tHe StOrY bEhInD oUr CrAzY cHrIsTmAs CaRd PiCtUrE...

I have to start by saying that our family Christmas picture is a HUGE deal to me, J.Paul will be the first to say I go crazy over it every year! I worry about it all year! I would do it in August however I want it to be as recent as possible when it come to the kids.
Our first attempt was around Thanksgiving, couldn't even get everyone dressed that time around! The second was the first week of December. I went out and got everyone new outfits, not too matchy but all in the same colors! Got everyone dressed, headed over to my mom's since my very talented sister Danielle does all our pics! Got there got everyone together and from there on out everything just fell apart! Tanner took off running into the woods and came back muddy and with rocks in hand! Caleb refused to smile and said he was too old to do pictures with his family, HE IS 6...GIVE ME A BRAKE! When we finally got everyone seated under a beautiful tree on my mom's property Caleb sat down right on Mason's leg. Mason went into hysterics, which sent Caleb into hysterics because he felt so bad that he sat on Mason!!! Needless to say we didn't get a single picture that day either! On our third and final try we decided to go a little more casual and just go out to look at lights and bring my sister along in case we were able to catch all the kids in a good mood! What we ended up with wasn't exactly what I had in mind but is much more OUR family!! YES, we are a little crazy! Our kids aren't always clean, even though I try to keep them clean! BUT we all love each other and that's what matters most! We are the perfect balance of ciaos and love!!

~Our Little Smarty Pants~

Caleb has always had a TON a energy and over the years we have tried to find something for him to do that would put all that energy to use. We tried sports, I figured that he would just be a natural since I was always into sports and he did love to watch sports! Caleb does love spots but they just aren't his thing, he is extremely clumsy and uncoordinated...We have ALWAYS known Caleb is a smart kid and when he started kindergarten last year we started to see how very gifted he really is. However, it wasn't until school started this year that we really realized his true potential. At parent teacher conferences we were informed that he is already reading way beyond his years. I was shocked to learn that most first graders aren't reading books like The Indian in the Cupboard and The Mouse and the Motorcycle on their own AND comprehending what they are reading! I guess I just really didn't give it much thought! Now let me catch everyone up to speed on his class's skill books. Every week or as the kids pass their skill books they get a new one. In the beginning Caleb was flying through them, sometimes 2 or more a week depending on how often they were tested on them. His teacher decided that she would skip him up a few since the ones he had were so easy for him and every time he would get a new one I would say "you are really going to need to study this one Caleb, it looks tough" and every time he would just fly right through it like nothing shocking us! Well, today I got a note from his teacher informing me that Mr. Caleb has passed the entire year of skill books and we are only in December! HA, that's my boy! Sports might not be his thing but school sure is! I am one proud mama!

Oh How They Have Grown!

On the 21ST Mason & Grace will be 6 months old! Looking back at the pictures of them in the hospital, so tiny and fragile I just can't believe how big they are now! The three weeks they spent in the hospital were a stressful time, we were so torn between wanting to be there with them and at home with Caleb & Bug. We are so blessed to now say that they are healthy active babies! They are so different, like night and day. Mason is such a easy going little "pork chop", he really only cries when he is hungry or needs to be changed and he is always happy! Little Miss Gracie Pooh on the other hand is a whole different story! Don't let her beautiful smile fool you... She is a demanding thing who wants it her way all the time! We have come to think that this must just be the way girls are or at least a girl in a house of all boys! Their sweet spirits have been such a wonderful addition to our family!

Skytop Apple Orchard

Tanner was such a mess!

Kaysee

Caleb's energy came in handy, climbing in trees to get "good apples"!

This one is my favorite :)

Jerry and Kaysee (J.Paul's dad & sister) came to visit. This being there first trip to NC we had to show them how beautiful it is here in the fall and what better way to do that than to take them to Skytop Apple Orchard to do a little apple picking! The kids had a blast, and why wouldn't they! We let them run, climb trees and eat apples right off the tree! Pretty much all the things they aren't aloud to do at home :)

I think someone is trying to tell me something...

Today has just been one of "Those Days"! I am going in a million directions trying to get my house together before next week when Jerry and Kaysee get here (which we are VERY excited about I might add). I have endless mounds of laundry to get done, folded and put away, bathrooms to clean, dust and baseboards to wipe down, on top of nursing twins, a 18 month old tornado to keep up with and Caleb to entertain because "There is nothing to do"!
At 1:30 I packed up the little ones to go get Caleb and decided that after we got him I would take them to Sonic for a well deserved treat!! Once we got to Sonic ordered and received our food I handed Caleb his food and started to make Tanner Bug's bite size so he was able to eat it in the car while we sat and watched a movie, gotta love the whole idea of eating in the car with little ones...NOT! Just as I am settling into enjoy MY fries and read a little bit of this months Ensign Caleb starts to yell "oh no, oh no...please don't be mad"!!! Trying to stay calm, I ask him what the problem was! For whatever reason or maybe just because he is only 6 after all, he decided to push his straw completely through the Styrofoam cup of Sprite! Trying to stay calm BUT getting a little bit annoyed I help him to clean up the sticky mess all over the back of the van! After everything is cleaned up and explaining to him that I am not going to order him another one(which he did not take very well)I pick up my Ensign and read the following words, which at that particular moment were ment specificly for me...

"Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interests in these His little ones....
Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried."
President Gordon B. Hinckley

WOW, this wasn't new news to me but at that very moment after getting a little worked up and taking it out on poor Caleb for just being a 6 year old! I was reminded that these sweet children were entrusted to me by my Heavenly Father and that I need to be more patient and as long as I try I will not fail!
Yep, I am pretty sure someone was trying to tell me something!!!