Thad's Birthday Party

Hollace and Rhett both slept over at a friend's house on Friday night. Brent was at a Sunday School Guy's Night so Thad and I had the evening together to get ready for his party!

He was pretty excited to help me with the cupcakes.

He chose the baseball theme after changing his mind about a dozen time. I have given up on trying to make all the kids' cakes each year, but these were too easy and I thought he would like to help make them.

We just had a little party for him here at the house. It was mostly neighbors and friends' kids. I didn't get a picture of all the kids together like I meant to . Just another advantage of having grandparents in town was having lots of extra helpers/servers/photographers at things like this!

He had lots of helpers opening his presents.

Then we sang happy birthday and ate birthday cupcakes and ice cream!

My mom sent these "Socker Boppers". (She did call and ask permission first.) All the kids were so excited when he opened them and they ended up playing with them on the trampoline for the rest of the party.

It actually looked pretty violent at times, and I was a little nervous someone would get hurt. But all the parents were there to witness what was going on, and other than a few whines now and then everyone had a ball and there were no injuries!

I think Thad is in the middle of some of the aforementioned "whining" in this picture.

Everyone's hair looked a little like this from the static on the trampoline. It was pretty funny.

We got Thad this cool motorcycle bike. I managed to miss getting a pic of him when he got it at his party, but he loves it and has been riding it around the house for 2 days.

Happy THIRD Birthday Thad Aaron!!

Today my baby boy turned THREE!! I really can't believe it! I still felt like I had a "baby" with a two-year old, but THREE seems so much older-not a baby anymore!!

He is so sweet and funny and has kept me on my toes from day 1. I just can't imagine our lives without him. We love him so much!!

Here I am a couple days before having Thad.

Here's the little man in the hospital. This picture has always made me laugh. That WILD hair should have given us a clue of what was to come!!

Here he is at three months. Could that face be any sweeter? He was SOOOO difficult at this age, but you really forget how difficult those times are. I mean, really, how much trouble could he have been with a face that sweet?

at 1 year

about 18 months

.....and my big boy now!

Still just as sweet! He really is seeming so grown up. He thinks he can and should be able to do anything his big brother and sister do. He is as stubborn as the day is long, but also SOOO sweet and loving. He loves to cuddle more than the other two and tells me he loves me at least 10 times a day. I just eat it up.

Happy Birthday Thaddy Boy- We LOVE YOU!!!

"Baby Jesus"

For some reason since sometime before Christmas, when all the nativity sets started making appearances, Thad has been rather intrigued by Baby Jesus.

Some days he just goes on and on about it, strangely often referring to the baby as "her". No matter how many times I explain to him who "Baby Jesus" is, it doesn't seem to sink in.

It's not 10:00 am yet and here are the mentions of Baby Jesus today:

"Mommy, I don't want to go to college with baby Jesus."

"Why is baby Jesus laying on those sticks?"

"Is Baby Jesus in heaven?"

"When I see Baby Jesus in heaven can I pet her blanket?"

"I don't want to go to heaven with baby Jesus because her will cry on me."

"Is Baby Jesus going to cry over my belly button?"

"Why is Baby Jesus in my tummy?"

"Is Baby Jesus in your tummy?" "Why not?" "Then where is He?"

"Is Baby Jesus going to be at my birthday party?"

"Does Baby Jesus like birthday cake? Is she going to eat my cake?"

"Why was that Baby Jesus at Bev's house in the mommy's tummy?" (referring to a nativity at Bev's in which the baby was missing).

"Mommy look! There's baby Jesus." (pointing out the van window)

"Did Baby Jesus see those cows?"

"Is Baby Jesus going to be in my tummy? That's my baby. Not Mary and Jofus'."

"Is Baby Jesus with me? Can he always go with me?"

WOW! Some of these questions lend to great conversations about Jesus and who He is to us. Like that last one, I could tell him (after explaining for the 101st time that Jesus isn't a baby anymore) that yes, Jesus is with you, and you can take Him with you wherever you go if you choose to have Him in your heart. I know he's a little young to understand that, but it never hurts for him to hear it.

On the other hand, with some of the questions, I'm just not sure where to go. Like the "Mommy, I don't want to go to college with Baby Jesus." Ummmmm.......just not sure where to start with that.

It is pretty silly, but I hope Thad's interest in Jesus remains as his understanding of Him grows!

