Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Counting Christmas'

Christmas begins early and ends late for us, simply because we travel and we have peeps everywhere.

This year Christmas began with the Norton's at our house before we went out of town. Papa G & Gamma E gave Nathan a motorized Thomas the Train set and Nathan has not stopped playing with it since. I don't even think they knew that trains are Nathan's Passion Bucket. (hahaha-that was for DP!) Can you see the big grin on his face? He LOVES trains.

Photobucket

Gary made Nathan giggle when he put this Christmas bow on his head...
Photobucket

And later, when just the three of us were opening gifts at home, Nathan completely mimicked Gary and put this Christmas bow on his head. It is so amazing what he remembers!

Photobucket

We had gifts that traveled all the way from Virginia. It was so sweet of my stepmom and sister to send care packages during such a busy time of year. As Greg opened a gift from Chapom, I was tickled that she remembered something from reading my blog-Greg likes Cheerios! Only a mom would remember something like that, I love that woman.

Photobucket

My sister sent Nathan some Thomas the Train books. No brainer, he stopped everything to study his new book, I love his posture here.
Photobucket

In Texas, it snowed on Christmas Eve and here is a 'bad mommy moment' of mine. I tried to get a picture of Nathan smiling and having fun in the snow but he didn't enjoy it at all, gee I wonder why-maybe because he was coooold?! Pictorial evidence of my bad mommy moment.

Photobucket

It's ironic, but Greg actually played the 2 Christmas Eve services for our old church. Seems strange that he can just grab his sticks and pick right up in the band no matter where he is but it's because he's cool like that. :o)
Photobucket

Despite the bad weather, we headed out to Uncle Geralds and Aunt Marilyns for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Here is Nathan and Grandpa Jack.Photobucket

My mom.
Photobucket

Nathan opening a gift from Uncle Gerald and Aunt Marilyn.
Photobucket

The Todd kids; Taylor and the triplets, Jake, Tyson and Zack. Teryn,right in the middle somehow holding it all together. I'm in awe of her. Actually, I think everyone is in awe of her.
Photobucket

On Christmas, I incorporated something age appropriate for Nathan into our Christmas morning. I asked David to read the Christmas story from a children's book and then we lit candles on a cake and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. As corny as that may sound, I just want Nathan to understand that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, who is our greatest gift of life. I figured singing Happy Birthday and cake is what he understands at his age, so we incorporated this before opening gifts.

Photobucket

Photobucket

The family calendars I created were a hit, I was worried they might be to self-promoting but they seemed to like them.
Photobucket

Photobucket

Operation Surprise Greg = Mission Complete. After many years of being defeated one to many times, I once again attempted to surprise Greg with a Christmas present he wasn't expecting. Here's Greg opening a pair of much needed, very good quaility in-ear monitors for when he plays.Photobucket

Here's Nathan practicing his letters in a book that Grandpa and Grandma gave him.
Photobucket

We finally make it to Tom and Nana's house, which is the pinnacle of Christmas for me. I don't know what it is but I love being in their home. This year we had a turkey emergency but fortunately a turkey was found at the last minute and Greg didn't have to put his fist through a wall-it was that close. Per Greg, "You don't have to give me any presents for Christmas but DON'T MESS WITH MY MEAL!" Getting the food ready.
Photobucket

The main crew at Table 1.
Photobucket

The frenzy and chaos of kids opening presents after lunch.
Photobucket

Nana opening her calendar.
Photobucket

Nathan with his cousins.
Photobucket

Greg provides tech support, even on Christmas. No day off for you mister!
Photobucket

The highlight of Nathan's day was Grandad's motorized train under the Christmas tree.
Photobucket

This train was like a babysitter, Nathan would sit in front of it for hours!
Photobucket

Until the train finally lulled him to sleep. How sweet is that?
Photobucket

Our parting picture with Grandad and Nana.
Photobucket

Parting picture of Nathan and his Grandpa.
Photobucket

If I counted right, I think that we had 5 Christmas'! It's no wonder, I'm tired. That's alot of work. :o) Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season, here's to the New Year just around the corner!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Finally Sharing Family Photos!

