Decorating for Christmas!

It is our tradition to decorate for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving and even though we were traveling back from Tennessee we still found time to put up our Christmas decorations. We actually put up two trees this year. TJ and Tyler were such great helpers. It was the first Christmas that TJ actually remembered what we were celebrating. In fact when I put up the stockings up TJ asked - "is Santa going to fill our stocking tonight"? I told him not tonight. You will have to have to wait for a few weeks.

It is such a joy to be able to teach your children the true meaning of Christmas. It is hard for me to understand how some people can go through life and not celebrate our Savior.

Family Photos

Can you try and be serious Tyler?

Aunt Linda, Mema and Granny

Mema and her great grandsons!

Aunt Linda and Uncle Jerry

Chuck and Mema

THANKSGIVING DAY

Today was a beautiful day. The weather was so nice and the boys had a geat time making the gingerbread house that Mema had gotten for them. It turned out so cute we used it as the Thanksgiving center piece for the table. Chuck's cousin Steve and his wife Rita came over for our Thanksgiving meal and as always we really enjoyed our time with them. We have SO much to be Thankful for this year. 2008 will be a year that will go down in history as diffcult - but I know I will look back on it as a year of blessing. I have two wonderful and healthy boys. I have a husband that I adore and I know that he loves me. I have an extended family that loves and supports my family and I have a GOD that I praise and thank for ALL of these things.

SNOW!!!

This morning the road up into the park was closed. It had snowed the night before and there was still too much ice on the roads. But after we got back from Ober the sun had come out and melted enough of the ice to reopen the road. We drove all the way to the state line and it was a beautiful drive. The boys got to see snow for the first time! It was REALLY cold and windy but it was worth it. Tyler wasn't sure what to do with the snow, but TJ figured it out right away. He watched another family make snowballs and throw them at each other and joined right in!

Alpine Slide

Today we rode the tram to Ober Gatlinburg. Granny and Mema came up from Knoxville to spend the day with us and we are SO glad they did. When we got to Ober we had lunch and then Chuck and TJ went on the ski lift and rode the Alpine Slide down. TJ wasn't sure if he wanted to do it at first but Chuck assured him he would use the breaks and go slow. TJ really enjoyed it and we were so proud that he went even though he was unsure at first.

Trolley Ride!

Waiting for Frosty (our Trolley)

It rained most of the day today but we had tickets to ride the trolley so we went down the wet mountain to ride "Frosty" and look at the Christmas lights. Did I mention that our cabin is literally on the side of the mountain? We were a little nervous about the wet roads and freezing weather conditions but we were able to make it up and down without any problems. I told Chuck that the locals would be laughing at us - since we were making such a big deal over a little rain!! The boys were SO excited about our trolley ride and we did enjoy getting to see the lights.

Hiking In The Great Smokey National Park!

We left Friday, November 21st for Knoxville. We stopped and spent the night in Macon, GA and then on Saturday made it to Mema's by 1:00. The boys did GREAT in the car and we enjoyed having Granny travel with us.

Today we drove into Gatlinburg and settled into our cabin that we will be in for the next three days. The boys have been SO excited about our trip to the mountains. I feel SO blessed that we are able to have such a wonderful family vacation. We drove to Gatlinburg and arrived at our cabin about noon. I fixed lunch and we decided since it was a GORGEOUS day we would try to enjoy some of the National Park. We took the boys on their first hike! We started out with TJ in the stroller and Tyler in the backpack. Tyler kept saying "my stroller" and TJ wanted to walk. So then Tyler got in the stroller and TJ walked. After a little while longer TJ got in the backpack. We decided that the only combination we didn't have on the hike was ME in the backpack!!! Overall the boys did great and coming down TJ walked the WHOLE way. I was SO proud of him and the waterfall at the end of the hike was WELL worth it. First day in the mountains - LOTS of fun!

Check Ups!

