T'was the night before Christmas

The cookies and milk are set out along with some carrots for the reindeer.  The Night Before Christmas has been read and the kids are all sound asleep, excited about what tomorrow will hold.  I should say Hayden is excited and Emerson is a little unsure.  She is still afraid of Santa, so afraid that she said "I don't want Santa to come down my chimney, he can leave the presents on the roof".  She might be the only child in the world who does not want Santa to come down the roof.  I'm sure she will change her mind in the morning about Santa.  Merry Christmas 2013!!

All I want for Christmas

At Hayden's most recent dentist appointment the Dr. said Hayden will lose his front teeth in the next month And he was exactly right.  It wasn't long that his top teeth started shifting and you could see it was coming.  His hands were constantly in his mouth wiggling that tooth and he would only eat with the side of his mouth.  It was pretty great watching him chomp down on an apple with the side of his mouth, but he was adamant about not using his front teeth.  For a while, the only one he trusted to wiggle his tooth was Emerson and let me tell you she is the last one I would trust.  I just knew she would yank it out, but she never did.  Finally, one night he worked and worked on it and just couldn't quite get it, but he was determined for the tooth fairy to bring him some money so he finally let David yank it out.  I really dreaded the loosing the teeth stage, especially the front teeth, but he looks so stinking cute.  Now to see if he will be singing "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth".

Griffin turns ONE

It is official, my baby boy is one.  You are no doubt a big boy, you walk, you talk, and are truly the sweetest little guy around.  You are the happiest, laid back, go with the flow kind a kid.  You wake up with a smile and go to bed with a smile.  You love to cuddle, they fight over who gets you in the nursery at church because they all want to cuddle with you.  You have more hair than your sister, you actually could use a haircut, but it just seems to early to cut your hair.  You have 7 teeth, four up top and three on the bottom and let me tell you, you can bite with the best of them.  I think Emerson has taken two or thee good chomps from you.  You have been nothing but a blessing to our family, we all absolutely adore you.  You light up our lives like you could never imagine.  So happy 1st birthday baby boy!!

Emerson's Christmas program and Santa Party

The fact that Emerson participated in the choir program to me is still a complete shock to me.  We attend choir every Wednesday night, she loves choir, she loves to sing and dance, but never did I think she would stand still during an hour long program.  A few nights that had rehearsal for the program in the "big kids" choir.  When I find out there was rehearsal, I was just going to pull Emerson out, but Mandi insisted she stay just to see how she does.  Well, they all raved at how awesome she did and mentioned how they planned for her to be in the program and she was front and center.  First, I cant imagine why they would put my wild girl front and center, I could only imagine the chaos she would create the night of the program.  Oh, the things I imagined in my head that could go wrong, very, very wrong the night of the program.  So, a week ago they had a rehearsal in the gym, on the risers, and this would be the true test.  I found a chair in the very back and braced myself.  That night, I have never, ever laughed so hard, I couldn't catch my breath and had tears streaming down my face.  She was an absolute angel, she smiled, she pretended to play the hand bells and sang her little heart out, all as she stood front and center.  Honestly, she was better behaved than the six year olds in the program.   This was it...there was no way I was not going to let her sing in this program.  No one should miss seeing her shine.  So that night at the program, she did absolutely amazing.  There was a little wardrobe malfunction with her halo, but nothing major.  I was so proud of her, I can't believe I ever doubted that she would stand and sing.  There is nothing this girl can't do.

This was rehearsal night

After the Chrismas program, we rushed to our neighborhood Santa party.  We get together for snacks, a kids gift exchange and best of all, Santa comes for a short visit for the kids.  

Griffin's Birthday Party

The 1st year of a child's life is truly amazing.  They go from a newborn, to an infant to a toddler all within a year.  They go from not sleeping to sleeping all night, from not even being able to hold their own head up to rolling, to crawling and eventually, to walking.  Then they call you "momma" for the first time and blow kisses and give you hugs.  That is something worth celebrating....my sweet Griffin's 1st birthday.  A birthday he will not remember, but one I will always remember as I do Hayden and Emerson's.  Griffin was more along the lines of Hayden, he wasn't so sure of his cake, he was very cautious and it took him a while to realize the goodness he had in front of him.  One he had a few bites,  he never looked back and dug in.  It was a great night celebrating Griffin with family and friends.  His first year has been nothing but an absolute joy.  Happy 1st Birthday Griffin Wells Smith!!

Look who is here

The elves, they have arrived.  They always bring a sense of magic and excitement to our house and sometimes they bring amazing surprises.  This year, not only did Sallie and Charlie arrive safetly, but they arrived with a new friend.  Thats right, Griffin was assigned his elf, Finnegan.  Our kids absolutely adore these elves.  They always arrive with a bang, and this year they arrived with a big one.  They brought the whole family a trip to the most magical place on earth....Disney World.  Hayden and Emerson were beyond excited.  The date is set for January 29 through February 1st.  What an amazing start to the holiday season.  I don't know how Santa can compete with a trip to Disney World, but I am sure he will come up with something.