A while back I shared ONE photo from our family shoot, I couldn't share them all because I made calendars for our parents and grandparents for Christmas and I didn't want to ruin the surprise! Now that the pictures and calendars have all been handed out, here are the family pictures we had taken by a friend of ours, Sarah Bel-Gray.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

In my enthusiasm over these pictures, I ordered so many copies and even after handing out alot, I still have a bunch left, so if there is one that you like, let me know and I'll send it to you! Consider it my Happy New Year gift!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas Ya'll

Ironically, I don't have many pictures to share of our Holiday thusfar but I still want to spread some Christmas Cheer. So I'm reposting some material that would be on my "Best of Blog" list if I had one! So picking up from Christmas last year...

"For some reason my mom thinks I can sing and what's funnier is she thinks I can sing in harmony...I'm not sure why she thinks this but to pacify her Christmas wishes, I agreed to sing with her while we were hanging out tonight. My formal disclaimer: I know I can't sing so by posting these videos I'm putting myself out there to be completely ridiculed by all who read and watch this but there are to many funny elements in these videos to not share them!

In this first video, we were just starting to sing and I'm starting out so badly that I can't help but crack up at how awful I sound but you'll see my mom taking this oh so seriously much like a choir director, which is funny in itself, so I have to stick with it and do my best with fingers in my ears. We must have sounded bad because suddenly Nathan attacks me and then throws his head in my lap as if he's begging me to stop singing, then he just gives in to laughing at us.


Second up. While my mom and I are singing, Nathan wants to join us so I have him sit besides me and I ask Greg to make the video. We begin and Nathan chimes in, the only issue is he's singing along in his own made up language which is pretty funny to me. The three of us must have sounded pretty awful because mid-video, I see Greg laughing and shaking his head at us, then he sets the camera down and just walks off, which then cracks me up but as I implied earlier my mom is treating this like it's a dress rehearsal for a formal performance and she's taking it all very seriously so she plows through but towards the end of the video Nathan finally cracks her up.




Lastly, I had to make a video focused in on Nathan singing along in his made up language to 'O Come Let Us Adore Him' but notice that he can't seem to stay still, he's squirming around the entire time as if he has 'ants in his pants'. "



Mock if you will but 'Tis the Season to be Jolly' so Merry Christmas Ya'll!!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Part III - The Final Chapter

We had the privilege of attending Kelsey's ASU graduation this week. My post title is reflective of our history with the Norton family which goes back about 8 years. In that timespan we've now seen all three of Gary and Elaine's children walk the stage and receive thier college diplomas. What an amazing legacy for this family of five!

Congratulations Kelsey Norton, ASU Graduate! I'm immensely proud and so wonderfully impressed by you and what you've accomplished!

Photobucket

Photobucket

This is my "I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!" hug and I love your expression it totally adds to the drama of the picture, hahaha!
Photobucket

Jim, Kelsey's finance, supported her to the finish line...bet no one is more happy than him that school is over! hahaha!Photobucket

Love how these pictures came out - I'll get you copies Elaine!
Photobucket

So glad Michael & Becky could be in attendance and I'm seeing a pattern of cool Kelsey pictures here...Photobucket

My favorite Grandma Mary Edith Esau right here...
Photobucket

Seriously, could the three of you just be serious for a minute? Love this trio of Nortons...
Photobucket

Love this woman. She and I are two peas in a pod when it comes to taking pictures! We were practically climbing over people to get pictures of Kelsey in front of the stage.
Photobucket

Jerry, Kelsey's future father-in-law, reminds me so much of my own dad, the way he carries himself and his mannerisms, it's uncanny.
Photobucket

We were missing some from this picture but I love it anyway...
Photobucket

We have one of these pictures which each of the Norton kids at their graduations - so this is the final one!
Photobucket