A Glimpse

Christmas seems to get more fun with each year. The kids are able to really enjoy the fun christmas traditions and of course, the presents! Because our family is so young, we are just beginning to figure out our yearly traditions. Every year we go the square to look at the lights and eat at Tiny Tim's Pizza. We decorate a gingerbread house, make a countdown to Christmas craft, and make a giant gingerbread cookie. This year was the first time to have Christmas without my MeMa. Usually all my aunts, uncles and cousins come together and celebrate on Christmas Eve. Instead, we chose to spend Christmas with just our immediate family. A new tradition. We had dinner at my parent's house Christmas Eve, acted out the Nativity Story and opened presents. It was a lot of fun, and I especially enjoyed the snow falling as we were warm and cozy inside. We woke up the next morning to a white Christmas at our house. The kids each got a little present under their trees and then came to wake us up to see what Santa had brought them. We played at the house all morning then made our way to Nate's parents house. Teresa always has a theme for our Christmas dinner-never traditional, but always good! We open presents, and the adults play a different game each year, and let me just say, you want to win those games! We spend the night and wake up to a huge breakfast. Everything about Christmas makes me feel warm inside. I guess that's why its my (along with many others) favorite time of year.

The Fayetteville Square


The Gingerbread House...a little droopy this year!


The Nativity Story




Santa's Surprises




Gramma and her girls

Cousins!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

A little bit of this and that..

Last week was filled with lots of little things. Monday, Kate was sick so I got to stay home an extra day which I always enjoy. (Don't get me wrong, I'm not excited that she felt yucky, and I had to clean up lots of yucky things, just that I got to spend more time with the kids-felt I should clarify!)





One night this week, the kids decided to be "sports people" for the evening. We had a football player, baseball player and cheerleader (the only sport Kate thinks is for girls!)




On Friday, Liv was 4 months old! She weighed in at 12lbs. 1 oz. She is getting so big and really does change all the time. She now likes to play on her tummy and will roll from front to back and back to front. She makes lots of noises and started really laughing out loud just last week. She can hold her head up well and loves to look around especially at lights. If you ever get the chance to hold her, don't make the mistake of holding her facing you; she won't have any of that. She likes to be faced out where she can see everything-just a little fyi. :)



We spent this weekend in Hot Springs with Nate's family. We always get together at least once a year at Christmas time. The kids enjoyed getting to stay in a hotel and see all kinds of cousins (16 kids when we are all there!) Nate's sweet grandma gave each couple an old picture of her and Nate's grandfather who passed away many years ago. It was such a neat gift and made me want to collect old pictures of all of our grandparents. We had a great time seeing everyone and playing catch up.

Our First Dose of Christmas

First of all, we had a great Thanksgiving with family this year. My granddad and aunt (on my dad's side) came up from San Antonio to celebrate with us and meet Brady and Liv for the first time. We also got to see MANY cousins from my mom's side of the family and had a great time catching up.

The kiddos on Thanksgiving...Liv wasn't too excited about taking pictures!

While my granddad was in town, we got to celebrate our first christmas of the year. Grandad and Aunt Brenda spoiled the kids rotten with presents, clothes and candy. Will, Kate & Eli enjoyed every minute of it too!

Grandad Blackwell and the kids

Pop and Eli rockin' on the guitar

Mommy and Liv were there too! (Will took this shot.)

Daddy got to put lots of things together...don't let him fool you; he likes to tinker!

Will checking out his new transformers.

Miss Kate with her swimming Dora meremaid...a few minutes after this photo, she was in the bath tub trying her out!

Four generations of Blackwell boys...I mean, MEN.

We started decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving and little by little we are getting it up. We all decorated the tree and put up the nativity scene. Daddy and Uncle Jared put lights on the house, and the kids each got to decorate their own little trees.
Six stockings hung by the fireplace with care...

The Brown boys hard at work...having a roofer in the family comes in handy! Thanks Jared!

On Sunday, November 29th, we had parent/baby dedication at the church. Livia and Brady got to be dedicated together which was pretty neat.
All smiles getting ready for church (Blaire Perry took some pictures of us that day too, but I don't have them yet)

And one last little note, we no longer take the pacifier but instead prefer the 3rd and 4th finger. I tried to keep it from happening, but she did it anyways! Will and Kate never sucked on anything; Eli STILL sucks his thumb and now Liv sucks on her fingers...ahh, what fun habits I'll get to break one day! :)

Barn Bash

This last weekend, Nate and I went to FBC's Barn Bash and had a blast! Everyone dressed up for the occasion, making it all the more fun!. We enjoyed some great BBQ, line dancing and even bull riding. It really was a finger-lickin', toe stompin' good time!
Me and the girls

The bull has met his match...

My dance partner

Best dressed woman, Bettina and Chaz

Two stepping extraordinaires, Jared & Kristin

Although this is wrong on so many levels, I truly admire Matt's attention to detail...sorry, Angela, I had to share it! :)

On a sweeter note, Livia Jane is now 3 months old. She seems to be growing so fast. She sleeps through the night like a pro, for which I am very thankful! She giggles and coos and follows you everywhere with her eyes. She loves to watch her mobile and has just started sitting in her Bumbo while I cook or do dishes. She has rolled over a few times and discovered her fingers which she nibbles on as a between mealtime snack!
Pig Sooie!

I am still waiting to see if her eyes will stay blue...I am hopeful!

Her face doesn't show it, but I promise she likes it! (the camera in her face is a different story!)

The Justice League...kind of

For Halloween this year, the kids wanted to be superheros, and they turned out to be pretty cute.

Will: Batman...he really bulked up this year-Gotham's criminals were no match for him!

Kate: Supergirl...pretty and pink and faster than a speeding bullet

Eli: Spiderman...watch out Mary Jane, this Peter Parker is a real cutie (and not afraid to lay a wet one on you!)

Liv: Wonder Woman...girl power flying to the rescue


We trick or treated at Ryan and Rachel's house and had lots of fun with all of the Blackwell-Kitchen-Turner kids...never a dull moment!