Tyler - 22.5 lbs (5%) 33 1/2 inches tall (25%)

At least we made the chart - YEAH!
TJ - 35 1/2 lbs. (25%) 38 7/8 inches tall (25%)

I took Tyler and TJ to the Dr. today for their 2 and 4 year check ups. They both were given a clean bill of health. I was really proud of them. Tyler had a small issue that the Dr. took care of but it was VERY painful for him. She had to pull back the skin from his pee pee. Let me just say he didn't like it. In fact most of the day he has been grabbing his diaper saying "change diaper mommy". I think he thinks that if I change the diaper it won't hurt anymore. She said it may take up to 5 days for it to heal. Poor Tyler, I gave him Tylenol and he seemed to get better. The Dr. was VERY impressed with Tyler's language. She was shocked that not only was he talking in sentences but she could understand him. She told TJ that he must have taught Tyler everything he knows and that made TJ very proud!!! I am certainly glad they have a year to recover since they won't have to go back until they are 3 and 5!

TJ is FOUR!

Today we celebrated TJ's fourth birthday. It is hard for me to believe that my baby is four. I know every mother thinks this but I just am SO happy he is in our family. He has the sweetest spirit and is just a delight to be around. He makes friends easily and already plays well with other kids. We told TJ we would do what ever he wanted to do on Saturday morning before Aunt Shirley and Uncle Clyde came to Gram's for lunch. He wanted to go garage sailing (I was SO proud - I have taught him well!!!) I am glad that it was Saturday and we could accommodate that request. We ended up at a community sale and we were in search of a BIG RIG. God is so good - He not only found a big rig and trailer but it only cost 25 cents. TJ was SO excited about that big rig!! Aunt Shirley and Uncle Clyde brought presents for both the boys - TJ got a Bat Man car and Tyler got a set of John Deere tractors - the boys couldn't have been happier!! We had a great visit with them. I am so glad they were able to come over. We ended the day at The Picture People in the mall. We got pictures of both the boys and a family shot that we were happy with. We let TJ choose where we would eat. He chose Chick-fil-a. I wonder how many more years we will be allowed to let him choose where he wants to eat.

TJ's birthday at Preschool

TJ while the class sang Happy Birthday to him.
His teacher let him hold the book on tape and turn the pages while the children listened - since TJ finished his cupcake first!

Ava and Tyler enjoying their cupcake.

I asked TJ what he wanted me to bring to his class to celebrate his birthday, cupcakes or cookies. He said cupcakes. So then I asked him if he wanted me to make them or buy them. He said, "oh Mommy I want you to BUY them". I guess I should be glad - but what does that say about my homemade cupcakes?

Birthday Dinner

To finish Tyler's birthday my mom had us over for dinner. She watched the boys while Chuck and I went for a 16 mile run/bike ride (you can guess who was running and who was biking!!!). When we got home she had some of Tyler's favorite things ready for dinner. We sang Happy Birthday to Tyler again and he once again LOVED it!!! I don't think you can sing and celebrate too much - so we had a whole day of singing and telling Tyler how happy we were that he was TWO!!!

Picnic at Church

That is Chuck trying to get Tyler to go down the slide - Happy Birthday, Son!!!
Birthday Boy playing in the bushes.

Bounce House Fun!!!

After church today we had a Sunday school leadership picnic. Tyler thought it was all for him because everyone kept saying "Happy Birthday" to him. He got to wear a birthday boy t-shirt that Uncle Chad and Aunt Stacy gave him. He looked SO cute and he LOVED all the attention.

TYLER IS TWO!!!

This morning before church I made blueberry muffins (I knew Tyler would like that!). We let Tyler eat off the You are Special today plate! We put two candles in the muffin and sang to him. He was so cute!

More from the Baker Party!

I just had too many pictures for just one post! When I was making the pizza boxes one afternoon before the party TJ said to me "thanks mom for celebrating me"!!! It made me want to work even harder to let him know how special he is to me. The day after his party he asked me if he could have another baker birthday next year and I told him by then I am sure I will have come up with something else that will also be fun for us to do on his birthday. TJ really does get excited about "little things" - I wonder who he got that from???