December 2016

December is always such a fun, hectic, and wonderful month. I already wrote about Jessica's wedding, the girls Nutcracker performance and Jackson's banjo recital, but here are some more fun moments of our wild month.

We started out the month by going to the Boone Christmas parade, all three girls had Nutcracker rehearsal, and then Jackson was in the Mountain City Christmas parade with the Boy Scouts, and all of these things happened on the very same day.

We decorated our house for Christmas, Eric filled in preaching one Sunday for a friend of his, we had the stomach bug hit a couple of kids in our house, we had a baby shower for Leslie and Todd, and then baby Titus decided to make his appearance a bit early, so we got to go meet the newest member of our family this month, too!

 The kids had their Christmas Music Performance at school:

 They had Christmas parties, and a very special gift was sent to the 2nd graders from the North Pole!

Mailing their letters to Santa in the big red mailbox in town:

 Jessica and Craig at their rehearsal dinner, and opening gifts with our McDaniel cousins:

 We also had our Christmas play at church:

 We went to Bass Pro Shop when Santa was visiting there one day so the kids could remind him what they wanted, but by the time we got to him, Vada Belle wanted absolutely nothing to do with Santa!

 Shopping with this crew can be wild.... and exhausting to Elsie:

Baby Felix posing for his picture on the Christmas card. How sweet is he?!?

Then the Christmas party madness began. First we had the Watson side Christmas party, which we had at Sharpie's this year:

When we got home from the Watson Christmas party, the kids were able to give their once a year hugs to Simon, our Elf on the Shelf, before we put him back in the box for Santa to pick up on his way back to the North Pole. Ansley made him a necklace before he left, and they are wondering if he will wear it when he comes back next year:

Christmas Eve tradition of reading The Night Before Christmas and having a sleepover in mom and dad's room! It wasn't long before Santa came:

 The kids on Christmas morning opening their presents. The only thing Elsie asked for was some Shopkins, Jackson wanted Mixels, Ansley wanted a jewelry making kit, Vada Belle wanted a princess dress, and Felix didn't seem to mind what he got.

 Christmas at Mamaw Dianne and Papaw Fred's on Christmas morning:

 At first Ansley had asked Santa for an American Girl doll for Christmas. We talked about since we have so many kids in our family that he isn't able to spend that much on their present. Ansley then said, "But he makes the presents," to which we had to tell about copyright laws. :) I had NO IDEA that my mom had bought each one of her granddaughters an American Girl doll. If I did, I would've definitely had my video camera ready to capture Ansley's reaction. She got huge tears in her eyes and said, "Is this really for me?" She was so excited and hasn't put her doll down.

Jackson was beyond thrilled with all of his Lego sets he got and Felix was a fan of his new moccasins from Jessica and Craig. Jenny and Leslie brought a new doll dress for each one of the girls for their new dolls- I think my kids and I might have been the only ones to not know that they were getting them!

 With Mamaw and Papaw and then telling Jessica and Craig good-bye before they left to go on their honeymoon to Belize!

 On Christmas night Eric's side of the family came to our house for some family time. There are always lots of laughs when we get together with them, and the kids love spending time with them all.

When we had Christmas at Mamaw Ollie's, it didn't feel like December weather at all! It was sunny, warm, and I couldn't believe Felix could actually wear his shorts Christmas outfit. The kids took advantage of the warm weather by playing outside and climbing in the tree.

 The kids with their Christmas gifts from everyone:

Felix turned 5 months on December 29th, and he has learned so much this last month! He will roll to get to wherever he wants to go, grab whatever comes within his reach, he can sit for several seconds at a time, has started eating some pureed foods and baby oatmeal, but he still likes to party all night long. He has the most contagious smile, though, and loves laughing at his big brother and sisters!

What a wonderful year 2015 was for our family. We are so thankful to God for his many blessings on us this year. 

Jessica and Craig's Wedding

On December 19, 2015, my beautiful sister Jessica got married! She and Craig had a beautiful wedding ceremony at our church, and then had a fun reception at Trade Mill. It ended up being a beautiful day, especially for it to be December in the mountains! 

Getting ready for the big day:

I wasn't able to get many pictures because it was kind of crazy, (but fun!), being a bridesmaid and having 3 flower girls, 1 ring bearer and then still worrying about when I would need to nurse Felix again, but my great friend April was her photographer so I know there will be so many amazing shots of her perfect day. I can't wait to see all of those pictures! Here are a few more I took throughout the day.

