The Christmas Train 2011

Since Bill and I have been married, we have always alternated Christmas between my parents and Bill's parents.  This year would have been our year to spend with my parents, but they currently live in South Carolina in a home with several troubled teenage girls, so it is hard to go and visit there.  Thankfully, my parents were able to come the week before Christmas and spend time with us and open some presents!  We had such a great time with them here.  There was lots of fun times playing with Papa and Nana, lots of shopping, and lots and lots of eating!  They also got to join us for the Christmas Train this year.  It was so wonderful to have them here!

 Brady helping me bake some chocolate chip cookies before Papa and Nana arrive.

 Brady and Eli climbing trees with Nana watching in the backyard.

 Here we are in Alvin, Texas waiting for the Christmas Train!  We got our tickets and went to eat pizza at a little joint they have there on the premises.  Here is our little reindeer Major with his mommy and daddy.

 Brady and Eli waiting for some pizza!

My grandmother, Grams, was the queen of taking pictures of the family while they ate.  I guess I am following in her footsteps.

 Finally, train time!  Nana holding a sleeping Major, Papa, Brady, and Eli.

I asked a woman working there to get a picture of all of us on the train.  You wouldn't think it would be that hard to get 6 people and 3 train cars, but I guess it was.  After several attempts, this is the best picture she could get...and Nana and Eli are missing.  I guess I asked the wrong person.

 There was a huge line for Santa, so I only took a few shots and could not get Major to look at me.  He was fascinated by Santa's beard.  So here we are, my boys with Santa.  Eli asked him for video games, but sweet Brady almost made me cry.  He just looked at Santa and said, "I just want to say thank you for whatever you bring me."  I asked him if he wanted to ask Santa for something and he said no.  Sweet boy.

 Daddy bought the boys cotton candy afterwards.  Yum!

Papa and Nana with their boys.  I'm so thankful we were able to share this with them!

Eli's First Basketball Team

 This December, Eli joined his first organized basketball team.  His first game he did great.  Of course, none of them have ever played before, so it is pretty hard for competitive people like Bill and myself to just chill out and let the boys play.  While other parents are clapping and laughing, we are yelling things like, "defense!" and "shoot the ball!" and things that I'm sure we will be yelling for many years to come.  We did win our first game, 6 to 4. :)  Eli scored the first basket of the basketball season.  Sadly, it was in the other team's goal...

Yes, Major, this is one of many games you will be forced to endure.

First Colony Church Children's Musical - 2011

 The annual Christmas musical...this year it was, "Dr. Newheart's Christmas Cure".  It was so cute!  Eli had the part of a wise man, and Brady was part of the preschool chorus.  They both did such a great job!  They both knew the entire play, since it was on CD and that is what they listened to every night before they went to bed.  It always cracked me up how they'd go back and forth doing the play while they were in the car, playing in their bedroom, or even eating a meal.  I'm sure they will have lead roles some day!

Brady in the chorus

My sweet brothers before the musical.

Brady is such a ham!  That boy loves to cut up and make people laugh!

Eli as one of the wise men.  Notice Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in front of him.

Eli and Brady both did a great job with their singing and knowing the motions to the songs.

Great job, boys!

Major 5 Months Old

 Major is 5 months old today!  He is wearing 9 months clothing and seems to be getting bigger daily! His newest tricks are to chew on his feet (see above), and he will inch forward little by little.  Basically, he shoves off on his knees, and his arms are just along for the ride.  Eventually he'll get it...I don't think it will be much longer!  He hasn't started on cereal yet because the doctor said that the American Pediatric Association now recommends that babies be 6 months before starting cereal (both Eli and Brady started at 4).  However, I may be cheating on that and starting soon anyway. :)  He also seems to say, "mama" when he cries, and if you tell him, "I love you", he'll respond by saying, "ah-ah-oo" in the same voice and inflection of "I love you".  He has done this several times, so I know it is not a fluke. :)

 These first 3 photos were actually taken yesterday, December 10th.

 Here are his official 5 months pictures.  These last two photos were taken today at church...I'm so thankful I took them early because he's basically cried the rest of the day!

Eli's 6th Birthday and Birthday Party

 Eli turned 6 years old on December 1st.  I just can't say enough about my sweet little Eli.  Right now, his love language is definitely quality time.  He loves to be with people and nothing makes him happier than playing a game with him or coloring with him.  He loves to read, play games, draw, color, write...anything to do with school.  His teacher says that she's never had a student like Eli.  He is a peace maker and a helper, always kind to others in his class.  She said that whenever there is a dispute in the classroom, Eli is never a part of it and is usually trying to settle the dispute.  He is a fabulous big brother to both Brady and Major.  He plays with them, sings to them, and helps them with whatever they need done.  He usually takes care of Major while I'm cooking and plays endless games with Brady on a daily basis.  Brady says that Eli is his best friend.  I am so blessed to have this little guy as my son and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for him!

 On his birthday, we had a family dinner of fried chicken, and he got to open his gifts from Papa and Nana.  They got him a Michigan shirt and Nana made him a picture of Tigger.  We immediately put on the shirt and hung up his picture beside his bed.  He loved both his gifts!

 He was also so good to let Brady help him open his presents.

When Bill worked at Cornerstone, he always had kids stand up on their chair and had everyone sing to them for their birthday during lunch.  I guess they don't do that anymore with him gone, but Eli remembered and wanted to get to do the same thing, so we had him stand on the counter and we all sang to him.

On Saturday, December 3rd, we had Eli's birthday party at the church building.  He invited about 10 of his friends and we just played games for a couple of hours.  Our first game was a scooter race.  Eli and his team won.  Here is the team: Eli, Max, Bryce Borden, and Kelsey O'Neill.

Next: the soccer shoot out.  Here is Brady taking his turn shooting.

Third game: eating doughnuts without using hands.  The kids are Hugh, Brock Avera, Eli, and Zach Pace.

Aunt Kam had a snowflake making station.  Here she is getting the kids to make their snowflakes.

Brady (with his classic  tongue out concentration look) hard at work, his friend, Zach, right next to him.

Here is Eli's snowflake!

Picture time with Big Daddy and Gran Betty.

The cake!  It is supposed to be a gold medal for the "Decathlon" that was supposed to be his birthday party.  I think it ended up just being a bunch of playing games, but Eli still loved it.  Here he is with  his gold medal cake.

Blowing out the candles.

Brock Avera, Eli, and Max Granville

Hugh, Brock, and Eli

Cupcake?

Present time!  Hugh, Max, Brady, Eli, Cole Armstrong, and Brock.  Brock was very excited to give Eli his gift.

Everyone loves presents!

Aunt Kam and Major

Eli's gift from Max...a light saber from Star Wars!  It makes really cool sounds and it has not left Eli's side since he received it!

Max and Eli. They have been best friends since they were 18 months old. They often send each other notes through the mail and have been in the same bible class for the past 4 years. It has been really neat to watch their friendship grow, even at a young age!  It was at this point that the camera ran out of batteries.  Oh well, from here on out it was opening gifts anyway.  I'm just sorry that I didn't get a shot of everyone at the party!  Aunt Sara even came down from Boston, and somehow I didn't get a picture of her!  Sorry, Aunt Sara!  Another first for Eli was that he got 2 gift cards for his birthday, so we got to go to Target today and let him pick out his own gift.  He was so excited since he had never done this before.  He chose a Star Wars ship, a Star Wars game, and Obi Wan Kenobi.  Interesting that he likes Star Wars so much since he's never seen it!  I don't know how this happened!