Winter Wonderland

It's so nice of Bryce to make Gus feel less dogly.
The white blur just above his head is a snowball, I think it's going to make contact.

Bryce is in just the right spot to protect Keaton, you can see the snowball just behind Bryce's hood.

In our house one must always be aware of a shot to the groin (my children know more words for this area than I could have ever dreamed-I'm so proud.)

I love the expression on this face-

Gus is like a spring in the snow-he absolutely loves it.

He had had enough of being in the middle of the action, he found a quiet spot where the snowballs aren't flying.

What could be better than a spot in the shade under a tree to enjoy a refreshing beverage.

Ahhhh...

Look at the priceless present I got. If I would have tried to tie a bow on his head he would have headed for the hills. He must have been a very good boy he got everything he wished for. His #1 on the list was a Texas Longhorns football jersey (hard to imagine, I know). Not only did Santa bring him a jersey but put D. Fox on the back. Devon held it up and was so excited but when he looked at the name expecting the current quarterbacks name he excitedly squeeked, "who's D.Fox-hey that's me".
This is the look of utter joy (believe it or not). There's not much in Keatons world that compares to a new dirtbike.
Will there ever be anything better than a cardboard box?

This year Bryce woke to a very small wrapped package strategically placed next to Devons mound o' goodies. He was quite concerned he had been naughty. He asked if he argued to much or did something bad. I tried to reassure him by explaining sometimes the greatest gifts come in the smallest packages...car keys, diamonds, etc. but he was having none of it. Once he opened his ONE package left by Santa he didn't say a word just ran off to the garage. It turned out in the box was a picture of the mountain bike he had been wishing and hoping for along with a couple of rocks. We had led him to believe this was a present to large for Santa so he would have to spend his Christmas money on it for himself. It may have been a little evil for Santa to mess with his head like that but it was SOOOOO much fun.

We instructed these two hooligans they were not to come out of their rooms until 7am (Bryce wakes up at 5am 4 out of 7 days a week). 7:02 they came running into our room only to be told they could go watch cartoons,"but there is to be NO touching" 7:20 I went out to join them and watch the agony and torture of waiting. They didn't seem to understand that we still had to wait for Keaton to wake up and since it was sure to be a long day for him-it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. Finally just before 8 they got the go ahead to rip poor Keaton out of bed. It took him a good 15 minutes to warm up and decide it was all for good reasons that he was standing in the family room expected to open presents.

...Fun Until Someone Pokes An Eye Out

So one evening I found myself alone (this doesn't happen very often), when I came out of our room to check on my people I heard a lot of stiffled giggling. Travis had pulled Bryce's mattress off his bed and was sending them down the stairs. I watched quietly, but when the mattress started to buckle at the bottom threatening to launch them through the wall I had to put the kabosh on the whole adventure. They understood, but I've heard Bryce say it was really fun
"until the police (me) showed up." Sorry the video is sideways I couldn't figure out how to turn it but I think you can get the jist.

Visit to Santa

Devon cannot be talked into something that he doesn't want to do. As his mother I know this-but as my son he knows I don't give up easily. After several attempts to bribe and guilt into talking to Santa so I could just get the three of them in a picture, Devon wouldn't even go into the enclosed area Santa was inhabiting at the mall. He was a good 100 feet away and a little jumpy if I went anywhere near him. Devon has sat on Santas lap 1 time in his 7 years and it was when he was 2 1/2 and he didn't say much yet so he just didn't have much of a choice.
Keaton, on the other hand, would have sat in his lap all day and thrown full hearted hugs around his neck any chance he got. His eyes were so big and he was completely in love. My sweet Bryce totally humored me and walked up with Keaton because you never know how a little one is going to react.

Christmas Photo Op...

Getting my boys (all of them) to pose for something like a Christmas card is utter torture. If I don't get my picture in 2 minutes or less I have a mess on my hands-complaining, whining, crying and COMPLAINING!!
Even the dog was bored. 2 shots in he was uncontrollably yawning. What is up with that?

SOOO close...

AHHH and we have one that I'll have to live with.

Fancy Feast

Apparantly I am a little partial to my own children. Lined up on either side of darling Devon are many 2nd graders celebrating Thanksgiving with a special feast. After an hour I had lots of adorable Devon pictures and not a single one of anyone else-OOPS.
Oh look random children but the focus is still on Devon-eating! I would have killed anyone who took a thousand pictures of me eating.

The Little Fox Turns 4!!

He can hardly wait to get his hands on these motorcycles. He fits right into the Fox family. I must spend too much time around motorcyle exhaust while pregnant.
He was so gentle with the 'Curious George' wrapping paper, any other wrapping paper was just tossed to the side.