Christmas Day 2011

With Jason working Christmas Eve we all had to wait for him to come home from work before we were allowed to go downstairs and see if Santa had come.  He got home just after 7:30.  he quickly opened his Christmas Eve present and put his new jammies on.  Mommy went downstairs to make sure Santa really had come to visit and then the kids all came thundering down the stairs.  We spent the first hour or so playing with the fun things that Santa had brought us.  Bey blades (a game the kids love) and a new Wii game.

We started opening presents after a while.  We start with the youngest family member who chooses a present for someone else.  Everyone takes turns and we open one present at a time.  We then take time to play with and investigate each new present.  We weren't even half way through opening when it was time to get ready for church.

After church we went to Grandma Carol and Grandpa Steve's for dinner.  We exchanged presents with them and then stayed and visited and played with them as well as Andy, Laura, Nick, and Noah.  We finally headed home around 7pm so we finish opening our presents.  It was a fabulous Christmas.  (Notice my boys matching sweaters?  And Layla's new dress?  I also have a new dress on thanks to Laura and "the mall" in Washington State.)

Christmas Eve

  This year was a little different for us.  Jason and I both worked on Christmas Eve.  I worked dayshift 7am until 7:30 pm at night.  Jason came in to work at 7pm and worked until 7:30am on Christmas morning.  This made our Christmas Eve a little strange.  Grandma and Grandpa Crowl kept the kids all day on Christmas Eve (so Jason could sleep) and treated them to an amazing day.  They definitely had more fun with them than they would have had with us.  I picked the kids up that night after work and took them home for a quick reading of Luke Chapter 2 and prayers and bed. We remembered to leave a gingerbread man out for Santa to snack on.  We also remembered our tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve.  It just always happens to be new pajamas that we get to wear.  ( The kids are FINALLY figuring out the jammie tradition!)

So I sent out Christmas cards this year with a little review on how our year went.  I mailed about about 35 cards with copies of this letter.  Today I printed out the last two and delivered them.  As I printed out the first of these two Layla said, "Mom, why does that say `2012 year in review?'"

Did you catch it?

2012!!!!  Crap!!!  O'well, I hope that all of my friends and family understand!

Say Cheese!

 Once again, Austin takes an awesome picture!  When he handed it to me he said, "You will probably want me to do retakes, I don't know why I was making this face!"

 Not quite sure why Layla is making this weird spaced out looking face either, but she is still cute.

And Ry's first school pics.  At least he did better than his brother did with his first school pic!

 This is Austin's Kindergarten picture.

 This is Austin's First grade picture. 

Pumpkin patch

Friday we went to the farm and picked pumpkins. It was tons of fun. The day was nice and warm and Grandma, Grandpa, Laura, and the boys joined us!
On the hay ride back with our pumpkins. The sun was shining a little too brightly!

Grandpa and Daddy in search of the perfect pumpkin.

Looking for the perfect pumpkin!

Austin and Layla on the hay ride!

Laura enjoying the trip.

Mom and Dad trying out the reverse picture feature on my new phone!

Jason and I playing with the new phone

Austin and Nick on the trains

We could not get the kids to look up at us to take a picture!

My little vegetable babies!

The Pinewood Derby

(this is the first, second, and third place winners)
Austin had his first pinewood derby contest this week. Jason helped him shape his car. I helped him sand it. Aunt Emmy and Uncle David helped him paint it. And it was awesome.
He was UNDEFEATED!!! His car never lost a race. Although after he accidentally pulled one of the wheels off it did slow down considerably. It was awesome.
Jason was at work, but was able to catch the final heat!

Austin showing off his winning car!

Jason explaining what he did to help Austin make the car so awesome!

First day of school

(Mike I posted this picture for you....classic Austin face!)

After postponing the first day of school twice, the kids finally went back to school on Wednesday, August 31. They were all really excited! We had some spare friends with us that morning as their mommy was in the hospital having their new little brother.

Layla, waiting for the bus and wearing one of the beautiful hair barrettes made by Aunt Laura

Austin's favorite part of the whole day was when another little boy asked him if he was new and he got to take his glasses off and say, "it's me, carson!" I think it was his superman moment!

Ry had gradual entry and I went with him to see his new class room. He was SO excited!

Austin

Austin is getting ready for school.

He has his new glasses!

And his new haircut.

(Refer to the picture below in the last post to see the drastic change in Austin's appearance!)

Jason's Graduation

Jason graduated from Harford Community College's Nursing School August 22, 2011. It was a nice ceremony and a relief to finally have it done!

Jason is one of the tall guys standing in the back row.

Can you see him walking on the far right side of the photo?

He is standing, waiting for them to call his name, on the left side of the picture.

Our family after his graduation. We are SO proud of him!!

My sudden trip to Colorado

Almost a month ago my niece Laila passed away very unexpectedly. After talking to my brothers and sister I bought a ticket and flew out to Colorado Springs to be with my brother and my sweet sister-in-law. It was a terrible visit, it was a wonderful visit. It was very trying and also very beautiful. I hope I never have to do anything like it again. I have been amazed by Mike and Adrianne and their strength. They are incredible.

As I was leaving, I ran around like a crazy person and took a picture with each of my family that was there. First is my nephew Noah!

Adrianne

Mom (terrible picture of both of us!!)

Nephew Isaac

Nephew Eli ( I think this is the happiest looking picture I have with him!!)

Nephew Nic

Dad

Nephew Will

Mike

Laura (married to Andy)

Mom and Mandy

newest nephew Nathan

Andy