Snow, Snow, and more Snow!

I mentioned in one of my Christmas post that we got a huge snow storm shortly after Christmas and we did!  The last time I remember getting this much snow was when I was a little girl. I just love snow!  My boys aren't quite as into as I am and really after a few days of being coped up inside I was pretty much over it too (school was cancelled all week- ahhhh)!  But there were a few days where it was lots of fun (and we liked having Daddy home from work too)! 

Davis stepping out into the knee deep snow!

Noah deligting in the fluffy white stuff!

Davis catching snow balls!

Right after Davis pelted his baby brother with a snowball in the face!  It was an accident (we think)! :)  Noah recovered nicely.  He is tough!

My handsome husband pulling my handsome son on the sled....

Double the fun on the sled!

I love these boys!

Can you blame me?

Coming in from the snow.  Tired and ready for some hot chocolate with marshmellows!

Storming the Gates...

Will you please join me in storming the gates of heaven on behalf of my sweet beautiful niece, amazing sister, and wonderful brother-in-law?

http://incuteshoes.blogspot.com/2011/01/with-heavy-heavy-hearts.html

We would covet your prayers. 

I will write more soon.  My words seem to be failing me right now but my God is not  My hope is in Him.  I know it is well placed. 

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

                                          

    Isaiah 41:10

Much love to all,

Shannon

White Christmas...

 This Christmas was one to remember for a variety of reasons but I have a feeling it will live on in infamy because it started snowing on Christmas day!  That just doesn't happen here in the deep south- like NEVER!  Well, until now of course!  We decided to head over to my parents house on Christmas night for dinner since Christmas had been postponed at my grandmother's.  When we drove up- there was Thomas & Sir Topham Hat.  Apparently he was on clearance at Lowes right before Christmas and Gigi & Granddaddy man couldn't resist!  Davis loved him but kept wanting to go inside him!?!  It doesn't work that way son, even on this magical  snowy Christmas day!

Trying to catch snowflakes!

Snuggling up with Granddaddy man- it had been a very long day!

We didn't just get a little dusting, the snow actually started sticking.  By the time we got home there was plenty of snow on the ground and we couldn't resist letting Davis stay up past his bedtime to play in the snow.  (Noah fell asleep on the way home).

Davis waiting patiently to go outside to play!

Ok, what do we do with this white stuff again?

Oh, yeah. I remember now!  Our miniature snowman decorated with ornaments of course!

The next day, Noah joined in the fun!?!  He wasn't quite sure what to think about and didn't give much reaction!

Snow brings out the sillys!

I"m not sure if we will ever get another white Christmas here in the deep south but it was so enjoyable and memorable!  Little did we know we would get an actual snow storm just a few weeks later!  So fun!!!!

Christmas 2010...

Oh goodness dear friends, I'm afraid this won't be much a post!  I did a TERRIBLE job taking pictures this Christmas!  Matt on the other hand did an awesome job of having the video camera running for practically 3 days straight!  However, I won't bore you with hour long videos of our family Christmas with flashes of our booties walking in front of the camera!  I know, I know, life just isn't fair! :) 

This Christmas was by far the most abnormal Christmas we've ever had but was still very special with our two boys.  This is the first Christmas we didn't do Christmas Eve with my family, instead we did Christmas Eve morning.  Then on Christmas day we didn't drive to Matt's parents house- rather they graciously came to ours.  Later Gigi & Granddaddy also dropped by on Christmas morning.   And lastly, Christmas night we've always gone over to my grandparents house but that was postponed due to my grandfather's failing health.  He went to be with Jesus 3 days after Christmas.  So it was a unique Christmas, one I will soon not forget.  Davis truly got it this year and wanted to get to bed so Santa could come!  We didn't have to be in a rush on Christmas day which felt so foreign to us- but I think the boys definitely benefited from it!  It was a beautiful Christmas and the snow that started falling on Christmas afternoon only added to the beauty!  More pictures of that coming in the next post!

A few pictures from Christmas Eve morning at Gigi and Grandaddy house...

Uncle Jimmy & Aunt Jennifer...



You should have seen the other guy...

MG admiring the goblet Uncle Jimmy gave him for Christmas...  classic and timeless. ;)  Jimmy also opened a shirt and some boxers that after much talk and contemplation it was decided they were intended for MG!  Still cracks me up!  We were all a little scattered this Christmas! 

Our house before Santa came on Christmas Eve before the boys went to bed...

Christmas Morning...

