Birthday!

The big 3-3, I came, I saw, I kind of conquered.  Cheers to this life and 34, I am looking forward to a big year with my boys and GIRL!  These are the good ol' days.

An early birthday lunch celebration in Wilson. 

Ahhh, birthday pedis with my sister sisters!

Birthday brownie cake with my boys.  Dab on that yo!  They also got me a card and 2 bags of M&M's, simple love at its best.  Coming up in January... a trip to the spa... Calgon take me away.

Post birthday dinner with mi familia at Crook's Corner.  Happy Happy!

Deck the Halls

After a morning of Santa presents, we loaded up the car and headed to Goldsboro.  All of my grandparents and extended family live there and I have been having Christmas lunch with the Winslow crowd and dinner with the Frederick crowd my entire life.  We only see some of these people once a year, so I really enjoy this time.  

About 1/6th of the crew.  This is my favorite Holiday lunch of the year, lots of casseroles and side dishes and sweets.  I skip out on the turkey.  The boys love the... rolls.  

Mr. Cheese loves having his cousin Brooklyn around to play with and others his own age.  It is rough trying to keep up all the time.

Then we headed over to Papa's house for a few.  We didn't have time for dinner but did get in some good Christmas hugs with everyone.  And football.  Always have time for a quick game.

Papa giving some football tips to Jackson.

And after that, we rolled on to Wilson to see our Farris family.  More presents, a delicious dinner and silly reindeer shenanigans.    

And this.  Maybe my favorite picture ever.  Charlie, age 4.  If there was ever any doubt about who is Nash's dad.  Cutiesssss.

And then we gave it a day and waited for our California cousins to arrive!  MAS CHRISTMAS!  

                                       
                                       

All the cousins piled in at Tat and Will's house for some presents and supper and serious playing.  I am tired, apparently they are not.  

Christmasingggg

Christmas is going on full force around here.  A few pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my sweet boys.  Happy Birthday to you Jesus!

Christmas Eve lunch at Jersey Mike's.  Dad always works so that others can have off so we make sure to visit him.  Fa, La, La, La Laaa!

Made some cookies for Santa.  'I think Santa is gonna be really glad we are doing chocolate chip.'  Yes indeed, I think so too Nash.

We made it to and through Christmas Eve candle light service at chuch, with bribes of present opening when we got home.  After a quick dinner we opened family presents and then got ready for bed and SANTA!

He came!  And brought chocolate candy!

And a tablet!  Jackson was surprised.  I told him he was not getting an IPAD... Santa found him a tablet and uploaded his favorite games and left a personal note about sharing.  :)

Snoopy Snow Cone machine!  We all had an icee for breakfast and now I need to buy more supplies.  

sleepovers!!

Nash and Theo were out all week for Christmas break, while Jackson was in school all week - 1st grade is rough.  They have been wanting to have a sleep over at Tat & Will's house but I won't let them do it on a school night.  I told Nash he could but Jackson wouldn't be able to come.  I did not think he would do it without his BFF.  Sure enough one day he asked if he could do it and much to our surprise headed on over like a big 4 1/2 year old boy.  Tat said he was a little quiet and nervous but embraced doing exactly what he wanted.  Like Kanki, do NOT tell Jackson about that part...

Friday night they both got to stay with Nat & Zack for a pizza, ice cream sundae, Grinch movie sleepover!  Theo got to go to a little cocktail and hors d'oeuvres get together with his parents which he equally enjoyed.  And I enjoyed only having one kid crawl into our bed that night.

Holiday Partaysss

We have had our fair share of Holiday get-togethers.  The only thing I want to get-together in the evening are my very large pajama pants, a t-shirt and big bowl of ice-cream.  I have powered thru a few times and stayed out talking to actual adults till 9:00pm, but after that I turn into a hermit.  This party was more my style - kid friendly, 4pm, gingerbread houses, hot chocolate and all the fancy candy you can imagine.

The neighborhood crew does Gingerbread Houses.  Best we could get...

My boys, we tried...

Elf on the Shelp

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, 

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, 

When what to my wondering eyes did appear, 

But a naked elf with a cute little rear...

A real, live, Elf on the Shelf.  Because our elf has never moved, whoops.

The Innkeeper

Last week Nash and Theo had their pre-school Christmas performance.  I was one proud mama watching my boys stand up on stage and sing and smile and praise the coming of sweet baby Jesus.  Theo sang a few songs and Nash was the Innkeeper in the Christmas story.

Can't think of a better role for my Nash.  NO room, sorry Jesus, no exceptions.

Proud brother, Theo!

School Pictures

Oh how I love dorky school pictures.  Especially, when haircuts are way over-due.

Jackson, 1st Grade, Creekside Elementary

(he told me they had re-does the next week, I told him heck no, this is perfect in every grubby elementary school way)

Nash, 4's Class, Resurrection Pre-School

(stud, he couldn't take a bad picture if he tried, he tries a lot)

Theo, 2's Class, Resurrection Pre-School

(he refused to smile... literally clinched his mouth shut, bah, ha, ha)