Austin's Coming Home after 19 weeks:)

So the time has arrived for us to finally see and bring Austin home. Waiting to board our plane!

Let's go see him!!!!

We pulled up at the gate--very anxious:) The three of us waiting to see our boy!

We walked in and all the soldiers of course look alike. We found him can you??????

The first hugs-YIPEE!!!!!!

We had to stop the car for Austin to get out, at 5:00 they salute and take the flag down. It was amazing, every soldier stops and salute no matter where they are.

After graduation they got SMOKED one more time by their Drill Sergeants. I will try to post the video.

PROUD DADDY.....

Now let's get this boy home.....

First hugs from Kylee and Jacob. Jacob took a little time to warm up but now calls him Army.

Thank you Stacey and Dawn for putting this sign together with the kids.

Thank you mom, Stacey, Dawn and Jenni for taking care of my kids. It means more than you will ever know. Now we are home and get to enjoy time with this handsome M.P.

Nativity, Christmas Tree Decorating and Pepper's Dinner Party!

Jacob is my little elf, he is always running around like this:

We did our Nativity Scene last week. Kylee helped read the story about the Birth of Jesus.

I wrap each person and animal in newspaper and the kids have to feel and guess who they have. Then they unwrap it to see who they have and tell the purpose of that person or animal.
Tyler started us off he got Joseph..

Kylee got the donkey. Jacob got Baby Jesus and kissed him. "I love this baby".

Everyone has a job with the tree. Kylee helping dad cut off the net. Tyler gets to water it.

Jacob drilling it and Mike cleaning up the pine needles that fell. My job is to get it all on film:)

We are all discumboobered (yes i know that isn't a word) with Austin gone. We haven't done anything the same with out him here. We usually have a bunch of goodies and treats when we decorate the tree and have a special day set aside to do it. But this year we decided to do it at 9:00 at night. Mike went and got Funnel Sticks for our treat at Burger King. We did sing Christmas Songs before we began.....

Christmas Party at Aunt Pepper's........

Aaron was trying to light a candle on the table and I wanted him to pose this is what I got........

Aunt Pepper and Uncle Dick are always so festive..

Tyler played Jingle Bells for us on his Trumpet and then we took Taffy on a walk!!

Jacob and Macie were eating sunflowers seeds and spitting them out--oh wait there were already eatin by Aaron. Macie grabbed Aaron's SPIT cup and thought she would share them with Jacob---GROSS!!!!!!

Pulling a Slinky and using it as a Limbo.....

Now we get to pack and get ready for Missouri to see Austin's graduation and bring him home for Christmas!!!!!!

Lights Up!!!

I can't believe it, but our Christmas lights are up!!!!!!! It is usually too windy right after Thanksgiving to do it, but not this year. The kids always like to go on the roof.

Kylee was so sweet she said, "Mom it's weird not having Austin up here with us, don't you think that is sad".

Our neighbor John was supervising us to make all went well, before getting back to his lights.

After the lights were up and since it was such a nice day we went to Victoria Gardens with our friends the Goveia's. The ladies were window shopping while guys took the kids to the get a snack. We came back to the family trying to hide--it was sooooo hard to find them:)

Then off to the Bass Pro Shop. FUN FUN FUN!!!!

The kids were excited to hear that Santa was there and Jacob finally loves him!

I never plan on these Santa visits so my kids are always rough looking. Kylee had a beanie on, so she has nice bangs.