It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!!

We have had a VERY busy week full of family visiting us and we have loved every minute of it!  It started on Tuesday when Josh and Collin had a fun day driving to KC to pick up Josh's grandparents from the airport.  They spent the night with us on Tuesday night.  Tuesday morning, Josh's aunt Julie called from Colorado to say that her son, Dillon, was stranded at his Navy base in Wichita Falls, TX because of the blizzard the Southwestern US got this week.  Josh's brother, Joey, happened to be driving through that way on his way back from California, so he picked Dillon up and got him to Arkansas so we could then get him a flight to Colorado for Christmas!  Craziness!  So, we ended up with Josh's grandparents, Terry & Donna, Josh's mom, Kate, Josh's bro, Joey and cousin Dillon all staying with us on Wednesday night!  Kate, Joey & Dillon came over Wednesday afternoon.  Joey didn't know grandma and grandpa were there, so it was a good surprise for him.  We ended up taking everyone up to Josh's office on the square in Fayetteville yesterday evening so they could see his office and then we walked around the square to look at all the beautiful lights.  It was so much fun....except for my car breaking down on the interstate on the way home....long story, but it won't be fixed until next week.

I love this picture because you can see Terry and Donna hiding behind the door to surprise Joey. :-)

Grandpa Terry, Joey & Dillon, our Navy Sailor!  So proud of him!

Collin and Carter were pumped to see Uncle Joe

Grandpa & Dillon

Grandma, Grandpa & Dillon

Lights of the Ozarks on the Fayetteville Square

Collin & Carter with Grandpa & Gigi

 They also had live reindeer and Santa at the square.  We took the boys to see both, but they really liked looking at the reindeer.  Collin kept asking me which one it was....donner? Blitzen? Dasher?.  I told him to ask the lady up front and she said that they had named him "Rudolph Junior".  Collin didn't really fall for that because he immediately said, "Well, his nose sure isn't shiny!"

Checking out the reindeer

"Rudolph Jr."

Dillon
(sorry for the sideways pictures....my computer is doing crazy things again...grrr...)

Joey, Dillon & Josh

Josh, Grandpa, Joe & Dillon

Uncle Joe with his 2 favorite nephews! :-)

 We then went home where Collin & Carter entertained everyone with their dance moves.  Here's Collin doing the "robot".

This morning, we all woke up and got ready to go to the airport.  Josh's dad, George, was flying in from Pennsylvania.  He's been working there on the pipeline for the last 6 months, so everyone was excited to see him.  The boys held signs up for him in anticipation.

His flight was scheduled to arrive at 10:30, so we were super shocked to see him walking down the escalator 15 minutes early!  Glad we got there when we did!  The "Arrivals" board hadn't even updated yet to show his plane had landed!  I just happened to look up and yelled, "Oh!  There he is!"  Josh's mom let out a big scream.  This was George's reaction as he came to meet us.  Do you think he looks a little excited??

Kate was thrilled, to say the least. :-)

Papa George couldn't believe how much the boys had changed.

Dad and Sons

 George had no idea that Terry and Donna were coming for Christmas, so he was surprised to see them there too!

And then of course, he had no idea Dillon was going to be there, so that was a pleasant surprise as well!

Of course, the boys just HAD to get a ride on the escalator before we left the airport

We headed back to our house for an afternoon of eating and fun.  We had such a great time and ended up busting out the Wii for some great entertainment.  We bowled, ski jumped, slalomed skiid, hula hooped, played balance games, etc.  It was so much fun and we even got Grandpa and Gigi on the Wii balance board for a few games!

Carter "bowling" and Dillon being silly.

Gigi on the Wii

Grandpa on the Wii

 We also made candy....

We took some pics with Dillon since he will be flying out to Colorado tomorrow to be home for Christmas.  So glad God allowed his path to cross with Joey's after the freak blizzard stranded him and that we were able to see him before he goes to Greece next month for a year!  We love you Dill!

Dillon & Kate

Josh, Dillon & I

Our Saturday Surprise

Every year, the Centerton Fire Department comes around to our neighborhood with Santa aboard the firetruck handing out bags of goodies for the kids.  And, every year I forget about it and run outside frantically with my pj's still on.  I am putting it on my phone calendar for next year so I will be ready!!  Anyways, the boys get so excited about it.  Unfortunately, I didn't make it outside fast enough to get a picture of them with Santa since I was busy making breakfast, but I did get a picture of the truck as they were leaving and the sweet faces of my half asleep little guys.

