Elf on the Shelf, etc.

The story of the Elf on the Shelf....
Aunt Susan brought the boys a new Christmas tradition this year when we saw her for Thanksgiving!

Last night after attempting the decorating, we decided to gather in the living room to read the book that comes with the Elf. CJ sat quietly, Marky crawled all over us wanting to hit the book and trying to tear the pages while Clark held Peyton who cooed so loud that CJ was hardly able to hear me read. Nevertheless, we finished the book and this is going to be FUN!

Basically, the book comes with this elf that watches over the boys and reports to Santa if they've been bad or good. We had to name him and after CJ went through a few names he decided that his name would be "Noodle Smoodle". Every night until Christmas he flies to a different spot in the house and in the morning the boys find him-although they cannot touch him or he loses his "magical" powers. This morning he was found sitting on top of the blinds on the back door so that he could see the living room...CJ found him soon after he woke up.

All day I reminded him that the elf was watching...he told me after we got back from Little Sluggers that he had been really good and that he's had a lot of "good" days lately. True, he's been pretty good although not long after we had been home, he decided to not be so good. I quickly reminded him that I was sure he wanted presents from Santa and that elf would be reporting to Santa tonight on his first days' work at the Miller house. CJ didn't like that too much...he quietly walked into the living room not knowing that I was watching from the kitchen. He got where he could see the elf and pointed his finger at him and with this voice full of grrrrrr he said, "ELF, I DON'T CARE IF YOU"RE WATCHING ME, GRRRRRR!" This is going to be a lot of fun!

A few more pics that I didn't post the other day...

CJ after he got home from his deer hunt. His Poppy carried him in asleep and I was finally able to get him to wake up for his bath. After his bath, he wanted to be wrapped up in my "cozy" robe. He quickly fell asleep...he was pooped!

This is Marky in the potting soil again...we have kept this plant alive for almost a whole year. Mandy and Tim got it for us for Christmas last year although I don't know how much longer its going to last with Marky pulling off the leave, breaking the limbs and eating the potting soil!


Finally all three can sit in the bathtub and play together. I threw away the seat we had for Peyton this weekend...he loves to play with the bath toys but now Mark is at the age where he takes everything away from Peyton. You would think that he would not even notice but Peyton gets his little feelings hurt and just cries and cries when his toys get swiped away!

Oh how I love these little boys!

CJ Deer Hunter 2009

Just a few pictures to show why CJ loves to go with his Daddy hunting...boys would live outside if we'd let them!


Not sure why he had such a puzzling look on his face!


Being Silly!

Big Boy on the Four-Wheeler!

Fishing (and not sure what he's doing with that other hand, maybe his bobo was itching...humm!)

Better things about Yesterday

Fresh clean Maddy's...right out of the dryer, CJ was at school so Marky got both of them!

Marky and Peyton time alone!

When we got to CJ's school to see him for his Thanksgiving Feast! He was quite happy to see us!

This verse was on a card in front of his placemat, I can't turn the picture around but the verse was, "I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with Thanksgiving."

Protecting Peyton although he was sure enjoying the attention but no one enjoyed the attention like Marky...

Marky sitting with CJ's friends circled around him, he as telling them a story in jibber jabber!

Trials of the past week

This past week Clark went on his Iowa deer hunt and let's just say things didn't all go as planned. First, while driving up to Iowa, he and Reed had a blow out on the trailer. No one was hurt. They changed the tire and were on their way but made sure to get another spare in case it happened again on their way home.

A few days into the trip, Reed tore his ACL while getting into his stand. They nursed it that night and he laid off hunting that next morning but thought he felt good enough to go out that afternoon. He ended up injuring it again that evening :(

At around 2:30 Thursday afternoon, they were on their way back and by this time they were in Oklahoma but still about 4 hours from home. Clark called to tell me they were on the side of the road and that he was pretty sure that his transmission had just gone out. This meant several things...he wouldn't see the baby boys that night like planned, he and Reed would have to sit there for 4 hours waiting on a tow truck driver to come get them and bring them back to McKinney and of course, the cost of the repairs and towing such a long distance. At around 3:00 Friday morning, I heard Clark come in. He was finally home. Since he wasn't home when we went to bed, CJ wanted to sleep with me so he was able to give his daddy a hug when he came in. He packed up after we all woke up this morning to take CJ on another hunt for work which at this point he wished he didn't have to leave again.

