Eating, Friends, & Playing

Yes, I know I've fallen back on my resolution in two weeks. I'm playing catch up now.

These are some pictures just for fun from Dec.26 - Dec. 30, 2010:




Moab likes to watch the eating action. Of course, he would always volunteer to participate.


This was a different day, but it's so cute of Jade falling asleep eating. I obviously know when I've pushed the time limit on lunch when she falls asleep during the meal. James did it a couple times when he was little too and it's really too cute.


Our friends, Nathan & Elisa Simmons came to visit after Christmas. It was great to see them after 3 years and see their daughters Sarah and Rachel too. The kids had a great time playing together. James is showing Sarah his "GPS." It's an electronic translater that we didn't need and were going to toss out a couple years ago. James saw it and said it would be his GPS like Daddy's. He's so funny. We had a great time with Nate and Elisa and hopefully get to visit them in Utah this summer.


I found these leggings for Jade at a great "steal" at babysteals.com (love it!) TJ says they are so 80s, but I think my little doll looks just adorable, don't you?

Where is James?


THERE HE IS!

Christmas Eve to Day - Yea!!

Christmas Eve was a little traumatic at times, but we also had a good time decorating cookies (thanks to Gran Gran for making them), singing, reading the Christmas story in the scriptures and the Night Before Christmas as read by grandparents we recorded last year. I almost think Christmas Eve is better than Christmas Day because of all the anticipation and excitement. We ended up having a really good family night. We got to visit TJ's Aunt Elaine with her daughters and grandchildren for lunch. Aunt Elaine lives right here in Longview, but we just don't get together very often. So, it's been a few years since we've seen her daughters Tonya or Tammy. We had a good visit catching up and eating great food.


James got his boots from Gran Gran & Paw Christmas Eve - just like Dad's!

That night we decorated cookies for Santa. Granny was gracious enough to let us use the cookies she's already made (because I didn't plan the timing out too well). So, we just got to enjoy doing the most fun part - decorating. Jade learned how to say "snow" when we were decorating with coconut. Only she says it "noooooooooo" with her mouth in a long vertical 'O' shape. Soooooooo cute! As you can see, decorating for Santa was a lot of licking!




We let the kids have a mini-tree in their room this year. Only unbreakable ones (of course) and it kept them away from the more fragile ones on the real tree too. All their excitement of Christmas Eve was caught up in these pics.





Last year we had all grandparents record in The Night Before Christmas book from Hallmark. Each page is someone different reading and they loved it!




My favorite part of Christmas Eve was reading the book, My First Christmas Story my Aunt Debby sent us one Christmas. We read the scriptures for a Family Home Evening, but this picture children's book of the first Christmas was also great to help the kids follow along. James always remembered what the angels told the shepherds, "Fear not." I know he doesn't know the meaning of it completely, but it's a stepping stone to the greater meanings of that message from angels announcing the Savior's birth. I hope he always remembers that, especially in the hard times in his life. I am so thankful for knowing this true meaning of Christmas. No matter the time of year, or where I am, the feeling of knowing that Christ, the Savior was born is the most important thing I'll ever know.

Definitely not as spiritual, but oh so exciting is waking up Christmas morning and enjoying the surprises of the children:


This couch is so adorable and Jade loves climbing all over it! Thank you, Papa Paul, Noi & Granny Great! It's just perfect for her and opens to a little bed too.


Not a Christmas morning present, but boxing gloves from Granny Chris & Papa Boone that James loves. TJ was given boxing gloves from his grandpa about the same age.


Even Moab enjoyed his stocking stuffer.

We had a wonderful Christmas dinner with my dad and his fiance'e, Noi, Granny Hane, Granny Joy and Grandpa Grubbs, Great Grandpa Carl, Uncle Guy, my mom and Eddie. I wish I'd gotten more pictures of everyone here, but we had a wonderful time with great food from everyone too. Christmas was a truly blessed day.

Christmas Joys

I'm back blogging a bit, but I didn't want to miss some of our final fun of 2010.

James goes to a one-day-a-week pre-school our cousin, Beverly, does at her home. He has always loved it since he started last fall of 2009 She's gracious enough to host a Christmas program. Beverly and her friend, Kim, who helps her with the kids on school days, taught the children Christmas songs and they all did wonderful. James was still the most "energetic" of all the kiddos, but somehow he still learns a lot and loves his Mrs. Beverly. In primary, we'd been learning the song, "Once within a Lowly Stable" in Spanish and I was shocked when I learned James sang it in English at school. He's sang it all through the holiday and even today I found him singing it in Spanish and then English. I love his tender heart!
















This was also his 2nd of 4 times in one week to see Santa. On Tuesday that week Santa was at the library for storytime, then the preschool program Thursday night, Longview 1st Ward Christmas Party we went to with my grandparents on Friday, then our Branch Christmas party on Saturday too. Each time he asked for the same thing - car carrier to carry his little race cars and a remote control car that flips over. I liked that he didn't go into a long list (and that Santa already had the items too). Even Gran Gran got a chance with Santa this year.




















Jade also had some fun during Christmas, but Santa wasn't really her thing. I loved to dress her in this little green dress and she acted so cute in it too. Our little snow elf! The only picture I got of her awake was a family picture we took at church, but the sleeping one is adorable too. The first visit with Santa this year was at the mall. We got James signed up with the Breakfast with Santa this year and he loved it. Then we went for pictures with Santa. Standing in line wasn't so bad, but we found out quickly Santa cannot replace Mommy. James didn't like him so well at that age either so maybe next year she'll like him better. Just wait and see.

