Christmas Highlights 2009

A few glitches in uploading this slideshow...but I've been wrestling with it for too long (I mean it's almost Valentine's Day). Enjoy!

Highlights from Early 2009

Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever 2009

Presenting Movie Night at the Allen Theatre

Tait and Grayson kicked off the month of celebrations with their Movie Night birthday party. We were thankful to have a house full of boys and some special out-of-town guests (Uncle Matt, Uncle Marky Boy, Aunt Jenn and Grandma Sue). Chris set up the projector in the playroom and we had an official movie screen! Wallets and cash (thanks for the "mola", Nana and Papa) were the party favors...which kept our concession stand quite busy throughout the movie!

Christmas Morning 2009

To our entire family:

Thanks for making Christmas morning so special for our kids!

Ben and Leah Wilson - you guys need to be added to the credits (sorry)

Thanksgiving in Snowshoe, West Virginia!

We had a blast with Nana, Papa, Aunt Marissa and Great Aunt Laura in West Virginia for Thanksgiving. It was beautiful and quiet! We had a big storm on Black Friday (a bit ironic!). Thankful for a fun family weekend!

Sniper

This is just proof to a father-in-law and two brothers-in-law that I can sit in a tree stand and kill things. Can't wait to hear about the small rodents you kill in Wisconsin next week!

Cool Video

Came across one of our church's videos. Our church showed it at Easter. It was really powerful then--and still is! Love how the Lord can speak in the art of video technology. Check it out.

Elevation Church Easter Opener from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

Special Guest

About mid-week, I announced to the boys that we had some special company coming this weekend. They were so excited! Grayson asked, "Is Auntie Shorty coming again?"

It wasn't Auntie Shorty this past weekend, but we did have her visit in early October. Here are some photos from her time in NC. In fact, she held down the fort while Chris and I went to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. She was amazing! And it's no wonder Grayson wanted her to come back--they all got to pick out new toys when she arrived (Grayson--playmobil pirate ship; Tait--legos, of course; and Ellie--shopping cart). And then I heard some stories about Transformers fruit snacks, McD's happy meal, puzzle parties and board game competitions while we were gone.

Hmmm...kinda sounds like the same kind of fun I had when I was little...when Shorty babysat me (and my siblings) while my parents were gone. You're the best, Shorty! (Especially glad you're still not afraid to threaten with a wooden spoon!)

Thanksgiving coming up!

We've been talking about our Thanksgiving plans this week and I came across this cool centerpiece on another blog. I think it would be fun to make for any holiday. For the directions go here. (And by the way, I don't know these kids--just look at the craft!:)

Trick or Treat

Pumpkins

Thanks to some special seeds from grandparents, we grew our first pumpkin in the garden this summer. We only got one pumpkin, but it made it through the end of October, and the boys were quite excited with the size! Spent one evening this week pumpkin carving. Ellie Girl worked diligently in getting her pumpkin cleaned out. Not bad for a first-time carver! :)