Four Christmases

Christmas at home...

This is how Santa left everything

Some of Jake's gifts included two different race tracks and the Clippo creativity table Some of Will's gifts were a Wii, football men, Diego train set, and a sports center
Playing baseball on the Wii...

Christmas with Nana and Papaw...

Papaw and his boys

Nana and Papaw got the boys a trampoline! Some of Will's other favorites were a police costume kit, Diego stuff, and a firehouse tent. Jake favorites were his Elmo kitchen, a new riding toy, cash register, Dance Cam, and a bunch of Little People stuff.

Will is giving Nana a ticket from his policeman kit

Will sitting on the boxed up trampoline...we still haven't put it together yet

Jake playing with Will's stuff

Christmas at Coach and Ginker's...

Our little family

Jake's big present was a new car! Will got some accessories for his Wii, games, and more Diego stuff

Christmas at Piggott with family on my mom's side...

On a different note...

Pre-K had a Christmas program and Will's class sang Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas and Rockin' around the Christmas Tree. I took pictures, but I was too far away. Later on in the day, he had his class Christmas party. I was able to stop by for a few minutes, but my class party was on the same day. The little boy in the picture was in almost every picture I took that day...he liked posing for the camera!
Jake also had a Christmas party at his pre-school. Santa came and delivered a present to every child. Jake did not like Santa this year. My mom took him to a breakfast with Santa and he screamed. He did the same thing at pre-school...maybe next year (or not, I still can't get Will to sit with Santa)!

Merry Christmas!

He's Baaaack!!

Can you spot him????

It's our elf Clyde!!

He appeared four days ago in our Christmas tree. He has been spotted on our mantle, dining room table, and book shelves. He finds a new place in our home every night and Will has to find him each morning. If you've not heard about The Elf on the Shelf, it is a book that comes with an elf that the child names. The book explains how Santa knows if you've been a good boy or girl. It works wonders with Will...Jake really doesn't get it yet. But, Will has never had a cleaner room and you don't have to ask him a million times to do anything because it just takes a little reminder that Clyde is watching. We hear Will talking to him from time to time. The other night Billy thought Will was asking him something, and he said, "What did you say, Will?", and Will said "I was asking Clyde why he keeps staring at me." Billy got so tickled. Will also told me that he has told Clyde that I need new pillows for my couches for Christmas because somebody keeps tearing them up. (That would be Will... he always tears every tassel or decorative piece off of throw pillows.)

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Have you ever wondered how Santa could know

if you're naughty or nice each year as you grow?

For hundreds of years it's been a big secret.

It can now be shared if you promise to keep it.

At holiday time Santa sends me to you.

I watch and report on all that you do.

My job's an assignment from Santa himself.

I am his helper, a friendly scout elf.

Each night while you're sleeping to Santa I'll fly

to the North Pole right through the dark sky.

It goes on, but you get the general idea. If you know of any small children that don't have this, it is an excellent gift idea. Of course, I would love for Will to be good because it is the right thing to do and not just because Santa's elf is watching, but because God is watching. However, they are only young for a little while and it is so neat to see Will's face when the elf has moved positions over night!

Keedy Christmas

We usually have the Keedy Christmas in Newport, but about half of the Keedy clan lives in Bryant so we traveled there this year. Here are a few pics from the day.

Will and Jake waiting for presents to be passed out...

Will got a soccer game that he absolutely loves

Jake got his first Mr. Potato Head play set

These are the four youngest children (Jake, Macy Claire, Will, and Cole) playing in Macy's room

Dianne (Jon's wife) and Sheryl (Craig's wife)

Stephen and David

Katerina (Stephen's wife) and Aunt Cynthia (Coach's sister)
Keedy and Aunt Linda aka "Minna" (Coach's other sister)

Some of the guys in the man room watching football

Cole playing with his new fishing pole

I tried to get a pic of everyone in the family, but of course I didn't succeed. I didn't even get the hostess with the mostest, Michelle...maybe next time. Billy's sister "KaKa" was sick and unable to make it. We missed you KaKa...see you in about a week!!

Play Date!

Will is getting to the age where he wants to have a friend over from time to time. Miller came over one day after school and the boys played and played. Jake thinks he is big enough to hang with the big boys, too, and gets his feelings hurt when they don't want him around. But, all in all, they were nice enough to include him in most things.Playing a little football in the living room...Billy is throwing the ball from the couch.


Even though they had a really good time, the night couldn't end without a little Spiderman icepack time.

Jake's New "Tricks"

Jake has a new face that he loves to make, but pictures won't do it justice because he also makes a noise to go along with the face. He breathes in and out of his mouth really fast. It is hilarious!! We call it his "mean face". He does it every time you ask him to, but he also does it just out of the blue for no apparent reason.

Doing the "mean face" with a mouth full of popcorn is no problem for this little guy!

Here is something else he does all of the time these days. He hasn't flipped over yet, but I feel like that is just around the corner.Here is "sweet face"...all innocent and cute! He is starting to talk a little more. He is very bossy (I wonder where he gets that from...don't say a word, mom, haha!!). He loves to tell Kooper "Doh" (which means "Go") anytime Kooper comes to beg for food. He also points his finger to tell him which direction to "doh". If Will gets near him when he is trying to eat, he says "moob" (move). Will thinks it is so funny, so he aggravates him to death. (Do you notice a pattern with protecting his food????) He loves to say "huh-uh" to everything you ask him to do. Isn't it a little early for that?

New Yard Decorations

My mom had these cute wooden train sets made for my boys. There is such a demand for these in the Paragould area that you have to order a year in advance! Thanks, Nana, you made our yard look more festive this year and for many more to come!!

Long Time, No Blog!

I have a break from grad school until January, so maybe I'll do a little better during the month of December with my blogging. Here are just a few pics that I haven't been able to post yet.

Don't you just want to squeeze him???

Will working in class on his cutting skills.

Will getting assistance from Ms. Cordell

Today was the first day that I attempted to get a Christmas card picture. It always stresses me out every year and here are some examples why....uncooperative children. I did end up getting some cute shots with Billy's help. He stood behind me and pretended to hit me on the head with a big ornament and it cracked them up. I'll post some of those later.

However, Kooper dog always knows how to take a pretty picture!