Mamaw, is this one mine?

This past Thursday evening, we went over to my parents (Kuhns) for Christmas. My mother had made a scrumptious meal - b-b-que meat, cheesy potatoes, her famous lima beans, a great new salad, and her deliciously sweet tea. Topped off with a ho-ho cake and my dad's wonderful coffee making abilities. Yumm!!!
Ethan did really good waiting to open his presents. He calmly ate his meal-very unusual!- But, when it was time to open the presents, oh my! "Mamaw, is this one mine? Can I open it?" ...just repeat this phrase over and over and you will get a feeling as if you had been there with us! haha Landon could care less about opening the gifts. He would just carry one right after the other to my dad and had them piled extremely high on his lap. He did open just one present, but after that he just played with the wrapping and then his toys. Mom hit the jackpot with a couple of their presents, so the adults were able to enjoy opening their gifts. I got some great things -of course! my mom is a great gift shopper!- but she surprised me with an extra special gift....she scrap booked a "recipe" book for me that was full of old pictures and recipes past on from at least one great, great grandparent, aunts, and my owngrandparents. She wrote something about each recipe. It was so great! I will treasure it.
Oh, the picture of the flowers with the candle on top...my mother made that! Beautiful, huh? The picture with my parents - the boys are wearing their pajamas they got from mom.
Well, one Christmas down (so fun!) and a couple more to go!

Wrappin' up the presents

I wanted you all to see the fruits of my labor! After 3 hours of gift wrapping last night (not counting previous times) I am pretty much done. I am paying for it now. My back is all messed up. Last night I moaned and groaned. I wish Shawn could "feel" what I feel...poor guy. All he sees is me limping and then there is the yelling because of the pain! Anyway, I found the idea to put ornaments on the packages. I am thrilled with the way they turned out. I can't wait for Christmas!!!

"Mischievous" is Landon's middle name

Landon loves brushing his teeth. He goes berserk if you don't let him brush whenever chooses - which is a good thing, just as long I know of it instead of walking in on him to find him helping himself.
I checked on Landon during one of his naps - looks uncomfortable, huh?

Mackenzie Rayne

Here are a few pictures of Scott and Kristina's baby girl. (Scott is Shawn's brother)
December 14, 2007
Mackenzie Rayne
6 lbs. 13 oz.
...first girl in their family....
...first granddaughter after 6 grandsons on the Clemens side!...
...and another girl coming in February (MINE!)...
...and another boy coming in April (Shawn's sister)!

Gettin' the feelin' of Christmas

Ethan was so excited about getting some snow. He loves to throw snowballs. As you can see from Landon's first experience with the Dec. snow, he was not to thrilled. Look closely, and you will see a tear on his cheek! A few days later, Shawn took the boys outside (it was warmer than the previous time) and Landon enjoyed it for awhile. They managed to get 2 parts of a snowman built. Actually, Shawn built it while Ethan kept whacking him with snowballs. And if you didn't know already, he has incredible aim for his age! Anyway, Ethan told me later that day that Daddy was going to put a head on the snowman later!

Today we made a craft. (Sorry about the picture being sideways!) Ethan is going to tear a link off of the chain everyday until Christmas-then time to open presents. He did really good doing some of the coloring and then cut out almost every piece. I was impressed with his cutting abilities. :-) As you know, Shawn got a deer. Well, his dad came over one evening to help cut it off the bone. Ethan then helped daddy grind it into hamburger. We ended up with 40 pounds of meat! We have made 7 pounds of jerky, 15 pounds of salami, and 19 pounds of hamburger!

Bedtime Bellylaughs

Just last week we moved the boys into a room together. We have been trying to get Landon familiar with a toddler bed. Well, it hasn't been smooth sailing, and at times has been quite humorous! Landon loves to get out of his bed and get into bed with big brother. One night, you could hear him flipping the light on and off - over and over. Shawn took him back to his old room that has the crib. Well, I had moved it to a new spot and this spot you can reach the light switch here, also. Oops! I could here him flipping the light switch on and off so Shawn went to check on him. He found Landon wearing a lavender crocheted bonnet and was playing with the strings attached to it! Needless to say, that is how Shawn found him the next morning - wearing the hat..again!
Then, last night, they fell asleep in the Ethan's bed. I told Shawn I wanted to get a picture...so cute. Then, after the picture was taken, Shawn pulled back the covers and we burst into a fit of laughter!!! There was this monkey sitting up between Landon's legs! Hilarious!
Not so hilarious - 4:36 AM until an HOUR later could you hear the boys up and playing in their room! I tell you what, I am sure glad we are trying to get them trained now instead of when the baby shows up. Oh well, at least there is laughter in spite of all the frustration!

As Stuffed As The Turkey

What a fabulous Thanksgiving we had this past week. My mother's parents were in for the occasion and my mother fixed a fantastic meal. The turkey was scrumptious (thanks mom AND dad!) and my grandmother made her famous pumpkin pie. Mmmm...
Later that afternoon, we went and visited some of Shawn's family that was in. It was great to visit with them. What made the day really special was that the boys got their picture taken with TWO sets of GREAT grandparents! (The top one is my grandparents, second is of Shawn's)
We went over later for - you guessed it! - more food at my parents and then we sat around the fire in the living room and relaxed. Now, today, I am having to watch what I put into my mouth, for the past few days has been a horrific experience watching what went past my eyes, mind, and into my mouth! haha Maybe the baby will feast off of all the fat I consumed this week!!