl and will give sugars but if she does not know you don't get your feelings hurt because she does not hand out smiles :) In fact our mail lady calls her "Poker Queen" because of her poker face, ha.

Saylor's Favorites:

Macaroni and Cheese

Juice

Warmed Milk

Popcorn

Playing babies

Walking outside

Checking the mail

Visiting the horses

Going Bye-Bye

Riding by Lowe's to see the giant Santa blow-up (she squeals in delight!)

Doesn't this look cold? It was! She is a tall girl in the 75th percentile!

This is her first cup at a restaurant with a straw and she LOVED it, was such a big girl.

Well....she has two older brothers and they dressed her as a power ranger with the belt buckle and sword.

Today she explored painting for the first time and was very responsible! This is new territory for me because the Pierce boys never got a chance to do things like this unless I wanted it on the ceiling and floor :)

She will tell them fast when they have invaded her bubble or are not doing what they are supposed to, she even tattles on them (Hudson) when they wont do something by pointing and screaming and pulling me to show me. I think she will be is the boss.

Snapshots

We (USA) elected President Obama for a second term this week, it was a 50/49 race. Very close! We were Romney supporters but will trust that this is what America wanted and it will work out for the best. Here are some recent sweet pics from my phone I wanted to share!

This is what I look at while in the restroom....every.single.time.

But, no complaints, she's good company!

On our way home from church at night the boys take turns pulling into our driveway, they are getting pretty good!

Fall 2012 Soccer season is over and they received medals! They both had a great year and are getting better with each game. Hudson has come out of his shell this season and made many goals and improved on his agility. Harrison scored many goals too and loved showboating around the field, he would always look to see if I was cheering for him and if I wasn't he would stop and get my attention :)

UPS came today and Hudson ran around front to see what it was and came back with this!! Early birthday surprise spoiler for me! Yay!! This was WAAAY too much JP!

Saylor and her new toy she discovered in the playroom, Woody. She kisses him and holds him like a newborn :)

Daddy is so fun! They love when he gets home and we are all outside.