the kids

Braxton is 11 now, just about to turn 12.  He will be a deacon in a month, wow.  He played football this year. He was a North Forsyth Raider.  They had a pretty good season and even when to the championships.  They came in second place, not to shabby.  It was a very time consuming sport and I was very glad when the season ended.  Braxton does really well in school.  His best subjects are Math and Science, boy he sure doesn't get that from me.  He's not only school smart, but he picks up on things very quickly.  Which can be annoying at times.  He is a fantastic big brother, always wanting to help me with the kids.  He is a big helper to me, always asking if there is anything I need for him to do.  If he senses that I don't feel well he will see if there is anything I need.  He is just a really good kid.

 So this was the sad year that Braxton broke it to me that he didn't believe in Santa anymore.  Apparently he felt this way lastyear, but didn't want to tell me.  It's little things like that, that I think are going to be the hardest for me with the kids, but I guess they have to grow up.  There was an upside to this....he took over the roll of moving the elf everynight.  And he was excited about it.  He did fun little things with him and it was fun to see Hailey's reaction when she saw the mischief he'd gotten into.  This is a picture of the elf getting into the cereal.

 One Sunday, Braxton and Hailey wanted to set the table for dinner and this is what they came up with.

 Little miss Hailey is 7 now. She will be baptized this year.  She is our little artist.  She loves to dance and just started piano lessons, along with Braxton.  She is so excited to go, and to practice!  I hope the enthusiasm keeps up.

 Hailey lost one of her front teeth.  She worked on it for weeks and finally just ripped it out after I told her I was going to take it out myself.  She was so proud she got it out.  Too bad her other front tooth has a big cavity on the side of it that you can see now.

 Mr. Logan is our little comedian.  He loves to be goofy, especially if he has an audience.  He is a funny kid.  When Braxton and hailey were babies they had a bearblanket that they took with them everywhere.  Logan never really became attached to anything, and then all of the sudden he was carrying this blanket that was made for Hailey as a baby, around.  He loves to snuggle it and nuzzle it, it's pretty funny.  If he sees it across the room, he'll run over to it and lay on it with a big smile on his face.

 Logan loves to dance.  Actually all three of our kids couldn't resist bobbing heir head if they heard music, when they were babies.  If any music is on, even the hymns at church, he'll start dancing a little.

 Logan is probably our pickiest eater.  Dinner time can be really difficult.  Once we were having crock pot chicken and asparagus.  He loved the chicken, but wouldn't touch the asparagus.  I had finally given up feeding him and started to eat my dinner, when Hailey started laughing.  I looked over and he'd put his asparagus on his head.  I guess that's one way to get rid of it.

Logan is a huge snuggler.  If you pick him up he will hug you so tight.  He loves to snuggle with Mike in our bed.  One night, Logan woke up crying and we happened to still be up, so Mike went to see what was wrong. He brought him back in our room and was snuggling with him to calm him down and they both fell asleep.

Hailey's Birthday

Hailey had a birthday while we were up in gatlinburg.  We had planned to go to Dollywood that day, go on some rides and see some shows, but it turned out the be the coldest day up there.  It only got up to 32', not warm enough to spend most of the day outside, so we left the decision up to her.  She decided to forgo Dollywood and find other things to do.  We ended up shopping and the kids did indoor skydiving and gocart racing.  She had a fun filled birthday.

 Eating the "best burger in Gatlinburg" at the Blue Moose

 I can't believe my baby girl is already 7!  These kids grow way too fast!  She is such a sweet addition to our family.  She is very loving and cares for her brothers.  She loves to play with Logan.  When he is napping she will constantly ask if she can get him up to play with him.  She is very creative.  Her room is filled with pictures she's drawn and taped onto the walls.  She will always ask me if there is something she can make.  She loves to laugh!  Braxton is apparently very entertaining to her, cause that's all she does when they are together.  We are very greatful to have her  be a part of our family.

Happy Birthday!

Christmas....Hillbilly style!

When I was in highschool my parents purchased a log cabin up by Park City, Utah.  We spent every Christmas there.  I loved going up with the family and staying there, usually snowed in, for a few days, playing games, playing in the snow, etc...  My parents sold the cabin a couple of years after Mike and I got married, so my kids never got to experience a Christmas there.  I've told Mike, I'm sure way too many times, how I'd love to go and stay in a cabin, where there is snow, for Christmas, so the kids can experience it.  This year he wanted to surprise me with just that.  However, Christmas in the mountains, is apparently very popular down here and places to stay were hard to find.  We didn't want to go too far, just far enough for there to be snow.  He found a place in the Tennessee, Smokey mountains, called Gatlinburg.  The area had a ski resort, so there had to be snow, right?  A place to actually stay was hard to come by.  He was able to get a condo, right by Dollywood.  Ok, not quite a cabin, but there would be snow, the kids could learn to ski and we could sled and play in the snow.  I was excited.  As it got closer to Christmas, about a week away, I decided to see if I could find some pictures of the place we were staying, to get an idea of decorations to bring.  Why I didn't do this sooner, I don't know.  I found some on the website and let's just say it was pretty much nothing like I was expecting.  The place was pretty old, which was fine, but it was tight quarters and there was no way for Santa to come without getting caught by the kids.  There was no fireplace and really no place to put a Christmas tree.  Now, I don't see myself as very princessy, when it comes to things like this.  You can't be when you come from a family of 8, but you know when you have an image of something in your head and when it turns out to be NOTHING like you'd hoped it's just disappointing.  I expressed my concerns to Mike, probably not in the best way, but I just couldn't see it working out.  After a long conversation, I concluded that I would just try to make the best out of what we had, not wanting to cancel our plans, especially since my mother-in-law had gone to such lengths to get us this place.  Well, my sweet husband, not wanting me to be unhappy, spent the evening trying to find other arrangements, without my knowing.  The next day he surprised me with a cabin that he had found.  Thanks to him and Cheryl, I got the "cabin Christmas" I've always talked about.  Unfortunately, this year had been unseasonabley warm, so the ski resort was closed, but we found other things to keep ourselves busy.  It was a lot of fun, and a Christmas I won't soon forget!

