Happy Birthday Nathan!

Today we celebrated Nate's 4th birthday! Time goes by so fast. I have recently came to an understanding with myself that I no longer have baby! I have always considered him my baby, and I know he always will be, but really--after he is no longer 3 he is a little boy, not a baby! I have been watching him closely the last few days and he is acting so grown up, his vocabulary has increased and his sentence structure has developed.

We celebrated the day with a movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks, a "Cars" cake and "Cars" clothes, "Cars" cars and a "Cars" case, the "Cars" movie and a rug to play with is "Cars" cars. I hope you get the idea that he is obsessed with "Cars"!

Christmas Eve at the Christian's

Tradition dictates that every Christmas Eve we open a present and of course, the present is a new pair of Christmas jamies! We took these cute family photos and thought we would share them with you! The kids are so excited for Christmas and are very wound up! Luke even got so excited that he threw-up! Or it might have been all of Santa's cookies that he has been sneeking! Have a great Christmas Eve!

Love

Steve, Rachelle, Tyler, Austin, Luke, Nathan, Grandma VerDon and Uncle Zach

Merry Christmas!

Just a few more days to go! I finished the last of the Christmas shopping and wrapping today! It feels so good! We had the day off as a family and worked hard to clean the house and enjoy each other. Steve and the boys went to the shooting range and then they picked up a swing set that Steve's buddy made for the boys. It is a big, steel, swing set like you might see at a playground. The boys love it! The Christmas photo we sent out was not quite our favorite photo but the one above is our favorite. When I was making the photo cards I couldn't use the photo because the cropping always cut off Steve's head. So, with all the digital stuff I have been learning how to do, I created this!

I am having so much fun learning how to digitally scrapbook! I love it! Here are a few pages that I have recently completed. I think if you click on the picture it will get bigger. If you wanted to see the details.

Last night we went to the Hurricane Fire and Rescue Christmas Party. We ate yummy food and enjoyed being out with adults. The best part was that Steve was awarded, by his fellow firefighters, the Fire Fighter of the year award. YEA! I asked him if that award came with a full time job when he is finished with paramedic school. But, it only came with a 100.00 gift card. What an honor to be recognized by your peers! I am proud of him. He doesnt think it is that big of a deal but it will be a nice addition to his resume.

The kids are getting excited about Christmas. I dont know what I will do when it is over because I keep threatening, "I bet santa is watching!" and "I know Santa wont be comming if you dont keep your room clean."

Enjoy the Spirit of the Season!

Rachelle and Family

Family Photo Shoot!

I can not believe it is December already! The holiday season always comes so fast! We have had rain the last few days. Rain for two days straight! Unfortunatly we found out that our new addition has a leak! All around our wood burning stove was leaking. We peeled the paint away and found soggy, wet sheet rock! Steve had to go up in the attic and find out where the leak was coming from and dry out the insulation. We have the wood stove burning constantly and are hoping it drys out the sheet rock. What a mess!!! We also have a leak in the boys bedroom but we can not figure out where it is comming from. We just found a big puddle of water under the bunk beds. Good thing it doesnt rain very often in Hurricane!

We were going to get our family pictures taken yesterday at Kiddie Kandids but Steve thought it would be a waste of money and thought we could just do it ourselves. So, we gave it a try and got a few good ones. But my favorites are are ones that are not really the best! Everyone will be getting photo cards in the mail soon. But here are a few of the "not so good photos"! I am sure you will enjoy them as much as I do.