Christmas Day!

Christmas this year was so special with Carter in our family! Parker said, "this is the best Christmas ever because Carter is here!" We really had a low key holiday enjoying the kids and relaxing and celebrating the birth of Jesus. This year, instead of John reading the Christmas story from Luke, Parker read the book where he had written the Christmas story in his own words! It was so special! His writings have become such a treasure! As I posted this, I realized for the first time that my Mom's ornament is in this picture also! Wish she were here to see Carter!

First sight of what Santa brought! I love this part!!

A new "Nanannette Blanket" and according to Parker it's the perfect on because it keeps him just the right temperature. He informed me of that in the wee hours of one morning when I went up to get Carter, then he drifted right back to sleep.

Carter was really into everything going on (for about 10 min:). Parker finally got his bendaroo's!!

Carter kissing "My Pal Scout"

We had the Christmas cracker's with breakfast because Grandma couldn't make dinner Christmas Eve. The crowns must be worn and the jokes read aloud!

Helping Carter open his gifts (or opening for him!)

Of course we stayed in PJ's until dinner! Parker picked out new monkey slippers for me!

Parker still LOVES his lego's! It's AMAZING how fast he put them together this year compared to last year!

Other holiday activities

We went out to visit our friends Melanie and Al on Sunday afternoon and went for a cold walk around the neighborhood. We visited all of the animals including this little guy - I can't remember his name...

Parker, Ryan & Zack (Kade was in the ER with a knife cut to the hand)

The three days before Christmas, our friends Danny & Laney stayed with us while their Mom & Dad worked. The big boys didn't slow down enough for a photo. :) We went to see the Princes and the Frog that week and went bowling. With four kids and the baby sitter in the car, we drove a half hour when it was 36 degrees out with my back passenger window stuck down. We bundled everyone up and went for a car repair. Danny and Parker thought it was a great adventure!

I love sleeping little angels!

Carter officially sucks his thumb. It took him 4-5 months to completely figure it out but...

Parker as the lamb

The school had try outs for positions in the school Christmas program and Parker decided he wanted to try out. He was chosen to be the lamb. They boys in his class gave him a hard time but evidently he stood his ground and by that night, they all thought it was cool. At the last minute, they didn't have the lamb costume they thought they had thus the cotton balls. :) At the end, the stage was covered in bits of cotton. Mrs. Key suggested that he rest in the stable and then look around like 'what's going on in my stable' when different people showed up. He stole the show by the way he looked curiously as things changed and then lay down to rest. His acting debut was a success I think because he enjoyed it so much.

Daddy Carter Love

I love watching John with the kids! He is so great with them and just loves on them all the time! Carter loves grabbing John's glasses. He is such a loving baby when you hold him and talk to him. We are so very blessed we can't get over it! It's so funny too; wherever we go, people stop us to talk to Carter - he's like a magnet to strangers. We've had people stop us or stop at our table in restaurants just to tell us we are blessed to have him - WE KNOW:)

Christmas at Papa's

We celebrated Christmas at Daddy's with Greg & Jennie and the boys. The big boys have so much fun playing and Graeham is trying to get right in there now. :) They had so much fun wrestling with Papa but I'm not sure who had more fun, the kids or Papa. We were supposed to be at a surprise birthday party that evening in our neighborhood but we just couldn't leave because we were all enjoying the company!

Santa and Photo Shoot

We are so lucky that Santa comes to our neighborhood to visit the kids. This year, there were crafts and cookies for the kids too. Santa told Parker he had grown since last year and that he knew he had been good to his baby brother. Parker ate that up!

A few days after Santa, we did a photo shoot at home - it was fun for Parker for a while and then they both ran out of patience. Here are a few cute shots.

I didn't have them all on my computer so here are two. Cora is so good a posing when we ask. Carter looks a little scared!