New Year's Eve

New Year's Even was fun. We went to the Drakes again this year. The boys stayed up past midnight - and loved every minute of it. It was a colder night that last year. 

The next day we had a very relaxing one. 

Pictures of 2019

William's birthday party at Jump In

Mommy freezing at baseball practive

We did a lot of tubing during the summer of 2019

Ian's birthday party - the first one to have the Game Truck

School spirit

Note written by Andrew

Summer time at Grandmom and Granddads

4th of July at the County Club

Lela and Nichelle from my bible study group seeing Mackenzie Brown in her movie

Silly kids

watching brother play baseball

celebrating Adrienne and baby Carlise. This is mommy's bible study group

Sam wearing Andrew's cub scout shirt. 

Andrew goes hunting

After Christmas - I think on 12/26/2019 - Owen and Andrew went to Carlisle with the Clarkes. Andrew likes to hunt and Goehagen is great about opening his land to Andrew. But the bucks weren't cooperating so Andrew did not shoot anything.

Owen said Andrew read his Harry Potter book when they weren't hunting. They stayed up late and woke earlier - which got to Andrew in the afternoon.

Christmas Morning

 The first few pictures are from Christmas Eve. The boys made brownies this year for Santa and left them out near our front door. We also had carrots for the reindeer. Our neighbors Susan Robinson and her girls made reindeer food to attract the reindeer to our house.

Christmas morning started around 6 am. That is the time the boys have to wait before he get up to see if Santa came. Ralphie got his Christmas bone and some canned dog food. He has discovered canned dog food and loves it more than a dog can love anything.

Sam has become a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He wanted clothes to wear to support his new team. He started liking them because on Madden he always wins when he picks the bucs.

Andrew is playing with legos he received. All Happy Potter ones. 

Sam's big gift was this ridiculously huge hot wheels garage. He LOVES it.

Ralphie still enjoying his bone. He will keep this bone for a year until I throw it out and get him a new one Christmas next year. 

Our Christmas card we sent out this year. 

Andrew's big gift is a drum set. But as you can see Owen is having a lot of fun with having drums in the house. 

Andrew's presents this year were:

harry potter book - from mom and dad

harry potter collectible - from mom and dad

harry potter lego - from mom and dad

echo dot - from dad

PS4 game - from santa

cowboys socks& Shorts , saints shirt - from mom

drums - from mom and dad

4th Harry Potter book - from Sam

lego book - from santa

Sam's presents this year were:

big boots - from santa

lego city - from mom and dad

lego city - from mom and dad

PS4 game - from santa

dogman book - from mom and dad

Buc shirt and slippers - from mom

Fire Stick - from dad

Gift from Andrew

hotwheels garage - from santa

lego book - from santa Santa also brought the boys new PS4 charger and covers for the the controllers. They also got Just Dance from Santa.

Sam's 8th Birthday

Picture of Sam eating his birthday donuts with his class before they got out for the holiday break. 

Our Christmas Eve baby boy turned 8 this year. His three gifts were: bracelet loom making kit that he had been wanting since this summer, a Big Boots set - also something he had been wanting and a lego city set.

He had the best birthday. Sometimes it is hard for Sam to express his happiness with gifts. He usually has something in his head and when it is different - it confuses him. But not this year. He got everything he wanted.

Sam and Liam Whittington hugging after Christmas Eve Mass. 

Christmas Eve

I love that our family's Christmas Eve is a tradition. Abby even told me this year that Christmas Eve is one her favorites because our tradition is so fun.

My parents get into town on Dec 23rd. So they are here for Sam's birthday fun. Then they help the boys with a graham cookie Christmas house. This year the house was already put together - so they just had to decorate it.

We still get ready for red, beans and rice. This year Owen took that over. The house smells good. The kids are happy. And making memories with their grandparents.

Then we go to mass at 4:00 pm. Owen's family joins us. This year it was just his mom. Then his parents come over for dinner.

It is probably one of my favorite day of the year.