Our Christmas

Wondering if your Christmas card got lost in the mail? The stomach bug bit our house twice in December. It got the kids right after Barry & Jenni's wedding, then Eric got sick just before Christmas. I was really sad not to send cards this year, but so glad to get our family well! So, please pretend these two pictures arrived in your mailbox this Christmas!

Santa visited the Mall of Louisiana, so we went to see him and check out the 'Naughty & Nice' meter. We stood in line for awhile, and I was cracking up at the lengths parents go to to get their kids to smile with Santa. (One mom was jumping up and down so much...I'm almost certain she did a herkie. Santa had to change suits between kids because her little boy peed on him. From now on, I will always look at Santa's suit before I let my kiddos sit on his lap). Then it was our turn. Lauren gave him one good look and lost it! William hopped right up on his lap and told him the 3 gifts he wanted for Christmas: Gordon the Train, a flashlight and a pair of goldfish named "Larry & Margaret."

William had his school party the next day.

More Christmas card photos

Happy 1st Birthday Lauren!!!

Birthday girl Lauren turned ONE on December 18th. It seems like we blinked, and the whole year went by! We are going to celebrate her birthday in January, since it was such a hectic day.

William had his school program and then we headed to Mobile.

William's school program was sweet. The 3 year old classes

presented the Christmas story. William was in the "Angel Choir!"

With the exception of pretending to "POW" Santa's reindeer

from the 4 year-old class, we were proud of him.

Christmas in Mobile! Lauren & Poppa

Grammie, Sullivan & Lauren

William was so glad to see his cousins!
Harrison helped William open his "Cars" watch.

Working at the new table
This buckethead
is Uncle Tim!
On Papa's front porch

Our sweet friend, Kyle & Uncle Chad
Eric & Lauren
Grammie got Lauren a little cake to help celebrate!

Christmas in Baton Rouge!

PawPaw & MawMaw drove up to celebrate on Christmas Eve. Our church had a family candlelight service & it was the first time William sat in "big church" with us.

We still need a little practice, but it was a special time.

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!
Throwing out the reindeer food.
Christmas Morning




Meme' & Poppy came to eat Christmas lunch with us. This scooter has been a lifesaver with the cold weather we have had. William rides it all over our house!

First bike ride with Dad.

Eric's new boiling pot.

The boys handed down their Batman costume,
which has been worn almost daily since Christmas!

A Haircut (or 2, or 3)

Last Tuesday night, I was telling Eric about all of the mischief that William plowed into for the day. Just letting him in on the blessed highs and lows of our day. William overflowed a bathroom sink, made mud out of my powder and blush, colored his teeth and face with lipstick, used every last ounce of dish soap in the apartment washing his farm animals (overflowing yet another sink), etc. As I was finishing our list of plowing...He cut his hair.

There were clumps this size ALL over the bathroom! It's hard to notice, but I promise you can feel it!

This is not the first time this has happened, but we thought we were past this stage. After fussing at him and showing him the precious ears God gave him, and thanking the Lord that he did not cut them off, we ran out of the room as fast as we could so we could laugh. And then I cried. Because I had no energy left and I was thankful he did not hurt himself or cut his head. (I was also relieved he still had hair. We have a family wedding coming up. Lots of pictures. And Christmas pictures.)

God blessed William with a headful of really thick hair. We have transitioned from spikes, to an old man style, to curly and out of control (like Mom's) to way too short. Thankfully, William's hair grows super fast. It is usually curly and extremely forgiving, so I alternate between cutting it myself and taking him to get a proper shape-up. I'm certain you would be capable of telling the difference... We'll just take a little tour.

Birthday spikes Papa hair

First Birthday! First "Real" Haircut Would definitely recommend a Dum-Dum, a rested child and Mr. Chris!
My favorite

The first time I cut William's hair was on a trip to Mobile. William was asleep & Grammie helped me. He woke up the next morning with a new do. He is a hard sleeper like his mom, too!

2nd Birthday Thick & Wavy (Practicing a bottle for the baby). Professionally cut, but really short! This is what happens when a tired child gets a haircut from his mom. They can't sit still, it ends up crooked and everyone loses their patience. He actually straightened it up when he cut it himself (but we'll just keep that information to ourselves).
ADDENDUM: He cut it again Friday night. I know you are wondering where we were and why on earth there were scissors available. It was midnight and we were asleep. Midnight! Now the scissors are locked up with the medicine. If I had access to a fall monitor, I'd place that on him while he was sleeping. Bed alarms would be nice, too. He is also on a "Little Rascals" hiatus. Maybe that was the problem to start with.

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:30