December 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas. We missed Mamaw but knew she was at Jesus' birthday party in heaven! Jude wanted and knew we couldn't afford a very expensive star wars toy, but we squeezed it out! We wrapped it in Lainey's paper and he was so shocked when he opened it for her! He was very very grateful! We have some videos that we need to post soon! The kids got way to much stuff, as usual! Aunt Charmel and Uncle Ron got Jude the Mini Eye Clops thing that you plug into the TV and it shows a magnified image of whatever it's pointing at. I highly recommend it!! He has been wanting it for a while and it was a total surprise to us all when he received it! It is really really cool! We got them a mini trampoline. We are hoping eventually Lainey will use it. Jude likes it a lot. We told him he could use it when he gets angry too just to get rid of the anger energy! Ugh to many new gifts to name all of which they both love! I put Lainey's in a round tub to have in the living room and as I type she is getting each and every one of them out! It is so cute her trying to reach the very bottom!

Lainey almost opened some pkgs! She of course was more interested in the boxes than the gifts! She has been walking so much! She has even walked with her drink! She has outgrown her back brace already! That was a bit of a shock. She and Jude have gone through growth spurts in the last couple months!

We are hoping to really get back to more of a schedule in the new year. After Mamaw's passing we have not focused on anything very well. I think we are going to try a bit more structure. Jude's writing has never been great but in the last 2 months it has gotten worse. He wrote his J and D backwards in his own name several times. He seems to be looking forward to some planned type schooly stuff. I don't know we will just allow it to flow where we all compromise!


This is at Mamaw and Papaw's on Christmas. Mamaw had the shopping just about done when she passed away...lucky Papaw!! :) She got Jude some really great star wars figures! Lainey likes them too.

Jude's surprise gift! As you can see, he was unbelievable happy over it!

Lainey enjoyed her gifts as well. We got her a Bilibo (yellow thing). It can be whatever the child wants, seat, hat, stepping stone! We thought maybe she would like it as she gets older. We knew Jude would enjoy it now! They both like it!

Jude "finally" in the snow! He had been waiting "forever" to play in the snow at Papaw's!

Jude made several ornaments for the tree this year. We got a bag of loose silk flowers at Wal-mart for a couple bucks and he did a lot with them. This is a snowman he made by taking apart a white silk flower to use it's petals! It also had a felt hat and beads!

Sadly we lost my grandfather a couple of days before Christmas. He was my mom's father. He had been ill for awhile and we were expecting his passing. Although he could be a difficult man to get along with he was our family. The kids went to the visitation with me as Chad was at work. Jude was so strong for me! I was quite anxious in going (not from his passing so much as it making me miss Mom even more) and he was a huge rock for me. I am so proud of and thankful for my son! We have decided to not go to UWWG this time. It was a decision we made as a family. It saddens us, but we all think it's best. Perhaps next year!

Fall/Halloween 2009

No suprise, Jude was a Star Wars character for Halloween! Darth Vader! I had to rush Lainey to the ER early that morning due to a fever and her being listless. It turned out to be an urinary tract infection. She was so sleepy all day. Daddy and Jude went trick or treating and had a wonderful time! We spoke of the tradition of Halloween and what it means now, why some christians do not observe it, etc.

This is a play-doh creation Jude made of he and Daddy at a hot dog roast! It is his best play-doh creation yet! We all were very impressed with his patience in making it!

Pumpkin Festival trip

Mamaw and Aunt Annie Bannie took Jude to the Pumpkin Festival in Circleville. This was the last trip Mamaw and Jude went on. Jude drew a picture of their time there and it was buried with Mamaw. Mamaw spoke of this trip often and each time she laughed until she cried! What a glorious memory!!

He was amazed to see how large the seeds of the big pumpkins were! He rode a few rides and bought souvenirs for us.

Various Pictures.

I have finally gone through pictures on our cell phones and camera to post. It was difficult because we had so many that had Mom or when we were with her. Anyway better late than never! I will be posting a few different ones!

This is Jude's game pass! It says "Free Game Pass untill Flip card over" the other side has a date.


This is from when the Pinta and Nina came to Marietta!

After a long spell with no rain, Jude found that Mamaw and Papaw's creek had almost dried up in some spots. He found two larger fish that were in a spot that had dried up on either side and was only about 8 inches deep at the deepest point. Most of the time their dorsal fin was popping out of the water. He felt so sad for them, they were large for being in the creek when the creek is full! So he caught them with a net and put them in a bucket and took them down to the driveway bridge. There on one side was a bit of deep water and he placed them there! He was very thoughtful!