Playing around

The kids played well together. Zach didn't let his new tractor out of his sight, even to eat.

Christmas gathering with the Blackwells

We all enjoyed getting together. Let's see...six kids under 4. WOW! Zach loved his recycling truck! He wanted it open right away.

There were innumerable tractors and construction vehicles around. Zach didn't mind Sage getting up close to check him out. He may have even shared but I can't recall.

It was chaos but a great time.

Caleigh and her ponytail

Or as she likes to call it, "horse hair."

She wants hair as long as Mama's, but doesn't usually like clips or the like in her hair. Christmas was an exception.

More Christmas Morning

The kids can be all over each other.

Zach with bed head (actually his hair is always crazy blond curls and we love it),

Zach showing Caroline some love.

Christmas Day

Morning brought a yummy breakfast, Uncle Logan and Aunt Ciera, and more fun gifts. We enjoyed the kids' holiday PJs. Zach was still running all his gifts by Papa for inspection. We had a great time around the Christmas tree and big smiles from Caleigh and Zach. We enjoy them so much, and seeing their joy.

More Christmas Eve

Taylor and Holly with the new bibs. They were SO excited. These should keep them warm during football games!

Some family pictures of the gift-giving time.

I LOVE this picture of Zach. And so does he. We printed it out and he pointed to it and proudly said, "ME!"

What a fun day!

Time for card games. Time to cuddle. Time to sit and talk to one another.

Zach thoroughly enjoyed opening packages. He was deliberate (see a trend here?) in opening and then playing with what he got. Very cute. He says, "den tou" (thank you). He ran over to Grandma and Papa every time he got a gift!

Sidenote from 2/26/10 -
Caleigh likes the Olympics. She found a plastic alphabet high chair tray insert and goes around the house "skiing." Caleigh is sounding out words and we really think it's just a matter of her 'deciding' to and she will be reading. We've been working on subtraction ("take away") and she got it in one day. Dan said it jokingly once, but Caleigh is SURE Daddy wants the biggest rubber band ball in the world and makes sure I save each and every rubber band that passes our threshold.

Zachary is full of words and they are just bubbling out. He is a thoughtful talker. He doesn't get frustrated when we don't understand - just says, "no no no" and repeats it. For some reason we are allowing him to keep his pacifier ("pap-ees"). He says "Yeah!" with a lilt in his voice (and makes it two syllables).

Caroline laughed aloud for a while when I took her socks off tonight -- did I tickle you? She is doing baby push-ups more these days, but no rolling over yet. She regressed on sleeping 8+ hours and we've had to listen to her cry it out a few nights to get down to waking up once a night. She loves looking at her siblings and smiles at them when they look at her. They are all in love with each other.

Christmas Eve in Floyd

Special time with great-grandma - for Caroline and Caleigh.

Tracy has a special way with the wee ones.

Caleigh was caught by surprise here, looking up from reading her books.

Christmas Eve

Later in the day we got all cleaned up and had lunch and a relaxing afternoon with the family at Judy and Robert's house. We thought about sledding down their hill, but were just too tired.

Caleigh enjoyed some alone time with some books on the couch before church. Caroline got passed around the family. She shared smiles with Darin & Carla and cuddled up to great-grandma.

A fun day of lunch, snacks & dinner...lots of family time and games...Christmas Eve service...back for dessert and the grandkids opening presents.

Floyd for Christmas 09

We did not miss multiple feet of snow once we got to Floyd! Christmas Eve morning was for playing in the snow. We bundled up, got out the sleds and tromped around the backyard. Dan pulled the kids on the sled, but started on a slight uphill so they promptly fell back and off. (hehe) Zach got tired about an hour before Caleigh so had some good alone time playing in the warm house.

Caleigh enjoyed being pushed down the hill toward the tractors, and then down around the pole barn. Her first time on a sled. Zach preferred just walking around and being pushed on the swing. There was a big hunk of ice in the seat that Zach helped melt (by sitting on it ;-)

Gifts and rest

Caroline relaxing (again).

Caleigh got a pedal car!! It will be for all the kids - Zach was happy with her gift too! She had the most beautifully delighted smile when she figured out what was in the very big box with her name on it. She and Papa Will took it out for a spin in the driveway and she will be delighted to see it again. We had to leave it in OH due to space considerations. It will be like a new gift! We're going to have to get a longer and a wider driveway. ;-)