Haiti

Good friends of ours here, Jay & Diana, have been living in Haiti this year running an orphanage that they built over the course of a couple years with their non-profit group Lespwa. These are amazing young people who have had a vision for the people of Messailler, Haiti since their first mission trips there in high school. They got out of Haiti the day after the earthquake for their personal safety, but returned with all these supplies this past week. Jay and Diana and Jeremy have been in Haiti together, but Jay and Jeremy went back (through the Dominican Republic) with several more friends. It is awesome.

To read more, check out their blogs:
jershurk.weebly.com or jayanddiana.weebly.com

If you have been wanting to donate to Haiti and you want to trust that 100% of your money is going directly to the people, their organization, Lespwa, is doing great things. There is a button on the bottom of the website for Earthquake Relief.

www.lespwaworldwide.com

Do you need paper??

If you are looking for note cards for yourself or children, an invitation, or an announcement I would HIGHLY recommend www.papermavens.com!! It is Sally's newest venture and it is adorable stuff! Go check it out.

The boys -- Mac is about two months older than Tucker was in the original picture.

Click below to see Tucker.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1691/3089/1600/DSCN1876.jpg

Sweet Grandpa

We made an unexpected trip to St.Louis last week when we learned my Grandfather was very ill. He passed away last Monday. He was a fantastic person and lived a full and amazing life, so we truly enjoyed celebrating him for the week.

In the meantime, Tucker got to see his first snow (that he can remember) and his first sledding experience. It was wicked cold outside, so I let Kyle have the fun! I did go outside long enough to take this picture and yes... they wore gloves and tons of other gear when they actually got out there. When I get time, I'll upload the video. Below is our little cool kid in his blazer before the funeral.

This is a terrible picture of Tucker & Cia, but somehow it is the only picture we got of the cousin-love. Cia is Tucker's perfect friend because she thinks it is great to follow him around and do what he wants to do.

Back at the ranch... our sweet morsel!! Do not be confused. This is Mac in Tucker's chair and in Tucker's old pjs. We have this EXACT picture of Tucker on his first birthday... I really need to dig those pictures up to compare.

Weeeeeeeeeeee!

Christmas, cont.

Nan & Pop arrived for New Years and brought more Christmas. Tucker's quote while opening the present above (a "real" mixer for his kitchen) was "Oh My Gosh. I've ALWAYS wanted one of these." In his 4 years on this planet, he has wanted one of these for nearly 18 months. That is as close to "always" as you can get!

The attitude we are dealing with a lot of the day these days... ugh.

Christmas morning.. one month anniversary.

December 23rd was a good day.

It's really fun to hang out at Daddio's work when your Daddio sells CAT equipment. Tucker got to drive a mini excavator and a bulldozer and a dump truck. He was in heaven.

Also on the docket for the day was a big cookie-making session with Mimi. We made MANY cookies. Tucker LOVES using the mixer and being the "sprinkle station."

Pals

Poor Jackson is often the subject of their play (the patient who needs a shot, the cowboy, etc.)

Tucker loves "Kanga." One morning before school Tucker lost Kanga as a punishment. (Taking his beloved items away is the MOST effective behavior modification we have!) He cried and pleaded and promised to never do anything bad again. He finally pulled it together as we headed to school. I told Ms. Patti when I picked him up about the incident that morning and she told me this funny story: That day they happened to be making their Thanksgiving head dresses and each "feather" coming up had something they were thankful for. One of Tucker's was kangaroos. She thought this was odd when everyone else was listing off their mothers and fathers! Classic Tuck. Kanga is happily back in his arms. He sleeps with this giant thing every night.

Teaching Mac letters & sounds.

Mac loves his rockin' sled dog...

And we love this new Flip -- Thank you, Mimi!

Merry Christmas from TER!

The Program

Tuck and the guys from Ms. Patti's class as the "gray donkeys going clip-clop-clip-clop on the way to Bethlehem..." This year we could have been up on stage with the 4 year olds singing all the songs by memory after hearing them for weeks and weeks!

After the program with baby Jesus.

One year ago we went to this program with a 4 day old... sweet little Mac :)

New Life

One of my favorite things is when Tucker rediscovers toys that have been in a tupperware bin for a long time -- He found his Mr. Potato Head family three days ago and has been ALL about these new friends. He has some crazy names for each one that I couldn't possibly try to spell for you.

Boat Parade

Jacksonville has several Boat Parades around the holiday season. There is one downtown on the river. One down at the beach on the intercoastal. And then there is the little boat parade on the San Marco duck pond. It is certainly not as grand or wild as the other two, but all the kids in the neighborhood LOVED the model boats all decked out for Christmas.

This is a tugboat pulling a full crew from Charlie Brown Christmas. Tuck's favorite!

From the back seat this morning...

Tuck: "Wait a second... is Jesus born every year on Christmas morning?"
Then: "Is there just one Jesus for the whole world?" ... "Well, I think there needs to be a lot of Jesus' because everybody needs him."


While watching the Magic Brownie infomercial on in the background:

"No one's brownies turn out right." (I have NO idea where this is coming from)
Then he points to the TV: "You should get that thing. It's a much better way to cut things. Your brownies never cut in perfect squares." ... "We NEED that thing!"
(every time he sees a commercial he comes to tell me what we NEED!)

I need to start writing down every funny thing the kid says -- I always remember long enough to tell Kyle but we struggle to remember the conversation!

Big last day of school today before Christmas Break -- Pizza, Pajamas & the Polar Express! He could barely go to sleep last night. I can't even imagine how wild he will be on Christmas Eve.

Thanksgiving Dinner... a bit late

We had Thanksgiving Dinner with several of Carolyn's closest friends at Plantation this year. Sometimes you just have to document just how many pictures it takes (and even 40 pictures later, there isn't the "perfect" picture!)

1st Birthday!

Pre-partying.

As I was taking this I said "I'm sure this will be frameable" and it is as bad as I thought :)
Kyle, DBall & Rick

Mac turned one on Dec 8th and we had a little party to celebrate him! Tucker was our official party planner. He wanted it to be as close to Mr. Abilito's Birthday party on Handy Manny as possible, so he directed my balloon and streamer placement, the color scheme, etc. He, of course, thought this day was all about him. He will one day have a wake up call that the universe doesn't really revolve around him, but for now he is still quite convinced that it actually does...

The one year olds (Mac & his friend Carter - DBall's daughter) playing with his new ball game from Mimi. He loves this toy.

Watching everyone sing to him.

First handful... he was quite agressive grabbing bites!

After he ate half of this thing, I took it away and he cried! Sad, but necessary.

Below is sweet Vincent playing at the boys' work bench.

Aunt Terry & Uncle Craig & Paul sent this fun play station to Mac. He LOVES it and kneels in front if it like this and dances over and over (and over) to the music.

Santa!

It went well. Ha! Tucker was fairly terrified (although he warmed up) and Mac...


ended up sleeping it off on the car ride home.