Mickey Mouse

This is Collins' best friend - Mickey Mouse.  When he picks up the phone he pretends to talk to Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie or Mickey.  I think he may have the Disney fever!

The Temples Come To DC

Back in early December, the Temples came to DC.  Adam was doing some business so Rachel and her brood joined along.  It was the first time that we met sweet North and, let me tell you, he is a doll.  We met them at their hotel and got in a quick swim before heading to dinner.

This was the perfect pool for them because the pool was only three feet deep.  Deep enough to swim yet also shallow enough for them to put their feet down.

Collins and baby North.

Banks wasn't too sure at the beginning.  He's been taking lessons up here to get him ready for this summer.

The swimmers.  They had the pool all to themselves and would switch between the hot tub and the pool.  After the pool, we showered and went and met David and Adam for a delicious dinner.  It was lots of fun to have old friends visit and pick up conversation where we left off.

Come back to visit, Temple family!

It's snowing!

After many false alarms, it finally snowed up here.  The boys were thrilled to wake up this morning and see the yard covered.  Schools were on a two-hour delay which meant Hughes did not go until 11 and Banks went at 10.  It was quite a relaxing morning filled with snow time and indoor time.

Collins' first time in snow.  He refused to keep his mittens on and, therefore, wasn't out there very long.

Banks and Hughes immediately started a snowball fight the minute they got outside.  I had to call them back inside to put on their jackets.

Hughes mid-throw.

Collins switched between pushing the ever-popular dump truck and riding on his sled.  You can see he has his mittens on in these pictures.

Our driveway is the perfect small sledding hill - not too steep and just long enough where they can get up enough speed to be happy.  Cam and Avery came down this morning with their sleds.

Banks trying out his Christmas sled from G-Daddy and Dawa.

The sledders.

Hughes was working on the Christmas gift that the boys picked out for David - a snowball sculptor and thrower.

The first perfect snowball.  I think it took them about 20 minutes to make one.  By this time, Collins and I were inside nice and toasty watching the big brothers out the window.

We are taking the boys skiing this weekend at Massanutten.  They have Monday and Tuesday off and Mom is coming up to join us.  The bibs, boots, gloves, hats, and everything else is all packed and ready to go.  

Pray for no broken bones, ski lessons that go terrific, and the end result of boys who love to ski!

To the future Hughes (before he goes to college)

Hughes, you need to read this before you go to college and you need to go ahead and apologize to your roommates.  You, my son, are a sleepwalker.  Not only a sleepwalker but a urinating sleepwalker.

You have been caught several times already in your short 7-year life in the process or about to "shake the dew off your lily" (Bull and Kentos use to say this).  

Since moving to Virginia, you have done it twice.  Once in the corner of the bathroom.  Yes, you made it to the correct room but you didn't make it to the toilet.  Instead, you found a nice corner of tile and proceeded to unleash.  

This last time happened a few nights ago.  I had already gone to bed and left dad up working.  You came wandering into the den in a sleepy haze while fidgeting with yourself.  You then made your way to the kitchen where Dad heard you opening cabinet doors.  Thankfully, your dad got up and found you opening the "pots and pans" drawer and pulling down the front of your pajama pants.

It was a close call.  Your Future Scholar account was about to be charged for new pots and pans but they were saved.  You were escorted to the toilet and all was right with the world.

And, if at 7 and sober you already have a propensity for doing this kind of thing then no telling what kind of antics you are going to do in college.  Remember, I've been there and done that.  Well, I have not done what you are doing but I've heard about boys doing the aforementioned.

So, take my advice and go ahead and apologize to your roommates because you most likely are going to shower their closet.

Love,

Your mother who is tired of picking up Legos but loves you immensely

Christmas Blessing

On Christmas Eve, we gathered around the dining room table at Mom's house to bless the food.  The question was put forth "Does any body want to say the blessing?".  Hughes volunteered.  I know I've mentioned it before but Hughes' is known for some pretty sweet blessings.  I love to hear them because it gives me a little glimpse into what he's thinking.

Well, this is what he said:

Everybody put your hands together and think of your friends.  Dear God, thank you for this delicious food.  Why were you born on Christmas Day?  Amen

It was the perfect blessing for our Christmas Eve meal.  I don't think anybody wanted to venture there for the sake of breaking down into tears but Hughes was brave enough to do it for us.  I know Dad was smiling down.

Germs, Germs, Go Away

Oh, the sickness.

Oh, the germs.

Oh, the exhaustion.

David has had a nasty cold with extreme coughing fits in the middle of the night. (i.e. waking me up in the middle of the night numerous times for lengthy periods of time).  Mind you, David is not the only one sick in this house.

Collins is also sick.  Running a fever (102), nasty cold and altogether just doesn't feel good.  He goes between being on my chest feeling terrible to a Tylenol high running around like a madman only to come down off the high and end up a crying puddle of sadness on the floor because he feels so terrible. I took him to the doctor on Monday to make sure it wasn't an ear infection or something else but all tests came back negative (strep and flu).  So, we just wait it out.

So, between Collins waking up in the middle of the night because his Tylenol has worn off and David waking up in the middle of the night with coughing fits, I'm grumpy and exhausted, too.  Hughes and Banks are going strong and at this point I think they may have an immune system as strong as an ox.  

