Swiper Carter

We got together with some of our friends, the Hasans and the Stimsons, at Chuck E. Cheese on Thursday, December 30th. It was madness at that place! We were considering having Carter's birthday party there but once we visited, we quickly changed our minds! We couldn't believe how packed it was on a Thursday night! Regardless of the crowd size, the kids still had a great time. Carter was so intrigued by everything going on that it took him a while to start eating his yummy pizza. The table next to us was having a family birthday party and Carter couldn't stop watching the family...and cake! Somehow, he ended up with a piece of their birthday cake! We had a great time with our friends and hope to get together again soon!

Swiper Carter with his piece of birthday cake!

He had the best time sliding down the huge slides!

He loved playing all the arcade games!

Riding the Kiddie Coaster! WHEEEE!!

Of course we had to get a family picture!

Carter loved playing Skee Ball...

his own special way, climbing up to stick the balls in the hole!

He was exhausted by the time we left and wasn't too happy about showing off his prize... a new ball!

Christmas with Grammy and Guggy

Carter refused to take a nap before we headed to Grammy and Guggy's house to celebrate Christmas. We had a late lunch and then it was present time! It's madness with 7 kids tearing into presents! The kids had a blast opening presents from Grammy and Guggy and their cousins. Grammy-Claus searched high and low, online, and all over Knoxville to find Carter a leaf blower and weed eater along with more tools! Carter absolutely LOVES watching Joe work in the yard and always wants to help out. Carter was "weed eating" everyone and then getting his leaf blower to blow them off! He's such funny boy! Thank you Grammy and Guggy for all the presents! We love you!

All the cousins!

Carter's 1st present he opened was a HUGE candyman jar filled with jellybeans from the Hassells! He was so excited!

Ready to get to work!

Getting all the weeds with his new weed eater!

Cleaning up the mess with his new leaf blower!

Carter had more fun playing in Guggy's big box with his weed eater than anywhere else!

Grammy and Guggy

The Hassell Family

The Taylor Family

Our Family Picture!

Christmas Morning

Carter slept in a little on Christmas morning (Saturday, December 25th) which was a nice treat! Once he was awake, we all went downstairs. Carter just stood and looked at everything for a few seconds. After that, he was off to his new kitchen! He loved playing with the few pots and pans that came with it. We had to coax him into opening other things! Opening presents seemed to last forever because Carter wanted to play with everything! After all the presents were opened, we ate a yummy breakfast with MawMaw and PawPaw. We had a wonderful visit with them before they headed back to Alabama to celebrate with the rest of the family.

Look what Santa left for Carter!

Carter's Stocking (in a basket!)

Carter ran straight for the kitchen and started cooking!

After convincing Carter that he had more presents, he started opening a few things.

A new tool puzzle!

Tickle-Me Elmo!

Carter decided to take a snack break in his new chair before he opened more presents!

Isn't he hilarious propping up his little feet?

He found he had food to go with his new kicthen and was very excited about the pizza!

Testing out his new vacuum!

Carter LOVES to give Joe his tie each morning while Joe is getting dressed so Santa brought Carter a tie of his own!

Our Family Picture!

Christmas Breakfast... YUMMY!

Christmas with MawMaw and PawPaw

MawMaw and PawPaw drove into town on Christmas Eve (Friday, December 24th) to spend the night with us. We celebrated Christmas that night since Carter would have even more stuff to open after Santa came the next morning. He loved ripping into the presents! He would tear every bit of paper off the package before he was ready to check it out. We enjoyed visiting with MawMaw and PawPaw and are glad they were able to come visit. We love you all very much!

Carter ripping into his 1st present- the Little People Zoo from Aunt Lizzy, Uncle Mike, and Cousin Chase!

Carter LOVES pretending with tools so MawMaw and PawPaw got him a nailgun along with other craftsman tools!

Carter also LOVES Elmo! He got Elmo tickle hands!

Saying "Cheese!" with his new Elmo camera!

He also enjoying helping MawMaw open her presents, too!

Carter got PawPaw an Elmo snuggie since they both love Elmo!

School pictures for MawMaw and PawPaw... our family joke!

"I love you, MawMaw and PawPaw! Thank you for visiting and for all my wonderful presents!"

Cookies for Santa

On Christmas Eve (Friday, December 24th) we made cookies for Santa Claus while we waited for MawMaw and PawPaw to arrive from Alabama. We baked cookies last year with Carter and he loved it so this has become one of our family Christmas traditions. Carter was so excited to make cookies for Santa! He was the cutest mess ever! He loved getting into the flour and using all the kitchen utensils. He loves helping in the kitchen when Courtney cooks but is normally over it quickly. With this, we had to pry him away from the counter when everything was finished! He had the best time and we hope he continues to enjoy this family tradition.

Mommy and her little chef!

Scooping out flour so that we can roll out the dough- Carter loved the little scooper!

Rolling out the dough was one of the highlights for Carter!

He loved using the cookie cutters!

Carter had flour from his head to his toes!

The cookies didn't turn out quite as we planned- they were blobs instead of shapes!

Carter didn't mind one bit!

Carter liked using the spreader for icing instead of the icing bags.

Our Family Picture

Before Carter went to bed, we had him set out the cookies and milk for Santa.

He was so excited about this... even though you can't really tell from the picture.

The finished cookies that Carter decorated with icing and sugar sprinkles!

A Visit with Santa Claus

Our family has a very special connection to Santa Claus' family so we get a personal visit each year from Santa himself! Carter has been fascinated this year with everything Christmas... Santa, lights, trees, ornaments, snowglobes, Buddy- our Elf on the Shelf, and most importantly baby Jesus. We have a snowglobe with the nativity scene that Carter just loves. He discovered that baby Jesus had a "gicky" like him! He told us one evening, "Jesus, gicky" and we saw that in the manger lay baby Jesus covered with a yellow blanket (just like Carter's little silky blanket). We couldn't help but laugh! The things this little man comes up with already! Carter didn't know what to think about Santa being in his house. He never cried, which we were thankful for, but it took him a while to warm up to Santa. By the end of the visit, Carter was giving Santa high fives and playing catch with him. It was too cute! Both of Courtney's sisters came by with their families to visit with Santa also. All the kids loved being with Santa!

HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Carter with Santa

Carter checking out Santa's hat

Our Family Picture with Santa

Uncle Aaron, Aunt Mandi, Reed, and Owen with Santa

Aunt Jeni, Ainsley, Zoe, and Ellie with Santa

"I could never love anyone as I love my sisters!"

(from Little Women)

Carter playing catch with Santa before he headed back to the North Pole