So the boys did wake up after Brandon had to go back to Parkes room and yell "Ho Ho Ho" a couple times. And like last year Parkes was a little slow waking up and really giving us the reaction we thought, but he did warm up after about 10 minutes and get excited that he got his "Lightning McQueen" bike (I use quotes as Brandon and I decided to buy him a bike a few weeks ago, but he had never mentioned wanting one until two days before Christmas he started telling us how he wanted a Ligtning McQueen bike so we added some stickers to the one we had rather then get out in the holiday mess...yes I know great parents, but he was happy with it).
Cash was more interested in Parkes toys which usually Parkes would push him down, but here's them actually opening a present together.
Parkes got really into the opening of presents and never really looked what he got until all the presents were opened and he could stop and check things out. After our family Christmas we headed back to my parents for lunch and more presents and fun. Here's Parkes showing Uncle Brad the power ranger he got.
Jim and Sarah Beth who have not been back to Nashville since last Christmas so this was the first time they got to meet Cash.
Then if Christmas wasn't enough we have Parkes birthday on the 27th. So the 26th we cleared out all the Christmas decorations and put up the birthday decorations for the boys family birthday party (Cash's is Jan 7 so we just did them together...I told Parkes he could have a friend birthday in the summer since he shared his birthday with Cash). So here are the cousins and Uncle Jim at the kids table.
And Cash really enjoyed the cake....he had 3 slices, but luckily slept great that night not waking up until 8:30 the next morning.
So after the boys birthday we had a surprise birthday party for Sarah Beth the next day...her birthday is the 31st, but her parents were in town only until the 30th so we wanted them to be there for it. She did however catch on when she noticed a line of cars not too far from the party house that she recognized. So here's all the Stevens family. I don't have a picture of Sarah Beth's side, but a side note her cousin was my good friend growing up and we introduced Jim and Sarah Beth several years ago so now we get to be somewhat related.
And Cash was happy to get more cake.
So after all the festivities we all crashed last night. Well I say all, that is all but Parkes. We tricked Cash into bed at 6 since he had missed his afternoon nap. Then put Parkes in his room with a movie. Brandon was watching football downstairs, and I went upstairs to watch Food Network. Well about 8 Brandon and I both fell asleep while watching our shows. Then about 9:30 I get woken up by Parkes asking why Daddy is sleeping on the couch. So Parkes climb in bed with me and Brandon woke up around midnight to realize his spot was taken and went back to sleep in Parkes bed. The whole family sleep until 9 in the morning so we might need to keep up this pace to keep the boys sleeping.
Since everyone was in town my mom wanted to get family pictures done. We had Mary Alice take them and she did a fantastic job...here's just a few of the many we got. Also, the one at the top of the blog she took as well.
Have a great and safe New Year's Eve...ours is pretty low key this year which will be nice.
Cash was more interested in Parkes toys which usually Parkes would push him down, but here's them actually opening a present together.
Parkes got really into the opening of presents and never really looked what he got until all the presents were opened and he could stop and check things out. After our family Christmas we headed back to my parents for lunch and more presents and fun. Here's Parkes showing Uncle Brad the power ranger he got.
Jim and Sarah Beth who have not been back to Nashville since last Christmas so this was the first time they got to meet Cash.
Then if Christmas wasn't enough we have Parkes birthday on the 27th. So the 26th we cleared out all the Christmas decorations and put up the birthday decorations for the boys family birthday party (Cash's is Jan 7 so we just did them together...I told Parkes he could have a friend birthday in the summer since he shared his birthday with Cash). So here are the cousins and Uncle Jim at the kids table.
And Cash really enjoyed the cake....he had 3 slices, but luckily slept great that night not waking up until 8:30 the next morning.
So after the boys birthday we had a surprise birthday party for Sarah Beth the next day...her birthday is the 31st, but her parents were in town only until the 30th so we wanted them to be there for it. She did however catch on when she noticed a line of cars not too far from the party house that she recognized. So here's all the Stevens family. I don't have a picture of Sarah Beth's side, but a side note her cousin was my good friend growing up and we introduced Jim and Sarah Beth several years ago so now we get to be somewhat related.
And Cash was happy to get more cake.
So after all the festivities we all crashed last night. Well I say all, that is all but Parkes. We tricked Cash into bed at 6 since he had missed his afternoon nap. Then put Parkes in his room with a movie. Brandon was watching football downstairs, and I went upstairs to watch Food Network. Well about 8 Brandon and I both fell asleep while watching our shows. Then about 9:30 I get woken up by Parkes asking why Daddy is sleeping on the couch. So Parkes climb in bed with me and Brandon woke up around midnight to realize his spot was taken and went back to sleep in Parkes bed. The whole family sleep until 9 in the morning so we might need to keep up this pace to keep the boys sleeping.
Well it is Christmas morning and yes I'm blogging. I know there's a grandmother in Michigan that will want to see some pictures of the boys, especially being Cash's first Christmas. So here's some pics from the 23rd were we spent the day hunting down Santa. Christmas has creep up on us and we completely missed our church's Breakfast with Santa so after a log failed attempt at the mall we went out to a house in Brentwood that had a huge light display and Santa was there so the boys got to see him and Parkes was very excited...Cash, however, was not.
Then Christmas Eve was not white, but muddy. So Parkes and one of the boys next door instead of having a snow fight had a mud fight (very much encouraged by their dads). We had lots of good mud were the dumpster had been sitting until last week just waiting for boys to jump in.
So after Parkes got cleaned up we headed out to my parents for Christmas Eve. Here's Uncle Brian and Cash.
My brothers, Brad and Jim.
Parkes and his cousins, Abby James and Draper.
And now it's 8:30 and we are waiting for Parkes to wake up and come see what Santa brought him.
Parkes had his school program on Sunday night. Last year he swayed through the whole performance, but never opened his mouth. This year they put him in the front because he is the loudest singer....I think he has come out of his shell. If he already wasn't social enough he now loves to preform as well. On Fridays at school he goes to Sing and Sign and it is amazing to see what all he has learned. Working at the school where Parkes is has really been such a great thing since I actually have learned some of the signs even though my class is too young to go to Sing and Sign we still get some of the songs and seasonal signs. So they preform their song and also signed the monthly Bible verse that they learn each month. Parkes has found a new crush at school...a little girl named Parker who as he has told me he "just loves so much." Cash is now 11 months, and got his first fever yesterday. I got called out of my class to go hold him...another advantage to working were the kids are I could go ahead and give him medicine while I waited for Brandon to come get him. But not a bad record so far 11 months before he got anything, and today he is acting completely fine....just laughing and following his brother around who at the moment is watching the food network by his request.
Parkes is an old pro by this point when it comes to opening his presents and this year he is all about power rangers and transformers.
We then headed out to Opryland Hotel and walked around and enjoyed the lights.
Then we have enjoyed watching some football...even though Brandon is a little sad Alabama lost on Saturday. He's still excited about the promise of next year and a BCS bowl. Of course I'm excited about Ole Miss' bowl game too!!!!! Hotty Toddy!!! So after all the fun of the weekend we got to meet Luke Engesath shortly after he was born today to Keri and Matt. The family is doing great. Another boy to join the crew...Cash is glad to have someone closer to his age.
