Caden's School Christmas Program

We have been busy with school programs this week as well! Caden got to go first. They did all the kindergarten programs on Friday, two classes at each time! It was great...not too crowded since it was only two classes each. The one downside, it was on Friday, the same day we did Carter's birthday party at his school and it was at 1:00pm which was prime naptime. So we had a few issues, but Caden did GREAT and looked so handsome! He really got into it this year and sang and did the motions!

This is my favorite picture! Every so often Caden would look over to me and smile big so I could snap a pic...he knew what I was doing! :) So this time, he got my attention and mouthed, "take a picture of me and hunter" so I of course obliged. Caden and his buddy Hunter!

Cole seems thrilled! He had fun as long as there was music playing to distract him!
Carter, on the other hand, did not have fun. He was really annoyed and complained about how loud it was!

My baby did SO good!

After the program, we were able to go to his hallway and see some of his Christmas art. We worked hard on this gingerbread man, and used just about every scrap piece of "decorations" we could find!

Carter's Birthday Party

For Carter's birthday party this year, we kept it really small and low key. Since we celebrated Friday at school and the church musical was Sunday, we decided to make it a full blown weekend! My parents were here so the family was going to lunch, but while talking to Carter he begged to have his best buddy Ben for lunch too! That grew to include the rest of Ben's family, and even Mimi and Pa! So it was a great day just for Carter.

The two little cuties...they crack us up!

Pops and Cole getting ready for some grub!
Carter wanted a Batman party, so instead of going all out, plates, napkins, balloons, etc...my mom came up with the idea to get a great cake. Her neighbor created this and it looked AMAZING!

He was thrilled!

Crosby did great at the party :)

Carter's favorite present from Gigi and Pops...real Buzz Lightyear wings! A huge hit :)

Great little party for the little man! Can't believe he is about to be 4 years old, wow!

Carter's Birthday Celebration at School

Since Carter's birthday is Dec. 26th and they are not in school that day, we had to decide when we could squeeze it in. This week is busy since it is the last week of school before break, so we decided to do it last Friday, the 10th. He was thrilled to say the least that we could celebrate early! We made cupcakes for everyone to eat and goody bags for all his friends. It was great to actually participate in this birthday! I missed Caden's at preschool because I was having Cole so it was fun to be there.

So excited that Momma showed up with cupcakes for everyone! Cole too was excited that he finally got to eat his cupcake!

Carter was really excited that Cole came :) Some of his classmates didn't understand why Cole got to eat first!
Proof I was there :) Crosby was snoozing away in the sling!

He loved everyone singing to him!

One Liners

Carter has been filling our days with laughter and all his hysterical one liners these days! So in an attempt to remember the all, I thought I should document them all somewhere!

When Cory was frying turkeys for a church function, he went to the church to pick up two big birds. As Cory was bringing them in the house, Carter saw them and cried out, "the church kills turkeys?!" Later that day, Cory also fried us a couple of small whole chickens. Once Carter saw that, he exclaimed..."the church kills chickens too?!?!"

While watching a ball game on TV, carter was playing in the living room. The AFLAC commercial came on, not really sure which one, but I know it is set in an office, and there is a goat eating paper. After it was over Carter said, "that is why you don't take a goat to a library!"

We have a cute little Christmas cartoon called "The Very First Noel" and after watching today while in the car, Carter asked me, "What about the second Noel?"

Last week we saw some ducks in a small lake we drive by often, I said something about they better hurry and fly south for the winter. Carter questioned what south was, so I tried to explain mentioning Texas and Mexico. He then said, "Oh, you mean south like Haiti."

This is all I can remember at the moment...he cracks us up!

Christmas Card

I had to get a little creative this year on the Christmas Card photo! I couldn't get all 6 of us in a picture and I am not allowed to send out a picture with our little girl in it :( So this is what I came up with...

Here is the annual Reid Christmas Update!

We had another AMAZING year! God has been with us on the mountain tops and in the valleys. It truly seems like a whirlwind, especially the last few months, but our LORD is truly good to us ALL the time! Welcoming Crosby on one day and losing our sister, Kaci, the next was a very emotional time. I think the verse God showed me for Crosby's announcement sums up the year in the best way..."The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away: may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21. We are so blessed to have friends like you to share the joys and the sorrows with us. Your prayers and love have truly been the hands and feet of Christ to us during the last few months. There will never be enough words, but thank you will have to do!

