Christmas 2008

What a wonderful Holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Carson is so funny to watch open presents. He opens one and wants more! Every time he opened a present he said, "WOW, a ....., COOL"!

So Christmas morning Carson was all excited to see his "big fire truck" and "choo choo". After opening presents at our house and letting him play for a while, we went to Mimi's and Pop's and had a big lunch, filled with fried turkey, honey baked ham, mom's delicious cornbread dressing and lots of other sides and deserts. After eat ting, we opened gifts and Carson of course got lots of toys, a motorized Jeep from Mimi and Pop's and a Pedal Car from Uncle John. Carson loves it all.

On Friday, I went and did some After Christmas Shopping with Anamaria and her girls (we left Carson at home with Mimi and Pop's). We had a wonderful time looking and buying lots of stuff. That afternoon, Julie and her family came to Mimi's and also Steve's family came in. So we had another big present unwrapping extravaganza. Then just sat around and visited and let the kids play with all of their toys.

I have absolutely no idea where we're going to put all of these toys. I think I'm going to have to go through a lot of Carson's old toys and donate some that he has outgrown. And we're still not done yet, Blake's parents come in on Sunday and there's more toys coming....ugh! :)

Yummy Cookies; Friends Forever

Yesterday, Carson, Blake and I made some YUMMY cookies! We made an entire batch of our Cream Cheese Cutout Cookies and tried a new recipe called Oreo Bon Bons. While Carson was napping, I made up the batch of cookie dough and when he got up from his nap, we made the yummy Oreo Bon Bons.

Oreo's "pre" icing

Once Blake got home from work, we baked and decorated the cutout cookies and iced the Bon Bon cookies. Carson loves to put sprinkles on them all, can you tell which ones he did? :)

Today, we went to visit our friends to bring them some cookies and say MERRY CHRISTMAS. The kids had a blast playing together and while Anamaria snuck off to do a little grocery shopping, the kids danced and played Ring Around the Rosie. Carson just loves Samia and Gamila, while we were in the Post Office this morning, he was telling the Post Lady, "I go play with Samia and "Mila" (Gamila)".

Don't ask me where Carson gets his dance moves from either!!!

Silly Carson

Today we went to LSU, just to look and play around. Carson decided he was going to help Mike the Tiger out and "clean" his nose for him....Carson thought he was so funny (actually, we were all laughing our heads off)!

North Pole Express

Today, Carson and I went with BJ and Christy to New Orleans to the Lakeside Mall to do some shopping and visit the North Pole Express. Christy did lots of shopping and Carson's build a bear got some new Christmas PJ's. I looked around for some Christmas PJ's for Carson, but was unable to find any. Anybody know where I can get some...and I'm not paying $30 for them either!!

Carson absolutely LOVED the train. I wasn't sure how he would do since he hasn't ever rode anything like this by himself, but he didn't want to get out!! Thank goodness it only cost $1 for each ride.

The Christmas train display that was in the center of the train ride was beautiful. It had several different trains going around and through tunnels and over bridges.

He waved everytime he passed by :)

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Carson and I got home on Saturday afternoon from a visit to Julie's house in Dallas, TX. Carson did not want to come home, he loved playing with Taylor and Will, that is until I told him we were coming to see Dada and then he was all about coming home.

On Sunday, we took Carson to Cullin's Toy Store and he had a field day. They had 4 train tables set up with a gazillion (is that even a word?) trains for him to play with. We kept trying to get him to look at all the other toys, but he kept saying, "Wait, wait"...and never came. He loved it. That is definitely a place we'll go back to soon!

This afternoon, Carson and I went to stay with BJ. While there Carson finally got to play with his "freebie" toys. When Blake and I went to pick up Carson's mattress from Blake's parents house, the man that is renting it had a couple ride on toys that he was getting rid of, so we gladly took them off his hands. Carson loves the big tractor, although he can not get the hang of pedalling it, he loves to push it or be pushed.

Carson's Freebies

We also went to pet the horses that are across from Mimi's and Pop's. Carson actually petted them this time and loved it.


Also, the Camilla's are blooming at Mimi's and Pop's and are beautiful!

Santa Claus, take 2

Today we went to see Santa Claus and 2 of his reindeer. Carson again was not so sure of sitting on Santa's lap and wanted to go back to the reindeer. But, we convinced him to stay and he would get a surprise.

The first picture was not so good, so we again talked him into standing with Taylor and he was much more accepting of that idea.

Take 1

Take 2

Santa's Reindeer

Griswald House, Snowing in Louisiana!

Last night, we all went riding around looking at Christmas lights. They have a neighborhood here in Dallas, that almost all of the houses are decorated for Christmas. They have this one house that is COVERED in lights and plays music that is set to a radio station. It was so cool.

Mimi and Blake called bright and early this morning to tell us that it was SNOWING in Louisiana! You would guess the one week out of a million a year, we would pick this week to come to Dallas and miss the snow. Blake and Pop's took lots of pics and sent them to us so we could see it all. I guess we'll have to travel up north somewhere to find some snow, since the last time we saw snow was about 20 years ago in Louisiana.

Mimi's and Pop's house

Dallas, Cookie Baking

Today is our 1st full day in Dallas. Carson and I got to Dallas around 3 pm yesterday, we made it to Dallas with no troubles and no car fits, although Carson started getting a little antsy about 30 min. out of Dallas, but I just kept telling him that we were fixing to be able to play with Taylor and Baby Will and he was fine.

