Eli's 11th Birthday - December 1st

December 1st - Eli's 11th birthday! It is also the day that our elf, Chris, comes back to join us from the North Pole for the Christmas season. Chris started off the morning by bringing pajama pants for each boy, and getting Eli's birthday doughnuts set up for celebration birthday breakfast! After school, Eli brought 3 friends (and one of the friend's little brothers) home for some outside basketball, football, and trading of baseball cards. Bill and I bought 3 packs of cards for each boy, and they took turns opening their cards and trading them with each other. It was so much fun!

Eli is in the middle of his 5th grade year, where he is making all A's, is the top reader in the entire grade, and got the part of Cogsworth the Clock in the school's performance of Beauty and the Beast. He loves God, sports, friends, school, reading, and family. His love language is quality time, and he enjoys spending time with people more than anything. He is very creative and has started making comic strips with the hero "Ultra Eli". He is a leader. A couple of weeks ago, his Bible teacher didn't show up for Bible class. Eli, and his friend Jonah, took it upon themselves to conduct class. They had scripture reading, a lesson, and a prayer and no adults even realized they were in the room by themselves. I am very proud of this boy! Happy 11th birthday, Eli!

 9th picture down (the boys kneeling down in front of the basketball goal): the party guests. From the bottom left: Brady, Eli, Landon Nelson, Major in the back, then Brady Sutton, Jonah Kohring, and Micah Kohring

 Birthday cake picutre: Micah Kohring, Landon Nelson, Eli, Brady Sutton, Jonah Kohring, Brady Moore, and Major

Brady with his Championship Trophy - November 30th

Brady was so proud to be a part of a championship football team! Each boy on the team got to take the trophy home for 3 days. Here is Brady with his championship trophy!

Getting the Christmas Tree - November 25th

It is our tradition to go to the Christmas Tree Farm the day after Thanksgiving and cut down our Christmas Tree. 

This year, Bill had the boys cut down the tree by themselves. (As you can probably see from the pictures, we experienced a very bad drought this year. That is why all the grass is dead.) It was quite comical watching them cut that tree down!

After we bring the tree home, we decorate it, starting with mine and Bill's very first Christmas ornament from 2001. Then, each boy puts their "Baby's First Christmas" ornament on the tree and we decorate as a family. This is a very special family tradition that I look forward to every year.

Thanksgiving - Nov 24th

We spent Thanksgiving in Columbus, Georgia with my Aunt Peggy (my mom's sister) and my Uncle Bob Carter. Aunt Peggy had a craft for the boys to make table place settings that looked like turkey legs (that's what they are holding in this first picture). The second picture is of our Thanksgiving table, with Uncle Bob at the head, and Aunt Peggy on the right side. Good times and good food! After dinner, the boys played the Turkey Bowl outside against each other. Eli won this year, but I know Brady will be catching up very soon! The last picture is of Major and me at his preK Thanksgiving feast. I love my little Indian!