And still more Christmas!

When do you ever see a shot of all the grown ups?!
Anna, Tuck, and Douglas

Maggie and Reaves!

More Christmas!

Well, I am playing catch up on my blog posting. So, I will begin with Christmas night! These are just a few pics from our Christmas night tradition. Everyone begins coming out to the lake Christmas afternoon. All the boys in our family love to play race cars!! My dad has a great slot car race set. Rob built him a great table for it for Father's Day last year. When we all get together for holidays they pull it all out and have the best time having races!! Tyner and Logan REALLY like watching the big boys race cars!

Maggie decided she wanted to have story time right before her bath. Aunt Anna was right there to read her one of her new books she got for Christmas.

Big and his two granddogs Stella and Millie. Like he doesn't have enough grandchildren!!

The big boys playing race cars!

Anna Carson and Chloe in their new bean bags that Big and Pie gave them!

After we all get through playing, chatting, laughing, etc.... my mom has a delicious meal prepared for us!

Santa's Visit

Santa came to Big and Pie's with lots of fun new toys! We didn't quite get the response we thought we would but after it all sank in there was lots of excitement! Of course the best part of Christmas is the incredible gift God gave to us all. He sent us his Son!! To reflect on the Christmas story brings tears to many eyes. Happy Birthday, Jesus!!

Christmas 2008

I absolutely love Christmas and all our family traditions that go along with it. We arrived at Big and Pie's house on December 20 to spend some time with the Cooper Tyners! It was great having them for some of the holidays this year. So, that is the picture of Tyner and Logan in the bathtub. We had a big family dinner on Sunday and exchanged presents between all the cousins! Our Christmas Eve tradition is so special. After the Christmas Eve service we go to Rob and Anna's house. Before we get to enjoy the declicious array of food we walk down to the Johnson's to see Santa and spread some holiday cheer to our second family. All the Johnson grandchildren are around the same ages as Tyner and Maggie. So, it is so much fun seeing them all play together! We rap up Christmas Eve night at Rob and Anna's with a reading of Luke 2 and Twas the Night Before Christmas and a singing of Silent Night! Family traditions are so special!

Thanksgiving

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had! Hunter and I are so very thankful for this wonderful family that we have! Just sitting back and watching all these kids run around, laugh and play is such a joy! The Lord has been so good to us and for that we are truly thankful. We have healthy children, a happy marriage, and such a loving family. We enjoyed sitting by the fire at Moon Lake laughing and talking.

The picture with all the children in it are my parents 6 grandchildren. Anna Carson (9) and Chloe (6) Tyner, Hayden(5) and Logan (4)Tyner , and Tyner (3) and Maggie (1) Simpson.

Surprise visitors while at Big and Pie's House

We were so excited that Cooper and Logan came to visit while we were at Pie and Big's! The two spidermen ran around like most boys do! They played football, legos, etc... Is it just me or can you tell they are related?!! I could eat both of them up!! It was such a blessing watching them play together and have so much fun!

Our long stay at Big and PIe's House

We stayed at Big and Pie's house for a long time! We were there from Halloween until November 8! But it was a nice break from the city! Tyner and Maggie have so much fun and so does their Mama! It is so peaceful and relaxing! Tyner has found 2 great buddies down the street, too. We had so much fun playing with Jack and Henry at the sandbox! Our days at Big and Pie's involve lots of bike rides, playing in the loft with lots of toys, and just enjoying the view of the lake! Although I didn't get any snaps of them in playing in action, I did get them to sit still for a second to say cheese! Well, at least I did for one picture! I couldn't resist making mohawks with their hair in the bath tub!

Trick or Treat

We spent Halloween in Clarksdale this year and had so much fun! Tyner was Spider Man and Maggie was a pumpkin fairy. First, we stopped by the Flowers to say Happy Halloween. Ann Gray was Big Bird. As you can see in the picture, Maggie was a little scared of Big Bird! Next, we went trick or treating with our cousins Anna Carson and Chloe! Last, we went to Matthew and Margaret Downings house. We all loaded up in the back of Steve's truck and took all the children to trick or treat! We had a fire fighter, 2 spider men, a mermaid, a skeleton, a pumpkin fairy and a dalmation! They were all precious. Mary Margaret, Anne Clark and I sang Camp Soaring Hawk songs to the kids while riding around in the truck. It was great! And all the kids had a blast!

Shelby Bike Trail

I got an exciting phone call Monday morning from Hunter. He said he was going to take off early from work so he could go do something with the kids. I was thrilled and the kids were, too. We have a great park and bike trail right down the street from our house. So, we all loaded up with bikes, strollers, etc... and headed to the bike trail! It also runs along the Cumberland River so it is a beautiful view! Anyway, it was so much fun and very special having Daddy with us on our afternoon adventure. Tyner was moving too fast on his bike for me to get any pictures of him but I got several of our delicate little girl!

Playing with Emma-Kate and Noble Lucius

We took a last minute trip to Olive Branch to spend the night with Emma-Kate and Noble! We had so much fun. It is just precious watching our children play. They turned the Lucius house upside down in no time, but it was hilarious watching Emma-Kate and Tyner play! And Maggie loved Noble! At one point she was sitting in his lap with her arms wrapped around him. We took them to the zoo and of course that was such a treat! I am so blessed by my sweet friend Amy Lauren and so thankful for the special friendship that we share!

This is a video of Tyner telling Emma-Kate and Noble bye!

The Pumpkin Patch

We had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch today. First, we went to this great little "pour your own pancake" place called the "Pfunky Griddle." Then we headed to Nolensville to Walden Farms to pick out our HUGE pumpkin and enjoy all the fun and games they have. We petted numerous animals, played with trucks, and picked out our pumpkin! The kids had so much fun!

Life at Moon Lake

While we were in Oxford my parents kept Tyner and Maggie. They always have so much fun and are entertained from the time they wake up until the time they go to bed! My mom just does activity after activity. When I talked to her on Sunday morning they were about to carve the pumpkin. After that they went riding in the wagon. When Hunter and I arrived to pick them up they were roasting marshmellows in the chiminea! People are always asking me "How do your parents like living at the lake?" Well, by looking at the picture of them roasting their hotdogs in the chiminea I would say they love this "country" way of life!

Fun with Friends!

Amy Lauren, Anna, and I had so much fun together in Oxford. We stayed at Amy Lauren's grandparents house that was just wonderful! It is so much fun catching up with old friends. We laughed the entire weekend and all the boys had a great time together too!! I can't wait to do it again! I have been blessed with such dear friends and am so thankful for the fun time that we had!!