Yesterday afternoon, we just hung around the house, took a little walk around the neighborhood to look at the lights and then decided to go ride around and check out some lights.

This morning, we loaded up and took Taylor to MDO and then went and did a little shopping. We went especially to "Santa" shopping for Taylor and Will, but Julie was being picky about prices...I told her it was too late to be picky about price, she was just going to have to buy, buy, buy! So she bought a few things, but is going back out tomorrow by herself, while I keep the kids.

This afternoon after nap time, we baked Christmas Cookies. Taylor and I made the dough while the boys napped, Taylor loves helping out in the kitchen. After the boys got up, we cut out the cookies and decorated them. The kids had a blast and they came out cute!

Packed and Ready

Well, I think we're all packed and ready. Carson and I head out tomorrow morning, bright and early (at least I hope to be gone by 7:30am), on our venture to Dallas, TX to stay a week with Julie and her family. Well, Steve will be gone from Monday to Thursday, so it will be just us girls with the kiddos.

We'll be home either Friday or Saturday, I haven't made up my mind yet, we'll just see when it gets closer.

Now time to get to bed and get a good nights sleep, it's going to be 7 hours on the road tomorrow! Carson and I have done this trip once before by ourselves with no problems, so hopefuly this trip will be the same.

Busy, Busy Weekend!

Goodness, this weekend has been (and still going to be) so busy. Saturday morning, I got up bright and early and went and had the oil changed in my car to get ready for our long drive on Monday. Then had to run to the grocery store for a few items, had to bring Carson to Mimi's and get BJ's van so Blake and I could go to Baton Rouge and get Carson's mattress for his new bed. Came back home, got dressed for a birthday party for a friend of Carson's, ran back to Mimi's to pick Carson up to go to the birthday party. Stayed at the birthday party for a couple hours and then back to Mimi's and Pop's to sit with BJ so they could go to Mimi's work's Christmas party, we will be staying the night here at Mimi's tonight, because there's no telling when the Party Animals will get home. :)

Man that wears me out all over again, just typing it all!

So Carson's little friend, Owen, turned 2 today. His theme of his birthday party was Fire Trucks! Carson loved it, they even had a real fire truck come to his house and all the kids got to sit on the truck. I can not wait to see Carson's face when he sees his fire truck underneath the Christmas tree, Christmas morning!

Tomorrow we will be packing for our journey on Monday. Carson and I are heading to Dallas (a very last minute vacation) to stay with Julie and her kiddos for a week. Julie's already got lots of things for us planned; shopping of course, visiting Santa and his reindeer (yes, there will be real reindeer).

So here are a few pics from Owens bday party....and one little goofy pic of Carson from last nights cookie party at Jenny's.

Christmas Cookies

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of visiting with our friends, eating pizza and making cookies! We all gathered at Jenny's house and had a great time. It seems like forever since we've seen anyone lately, I guess with the holidays and everyone family being in town.

The kids/adults enjoyed using the cookie cutters and rolling pins to make their cookies and then icing and sprinkles.

Big Boy Bed

Another great Craigslist find!

Carson and I went yesterday and picked up his new big boy bed. A twin size Race Car Bed!

So, this morning Carson and I had the tackle of taking down his crib and then putting up his new bed. The crib was more than a headache than what I thought it was going to be. The screws that held in the "spring" part that held the mattress up were stripped! I was so aggravated, I ended up having to put Carson's Cars movie on, just to get him out of my way, because I started taking my aggression out on him. Poor baby, yes, I deeply apologized for yelling after I got the crib apart finally.

Then, time to put his new bed together....It was a breeze, except when I learned that Carson "hammered" (yes, he had his own toy hammer) two of the screws inside the bed and you can not get them out. So we'll be heading to Pop's barn to find some new screws to hold the bottom of the bed together.

Other than that, he LOVES the bed. We put his crib mattress inside of the bed, so he could have a mattress until we go and get an extra one this weekend from Blake's parents house in Baton Rouge. His crib mattress looks so TINY inside of his new bed.

I had to put his step stool outside of the bed, so he can climb in...and for some reason, he likes to stick his tongue out whenever I take his pic.


Hopefully, no not hopefully....this WILL get him back into his bed and out of ours!!!!

Testing out his bed with his crib mattress...we had to stuff blankets around both sides.

Beautiful day!

Today, it is so beautiful outside, a high of about 71' and blue skies! We decided to meet some friends at the park today to take advantage of this beautiful weather.

Carson had a blast with all of his friends. Carson hasn't seen any of his friends for a few weeks, poor thing, so he was so excited when he saw them all. He played hard for a good 2 hours, and is sleeping so soundly now!!

Carson, Jackson and Charlotte playing in the sand

Carson, Noah and Jeffrey

O' Christmas Tree

Today we went and cut down our Christmas Tree. It is our family tradition to always get our tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving. Blake and I have always cut a fresh Leland Pine tree for our Christmas Tree and we have taken Carson to do the same with us since he's been born.

It always takes us a while to find that "perfect" tree and this year, Carson was getting a little fed up with us, because we were taking so long. Finally we found it and Blake and Carson cut our little tree down.

Once home, we brought it in the house and I promised Carson as soon as he woke from his nap, we would decorate it. So, here's the outcome: