Gaylard Palms and Universal

Gaylard Palms was amazing and a FREEZING 9 degrees. But, it is the closest we are going to get this year to a real WINTER! We all wore huge blue parkas and even got to zoom down a slide made of ice. The boys had a blast teasing the fountain at Universal and trying not to get wet. Grayson and Dalton chilled most of the time while eating popcorn and drinking Icees.

Universal Studios

We had a great time at Universal over the Christmas holidays. Jackson and Nolan both went on stage at Jimmy Buffet's. Nolan sang his favorite song, "Give me the Beat Boys..." and Jackson kept the beat with the tamborine. Nolan fell asleep inside at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville while the music was BLARING! He was completely tuckered out!

Good Livin'

One of the boys all time favorite things to do is build a fire in the little fire pit with their Dad. They do this at least once a week! Nolan calls it, "Good livin'!" Jackson actually knows the names of all the wood types and can build the fire himself! If I get stuck out in the woods I definitely want him with me!

Two Christmas Parades!

Two Christmas parades in one day! We had so much fun watching Jackson and Maddie in the Starke Christmas parade. Maddie was in for student council and Jackson rode in the Cub Scouts float. That evening we headed over to Keystone Heights for the annual night parade!

Two Cuties

Here we are after enjoying hot chocolate at the boy's Christmas program. Daddy and Grayson went home early because Grayson wasn't feeling well.

Christmas Program

Here are the boys performing their carols at school! Nolan memorized the entire Bible verse of the Christmas story. We were amazed! He loves center stage, while Jackson is a little more shy!

Merry Christmas from Grayson!

Both Jackson and Nolan wore this outfit for Christmas pictures years ago. Naturally, I had to pose Grayson for a picture in it! With much cajoling he wore the hat.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Every year we spend Thanksgiving with both of our families. It makes for a hectic day, but too much fun to miss. Chessie and John hosted the Jennings crew. The boys had a ball riding the four wheeler around their spacious back yard. The girls caught up with each other since we only see Angie and Jeff a few times a year! In the late afternoon we went to Neenee and Baba's for more delicious food and fun with family (except we forgot to assign my favorite sweet potatoe casserole for someone to bring!). Both families always want to know if we eat twice during the day. The answer is a big, "YES!" We ended the night by watching all of the grandchildren decorate Neenee and Baba's tree. What a wonderful new tradition.

I am so thankful for our wonderful families, good friends, and that we are all healthy!!! Love to all!!!!!!

P.S. Sorry there aren't anymore pics of Neenee and Baba's dinner. By the time we arrived, Jackson and Grayson were feeling under the weather, so I missed getting pics.

Goodnight from Grayson!

Grayson was able to play "big brother" tonight while putting Jackson and Nolan to bed. He had a late nap, so I put him down a few minutes after the older boys. I told him to go tell Jackson good night and he preceded to give Jackson's face a little rub and pat his head and then he topped him off with a kiss on the lips. Then he went into Nolan's room, did the same pat, rub, kiss routine and said, "night, night". It was extra especially sweet to watch because this is exactly what I do to Grayson each night when I put him in his crib.

Baby David's Christening

Julie Anne and Chris' beautiful baby, David Liddon, was christened last Sunday at First United Methodist Church in Gainesville. He is such a sweet baby always smiles and giggles! David doesn't yet know just how blessed he is to have such wonderful parents and of course an amazing big sister, Magnolia!

Fall Ball

The boys just finished their fall baseball season! They both had a great time with their teams. Nolan was ecstatic about receiving a trophy! Jason had given Nolan a few of his old high school trophies to borrow and display in his room because Nolan only had one. That night Nolan said he could finally give his Dad his trophies back because now he had his own.

Nolan is ever the care free T Ball player. We would often see him playing in the dirt and talking with friends. However, he never missed an opportunity to SLIDE into home plate! Jackson on the other hand is your serious player who has grown tremendously in confidence and skill. As his confidence grew, so did his love of the game. Thankfully, after much prayer by me and practice with his Dad, Jackson was able to make some great hits and even played pitcher. I am not competitive so sports make me a wreck!

Nolan took the day off!

A few cute notes-

Last week Nolan said he did not want to go to school because he wanted to stay with NeeNee. Since he is only in PreK I was happy to oblige. When he returned to school the next day his friend, Grady, asked where he had been. Nolan said, "I took the day off!" Then for an added affect he said, "I was sick." and then for good measure he gave a little cough right in Grady's face.

One of the best parts of coming home after work is that Grayson is so excited to see me. He literally jumps up and down! It is the cutest and funniest thing ever!

Oh, one more thing...I have been praying lately not to fuss so much at the boys. Many evenings my patience is thin and my perfectionist personality takes over. One night last week I was really praying on this and the next morning I woke up and my voice was so hoarse I could hardly speak! I really think this was God's way of answering my prayer because all week I would feel the urge to fuss but couldn't!

Grayson turned 2 November 5th!

Grayson's birthday was on November 5th. We had his party in October, but also celebrated with a cake at home on the 5th. Since this was his second cake, he thought he had mastered the art of "blowing out the candles". Actually, he made the funniest vibrating sounds with his lips! It was too cute. Of course, Jackson and Nolan had no trouble helping him eat the cake!

Jackson's First Tooth Fairy Visit

Jackson was thrilled to finally lose his first tooth at age 6 1/2!

Being in first grade most of his friends had
already lost a tooth and he was deperately

awaiting one of his to become
loose! Well it did and needless to say a few weeks later it came out as he was biting into something! The tooth fairy awarded his prize tooth $5!! It must have been quite exceptional in her eyes:)

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween! We had a great time Trick or Treating in Keystone Heights with Noele', Kevin, Maddie and Ben! The boys were all characters from Star Wars and of course had to have Light Saber fights all night! At least we were protected from all of the Goblins and Ghosts:) Jason dressed up as a base ball player! As always, the fun loving one of us! Grayson is another story! At 23 months he has a mind of his own. He pitched a fit when I tried to put him in his Yoda outfit. No amount of cheering or distractions would deter him from his mission not to wear this costume with the adorable pointy green ears. So, I went on to try and cajole him to wear an old Thomas the Train costume and then a pumpkin costume loaned to us by Aunt Betsy. Needless to say he was having none of them! So, in desparation I put him in overalls, plaid shirt, and a handkerchief and hence a "farmer" was born! He protested and cried at first about the handkerchief, but soon "CANDY the cure-all" arrived and the hanky was forgotten.

Nolan ate his candy as he went door to door. He didn't see any since in taking the time to put it in his pumpkin! He definitley lives for today! Grayson went up to one door, heard a scary noise, cried and ran back! So, then Jackson, Nolan, and Maddie shared their candy with him. He enjoyed it all night while being pushed by Maddie in the stroller and on the way home in the car! He woke up this morning and first thing asked for his "bag".

Not so Scary Halloween!

Here are a few pics from our, "Not so Scary" trip to Disney! What a great time to go b/c there were NO lines. We missed Daddy b/c he could not take off of work during the middle of the week. Grayson also stayed back in Starke. Neenee and Baba kept him b/c staying up til midnight is something he knows nothing about!!! Jonathan and Chera were with us and made sure we had a great time:)

The next day we went to Universal Studios! Neenee and Baba brought Grayson down to meet us. His favorite part of the trip was the boat ride from the Royal Pacific Hotel to Universal! He kept saying, "Boat, Boat, Boat!"