Christmas, Round One

The weekend before Christmas we headed down to Hendersonville, TN, to see Kevin's family again! Justin and Kayla graciously hosted all of us and we had a good time hanging out, eating and even opening gifts from Nanny and Paw Paw! It was a great way to kick off Christmas!!!

Getting ready to dig in!

Cousins eating candy from Nanny!

All the guys: Justin, Jack, Larry, Trenton, Bennett and Kevin

Nanny and Bennett!!

Michael, Uncle Ray, Aunt Karen, Kendall, Melissa and Bennett

Opening presents! Jack and Bennett got some really fun toys and books and some cute clothes, thank you!!!

Trip to Tennessee

Several weeks ago we headed down to Tennessee making several stops along the way. We first stayed the night in Ashland City to see Kevin's Dad and Step-Mom. Then we headed to Murfreesboro to spend the weekend with our dear friends. On Sunday, we stopped in Hendersonville on our way back home for the afternoon and evening to see Kevin's brother and his family. It was a great trip!

Sweet Jean playing with our little B-man! We really enjoyed hanging out with you Nanny and Paw-Paw!

Jack absolutely adores his cousins Kendall and Addy!

On our way into the 'Boro, we stopped by our old house and we were happy to see it's being well-cared for. We have a lot of great memories in our first house.

The boys were out!

Our first night in Murfreesboro, after dinner with the Kramers and getting to meet precious Ivan (now Samuel), the guys went rock climbing while us girls stayed home with dessert and a couple bottles of wine! I can't imagine a better way to spend time with some of the best friends a girl could wish for.

Kevin

Jonathan

Benji

Derek, Benji, Kevin, Jonathan and Austin. I know Kevin misses his friends as much as I do.

The second night, our wonderful hosts, the Bakers, generously invited lots of our nearest and dearest friends to come over for dinner and a big bonfire afterwards with all the kids! Here Jack is eating with his friend Annelise.

Two of the greatest friends on the planet: Rebekah and Nicole.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

It's hard to believe Christmas is just a week away! We've been celebrating for the whole month, here are a few things we've been up to...

Decorating Christmas sugar cookies!

Unpacking the Christmas decorations and watching "Elf"!

Bennett loves the Dancing Santa from Meme as much as Jack did at his age!!!

Daddy bought a gingerbread house kit and tackled making it with Jack, it was a mess!

But lots of fun!

The lovely creation!!!

Sweet angel face

Stockings...

Jack's own Christmas tree for his room, along with his nativity set.

Our tree!!!

The boys dancing to Jingle Bell Rock

Bennett Is Walking

Well, sort of anyway! He has taken 3 steps in a row!!!!! WOW, way to go B!!! We are so beyond thrilled because this marks a new stage of life for him. I've learned so much from his therapists and it really seems like once he starts walking, a lot more doors will be opened to him. I think Jack's progress seemed really advanced because he was such an early walker- 9 months- so he started doing other things early as well (except talking, because he's still a boy after all!).

Bennett is taking one step at a time like a pro now-although he took his first step only a week or so ago. He will take one step and then either fall or purposefully go down to his knees and start crawling, still a little hesitant! But yesterday he took 2 steps in a row twice, did 2 a few times today and then took 3 in a row! YAY! His PT suggested that since he's strong and developed, he should take off once he gets the confidence to make those first few steps... I sure hope she's right! We were praying that he would walk by 16 months because that's the latest that's really within the range of "normal" and it looks like he'll be walking before he's 15 months if he keeps it up! Thank you God!

Fall Festivities

We had a busy fall this year with the boys! Although I'm a little behind in posting, get ready because there are lots of pictures!

My dear friend from Tennessee, Rebekah, came to visit me for a few days back in September. We had a wonderful time with her and her two beautiful girls. She took a few pictures one day when we went to the park.

And here is her oldest daughter, Caroline, holding Bennett. We didn't get a picture of sweet Anna Laura.

Caroline and Jack in the petting zoo.

As you can see, Jack is very affectionate... to everyone (thing)! I am sad that Rebekah and I didn't get a picture of the two of us. That's what happens when you have kids I guess!

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Back in October, Kevin and I took the boys to a park one afternoon to feed the ducks and play on their awesome playground! Jack didn't know what to think at first of the ducks, who were more than a little scary at times!

Mia was our watchdog and would bark at and chase the ducks when they got a little too close to her family!!!

Jack is too brave for his own good sometimes!

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We went to Gallrein Farms for the afternoon where we bought our pumpkins back before Halloween. Jack was prepared for anything with those shades!

They had tons of fallish decorations and it took me a long time to figure out if this sleeping cat was real or not.

Jack asked if this was "Old McDonald"!! I said it was.

There were tons of way cooler animals at their petting zoo but my camera died so I only got this chicken.

On a hayride to the pumpkin patch where we each found our own pumpkin!

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Another day in October we went to the zoo when it was all decorated for Halloween!

Giving his buddy Elmo a big hug.

My tough guys!

Pointing at the sleeping lions!

Picking the gorilla statue's nose, what else?

In the bamboo jungle

(There is a gorilla in the background for those of you who care!)

Pushing this monster up the huge hills at the zoo always gives me a big workout, luckily Kevin was there this day to help out!

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Trying to have a fall photo shoot in front of the house

Jack didn't want to cooperate so it became all about Bennett, what a little cutie!!!

Our front door was decorated too, along with the pumpkins from Gallrein Farms!