Luvin' some peeps!

GG was so upset when she left the peeps that she especially bought for Gage at Meme and Papa's house when she was coming back thru town. But when we went by there on Thanksgiving we got them. Meme told Gage that they were from GG and he was to share with his brothers. He was so pumped to get back on the road and get those peeps open.

Gage says, "thank you so much GG and I love you!"

our new addition

Brad and I have been doing some research for the past 2 days on Austrailian Shepards. They seem like a really neat breed that would fit us. For the first time since my Sherpa went to heaven I can actually talk/think about getting another dog to love. So we even made a phone call last night to a guy that has puppies...

Skip to this afternoon at 4:00 when our friends came out to deer hunt. He came in the house and said "oh you decided to go ahead and get a dog?" He said that there was an Austrailian Shepard out in the driveway that Linda was petting. I still did not believe him. I followed him outside and there was this small dog with blue merle markings. She was precious. I had no idea what Brad would say or think of it.

I bought her in and gave her some food. Toby was of great assistance. We both had our hands in her face and bowl the entire time she was eating. She never got aggressive. We have 5 cats as you know and she never was aggressive towards any of them. You could tell that she was just so excited to be loved on and have a little food in her belly.

We brought her in and gave her a bath in the utility sink. Feed her a little more food again. She finally got settled on the dog bed by Maggie. I went and laid down beside her to love on her. She did not even have enough evergy to get up and jump all over me. She is so exhausted! I know she has been wandering around for several days after some cruel person dumped her out on the side of the road to either die or for someone to take in. Now she can sleep with a full belly tonight beside Maggie...

Funny thing is...I have been praying for the right dog for us to be shown to me and show up when it is time for me to have another one. I was not excited about having a 6 week old puppy to house break in the winter...I already have to change Toby's diapers...that is enough for me right now! So I consider her a little present from Heaven. Oh and she LOVES Toby...I mean...really loves him!

She doesn't have a name...any suggestions?

Meme

All 3 of my boys love their Meme. It is so awesome to me that my boys have a great-grandmother. We got to spend a little time with Meme and Papa before we went up to visit Bradley's side of the family later in the day on Thanksgiving.

Meme letting Carson drink his white milk out of a fancy cup.

Gage and Meme with her Christmas tree that my mama put up for them.
And last but now least...Toby with Meme!

cruising the kitchen

We keep riding toys in our house because sometimes little boys must get out their bottled up energy...here is a great example of Gage and Toby letting out a little of that energy!

The loft at the cabin...

The loft is a magnet to any kid that walks into the cabin. It's lots of fun to be up there but it sure makes parents nervous especially when you have dare devils like I do! Gage loved being up there so Brad was up there just hanging out with him...but then Toby decided he wanted to join their party...

Watching Dennis the Menace from the loft...such a better view! (oh and Toby saying "cheese")
I debated on whether or not to post this video...once you watch it you will see why. Gage is going to kill me for it when he get older. Watch it twice. The first time watch Brad and Toby playing their cute little monster games. The second time...ummm...just watch Gage.

The Cabin

We have a cabin in our family that Slick had built many years ago. Bradley loves to stay there. I do too...when I am not pregnant and also don't have little babies...so obviously we have not stayed there much in the past 6 or so years. But last week before we got out for Thanksgiving Break Brad mentioned to me that he would love to stay at the cabin...I agreed. So we spend the weekend down there and had a blast.

Toby once again saying "cheese" and vacuuming the floors.

My sweet Maggie went too!
This little boy thinks this big boy "hung the moon"

Gage was making sure that nobody got his cell phone from him (especially Toby.)

We allowed this but only for a few minutes...

Super fun time. You can't do too much down there except just be together...which we needed a little bit of! You can't do laundry, dishes, clean, etc...it's great! I was asleep by 9pm both nights...go me! I did not realized how much I really needed that rest.

Pump It Up Birthday

We got to go to a Pump It Up birthday party for Gage's friend Marlee! He was so excited about going that he sang "happy birthday to Marlee" all day long. All 3 of my boys had a great time. I was so proud because they all minded me, did not fight, and had great manners...what more could I ask for!

Marlee and Gage

Toby saying "cheese"
This boy knows NO fear! He is climbing out of the basketball court jumpie that all the 9 yr olds were in and he loved being in there with all of them wrestling around him.

Next thing I know...he is climbing up to the top of the big slide with no assistance and is so excited to go down...he is just following Carson and Gage. Once again...knows no fear!

Lola's babies...Carson, Gage, Toby, Brian, Hayes, Marlee, and Avery

All 3 of mine going down the big slide...

poor toby wade

We were eating lunch the other day and Toby was making a lot of noise and then we realized we had not heard ANY noise in a few minutes...
I went over to check on him and this is how I found him...poor baby~ we had played outside all morning and I knew he was tired...but no clue it was this bad!

Toby's new thing is that when camera is put in front of his face...he says "cheese!"

I love this little boy!

Baby Mac & My Boys

Carla came into town for a little while. The boys got to meet Mac! Carson talked to sweet to him, Gage was pumped that he held his finger again, and Toby objected when I held him! We were attempting to get some shots for some Christmas gifts...none perfect but they were comical! enjoy...

This one if my favorite!

Gotta love Mac's frown...priceless

Yep, it was a bit WILD and CRAZY during our photo shoot. We will have to give it another go soon...because I promise boys this is only the beginning of photo shoots with Cousin Mac!

Enid Lake 5 of 5 (Nov 09)

Sunday morning I walked out of my camper and this is what I saw...

Toby being silly at breakfast...
Gage just being silly playing on the rocks...

Gage hitching a ride with Daddy!

And Toby hitching a ride with Mama!

We had a wonderful time just relaxing. Can't wait for our next trip. We will probably have to wait until Spring Break...already planning though. One thing I love about this camping thing is that my kids love it, we are all together, and they never ask when do we have to come home...ok that was more that one but I love this camping thing. Couldn't do it without the Hamby's though...they have taught us too much about it. There is a lot of planning, packing, and tricks to learn. They are old pros at this and I'm sure glad that we can learn from them. Thanks Hambys for such a super weekend and ALL you did for us.

Enid Lake 4 of 5 (Nov 09)

Gage telling everyone that he is at Enid Lake camping and having fun!


This is the "cool" game these kids created on our camping trip. They used Toby's old riding toy and would ride it down the steep hill.

Enid Lake 3 of 5 (Nov 09)

Gage love the fire. He saw ants on one of the logs on the fire. He wanted the ants to be able to escape so he found another stick and propped it up against the burning log to the ants could escape.

Carson and Tyler throwing rocks into the lake.
Ummmm...the beautiful sunset from our camper!

Loving this man and this sunset!

Trey and Tina who have taught us MUCH about camping!

I have videos tomorrow...

Enid Lake 2 of 5 (Nov 09)

I was trying to be a nice mom and make cupcakes. Don't know if I'll do that one again for camping just because cupcakes are SO messy. I will do something sweet and a little less messy. Plus Gage wanted cupcakes for breakfast every morning and I had to fight that lovely battle!

Tyler putting a worm on Bradley's head...
Trey kept a fire going the entire weekend and it was great!

Gage-man posing for a cute picture...check out the background...yep that was our view!

Our camper became grand central station for cartoons...(I loved it)

Carson, Toby , and I relaxing on the couch in the camper and watching some cartoons...

Yes...still more to come tomorrow.