New Years Eve

We are spending tonight in our pajamas with the boys. We have been as productive as planned this week. Brooks has been sick. In fact I had to take him to the kids urgent care on Sunday. He was running a fever and breathing rapidly. After spending two hours there, checking his vital signs numerous times, checking for flu and RSV (both were negative thank goodness), we got a big dose of Motrin and were told he has a virus that mimics the flu. He didn't get any antibiotics. His temp was 103.7 there, so he really felt terrible. That will be a fun bill to get in a few weeks.

We have been staying at home. Brooks is better but still has a nasty nose. Jackson ran fever for a day, and now I have a nasty cold. The boys have had a lot of time to play with their new toys. I know I will wish for this time back next week. We started putting away Christmas stuff today and hopefully will finish tomorrow.

  It has been really cold and rainy, but we did manage one bike ride. Both boys wore their helmets. Jackson rode his bike. Well, he sat on it with his feet on the pedals, and Tim pushed him. He said he would pedal later.


We have had a great year full of lots of excitement. Hopefully we will have less excitement next year concerning things around the house. The limb hitting the power line was exciting enough earlier this week. I am hoping to spend more meaningful time as a family.

Merry Christmas

Jackson was awake before 7. He was ready to see what Santa brought. Brooks woke up shortly after. We walked downstairs and looked at all of the gifts. Jackson kept looking around and saying," Where's that big box? Where's the Cars train table?" We had wanted him to see that last, but he was concerned he didn't see it, so we showed him to his bedroom. He was so excited! However, he did not want share with Brooks and that led to some meltdowns. Noni and Papa Jerry got there, and we finally convinced them to open their other presents. Jackson wanted someone to help him unwrap. Brooks just wanted everything open and out of the box. They both loved all of their new toys. They got to Skype with Grandma and Grandpa and opened their presents from them. They were a tad wild and not nice to each other. The boys played a little bit while Tim and I got everything else ready.

Our first stop was Noni and Papa Jerry's. Brooks fell asleep, but the boys had fun opening their presents there. It was wild with all 3 little boys. Mom and Dad loved their family portrait and other gifts.

Our next stop was Joyce and Ernie's house. We had lasagna for lunch, and the boys loved running around. They also played on the bunkbeds. Brooks was not scared at all to climb to the top. They loved opening presents there too.

Then we were off to Greenville. Both boys slept in the car. We were actually the first ones there. We ate dinner and then Santa came. BJ was a great Santa. Brooks loved him. Jackson did too after he saw Brooks sit up there. When it was time for Santa to go, the boys ran into the kitchen to get him cookies ( I remember doing that at Nannie's house.). Parker actually got him some real cookies from the pantry. Then the boys went outside to take Santa cookies, but he was gone. Parker kept looking in the sky. Brooks and Will were looking. Jackson yelled, " Come back!"  Brooks kept saying, "Merry Christmas!" It was so cute. The kids opened all of their presents next. Jackson loves his airplane from Luvi. Then it was time for the White Elephant game. There were lots of good gifts this time. I got some really pretty bracelets that Landon's girlfriend made.

It was great to spend the day with family. We were all exhausted by the time we got home, but feeling extremely blessed.

Christmas Eve

It was a rainy day, and we spent most of it in our pajamas.

We decorated our cookies for Santa. Poor Brooks took a tumble off of the step ladder, but some icing cured him. We also made some reindeer food.

Jackson was so excited all day! We took naps and got ready for church. Brooks went to the nursery, and Jackson came to big church with us. It was so crowded that we sat in the balcony. Jackson was pretty good and liked walking down for Communion. His favorite part was when we lit the candles and sang Silent Night. He was so excited, but he kept blowing it out like it was a birthday candle. It is such a beautiful service. Brooks was excited to see us.

We rushed home, and Tim fixed shrimp and grits. Noni and Papa Jerry came over to eat. Then it was time for baths. We got the cookies ready and threw out the reindeer food. Then it was time for bed. I tried to put both boys together at the same time. After saying our prayers, they got wild. Brooks was jumping on the bed and yelling "tada!" Jackson kept telling him to go to sleep because Santa doesn't come if you are awake. Finally Tim had to come get Brooks, but no before Jackson said, "Merry Christmas Eve!"  It still took Jackson a long time to go to sleep. It took Brooks even longer.