A Visit with Weston

My brother and his family stopped at our house the day after Christmas.  They were traveling from their home at Ft. Sill, OK.  They had been outside of Atlanta, GA to see Karen's family, and they were on their way to Wilmington to see our parents.  The kids were very happy to have some time to play with their cousin.

Wes couldn't drive the truck, but not for lack of trying.

Wes loved the swingset.

Lucy loved the playhouse.

A nice dinner together (notice I didn't say a quiet dinner)

Presents!

Butterfly garden for Luke.  He is so excited about this.

Fruit for Alex...he kept telling us what everything was.

Wes seemed to love the Matchbox cars we got him.  He didn't get into the Legos we got him, but that was probably just as well.  We had a ton of paper and such on the floor.  Overall, I think he just enjoyed playing with the boys' toys.  He wouldn't let the garbage truck behind him out of his sight for quite awhile. 

We are so glad you stopped to see us!  The kids had so much fun seeing all of you, and it was nice to hang out a little.

Christmas Day

Grandma and Grandpa came over mid-morning on Christmas Day to celebrate with us. 

 Alex, half dressed in his knight costume, seemed to love his new truck.

More presents

Grandma and Grandpa brought roller skates for Luke.

Madison got several books from different series sets she is reading.

Luke also got a toy shotgun.

Alex got Buzz slippers.

Luke loves his "big bug."

The kids have always loved mailboxes, especially since we didn't have one in Arizona.  This mailbox from Bath and Body Works was perfect for Madison.

Madison has wanted this Jewelry Boutique for awhile.

Alex's big gift was waiting by the front door...a new ride.

"So happy" as he kept saying.  It's the perfect size for him, but he thinks we push him around as he puts his feet on the handle bars.

Our Christmas lunch complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, peas, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberry sauce, and Jello (a required staple for holiday meals with my kids).

Dessert was a homemade red velvet cake, Edward's normal birthday cake.  The kids asked if we would make it to celebrate Edward's birthday, so here it is.  Happy (belated now) Birthday Edward.  We sure missed you.

Christmas, especially, is not the same with a husband deployed.  People have told me things like, "You knew what you were getting into when you married a soldier," but that still doesn't mean it isn't hard.  Days march on, and some days are better than others.  Christmas was a blessed day, but it sure wasn't the "magical" day it has been in the past, and that's definitely because a very important member of our family was over 7,000 miles away.

Alexander's Christmas

Alex had a good morning on Christmas.  He was glad he made Santa's "Happy List" as he kept calling it.

This was a huge hit.

Needing help

"Big truck" as he says over and over.  I LOVE this Little Tikes car hauler!!!

Cars stuff.  He also got the movie.  We need to watch it.  Yes, the hours and hours we spent in the car would have been a good time to do so, but since Alex stuck two dvds in the player back in August, it has not worked.  $1600 for a new factory one isn't going to work either.  I used the portable one we have for flying last time, but they couldn't hear it very well.  It was more trouble than it was worth.  Thanks Alex...

Love this...nothing better than opening gifts while eating a candy cane.

A growing boy needs breakfast (out of a new Cars cup) after such a busy morning.  He loves to sit and the counter and just take his time with breakfast.

Alex had a great day.  His very favorite toy was the fishing pole (to catch sharks).

Luke's Christmas

Luke is all boy, wanting tons of bug stuff, Nerf guns, and Legos.  Here's his giant spider.

Opening Legos

Lego Hospital

Thanks, Carin, for the Wii wheels and the Mario game!!!!

Luke loves Tom and Jerry.

Thanks, Jen, for the bug game.

More bugs

Knight costume

Nerf squirt gun....he had a GREAT day!

Madison's Christmas Morning

It seemed easier to do pictures by child.  Here's Madison's Christmas morning.

 She has been asking for Rebecca, from American Girl, forever.

 Barbie stuff

200 piece puzzle...she loves puzzles

 One item that she put at the top of her list over and over was a flower pot.  She enjoys helping me garden.

 Talking to Daddy on Skype

Enjoying her Barbie house

Presents from Daddy

Christmas morning was full of excitement, much of it to open the presents from Daddy.

Luke wouldn't let me take any other pictures of him with his presents from Daddy, but he got a basketball and a kids' basketball hoop.

Madison had a few things in her box.  She has been asking for a basketball for a long time.

Kids' Christian Music CD she has also wanted.  She has a different volume of it now.

American Girl Angel Outfit she has been begging for.  Good work, Daddy!

Alex was delighted with his Cars fishing pole.  The moment he opened it, he said, "Fishing pole...catch big shark!"  He also really liked the Cars sheets from Daddy too.

These gifts were among the first opened on Christmas morning.  They have been so excited to see what Daddy sent them.