I hope I also have an immune system as strong as an ox!

Christmas 2012

We packed the car and headed to SC on Friday the 21st after Hughes got out of school.  Apparently, every other person thought that was a great time to leave or travel through DC also.  It took us an hour to go 14 miles but we persevered and finally pulled into St. Matthews around 1am.  Even though David says he will never do that again, I did like having an extra whole day in St. Matthews and he made the most of it by going shopping for yours truly.  

Saturday was spent grocery shopping and running errands.  On Sunday, we had the Wimberly dinner in Sumter.  It was great to see cousins and family that we rarely see and the boys each got a gift so that was a plus in their book.  

On Christmas Eve we had a family dinner at Mom's and celebrated Bull's (no I didn't type that wrong, my boys call Bill - Bull) birthday.  We hit church where Collins acted like we served him a Red Bull and David had to take him out.  Hughes' burnt Banks with dripping wax during Silent Night and we all made it home safe and sound.  Well, safe and sound until Collins got out of the car and face planted in a  mud puddle.  Hence the diaper shots while opening a few presents.  Not to mention Charlie pulling the bowl of collards onto the floor, breaking the bowl and making a gigantic mess.  Or dare mention David tracking Suzie's uh-oh all over the house.  Eventful Christmas Eve

Stay classy, my friends.

Hughes loved Suzie.

Bull giving thumbs up to his birthday cake.

Banks very excited about his Wii football game.  David is now hoping this gets him off of his iPad.

Christmas Eve night after opening presents and getting ready to hit the sack.  Hughes was pretty pumped about Battleship.  Collins enjoyed playing with the remote control cars.  They all loved the air hockey table that BecBec got them (parents included)  

Anna Banks and Emma scared them half to death about Santa not stopping if children were still awake and before we knew it the boys were in the bed going to sleep.

While they slept, Santa visited and he left lots of surprises.

It was a Disney Christmas for Collins - Mickey Mouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and all sorts of other goodies.

Banks got golf clubs and practice balls.

Hughes got a bow and arrow.

And all three boys got a teepee tent with a castle and knight accessories.

I was so nervous that the boys would go downstairs without waking us up.  I was up bright and early with Collins and we waited in the kitchen.  Thankfully, Collins had no idea what was lurking right in the next room.  I finally woke the boys up at 7am because I knew Bull was going to stop by on his way to work.

Suzie was excited, too.  She was hoping for bones.

Annual before-Santa picture.  Collins wasn't feeling it.

We spent the rest of the morning opening boxes, assembling, searching for pieces, reading instructions, etc.  Thanks to Mom for taking over camera duty and proof that I was there on Christmas morning.  Unfortunately that means that she's not in any pictures.

Oh, and crazy Santa put the basketball goal in the dining room.  He must have remembered at the last minute once the boys were awake and snuck it in.  Nevertheless, the boys love it.

 

BecBec with all of her grandchildren.

Bryce, Collins, Anna Banks, Hughes, Lucius, BecBec, Banks and Emma

On Christmas afternoon, we packed up and headed to York for two days.  I have no pictures but I'm hoping that I can snag some of Deyna's.  The boys got more great things - New England Patriots football helmet and jersey, Snap Circuits, sleds, coats, etc.  We came home on Thursday with a few hours to spare before the stomach bug hit David.    We've been laying low since then.

2013 has brought a lot of change - Dad, graduating, moving, new job.  It has been full of emotion but I know that Dad was with us the entire way and he would have loved to been there on Christmas morning watching the boys squeal with excitement.

Wreaths Across America

On Saturday morning we met Hughes' Cub Scout troop to head down to Arlington to help distribute Christmas wreaths.  It was amazing.  Last year Wreaths Across America made 90,000 wreaths.  This year they made 140,000.  They say they need about 200,000 to be able to decorate every grave.  It was quite beautiful seeing volunteers of all ages come to pay their respect our country's heroes.  To be buried at Arlington you have to be a career military or killed while serving.  

Robert E. Lee's house is at the top of the hill.  You can see the flag at half mast from Friday's school shooting.  

There is a big parade of the volunteer trucks driving into Arlington.  They each have a designated section and at a certain time they start unloading the boxes which are filled with wreaths.  They also gave out hats to all the school children.

Troop hug

Our first soldier that we honored.

On the back of every wreath was this quote that they ask for you to say.  

After taking a rest, we went on a hunt to find my uncle's brother's grave.  It was quite a hunt but we finally found Paul's marker and were happy to lay another Christmas wreath.

Some graves you will notice don't have wreaths.  They asked to only lay the wreaths on the graves with the Christian symbol.  If a grave had the Star of David or crescent symbol then they asked for you to skip it.  This was asked of them by the Jewish and Muslim faiths.

We had one more wreath to lay and we wanted to honor our neighbor's wife.  Before we moved to DC, our neighbor, Mr. Gene, lost his wife.  She died in her sleep completely unexpected.  We love Mr. Gene and he has been wonderful to our boys.  We set out to find where Mrs. Lynn was interred on the Niche Wall.

Right when we were walking up (about 3 hours after I emailed Mr. Gene for the location of Mrs. Lynn) Mr. Gene was walking up.  God's timing is always perfect.

It was a very memorable day and I hope that we do it again next year.  Quite amazing.