Davis' gifts are on the left and Noah's are on the right- they were very good boys!  Davis was most excited about his spongebob sticker book (anything with stickers the kid LOVES).  Noah liked it all- especially the goldfish crackers in the grocery cart. :)

My two little elves...

I truly apologize that this isn't a better post.  I don't think it's a good reflection of the wonderful Christmas we had- just know it was a good one!

Christmas Déjà vu...

Do you guys ever experience Déjà vu?  Well, I recently experienced it 3 days before Christmas!  I wish I could say it was a wonderful experience that I got to re-live but unfortunately that's not the case.  Do you remember THIS incident from December 2008?  Yes, we got to re-live it- only this time with Noah! 

Let me first start out by saying that the 5:00-6:00 PM hour is by far the most challenging of the day in our household- and of course the hour in which the accident occurred.  Noah, who has been taking steps for months on end, was really starting to walk everywhere.  We have a big blow-up rubber duck that the kids love to climb in and out of.  Well he was playing with it and flipped right over and hit his eye on our stone fireplace.  Yes, we do have protective padding on the edge of our fireplace but Noah's one goal in life is to remove these every chance he gets!  We have tried everything to keep them on but nothing seems to be "Noah proof".  We finally paid the price for that!  I was standing in our kitchen at he countertop that overlooks our den- saw the whole thing but couldn't get to him fast enough.  Of course, Matt wasn't home yet and blood was everywhere!  Davis at the time decided, he needed to go potty (which he does by himself) but this time he started yelling that he needed some... well, lets just say some "assistance".  So I have a screaming kid with blood all over his face, trying to apply pressure to the wound, another kid yelling from the potty, and I"m on the phone with Matt trying to tell him what is going on.  I"m sure that phone call was one he soon won't forget! 

We weren't really sure if Noah needed stitches or not.  I didn't really think so but I also thought that with Davis in 2008 and he ended up with 12 stitches- thus I don't have a stellar track record when it comes to these things.  We took a few pictures and sent them to the ER nurse at Matt's hospital and she thought he likely needed stitches but really needed to see it in person. Noah calmed down quickly after the incident and ate dinner in the car as we drove to the hospital- after all, the kid isn't going to skip a meal! :0)   As previously mentioned Matt works for a hospital and was able call ahead and get us in and out of the ER in record time (and I do mean record time- amazing!), unfortunately the hospital is an hour away  from our house!  However, we received great treatment & Noah ended up NOT having to get stitches- Praise the Lord (images of Davis in that papoose screaming were haunting me the whole car ride there)!  Noah was a sweetie and conked out on the ride home!

The night really could have been so much worse but I sure hope we don't make this a family Christmas tradition.  Really boys, I wouldn't miss it- I promise!

A quick cell phone photo of the split eyelid from the ER....

A picture of the morning after as the swelling sets in.  I actually thought it would be a lot worse.  It did get a little bit worse than this picture but not too much!

Hark the Herald....

I thought I would share one of the highlights of our Christmas season.  During one of the first weeks of December I received this email below from Davis' preschool teacher. Don't worry- strep isn't the highlight (far from it), but the second to last sentence is what is noteworthy for this post...
To all parents,

Please note that several children have been ill with deep coughs, runny noses, etc... throughout the school. We have also had several children confirm STREP. This is not showing up as a sore throat but rather as runny noses and stomach aches, plus just general "not being their normal self" actions by the children.


If your child has a deep cough, or ongoing runny nose, please take the time to ask your Doctor or Nurse for a STREP test to be safe.  With the holidays upon us, we desire everybody to be happy and healthy!

Many blessings and thanks for all you do. And special congratulations to DAVIS GORMAN for teaching the class HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING.

We are learning all sorts of Christmas songs, stories and crafts this year!


Have a great weekend!

Ms. P.


I thought hmmm... I didn't know he knew that song! So while on the phone with my sister, I had him sing it to us.  Much to my surprise he sang most of it correctly then at the end he said "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown".

Totally cracked me up! My sister, Jennifer said "He watches too much TV!" And I said, "no he reads too many books!"

Can you tell what book he loved to read before bedtime?  His Charlie Brown press-n-hear book which has the Charlie Brown version of "Hark the Herald" on it!  I was laughing so hard I almost cried! I love that kid!

Throughout the holiday season Davis sang the song- I finally got it on tape.  I must admit it's not one of his best performances but when the camera is rolling- I take what I can get!  Oh, and I totally didn't notice until after the fact that he had on his Charlie Brown shirt that Gigi bought him- pure coincidence.  Enjoy!