Christmas/Birthday Tour 2009

I have almost recovered from the best Christmas I have had in a LONG time. Let's begin with Christmas Eve...

We took Carson with us to our church's candlelight service. He really liked it, except for the sermon, and was really excited when he saw all the "FIRE!". He was pretty good overall, except for him occasionally yelling "JOSH".

After the service we went out for our first annual Christmas Eve Family Dinner at, where else but a Japanese Steakhouse. You see, these places are better (and cheaper) than Chuck E. Cheese because Carson loves to look at and shout for the "FIRE!" (noticing a theme?) We had a blast and Carson was so sweet and good!

After dinner we took a tired kiddo home to get into his Christmas PJ's and to set out cookies for "Clause". We all piled into Carson's twin size bed while Daddy read The Night Before Christmas. We kissed C goodnight and headed downstairs for the REAL project of the night~ putting together toys.

Overall these projects went really well. Hardly any cussing. And no threats of divorce. Maybe Christmas Vacation playing on TV kept our spirits light. Around midnight we got to bed...Or Josh did. I was seriously so excited, like a kid, for Christmas morning. And I guess Carson was also- he really didn't get what was going on yet, but he woke up at 6:30. Of course, I was up! So I jumped up, got Josh up and we headed upstairs to get our little Christmas baby.

We asked Carson who came last night and he replied "Jax" (our dog). When we reminded him that "Clause" came he said "choo choo?" because that WAS what he had asked for. So we got diapers changed and headed down stairs so Carson could find...



He seemed almost relieved when he saw it, like he was thinking "about time Clause". Of course, we learned a good lesson- if you want Christmas to last a long time, let C see what Clause brought him first- if we want to move on, DON'T! We kept asking him if he wanted to look in his stocking and he just said "no". So we got coffee and put the bubble bread in the oven, opened OUR stockings and let him play. It was so sweet to see our baby boy so happy and content. But we did have places to go...

SO, we talked him into opening his stocking.



And he took off from there! He had so much fun getting into each gift! He did like to take time to play with each one which was so sweet.




Hours later (no kidding) we got finished with Christmas and started to get ready to begin the "tour". Of course, there was a blizzard in Oklahoma so we couldn't go home as planned since the interstates were CLOSED, so we made a detour, to Bryan, TX to see my aunt, uncle and cousin who also had their plans changed due to snow. We had a wonderful day cooking, EATING, looking at Christmas lights, looking up road conditions playing with dogs and EATING! The next morning we all gathered up and headed to Oklahoma.

Don't worry, the rest of this won't be in such detail...

We made it to Duncan the evening of the 26th and headed to Josh's grandparents for their 2nd Christmas. Carson got to open more gifts, show off some more and get lots of love. We felt bad, but we had to leave pretty quick to get our tired little boy home to sleep...

We spent the next day in Duncan making birthday cakes, eating another family dinner and YES, opening more "p-sants". Day three if you're keeping count.

Then Monday came! CARSON WAS TWO. Maybe this is gonna be longer than I thought... because I need to take a minute to reflect on this.

CARSON'S TWO???? I'm still confused. Every time I think "Carson's TWO??" I look at him and remember the little bitty baby he was ONLY TWO YEARS AGO! Remember when you were 14 HOW LONG two years seemed till 16? Or 19 to 21??? Well, something happens when you have kids. You finally want time to slow down and it just goes faster. Funny little joke if you ask me.

The last two SUPER FAST years have been such an adventure for us all. Carson has been the easiest, sweetest, happiest baby I could have ever imagined having. We have shown him so many things but he has shown us so many more. And although my life seems so "dull" at times compared to years past, it is seriously more fun than ever. The "crap" you do, like work, clean, pay bills, all makes sense now. You have a reason for taking care of things. A reason to create a good, stable and fun life for your family. And when looking back at how fast two years goes, you slow down and remember how this time in your life is such a small part of the whole. Kinda sad really, how moments that I want to last forever will be over before I know it. So, I'm learning not to loose patience the 100th time I hear Mama each day. Because soon, I'll be wishing for that sweet voice and those tiny leg hugs.


Enough of that, BACK TO THE PARTY!!!

Carson was NOT sick this year and therefore had a much better time! He opened gifts, played with old friends, ate his cake this time, blew out "FIRE!" (see??), took pictures and again got LOTS of love.






Immediately following birthday we headed to my g-ma, DeDe's house to have our Christmas. My dad got Carson a remote control airplane that he asked him to open first so he and Josh could play with it. It was a hit. The boys (meaning the GROWN boys) played and played with the airplane while Carson watched and opened more presents. We had a great time laughing, EATING, drinking and playing! Carson stayed up till TEN that night, latest EVER, and slept till TEN the next day! We spent the next morning at DeDe's having coffee and breakfast till we needed to head out to Seminole to stay at my dads.

Of course, we got to my dad's and opened more p-sants, DAY FIVE, that my grandpa sent and wrapped up the evening with the Gator my dad got Carson. I really wish I had taken a picture of him driving it in circles, in his PJ's, in my dad's GARAGE. He just SMILED and SMILED and laughed! And we learned that he doesn't understand stopping yet!

The next morning we went to my moms to open p-sants. Day SIX. We had a great morning watching C play play play! But again, packed up and went back to my dad's for one more night.

We spent New Years Eve with friends at Buffalo Wild Wings because OU was playing football. And I have to say, I have missed those guys SO much that I didn't even mind being pregnant in a bar ALL DAY LONG! We went to dinner and then back to the bar to watch OU play basketball. By the time midnight came, I was DONE! But I had the best New Years I have had in a LONG time. I wish I could have packed my friends in the Expedition with all the gifts, but they had to be returned...

Josh and I stayed in Norman that night at the Hilton, Carson was left with my mom. That morning we got up, went to breakfast, picked up our dog, THANKS JESSICA, and went BACK to Seminole for more time at my mom's and more football.

I spent New Years Day in recovery mode. If you didn't know I was pregnant you would have thought I drank all day, I WAS SO TIRED!!!! We felt better the next day so we took C to the Children's Museum and then to lunch. We came back and what do you know??? I slept some more!

The next day was our return. While the weather was better, the drive seemed longer. We had the ENTIRE Expedition full except for where we were sitting, so we were snug. But we made the journey with Carson yelling "MINE" every time he saw the gator.

And now, I'm almost finished finding homes for all the toys Carson got. It's been like Christmas all over again when I bring things in for him to play with.

All in all. GREAT CHRISTMAS/BIRTHDAY TOUR! Thank you to all of you who celebrated with us!



**ignore all typos. I can't read what I write and I write how I speak now that I don't get graded...