Maybe I'll learn to appreciate it again, but at this point, I pretty much wish hunting didn't exist! This has been a costly season, monetarily and time spent away. Wishing Clark had double the vacation time since this year is our 5 year anniversary! Above all, I can pretty much take anything as long as no one is hurt or sick! I'm pretty sure God knows that, at least I hope He does!

Weekend at Grandma's, Peyton's 6 month milestones, CJ's silly sayings & Community Helpers Day at School and Marky's Jibber Jabber

Its been a busy few weeks and I haven't had much time to post the latest so this is an all-in-one blog!

Last weekend we went to see Grandma and the boys loved it! They were outside for almost the entire trip. Its so good for them to be able to explore with little boundaries! We had fun watching their venturous little bodies play, play, play!

Last week was Community Helper's Day at school and it was hat day. The Prosper Fire Dept was coming to visit so I wanted to find CJ and hat from his Poppy's Dallas fire station but Clark didn't have one so he wore a hat from one of the fire stations that Clark built. So we rehearsed before school..." The hat that I am wearing is from a fire station that my daddy built but my Poppy is a fireman for Dallas." He was sooo proud!

On our way home from Grandma's last weekend, CJ said, "Daddy is my favorite because he is just like me." I said, "Do you mean because he is a boy like you?" CJ, "Yeah, I don't really like girls, ooooohhh, but I do love my mommy."

Marky continues to be the little monkey that he has always been! He is into EVERYTHING. I was just thinking that we might have to put less Christmas decorations out this year so that I don't spend the entire day picking up broken pieces! He is starting to really jibber jabber as his way of telling us what he wants. He just goes on and on. He actually found my phone the other day, pressed the call button and called his daddy. He was walking around just talking and talking, I thought he was playing but Clark was actually on the phone talking back to him!

Peyton turned 6 months old this weekend. He is sitting up pretty well, scooting everywhere and starting to get his first bottom tooth! He is such a great JOY!

Fall Fun

We've spent the last few days enjoying the super nice weather outside. We know it won't last for long so I've tried to make sure the boys are enjoying it while it lasts.

Friday, we met Clark at the park for a little picnic and duck feeding. The boys loved it...Marky wanted to chase after the ducks and eat their bread! They kicked around leaves, chased Clark, played on the playground, fed the ducks and played with sticks (I know, boys love nature toys!). Seeing them enjoying the outside weather made us really think about planning a camping trip in the Spring.

Eating lunch, they really enjoyed seeing daddy at lunch!

Peyton hung out in the stroller but loved the fresh air!

The ducks sure liked these boys, Clark had to scare them away because Marky started to go after them as they came closer!

Marky eating the duck's bread!

Looking at the ducks in the water.

Marky chasing his daddy!

CJ and Marky playing with their sticks!

Spiderman x's 3

We've gotten some good use out of the Spiderman costume that we bought for CJ's first Halloween. All the boys have worn it for their first Halloweens. I got the idea to do this post after I realized how much Mark and Peyton look like little twins in their costumes. They are almost the same age in their costumes-despite about a week difference. CJ was 9 months old, Mark 6 months, Peyton almost 6 months. I kept looking at them this weekend thinking, WOW, this past year went by so fast and how in the world did I manage with a 2 month old and a 2 year old being pregnant again with a new one. We just never knew what a joy all three would be! Our photographer said that she thinks the babies make a deal that sounds like this, "You can go first, but I'm coming right after you!" They are so precious and we can't imagine it being any other way!

CJ has always had the roundest little head and was bald for quite awhile before his blonde locks showed up!!

Mark at Halloween 2008, he was 6 months

Peyton at Halloween this year 2009, he is 5 1/2 months.

Super Halloween Heroes, a Bee and a Bee Keeper

We had some of the cutest little super heroes here for Halloween with Grandma Bee and Grandpa Bee Keeper, oh and scary JASON!