 The fireplace!!

          We went and ate breakfast at the "Log Cabin".  They are known for the best french toast.  It was pretty darn good.              Hailey and Logan on the tram going up to do some ice skating

 Well, this was a snowy as it got up there.

 This cabin had 3 hot tubs...overkill!  But everyone enjoyed sitting in them at night and relaxing.

 Our meager Christmas decorations.  We did go to the local walmart and purchase one of their last trees, brought it back and decorated it.  Hailey spent the week before making ornaments.

 Hailey and Logan with Aunt Kerri, Christmas Eve.

 In our new pj's Christmas eve night.

 Logan going through his stocking Christmas morning.

Cheryl looking at her gift from the kids.

 Playing games

 Lovin the box

 like father, like son....

 it was quite painful to watch Logan up presents....I thought he'd tear into it...nope, he pulled a little piece off at a time.

 another hot tub

 There was a pool table there too, a favorite with the kids.

going ice skating at "Ober-gatlinburg"

 Iceskating!  I thought Hailey would love it, but she absolutely HATED it!  She get's embarassed when she can't do something well.  After going around the rink about 10 times it started to get easier and she loved it.  Braxton was a weapon out there..he'd skate like a crazy person until he either fell or found a spot on the wall to grab onto.

Indoor skydiving.

Christmas Season!

....The most wonderful time of the year!  I look forward to this holiday season all year long!  Every year I say I'm going to get all of the busy stuff (ie shopping) done early so I can relax and enjoy it more, it never happens, but It's a nice thought.  I love traditions, Mike not so much, but I feel they are important, so I try to carry them on best I can.  Two of my favorite traditions growing up was making graham cracker houses and going to see the lights at temple square. These are the ones that I try to keep going.  We usually make graham cracker houses with Kris and her family, but this year her kids were sick so we weren't able to do it.  Trying to see the lights at Temple Square is a bit of a challenge since we live in Georgia. So we do the best thing we have out here, which is the lights at Lake Lanier Islands.  We try to go every year, but this year the dad's aka, Mike and Mike didn't want to pay the money to go see them, so no lights!  Do you think that stopped me?  Nope, we were doing our stinkin traditions!  I remembered that Grandma Cheryl had bought ginger bread kits from the craft store last year, so I dug those out of the pantry and we made our houses!  Tradition #1 down....Mike had heard about a little neighborhood, close by that was doing Christmas lights choreographed to music, for charity, so we went.  It was a small street, but still  neat to see.  Tradition #2, DOWN!

 I LOVE to decorate!!  It's fun for me to take a plain tree and make it into something beautiful to look at.  I have 4 tree's that I decorate every year, a 12 foot tree in our keeping room, our "real" tree in our family room, a tree in our dining room and a tree at the top of our stairs.  Last year after taking down the decorations and almost killing myself, falling off the ladder, trying to take the lights off of our tall tree, I decided it was time to scale down a bit, so we got rid of it.  We are down to a 9 foot tree in that room.  I'm sure as I get older I'll scale back even more, but for now I love it!  Every year I talk about getting a flocked tree.  When I was young, there was a neighbor who had a flocked tree and I always thought it was so beautiful!  We never could find a place the sold "real" flocked trees.  I even tryed to flock our tree last year, myself....bad idea!  But this year, Mike found a place that sold flocked trees.  YAY!  It was awesome!!!  Eventhough it was a beast to clean up, after I took it down, it was totally worth it!!  A new tradition.

 The kids....and the FLOCKED TREE!!

Making gingerbread houses.

Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving!!!  One of my favorite holidays...and not because of the food.  It's true what they say, food doesn't taste quite as good when you make it yourself.  I started cooking at about 9 that morning and had time to sit for about 10 minutes until we ate at 4 that afternoon.  I now know why my mom's back was hurting, every year. :)  However, it's all worth it!  I love having family over and being able to spend time with them.  Van, Patti and, Kerri came along with Jarom, Liina and Hanele, and of course Kristine and Mike wtih their kids.  We feasted (is that a word?) visited and watched movies.  Mike deep fried a turkey and I baked one, a long with lots of sides.  Mike Crosby brought the other half of dinner a long with desserts.

Mike carving the turkey....look how happy he is to do it!   Our feast!

 Just before the Thanksgiving break, Haileys class put on a play about the first Thanksgiving.  Hailey was a pilgrim and she even had a part..... "Mercy Me!"