Do you think we have some sibling rivalry issues?

Naaaahhhhh. They're just goofy!

What is this white stuff??????

A few days before Christmas, it actually snowed in Texas!!!! Even though it was dark and VERY cold, the boys couldn't help but go out and play in it.

Daulton decided to use the snow on the trampoline to make a pseudo snowman. It didn't really work out for him though.

What's he doing mom?

Lexi

Lexi's head control is getting so good!!!

Lexi loves to sit in the bottom of the shower with me. It is a special time for she and I because there are no distractions for either of us. Today she was sleeping soooo peacefully laying in bed next to Jeff that I didn't have the heart to shower then because we would have to wake her up.
This is one of her first smiles.

So, Logan's new potty came in the mail. This was his first reaction to it.














No Logan, that is not how you sit on it.

















A few days later, we got him to sit on it. But, EVERYONE was in the room. We were trying to encourage him to "Go shoo-we." We were all laughing at him - do you think he will need therapy when he gets older?!?!?!

These are just some of the boxes that had come from UPS. My dad came in that morning and asked if I had a relationship with the UPS man. Yeah, so much so that we gave them cookies and cokes for Christmas. They (there were always the same two guys in the truck) were here about 3-4 days a week for about 6 weeks.

Dylan is pretty excited, huh? This was the remote control transformer car that Daulton and Damien gave him.

Damien's big gift was his Flip camcorder. Me Me and Granddad gave him an extra battery for it so that he wouldn't ever have to be without it. Thanks mom, dad, Me Me, and Granddad!!

Boojie got a hat like Damien's. I had bought her another gift, but while I was wrapping presents, I realized that the earlier bought gift had disappeared. I think maybe Logan got it and threw it in the trash because it is nowhere to be found. Jeff, Damien, and I spent several hours looking on Christmas eve.

Poppie got a shirt.

Chad has such a natural gift with kids. He loves them and they love him back.

Is it time yet mom? Can I open them??????

Logan didn't quite know what to think about all of this, so Daulton had to help him until he got the hang of it.

Daulton got the leather jacket he wanted.

The boys, minus Logan who had fallen asleep on the couch.

Boojie and Poppie got Logan and Lucas leather jackets. Lucas LOVES his, but Logan - not so much. Aren't they cute?

Lexi had spit up on my dad earlier in the day and Jason heard about that mishap. The picture looks really sweet, but Jason is really thinking, "You better not throw up or poop on me!!"

Christmas

You know, we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of getting everything ready for Christmas. As a mom of lots of kids, it gets stressful trying to make sure we get what they want, but it is somewhat even amongst the kids (as far the $$$ spent) - not to mention how in the heck one pays for all that stuff. Then there is the need to make sure there is enough food and the house is picked up to a decent level. The week of Christmas, I worked two auctions and did 7 shops in a 3 day time period - in the midst of trying to get all of the aforementioned stuff done for Christmas. Anyway, my point being that we get caught up in the stress of the holidays.

But, we need to just pause and remember "the reason for the season" as they say. Jesus' birthday is one of the most important holidays of the year (of course Easter is the other). We need to think about what God did for us in sending His son to die for our sins. True joy would not be possible. I think about the things in my life that bring me true joy - my wonderful husband and my children - and I realize that without Jesus in our lives, this true joy would not be possible.
Without Jesus in our lives, maybe Jeff and I would not be so in love - even 12 years later. There are so many marriages out there that are not full of love for one another. In the moment of life and all the trials that it brings, we are able to remember how we really feel about one another. We are able to get past any issues or problems we may have BECAUSE of our Lord. Even when I get mad at Jeff, I am able to pray that God will help me to be the wife He wants me to be. It makes it so much easier to just go on and not focus on whatever it is because I want to be the person/wife that God wishes me to be.
With Jesus in our lives, I am able to take such true joy in my children. Society as a whole views children as a nuisance and do not see what a gift they are from God. This attitude always amazes me because the Bible, in no uncertain terms, tells us that children are a gift from God. What other gift would one refuse that God would like to bestow upon them? Would we tell God that we had enough money, or that it is so hard to have money, that we didn't want it? No, probably not. Without the true joy that God has given me, I would not be able to realize just how wonderful these blessings are. Children require so much time, attention, money, and patience.... It IS hard. But, God has decided to give us the opportunity to raise these blessings; He has bestowed this honor on US. Who are we to be deserving of such an honor? God also sees fit to bless me with the grace to deal with all that comes with these blessings. I do not always react with grace to the trials that come with these God given blessings - but again, because of Jesus, God forgives me when I do not respond with the tools (His grace) that He has given me.
Jesus' birth is such a wonderful thing for mankind and I would just like to thank God for giving us His son. This is the ultimate gift as I personally would not be the person that I am today without him. Please pause during this wonderful time of year to thank God for His perfect gift.

Another graduate

Chad has graduated from mechanic's school and is working now. We are very proud of him and all that he has accomplished. He has done so well and has turned out to be a wonderful man.

Chad and his girlfriend, April.

Jason and his girlfriend, Chelsea.

Our gingerbread houses

We did gingerbread (really they were made with graham crackers) houses on Tuesday after we did Santa pictures. The kids had a blast. The bigger boys each shared with a younger one. So, Daulton and Dylan made one and Damien and Lucas made one. Daulton is Mr. Perfectionist so Dylan didn't quite get to be very creative about it, but he wasn't complaining. The two of them are so much alike and they kept seeing the whole thing as a competition. Damien was such a sweetheart and let Lucas pretty much do whatever he wanted. You can see in Damien's picture that there is a D and L on the side for Damien and Lucas. Logan wasn't in the least bit interested in anything other than eating as much candy as he could get his hands on. The kids were bouncing off the walls by the time we got finished.