A Few More Christmas 2011 Memories

Early in December the boys' preschool had a breakfast with Santa for all the kids and their families. Hollace quickly informed us that this was obviously not the real Santa and Rhett agreed. They did humor us and sit on his lap for a bit.

I guess she decided that she should share her wish list with him just in case.

Later in December we had a fun family party with some friends. Here are all the kids.

Hollace and her two best buddies. Check out the posing.

We ate, played dirty Santa, and even had a visit from Santa. Hollace quickly decided this was not the real Santa either. After he left she informed us that it must be Mr. Javier (one of our friends, her friend's Dad). She said "I can tell by his voice, and his shoes, and because he wasn't here when Santa was here, and he's probably out changing in his car right now!" No fooling that girl!

Santa passed out a little gift to each of the kids. I don't think he had many of the older kids fooled, but it was sill fun for them.

FYI: We did eventually get to see the "REAL Santa" this year. One Saturday at a local book store we spotted the real big guy and got a picture with him. I just didn't get it scanned in for this post.

Thad trying out the stockings as socks

Our Elf, "Elfie", is not nearly as creative or mischievous as some other "Elfs on the shelf" I've heard about. I think our Elf's main goal is to keep an eye on the kids, and I don't think he wants to set himself up for big expectations from them every night he's here. :)

He did pull a couple of pranks this year including this night when he replaced the kids' stockings with their undies/diaper.

Christmas 2011 Recap

Here's a little recap of our Christmas celebrations for 2011. (There are a LOT of pictures-you've been warned.) We really like to be at home on Christmas morning so we saved our traveling for after Christmas. So here is our little Christmas at home and our trip to celebrate with family.

I realized most of the pictures were in front of our little "matchy" tree in the living room, so I took a quick picture so this tree didn't feel left out. It is a HUGE tree and we put it up in the study with all the kids' ornaments that they've made and received over the years. I was wondering how we'd have room for them all after a few more years, but considering the fact that a minimum of 5 get broken every year we should be ok for awhile. This year Rhett accidentally broke his "baby's first ornament". It made me SOO sad.

On Christmas Eve we went to a candlelight service (it's just not quite the same with battery powered candles -in case your were wondering.) Then the kids got to open three gifts from us to represent the Wise Men's gift to our Savior, baby Jesus.

After baths, we donned our Christmas jammies and tried to get a pic. This one looks like Hollace is trying to non-chanantly flash a gang sign or something. I'm not sure what she was doing, but the pictures only went down hill from here.

As you can see they were on their best behavior knowing that Santa was on his way.

Just before bed we set out a snack for Santa, which Thad promptly ate. Brent said most kids wouldn't be brave enough to eat Santa's snack! (But most kids aren't Thad!)

They said good bye to Elfie until next year and finally went to bed.

Santa came!!

This is not a great picture, but here is Hollace opening the much anticipated singing "Justin Bieber" doll.

Rhett with his favorite gift. The Ben Ten Ulitmate Alien Fighting Omnitrix watch!

Of course Thad got one too. It prevents a lot of unnecessary strife if they have the same toys.

Their last packages contained notes which instructed them to go out to the patio. The boys got a trampoline and Hollace got an electric scooter. (I wasn't fast enough to get out there and get a picture of their faces.) They all got a note from Santa instructing them to SHARE with their siblings.

After cleaning up and eating breakfast, we packed, loaded up and headed north to Oklahoma.

On Monday we had a big yummy breakfast and opened gifts at Grammy and Papa Hubbard's. The kids (well all of us) made out like bandits and loved all their gifts!

After unwrapping gifts we played some football,

rode bikes and scooters,

sat around and visited,

and played games, including a pretty intense Connect Four tournament.

The next day we celebrated Christmas with Nana and Papa Brown, Sydnie, Jeremy, Maggie and Margot. Here are the 5 grandkids:

They got these cool Pogo sticks. I remember having one when I was a kid and my mom even said she had one. Wow. One toy that has stood the test of time.

I think Rhett was a little excited about his Ben Ten Wii game.

and Hollace LOVES her guitar!

This girl couldn't have cared less about the gifts, but isn't she precious?

After gifts we finished preparing dinner and stuffed ourselves in true holiday fashion.

Just had to include a pic of these tasty apps because they looked so pretty.

I LOVE Christmas time and can't wait until next year!