School Christmas Party

The boys had pajama day and their Christmas party at school on Thursday.  Of course, my boys didn't want to wear cute Christmas pj's.  Collin had to wear Star Wars ones and Carter just HAD to wear spiderman.  I stopped by Collin's class first.  They were having snacks and decorating gingerbread cookies.  They then played a game passing around Baby Jesus and had to say a bible verse.

My big boy.  He is growing up too fast!

Collin....not too sure about this Baby Jesus doll. :-)

I then stopped at Carter's class where they were enjoying their snack as well.  They played musical plates and also played a game passing around Baby Jesus, but that was soon ended when the babe became a football instead.....toddlers....:-)

Hudson & Carter.....sweet cousins and buddies

Cheese!

Small Group Christmas Party

We had a great time tonight at our small group Christmas party!  It was FNO (Friday Night Out), so we all dropped the kiddos off at the church for the evening and then started our mini-progressive dinner at the Paladino's house.  We had SO much wonderful food!  Pork roast, broccoli rice casserole, roasted veggies, soup, and homemade tamales.  Oh my goodness!  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures while we were at the Paladino's, but I did remember to take a few pics at the next destination.  For dessert, we headed down the street to the Ferguson's house.  We had some yummy cheesecakes, muffins, hot cider, etc.  Again, a lot of yumminess.  We ended the night with a gift card exchange and a white elephant exchange.  It was a fun night with lots of laughs.  So blessed to share life with these wonderful people!  

Yummy cheesecakes

Yummy muffins

Leslie &  Michael were "blessed" with a picture ornament of Eric.  I think Eric was a little hurt that no one wanted to steal that gift from them. :-)

Brett & Debbie

Brett and Rachel trying out the "6 minute abs" machine.....she ended up with a lovely pitcher.

Tania and Marco got a pepper mill......they ended up with the 6 minute abs machine. :-)

Our group (Thanks Meghan for taking this pic!)

Being silly....

Funny Friday!

Here are our funnies for the past couple of weeks.  Enjoy!

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So, my mom found this new discipline idea in a magazine of hers, and I decided to try it.  Basically, when the boys are fighting, I make them stand in front of each other with their foreheads together for 1 minute....ok, sometimes longer. :-)  Anyways, the article in the magazine says that it shouldn't even last that long because after about 20 seconds, they are over it and will just start laughing at each other.  Well, the article was only partly right.  Carter thought it was a little funny and I would occasionally see a little snicker.  Collin, on the other hand, did not like it at all or think that it was the least bit funny and kept saying, "Why are we DOING this?? This is WEIRD!!".  All in all, it seems pretty effective.  They hate putting their heads together, so any time I suggest it, they quit fighting.  

My dad just thought this picture was hilarious.  He thinks they look like 2 bulls butting heads. :-)  

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One day Collin made a really colorful "sword" for Carter out of a cardboard roll, and I said, "Collin, did you make that for your brother??"  He said, "Yep.".  I was so impressed with his act of kindness (because that is rare between these two), that I told him that things like that would definitely help keep him on the "nice list" (ok, don't be judging on me for threatening that. ha!).  He quickly replied, "I always wash my hands and never pick my boogers....does that help too?"

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Collin-"Mom, when I get big like daddy, can I grow a Viking beard?"

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Carter came in one morning completely naked.  When I asked him where his pants were, he said, "I had a   headache in my diaper."

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One day I was having a sentimental moment with Collin.  Realizing that he will be 5 in two months, and that he will be in kindergarten this time next year, I just got a little sappy.  I just hugged him and said, "Collin honey, I can't believe that you are going to be 5 and in kindergarten next year!  Did you know that you will be at school most of the day away from mommy?  You will have SO much fun, but I will really miss you!  It will be ok though.  Mommy will drive you to school in the mornings and pick you up and...."  Then Collin abruptly interrupted me with, "Whoa.....wait.....I'm going to drive MYSELF to kindergarten!"  What?!?!?  It's already come to this?!?!  I'm going to have the kid that wants to be dropped off two blocks from school because his mom isn't cool enough I guess......tear....... :-)  I still love you Collin, and YES, I will be driving you to school AND walking you to class that first day, but I'm going to quit thinking about that right now... :-)

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The other day, Josh and I decided to take the boys to Walmart to pick out a gift to give each other.  Josh took Carter and I took Collin.  On our way through Walmart, Collin leans over and whispers to me, "Mom, I know what I want to get daddy this year.  I want to get him a new shotgun!"  I said, "Wow, Collin, that's really nice and daddy would love it, but guns cost a lot of money."  Collin's reply?  "Mom, who needs money??  Those elves can build ANYTHING!"  I just love that kid. :-)

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Have a wonderful weekend!!