First dance as husband and wife; with some of her school co-workers; Jessica's ring bearer and flower girls:

Father/daughter dance; The wedding cake made by our Aunt Pam; having fun at the reception:

More reception fun:

Roasting marshmallows and Felix taking a nursing break:

Our Family:

Getting ready to leave the reception:

Congratulations, Jessica and Craig! We are so happy for you guys. Thank you for letting us all be a part of your big day. We love you and wish you many years of happiness together!

Sisters- I'm so lucky to have such wonderful best friends!

Ballet and Banjo

The girls are always so excited to hear what part they will be dancing in The Nutcracker each December. This year Ansley was an Arabian Dancer, Elsie was over the moon excited that she got to be one of the little clock mice, and Vada Belle made her Nutcracker debut as a gumdrop. All three girls did a wonderful job.

 Elsie as a mouse

Vada Belle as a Gumdrop

Ansley as an Arabian Dancer

 On their dress rehearsal night, Jackson had his very first banjo recital. I was so sad I had to miss this, but I asked Eric to take pictures and videos, and he didn't disappoint me.

Jackson's Banjo Recital

 Jackson actually had to leave his banjo recital a bit early to rush to the Board of Education meeting because he was receiving an award for character excellence. Needless to say, Eric and I were bursting with pride after this week was over.

Our kids make us so proud! 

November 2016

Some moments in November:

The fall festival at our school was at the beginning of November. The PTO did a great job organizing everything and the kids had a lot of fun there.

 At the beginning of November we had another wedding shower for Jessica and Craig. Just a few more days until their wedding day. We are all so excited!

 One night I had to go somewhere so I had pumped a bottle for Felix before I left. Ansley has really wanting to feed her baby brother, so she was so thrilled when Eric told her while warming up his bottle that she could feed him. She really is the best big sister.

 Elsie showing off her Family Tree project for school, and her "Thankful Turkey" (she said she was thankful for her baby brother, Jesus, her brothers, the food we eat, mom and dad, and sister).  She is such a sweet girl with a huge heart!

 The kids went to the dentist for a cleaning in November, and the older three had x-rays and we had zero cavities! Yay! As you can see, Vada was so tired by the time we got back.

 One night Eric had swaddled Felix and was trying to get him to sleep. Jackson watched him and then said he was going to do the same with his bear. We're training him early to be an awesome husband and dad! :)

Vada Belle trying on her dance outfit for The Nutrcacker, and had to try her headpiece on Baby Felix. Oh the joys of having three older sisters!
I love having these lunch dates:

 I love how babies hold your hand while nursing!

November was a rough month for Felix. I took him to the doctor because he was running a fever and sounded terrible. His eyes were beginning to stay matted shut and he wasn't nursing well at all. The doctor said it was a cold and I asked what else could I possibly do because I was already doing the humidifier, the saline drops and suctioning out his nose, holding a warm washcloth on his eyes, etc. The doctor said there really wasn't much more I could do and that we would just have to let it run its course. A few days later I got so worried about him that I ended up taking him to the ER. They did a test and unfortunately he had RSV. He was so sick and there were many nights that I didn't sleep much at all because he sounded terrible and I was so worried about him. Thankfully the chest x-rays came back clear but he did end up with an ear infection that he had to be treated for not long after he tested positive for RSV. 

 Abigail, the kids cousin, was in Greensboro Community Theater's production of The Wizard of Oz. She played the role of Mrs. Mayor, and did such a fantastic job. You can definitely tell that she is doing what she loves when she is on the stage. My sister, Tiffany, got the kids tickets to meet the cast before the show one day, and that was so much fun for them!

 Our Mrs. Mayor and her biggest fans:

 Meeting more of the cast:

 Way to go, Abigail! We can't wait to watch you in all of your future productions!

Even though our kids have their own beds, you would never know since they all still pile together in one bed. I love that they love each other so much.

 The middle picture is a "rainbow" Vada Belle made in her room one day. Haha!

Every year we let each kid pack their own shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. The kids love picking out their presents and praying for the child that will receive their box. Then each kid writes a letter, tapes a picture on the box, and then they traced their handprint on the inside of the lid and wrote, "Put your hand in mine and we will pray together." 

 We had Thanksgiving at mom and dad's house again this year and of course we had way too much food, like always! We have so much to be thankful for.

 On Thanksgiving weekend we went and picked out our Christmas Tree and the kids couldn't wait to decorate it.

 Decorating the tree... it was Elsie's year to put the star or angel on top, and this year she chose an angel:

Baby Felix turned 4 months old on November 29th. He is rolling, laughs a lot, and still doesn't sleep through the night! At his four month check up (which was on December 1st) he weighed 11 lbs. 11 oz. and was 25 inches long. We just love this little one so!