Christmas!!!

We had a lot of fun celebrating Christmas this year!!! It is always so much fun watching our children open their presents. Here is the tree before they all woke up!




Opening stockings!!!


Carter was super excited about his presents!! He especially liked the surprise XBOX his dad and he got from me!!! It was so much fun watching him open it. His first words were, "No way, there's an XBOX in there?!"



Durant was a lot of fun to watch. He took his time with each present and seriously took like 15 minutes to go through his stocking. He kept showing us each thing he got and saying thanks!! He loves all his lighting presents he got this year!



Ana was super excited about the presents. She spent most of Christmas Eve night jumping up and down. She opens presents the opposite of Durant, with lighting speed!! She was very excited about the babies she got, but her most favorite present was the pack of basketball cards in her stocking. She didn't put them down once she got them!



Cute Christmas picture of the boys!!



Grandma Connie got each of the kids cameras! They've been having fun with those.





Playing with Uncle Brian

A Christmas hug between Grandma Darla and Carter

Merry Christmas!

Matt, Nikki, Carter, Durant, and Ana wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!!
May you feel Jesus and His love for you!!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Preparing for Christmas!

Carter and I had a really fun night a little while ago making Christmas cookies!!! Not only is Carter my super awesome first born son, but he's also one of my best friends. He is so much fun to hang out with. This night we actually stayed up late drinking Sonic drinks, eating pizza, and making cookies.






Carter was super excited to make each of our family members!




Carter drinking his Sonic drink with his crazy straw glasses


Just don't know where he gets his crazy side :)

Carter's first Basketball game!!

Carter has now started his first ever basketball season! He is doing great and totally loving it!! In his first game he scored the most points on his team. He has a lot of confidence on the court and has no problem taking shots!!!!


This basket was good!!


Way to go #21!! Great defense!


Go Wildcats!

3 yrs ago today!

Three years ago today we met our little girl for the very first time!!! I remember the elevator doors opening and seeing our baby girl!!! She was so tiny and so adorable. Matt and I had a great time with Ana in Guatemala. It's hard to believe it's been three years already.

We love you Ana!! We thank God that He chose us to be your Mommy and Daddy!!


One of the first pictures we had of Ana


Holding Ana for the first time!


Daddy holding Ana for the first time!

Exploring Guatemala together!


I love this picture of Carter's face seeing his little sister for the first time!

First brother and sister snuggle!


Still loves snuggling with her brother


So grown up from the baby girl we first laid eyes on


Now loves snuggling with two brothers!!

Carter's Christmas Program!

Carter's Christmas program was on Sunday! He was super cute up there on stage!! I just love watching him sing and dance around. He's totally comfortable on stage (just like his Dad). Durant and Ana really liked watching him too. Ana kept yelling out whenever she would find Carter!

I know I've said this before, but I just love that Carter still looks for us and waves! His eyes light up when he finds us in the crowd. Those are special moments I will always cherish.



Carter was an angel!! Left one in the group of three!





Snapping to Go Tell It On The Mountain!

Getting our Christmas Tree!

This is one of my most favorite traditions. I love going to pick out the Christmas tree!!! We've been going to the same tree lot for the last several years.





I love our last few years of pictures. In 2005 it was Just Matt, me, and Carter. In 2006 it was Matt, me, Carter, and Ana. In 2007 it was Matt, me, Carter, Ana, and Durant.
Last year I mentioned to the tree guy that next year we will not be adding any family members, but it turns out we did!! This year we added Grandma to the pictures!!!!





We had to have our annual picture of course!!

Thanksgiving!

I'm a little behind on posts so here is our Thanksgiving celebration! We have so much to be thankful for in 2008!


Ana enjoyed her meal!


Durant dipped everything in ketchup



Grandma doing Thanksgiving day crafts with the kids!


Carter with his turkey cookie!


Cute picture of Carter and Grandma!

Thankful for the little things.....

I've always enjoyed the little things in life, but since raising a child with special needs I've learned to enjoy it even more. While many parents celebrate large milestones in their child's life, when it comes to Ana even the smallest thing deserves great praise. She works so hard to learn a new thing so when she gets it down, we celebrate!!
Ana was having fun covering her eyes and saying Boo! Carter ran to get me and said, "Mom, look what Ana can do!"
Ana was so excited to make her brothers so excited so she just keep saying boo over and over again!

So, I thought you might like to see it too.......





I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. My awesome and loving husband, my three awesome children, good health, great friends and family, promise of a future beyond my craziest imagination, and a Father who'll never stop loving me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving program

Today Ana and I got to watch Durant in his Thanksgiving program for preschool! He was really cute up on stage singing the songs.
After the program the three of us got to go eat a Thanksgiving feast!! To mark where our family was sitting, there was a super cute placemat with Durant's picture on it.





It was a lot of fun and really cute!!




Durant shared one of his Thanksgiving hats with Ana