Matt hits the big 3-0!

On Jan 18 we met Matt at school for lunch. We took him flowers, a big balloon, and a cake. (Just enough to make sure everyone there knew it was his bday!) Later we had him met us at the Opry Mills mall for a good time at Dave and Busters. We came home late, but fit in lemon cake (from Nana) and presents. He got a Stillerstrong headband (that supports Haiti), another blu-ray movie, and Matthew spent a lot of his own money on a new Calvin and Hobbes book for him ($16- a lot of money for him, but he insisted!) I think it was a big hit.

Snow days in TN

So we've had 7 1/2 snow days so far this year(more days than we ever had in Cleveland) and they mostly look like this. I mean, seriously?

The turkey fry

So for Christmas we had turkey. We put one in the oven and another small one we decided to try and fry. (It seemed like southern thing to do.) The fried turkey ended up being the most expensive dinner we've ever made. (Who knew turkey fryers and oil were so expensive?) We ended up borrowing a gas tank to help keep the cost down. Then there was the logistics of frying the thing. Apparently it can be dangerous (just look up frying turkeys on u tube). We finally got it all figured out and done. It was pretty yummy injected with its cajun spices, but I don't think we will be going to the effort again anytime soon. As for the rest of Christmas dinner- Emily was here. Need I say more? (Just thinking about it makes me hungry!)

Christmas Day

Can I just say that the pictures don't even do the massive amounts of presents justice. Remember, the tree is huge! The presents went all around the bottom and behind it as well. Jenny put the presents that she bought out the night before and the under the tree was already full from her gifts (Matthew said he thought Santa wouldn't come because Jenny got so much stuff!) They were surprised that he still came and man they must have been good! Even Anubis joined in the holiday spirit. Besides getting decorated, he had a huge bone wrapped up for him. He went crazy when he smelled it. I was worried that he would tear through all the presents looking for it once he knew it was there so we had to put it up high. When he finally got it he was pretty excited, but he could finish it all so when we let him out he took it outside and buried it! Everyone else got so many things it would take all day to list them, but there was one highlight I wanted to mention. Matt was surprised by a giant new tv from his mom, HD tv channels, and a blue ray player. Our entertainment upgraded significantly. The boys loved all the games, toys, and books (Percy Jackson and Calvin and Hobbes books have been great). We all got great clothes- thank you Jenny! The best part of course was having everyone together. Just seeing all those stockings lined up makes me happy because they represent all the family coming together. I wish we could get together more often.

Christmas Eve/ Jenny's bday

The candles burned all night for good luck in the coming year.

















Matthew getting a book on making paper airplanes- the kid seriously loves making paper airplanes.






















































































Everyone went and saw Jim Carrey's Christmas Carol earlier in the day (Sick Andrew and I stayed home). We had steak spagetti for dinner and cake for Jenny. Jenny had bday presents, then the boys finally got to open up something. They all got their matching new pjs from Nana and one other present. They were pretty excited (I didn't even make them watch It's a wonderful life before they could open it.) At this point we had Matt's mom, sisters, and brother in the house (Nana, Jenny, Emily, Jeffery)- and it was just fantastic! It was really the way Christmas is supposed to feel. The kids all slept in the same room (the was Ken and I would) and feel asleep surprisingly fast with Christmas just around the corner.

Big Brother

We've been sick a lot this winter. The week of Christmas the boys passed around a yucky bug. I took this picture when Andrew was pretty sick and Matthew snuggled him trying to help him feel better and take care of him- it was so nice. (Now why does he try to kill him the rest of the time?)

Christmas party

I love that picture of Owen because it shows how much the boys love doing Christmas stuff (he was decorating a picture of a tree). We also got to go to Matthew's school party. He had a lot of fun, and the boys loved getting to go!