Here is your annual overview of the boys: Caden turned 6 on August 29th and is excelling in Kindergarten this year. He played soccer, very well I might add, and is learning scripture in AWANA at record pace. Carter will turn 4 the day after Christmas and loves that he shares his birthday with Jesus! We have learned that he is the social butterfly in his preschool class this year and constantly amuses us with his imagination. Cole turned 2, also on August 29th and daily gives new meaning to the word ornery! But his laughter is infections and he brings great joy to our lives! Our latest blessing Crosby James arrived August 27th this year and is fitting right into our little herd! He is starting to coo more and more at each of us, and we are enjoying it so much!

Cory expanded the business last month, by talking his dad into buying another store in Watonga, OK. This means he is busier than ever! He continues to drive a bus for church on Sundays and Wednesdays and help in AWANA but is now helping me teach 3 yr olds in Sunday School! He works very hard for our family and is our rock! He amazes me with his devotion and obedience to God!

I am staying busy managing everyone's schedules and the house. I have scaled back on my outside activities this year and only teach Sunday School and direct our Cubbies class in AWANA. My focus is on being a wife and mother to our 4 boys and our 7 yr old girl that is living with us.

Even though things are in constant motion around here, we think of all of you often! I actually thank God for blogs, Facebook, and texting, so I can keep up with all of you! We appreciate the friendships so much!

Our family wishes you all a very Merry Christmas! May you all focus on our Savior this season and the rest of the year!

First Snow

I love seeing the kids' eyes light up at this sight! So precious! They were thrilled to hear it *might* snow this afternoon and even more EXCITED when I picked them up after school and it was actually snowing...then it got heavier and heavier!

I decided to freeze my tooshy off to get this shot, so pretty!

Love the way it is falling on our decorations!

One of my cuties decided to catch a few on his tongue...isn't he cute!

Carter was oblivious to the snow, too busy watching Dino Dan and chasing dinosaurs! Cole sneaked out the door to the garage (bare feet and no coat) to get a snow ball, but I didn't get a pic because the battery died! Use your imagination of his ornery grin and I am sure you will see it right! Enjoy the first snow, I know we did!

Caden's Solo

Caden is stepping out of his comfort zone this weekend and I am so proud! He has a solo in the children's choir Christmas musical! Stay tuned for more pics, this was just dress rehearsal! It's okay for a momma to be proud isn't it?!?!

Christmas Decorations

We continued our tradition of getting the tree up and house decorated the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving! We were a little slow this year on the tree and it ended up being a two part event. Not sure where all our time went on Friday, but we were only able to get the tree put together and fluffed before bed. The big kids helped as much as they could but would sometime lose their focus. So Cory and I got the lights and ribbon finished then out came the ornaments. I loved telling them the little story behind each one, not sure they did or not :) Also had to keep reminding them all the ornaments couldn't go front and center...have to spread the love! Overall a fun time was had by all! After the tree, I did the rest of the house while they all headed outside to help Cory do the lights out there! I love to decorate, so fun! Enjoy the pictures!

The little boys loved goofing off in the box!

The big kids were a big help sorting the color coded layers, but once it got to the fluffing they were tired! So we did as much as we could before bedtime!

My main helper! I love having a little mini me too :)

Here is how the two little boys spent most of the evening!
On Saturday we finished up. Caden was a HUGE help, if you could keep his attention. It is a lot of work to do the lights, ribbon, and ornaments, so we took several breaks!

Carter really enjoyed putting up the ornaments, even if his face doesn't show it!

Cole loved the ornaments, a little too much! He kept wanting to take this train with him to his room! Luckily we had minimal tantrum throwing and put the train up high where it couldn't be disturbed. He also made an ornament in Sunday School the following day that he can take off and put on to his little hearts content!

The final product!

All our stockings! Something about this picture just makes my heart smile! I love stockings at Christmas time. I love that the boys all match/coordinate! I need to get Crosby's monogrammed and hope to do that soon! Don't you just love the pink tutu on the end for our little miss...she is in LOVE with it, of course!

Are your decorations up?