New Years Resolution!

Yes, we are going to blog! That's our "couple" New Year's Resolution. We want to journal our family life better and this will be the best way to do it. At least one post a week (probably on Sunday nights) is our goal. So, Happy New Year 2011!

Settling In

Wow it's been a while since we've posted on here. Well, where to begin? The last few weeks/ months have been quite stressful, and joyful, as I've found most things in life are. Those two things in my life seem to co-exist quite a bit. After 5 years of living in our small starter home the time had come to move so a place that would offer a little more space for our ever growing family. That move happened last week. If someone would have asked me how long it takes to completely re-model a 1000 sq foot home while living in it (including having two children and three dogs) I would have told you that I had no idea. Today I can tell you it takes exactly 5 years. To the day. When we signed the dotted line to sell our house I had just finished putting the finishing touches on the paint less than an hour before. It was a bitter sweet feeling, leaving the place that we brought our two children home to. The place where we first became dog owners (as a married couple) and then dog owners again..... and again...3 dogs is enough. It was the place where our son James took his first steps (and consequently his first falls). It had been the location of many family diners, family prayers, and family home evenings. Its walls have also heard their share of swear words from fingers hit with hammers, and home projects gone wrong. It was more than just a house. It was our home. We are settling in to our new place. The difference from moving from a 2 bedroom to a 4 is a little overwhelming, 1100 sq ft to 2400 is a change. But were making the adjustment. James is enjoying his new room and running throughout the house as the dog chases him. Tiff and I are enjoying not having to remodel anything, because it's already done. (I trust it's only a matter of time before I find something to occupy my time =) ) We are all looking forward to making many new memories and making our new house our new home. WE are indeed grateful for all we have been blessed with.

Our New Baby Girl

When I was a kid my family and I took a trip down the Sabine River in east Texas. We were no strangers to boat trips, but these were uncharted waters for us. The Sabine was full of new things to look at for me, new places to camp, and with it's shares of unknown obstacles lurking just below the surface. I remember one of those obstacles ( a stump ) was hidden from our view as we made our way through the water. I was the first to spot it and yelled to my father who couldn't hear me over the noise of the motor and before we knew it we were thrown sideways on the log looking straight down into the water. I was wondering for a little bit how we were going to keep going if our boat capsized. All of our belongings would be soaked, and it was a long way from where we started. Luckily friends, who were traveling with us, turned their boats around and came back to help. So why do I share this story under the Title "Our New Baby Girl"? Because On the 13th my dear sweet wife gave birth to our sweet little girl, Jade. Once again I have found myself in uncharted waters. When our son James was born I can remember feeling an overwhelming sense of love for him come over me almost instantaneously. It was so strong I couldn't control my tears. I felt that same feeling for our little girl, only this time it was coupled with other feelings. I instantly began to look at the other little boys in the nursery differently and told them in my head that they better watch out if they ever came in contact with my daughter and tried to date her! I can also honestly say that in the past few years since James was born I have learned to change a diaper while being half asleep and being in the dark (I've done it a few times) but now... that's changed as well!! Do you realize you have to change a girls diaper differently than you change a boys? I am certainly in for a learning experience! It never ceases to amaze me how women are built so much stronger than us neanderthal men. My wife is completely amazing. She is my hero! Nothing makes me lover her more than standing by her side, holding her hand as she gave birth to our beautiful daughter. Daughter... wow, I have a daughter.... and a shotgun... watch out future son in law! She was 7 lbs 2 oz, born at 5:35, and 19 inches long. The most special part for me is that she was born on my birthday! Tiffany did great through the labor and delivery and is doing great now! I feel so blessed to have a wife as amazing as her. I'm sure that in the coming weeks and months the tasks of raising two kids compared to just one will not seem so daunting. The uncharted waters that I feel like I'm in now will seem less and less uncharted as our small family rides the current along. How grateful I am to have the love of a beautiful wife, and the love of two wonderful children to help me to see the great blessings that I have been given. Our sweet little Jade is absolutely precious. We are grateful to all those who share in our Joy and are grateful to have friends and family who help this journey so meaningful. Happy Birthday to me and baby jade! And congratulations mommy and James on the newest addition to our little family!
Jade's picture at the hospital can be seen by going to: http://www.gsmc.org/services/maternity-services/great-expectations/newborn-nursery/
Just type in her name or birthday (7/13/2009) and click on her name to see her pic. and all her birth info.

Grandpa's Request

My Grandpa Grubbs requested pictures be taken of their garden/yard for our family to see. I can't figure out any other way to accomplish this other than posting to my blog, but it was also time for an update anyway.


No, I have not had Baby Jade yet, but I saw the dr. yesterday and my body is progressing for active labor soon. So hopefully in the next week she will arrive and I'll do my best to post (or TJ will) as soon as possible. My friend, Rachel, and I have the exact same due date, but she's getting induced on June 30th if she doesn't go into labor before then and we were trying to go for delivery the same day. We're both having girls and we went through middle school and high school together. So, it would just be kinda cool to have them born on the same day. A few days apart isn't that big a deal, but we will just have to wait and see.

I'm working on trying to finish all the last minute things I want to accomplish in organizing and cleaning at my house. My nesting habits have been going for the last month, so I don't think it's any sure sign other than I want to be as ready as possible. My bags are packed for the hospital, but there's not a lot of food in my fridge so I plan to get that taken care of tomorrow (along with getting a pedicure for some relaxation time).