Coupon Book for Kids!

Will's love language is Giving Gifts- not necessarily BUYING gifts, but he's always making us cards or notes for us.  So, in thinking of a special Christmas gift for him, I thought we should embrace this!  We made HIM a coupon book!  Now, I made one of these for my husband when we first got married, but the topics within were MUCH different ;)
My husband and I both thought of five things we could do alone with Will.  Having a little brother means sharing time with mom and dad!  Here are some pics of the book:

Made with Love

Coupons expire in 9 years! 

"Music in the soul can be heard by the universe." Lao Tzu

Will started taking piano lessons from Mrs. Bass in mid-March this year.  He has proved to be quite talented in it!  What an amazing kid!  While we visited Grant for Thanksgiving, he gave an impromptu concert with Timmy at Westview.  He played without any music book, sang along, and helped Timmy ALL at the same time!!  The residents LOVED their performance!

Will also performed at a Christmas Piano Program sponsored by Mrs. Bass where 28 of her students performed.  He played The First Noel and did a wonderful job!  His Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, and Grandad were all in attendance, along with me and Shaun of course. 

The Things We Do To Protect Our Family...

This is a true story. A week ago, my loving husband left all the doors open to our house. A bird flew in! And guess what??? It didn't fly back out and we haven't been able to find it! Guess who decided to show its face JUST after friends left tonight?? THE BIRD!!!! So, I grabbed Will's BB gun and ran around the house after this bird!! It ended up in the boys' bedroom!!! After shooting 5 or maybe 10 times (HA!), I finally hit the poor thing! It took about as long for me to approach it afterwards as it did to shoot it down! But, alas, RIP lil renegade bird. Now I have to patch some BB dents in the walls...

After said birdy was down for the count, I heard Will tell Timmy, "I'm really worried now.  Daddy told me we have to eat everything we shoot..."

Kindred Souls

Some friends you meet only as acquaintances.  And some friends you meet who will be friends for life.  We've had the honor of meeting our soul mate friends- all of our kids get along wonderfully (in fact, my oldest son and my friend's oldest daughter are planning to wed in the future), our husbands get along great, and most of all, my friend and I are BFF's. 
Shortly after realizing our amazing friendship, my friend's husband took a job in Texas and a move out-of-state was in store. 
What I've realized now that she and her beautiful family are gone is that they really are our true friends.  We can't WAIT to visit them in their wonderful new home!!  In fact, how does two weeks sound??!!

Will's Song

Family

These are my people- my parents, my brothers and their wonderful wives, my niece, my hubby and kiddos.  I LOVE getting together with them all in one place!  We live three states away from them, and while there are many days I wish we lived right next door, I realize the time we spend TOGETHER is that much more precious because we can't have it all the time and whenever we want.  What an impressive, dynamic group!

I love you all!

Baby Kate, Baby Kate...

This is my beautiful baby niece, Kate.  She is so funny and energetic!  I LOVE her personality and baby girl gibberish!  She turns 2 next month- I can't believe how time flies!  Timmy and Will love playing with her- Will loves reading to her and jumping around.  Timmy, being two months younger, wants toys that she has and books she's reading.  The boys couldn't have asked for a more fun cousin!  When should she expect a little brother or sister?  I'm working on talking her parents into that one!