Peas in a pod

Dylan and Lucas share a room and Dylan has been griping that Lucas keeps him awake at night talking and jumping all over him. Tonight Dylan came in several times to tell me that Lucas was bothering him. I finally told Lucas to get his blanket and a pillow and come sleep on the futon by our bedroom. He cried a little, but did as he was told. In about 20 minutes, Dylan came in "to get a drink of water." He says, "Lucas can come back to the bedroom if he will leave me alone." I asked him if he wanted Lucas to sleep with him. He just kinda shrugged his shoulders and tried to look nonchalant. I knew that he was lonely and really wanted Lucas to come back. This was funny all in itself as he was the one that kicked Lucas out in the first place. I then asked Lucas if he wanted to go back into the bedroom He thought about it for a second, and then said, "Nahhhh, maybe in a minute." Jeff and I just had to laugh as the old saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for," because right now Lucas is asleep on the futon and Dylan is in the bedroom all by himself.

Christmas Pictures

I truly believe that I am one of the most blessed people in the world. These gifts from God are so precious to me and I thank Him for them every day.

Daulton is the responsible and level headed one out of the bunch. He is already a wonderful young man growing into the adult that God wants him to be.

Damien is my tender hearted one. I am so proud of him that he listens to his feelings - he knows what it means to truly love others more than he loves himself.

Dylan is so much like Daulton was at that age, it is scary. He is too smart for his own good - he is logical to a fault and entirely too funny. He never ceases to make us laugh and his smile lights up a room. He wakes up smiling (and talking) and goes to sleep that way too.

Lucas is learning what a sense of humor is and it is so funny to listen to him make jokes like the bigger boys do. He has a zeal for life like no other. He is still a mamma's boy at the age of 5 and I love him dearly.

Logan is so cute and precious that he just melts our hearts. He is absolutely too cute for his own good as we give in to him way too much. But, who can deny anything to a look like this?

My sweet baby girl, Lexi. I didn't even know that I needed or wanted a girl so badly until God decided to show me what I needed. She is a very lucky little princess to have so many brothers looking over her and loving her. She is just perfect.

I said it before and I will say it again, I have got to be the most blessed person on this entire planet. Look at these blessings that God has given me - what a fantastic gift from Him.

Our Christmas Tree

The boys normally take turns putting the angel on the tree every year. But, this year everyone wanted to do it, so Daulton let them have their way and even helped them......

Daulton and Logan

Daulton and Dylan

Daulton and Lucas
And he even tried to help poor "little" Damien out

Nothing can ever be easy around here.

So, the story behind this beautiful birthday cake..... Mom and Dad were coming over on Monday evening for Daulton's birthday cake/party. I got this bright idea to make a special cake for Daulton since he likes strawberry cake. But, I had to work on Monday and knew I wouldn't have time to make the cake when I got back home. So, I started it on Sunday evening. I made the cakes (two layers) and had them on the counter to cool. I was in the little boy's room cleaning (looking for that blasted missing shoe of Logan's) and Jeff comes in asking, "What happened to your cake?" I had no idea what he was talking about. He brought the cake in and part of the middle of one cake was missing - eaten all the way down to the plate. My first thought and words out my mouth????? "LOGAN WYLIE!!!!!!!!!" He comes toddling in with a huge grin on his face - and cake all over it! I almost wanted to cry because I wanted this perfect cake for Daulton's birthday, but we were all laughing too hard for me to cry or be mad. He was just so precious standing there looking at us like "what????" He really loved that cake. So, on Monday since I couldn't finish the cake before going to work, I asked Jeff to finish it for me. My wonderful husband had to go back to the store since I couldn't find the whipping cream I had bought, made the icing, iced the cake, and decorated it beautifully with strawberries. Am I blessed or what? A wonderful 16yo, a hilarious and adorable 2yo, and a very talented (and shall I say handsome) husband. Thank you God for blessing me with such a wonderful family.

Happy Birthday to my son and my friend. I love you!

My baby boy is 16 years old today!!! I can't believe it was 16 years ago that I started on my journey of motherhood. This young man is my friend as well as my son; he has my sense of humor and we just get each other. He is very responsible and has held a job for two years. I am so very proud of him. He has a way with little kids that is just amazing. His little brothers and sister just love him to pieces. He is always looking for ways to help me and make sure I am taken care of. He has grown up to be such a wonderful young man!! Please join me in wishing him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Okay, so I am going to try my hand at this blogging thing. I have been wanting to have a blog FOREVER because I am not creative enough to actually do a real photo album Creative Memories type thing. I want to be able to remember things that happen and look back on them later, as well as let family and friends see what is going on with us. I will be catching up with other photos but we will start out with the boy's Christmas picture with Santa.

We all got up early and got ready. I will admit that I get spoiled by having the big boys here and I don't have to get everyone dressed and out the door at the same time very often. It was quite the ordeal. But, thankfully the big boys are a huge help. Lucas was the only one that wanted to sit on Santa's lap since Dylan thinks the idea of Santa is "not realistic". Damien got a new hat for learning a whole Bible chapter at church and he loves it. Makes him look quite dapper, huh? See Logan's crib shoes in the picture? We had to buy him new shoes that day because I can't for the life of me find one of his shoes. He had to go to the mall in his crib shoes..... yeah, I have this all under control - NOT!!