Happy Birthday, Ethan Chandler & Auntie Em!

January 8th was Ethan's Birthday. He turned four years old! Time sure does seem to pass rather quickly. We did a fishing theme for his pictures and his birthday. He had gone fishing with his dad some months ago and really enjoyed it. Thanks to Shawn's help, I made his b-day cake. Devil Food Chocolate cake filled with a ton of chocolate chips and then we had mocha punch with whip cream to go with it. (click on the pic to make it bigger) His cousins, Konrad, Reagan, and Makenzie were able to be there. And his Pawpaw and Mawmaw Kuhn and his Auntie Emily who turned 15 on the same day! He got some really neat gifts and we got him skates...he did really good, but of course the best picture I had of him in them was one of the times he wiped out! He did really good, though. Landon was loving holding Makenzie. Connie Joslin (Makenzie's G-ma) said he is going to be a big helper because he put a pillow under her head while she was holding him. I sure am nervous about bringing such a tiny baby home to live in close quarters with my boys. Oh well, a lot of babies survive their siblings! Less the 30 days before Baby M. arrives! Yeah!!!! I am so ready!

More Christmas Memories

Christmas morning we woke up and I fixed homemade biscuits and scrambled eggs and coffee. While I was trying to be "Martha Stewart", Landon was adding frustration to the whole process. The lid was off the Crisco, so he thought he would take the measuring cup (which had milk on it) and put it in the Crisco. Then, I turned around again, only to find him shaking salt into the Crisco. Ahh!! Crazy kid. Well, the candy cane, heart, and circle biscuits were a hit!
Later we went over to Shawn's parents for Christmas. All 6 boys got sleeping bags and the oldest ones got a tent. Ethan spent the night at Nana's....of course, he was the last one to sleep and the first one up!
Trust you all had a fabulous Christmas....I know we did!

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!