Auction At Our House!

Just Kidding, but goodness knows we need to do something! We have had a wonderful 2 weeks. Tis is heading back to the big city this afternoon and from the very night he flew in it's been a whirlwind. We've had a blast and made some incredible memories but I can't ever help every year but feel a little relieved when the tree is down and life returns to somewhat of a slower pace. The new year is just around the corner and although 2009 was a pretty good year to our family I am really looking forward to 2010.

Saturday night, right after Chris and Ali barely made it before the big blizzard, we had mama's family over for dinner. It was really great getting everyone together. It was the first time some of my cousins had even met Braxton! Braxton had a lot of fun hosting and loved having everyone play at his house!

Christmas Eve at Maw Maw's and Paw Paw's was one of the best Christmas Eves we've ever had. I can't really put my finger on it but it was different this year. Everyone was genuinely enjoying themselves and relaxed. Braxton was given a cowboy hat and a gun. We'd come to the conclusion that there was no way we could fight the inner boy in him any longer. He was going to find a way to play guns! He was so excited when he opened those gifts!

Christmas morning was great too. Braxton woke up at 7:25 and I kept him in my old bedroom playing with old toys for about an hour. When everyone was up and ready he bolted into the den and there before his eyes were a red fire engine, fireman's outfit, a horse (to complete the cowboy ensemble), puzzles, books, and I could go on and on. Santa was so good to Braxton!

Later that night we had Christmas dinner with Grandaddy's family here. We had a birthday cake and party hats for Baby Jesus! (I warned you we would).

We have a ton of new "stuff". We won't be having an auction but we will be putting some things away. Just think, his birthday is only 6 months away!

THIS is what it's all about!

I love Christmas. I have such wonderful memories growing up and I want it all for my son. It's so hectic and busy and I think because I have such awesome memories I'm trying to do TOO much. I am just running myself ragged. God always has a way of bringing you back to the important things. Last night Braxton helped me remember that.

I had just gotten him out of the bath and he saw the Nativity scene on the table in the hall. His "GG" actually gave it to him for his first Christmas so knowing that makes this story all the sweeter. He asked about the baby. I told him it was Baby Jesus. And Baby Jesus' birthday was coming up very soon. He looked at me and said "Birthday?" And then said "Baby Jesus get a birthday cake". I asked him who he knew that could get Baby Jesus a birthday cake? His response was "Grandaddy!". So, Grandaddy was called and TOLD that Baby Jesus needed a birthday cake!

For those of you that will be with us on Christmas day expect party hats and party horns!

A Special Visit

Click on the link to see who sent Braxton a special message!

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/0a918574d4ab6f0116176f5c2e9fd91a

The Perfect Tree

We went up to the mountains yesterday for our annual trip to pick out our Christmas tree. This year we thought it would be fun to stay over night so we called up the joint where we always stay and sure enough they had some availability. Now you say to yourself, "oh a nice little over night trip" but you should have seen the luggage I packed! There is no such thing as packing light with me and when I heard it was going to possibly snow 3 inches that didn't help my cause at all! Allyson told me as soon as we met up when I told her why I was running late that the snow had been canceled! I was glad I packed what I did! We left about 10am and had a nice drive up. We thought it would be fun to count how many trees we counted on the tops of cars heading home as we were heading up but after about the 11th one we passed a huge truck full of trees that was obviously taking some trees to a lot. Brandon decided the game was over!
Little Man was F--U--N at the tree farm this year. We've been going to the same one since he was 5 months old and this year he got out of the truck and acted like he knew just what he was doing! He loved watching them cut the trees down and drive them down the mountain. He had all his garb on so you would think by looking at the pictures that it WAS snowing three inches. It was cold but he just insisted. I think we picked the most perfect tree. As soon as it's up, I'll post and let you see.
Oh, and we haven't been up to the mountains since June but Braxton remembered about the blue ice cream we had then so before heading home this afternoon we stopped and let him enjoy some "bue" ice cream! He did enjoy every bite.

It's Beginning to look like Christmas

Yesterday Brandon got his toy train from when he was a kid out of the attic and set it up for Braxton. Oh my gosh. It sounds like Tweetsie lives in my kitchen. Braxton sits at the dining room table and just watches it. And pushes the button to make the sound. We have to keep saying "okay okay you can let the button go now!" This morning, Brandon's "big birthday", we got the blue Christmas tree out and set it up in Braxton's room and decorated it. He is so excited. I think it's going to be a great Christmas.

PosExpress

We had an incredible ride on The PosExpress. This is what Braxton calls it. I think we went at the absolute best time too. He was SO into the whole thing.
We arrived to pick up our tickets and there were already about 200 people there waiting and mingling around. The lady told me that our car was full and that it was first come, first serve seating on our car so if we wanted to sit together we needed to be in line early. I hate things like that. I get so anxious. Your whole experience depends on your seat and who your sitting with. The train began boarding at 4:45 but people began lining up before then. The confusing thing we figured out REAL quick was that we couldn't load at our car. We had to get on 2 cars away. So dad and Allyson went one way and the boys and I went another. So there we stood for 45 minutes waiting to get on! Braxton was so good. He held on to his ticket, which he was so proud of, and kept pointing to the train. When we began to load all four of us met back up about the same time and picked out a perfect table. Our car was "first class" so it was all decorated for Christmas and it had seats with tables in the middle just like on the movie. I sat across the aisle from the others because the table had only enough room for four. But it worked out great because when we got to the North Pole Braxton was able to come to my side and see "HO HO" and the lights.
They played the soundtrack from the movie and read the book and really entertained us the whole time. Braxton bobbed his head and danced. When they delivered his hot chocolate he got so excited. He stirred it for almost the entire trip and only took one sip! But if you ask him to tell about his Polar Express ride this will be the first thing he tells you! The conductor came around and asked for all the kids tickets and punched a hole in it. It was so cute!
One of the highlights of the ride was when Santa walked onto our car. He walked up to each child and asked what they wanted for Christmas and gave them a silver bell. Braxton pouted when he left him and said " My Ho Ho!". We pulled back into the train station and it looked like there were 500 people already lined up waiting for the next ride.
I'm pretty sure we won't go again for a couple of years. I think we timed it perfect with him this year. He loves the movie so much and is so into trains that it was fun. The songs were familiar to him and he was still young enough that nothing about the ride was "corny". Everything was exciting to him. The look on his face was adorable. Every dime we spent was worth it.
When we left we went and grabbed a bite to eat and then went back to our hotel and swam for an hour. Braxton swore he saw a witch in the pool!! So he stayed on the step, down at the shallow end! He still hasn't forgotten about the witch at Halloween. Later in the night he woke up 4 times dreaming. 3 of the 4 times he woke up talking about "Hot chocolate". The other time he said something about an"itch".
When we were just about home he was playing with his bell and we were watching The Polar Express movie, of course. He held the bell up to his ear and said " I believe!"

The Little Things

The older I get I am starting to really notice and appreciate the little things in life. ALL those things that my parents used to say that I didn't notice because I was a spoiled brat (true and true) I noticed now. This evening Braxton and I were coming out of the bathroom from washing his hands and I was carrying him. Out of nowhere he put his head on my shoulder and said "I 'ove' you mama."
What are some of the little things you have noticed and appreciate in your life lately?