Afternoons with Reid

With Grant and Mac spending so much time in the woods with Chris, it leaves a lot of time for me to spend with my littlest guy. Some of that time can be a bit trying as Turbo is going through a testing phase. He tests my limits and my patience on a daily basis. Like the other day, for example, when B and I had gone to look in the freezer in the storage room. He was holding one of the freezers open. As we were leaving the storage room to go back inside I said, "Come on, Reid. Close the freezer."
He looked at me and said, "YOU close the freezer," and stood there with it open.

I stood for a minute in shock looking at B asking if those words really just came out of his mouth.

In case you're wondering, yes, he's still breathing. haha :)

Needless to say those moments require discipline and tough love is... well, it's tough. He's also the baby. Which for some reason makes it even tougher.

Grant and Mac's bible verse this week is:

My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say.

Everyone should be quick to listen, but they should be

slow to speak. They should be slow to get angry.

James 1:19

I think Reid and I both stand to learn valuable lessons from that verse during this Turbo-Testing phase. 

However, thankfully the trying times don't outweigh nor overshadow the good ones. There are a few weeks left in the hunting season, so hopefully there will be many more games of Uno, Zingo, Operation, and Perfection.

As well as more impromptu guitar solos

Followed by lots of belly laughs.

Week in review: What I'm thankful for

I was under the weather this past week. And by under the weather I mean I should have been barking because I was sick as a dog - laid up for 3 days straight. Or maybe it was 4. I lost count after 1. I was  on the couch under a blanket only getting up and about when absolutely necessary. Feeling like poop. My mom has had it. Both of my sisters have had it. Chris has had it. The irony is I said just last weekend, "I never get sick." I take my vitamins every.single.day. I'll get through this unscathed too, I thought. HA! This one has been a doozie. I don't know if it was the flu or just a nasty nasty cold, but whatever it was IT SUCKED.

Sitting and lying around is not something I enjoy. When my feet hit the floor in the mornings they usually stay on the floor until I go to bed at night, as I'm sure is the case with most mothers. My hands are rarely if ever idle. There's always something to do or someone (or something, like a dog) to care for. Always. So for this to get me down showed me that I must have really needed the rest. Which ultimately led me to list what I'm thankful for this week. Actually I'm thankful for most of these things all the time so let's just say this past week I was especially grateful. And yes, some are trivial and materialistic. Let's start with those first.

■  Motrin. Am I ever so thankful for Motrin. It's a wonder drug. Fever is the pits, and I didn't have many body parts that didn't ache. It helped ease that in a big way.

■ Yoga pants from Old Navy. I know Chris is so sick of seeing me in them, but oh the comfort.

■ My TV - specifically the DVD player, DVR and E! They had a Sex and the City (my guilty pleasure) marathon on the other day. It prompted me the next day to find my DVD of the SATC movie. I watched the whole thing, beginning to end, without interruption... bliss in the midst of sickness.

■ Cool Touch Kleenex. I don't know what they do to these tissues, but they give you that just-flipped-your-pillow-over cool feeling. Awesome. My nose thanks you, Kleenex.

■ Chapstick. Just plain old cherry Chapstick. Need I say more?

■ Red Diamond coffee and Gevalia decaf coffee. I realize that's about like comparing jello to creme brulee (My Best Friend's Wedding anyone? clearly I watched too much TV), but I love Red Diamond regular coffee. However, the older I've gotten the more I have to watch my caffeine intake and one cup in the morning is all I can handle. I'm usually not a fan of decaf but Gevalia breakfast blend decaf is scrumptious.

■ Hershey's Bliss white hot chocolate. Because without it the above would be dead to me. Together they're my own version of a white chocolate mocha.

■ My parents and "Aint Dawnie." SO blessed that my parents and one of my sisters live close enough and are willing to help out. Mom picked up Reid one afternoon from preschool and kept him entertained while my other three guys hit the woods again. Reid said his hands were "so freezing" the last time he hunted so he didn't care to tag along. He had a great afternoon of one-on-one time with Meems. I think they wore each other out. :) Dawnie was off a couple of days and offered to help out. She picked the boys up from school and brought them home which meant after I dropped them off that morning I didn't have to get out again. Such a huge help! She even made a stop by Redland Market for some of their favorite treats. Many thanks!

■ Last but certainly not least, my guys. Especially my man. And that he got the crud first. hehee I'm kidding. Sort of. I hate any of us had to be sick, but because he knew how I was feeling he was very sympathetic. And for that, thank you, honey. The boys were very sweet as well. Mac told me he didn't like it when I was sick and to ask him for whatever I needed.

Chris took the boys hunting.

Because the hunting land is a little ways away, I think it's safe to say that for the car ride there as well as the time spent in the tree stand, everyone involved is thankful Santa brought these:

My kids' heads don't stay in a game or gadget at all times because I believe little boys should be little boys and go outside and be creative and get dirty. And thankfully my boys want to do that so I don't have to regulate the use of the iPods that much. But for some of the time we're stuck inside or in a car or, in their case, a tree stand, things like this are a lifesaver. Bundle them up, send them and daddy on their way to a shooting house with a heater, their iPod touches and some headphones (and don't forget the Hot Hands) and they're set. FYI, the Monkey Preschool Lunchbox app is worth every bit of the $0.99 it costs. It's a preschool app so Grant and Mac weren't interested. It's even a bit easy for Reid (who is 4) but Reid LOVES it. It's his favorite app. And it's educational. Score! :) I'm very thankful my boys have a daddy who understand the importance of spending time with them like Chris does. He doesn't even hunt much if they can't or don't want to go with him. It's their own special time. They listen to music and act silly. They always make a candy stop on the way. You can't hunt without Blow Pops, Air Heads and bubble gum. Then it's always Hunt Brothers pizza on the way home.

Because Chris is able to do these things it means I'm also thankful he is self-employed and has home-based businesses. There is so much I have learned since marrying Chris about owning your own business. There are pros and cons to everything. Depending on the time of year, the cons list can outweigh the pros list. While it can result in feeling the need to be "on call" all the time making it hard to ever feel like you're off work, it also affords us the opportunity of making our own hours.

■ This has nothing to do with last week, but of course I'm always at ease and feel complete when my Sweet B has made it safely home to Wetumpka. Which she did today bright and early. Her brothers were just a teensy weensy excited to see Sissy. ;)

I'm feeling better now. I made myself get up and be productive yesterday. Today is even better. My bark is now more like a wine.

I realize that should be "whine" and not "wine" but after I typed it I took it as a sign that tonight to unwind maybe I need some wine. Or some type of big girl drink. So that I won't whine. ;)

Happy Weekend!

The proof is in the snow

I have a few Christmas village-type houses I put out every year as part of my Christmas decorations. It's one of the boys' favorite decorations. The little houses look so neat lit up at night. One night Jasper, our elf, brought back some "magic snow" from the North Pole he put around the village in which he made a snow angel. So the next night when Jasper moved again the snow was still there. The boys asked if they could play in it. Actually Mac did the asking. The other two chimed in once I said yes. However, I told them they could play in it just this once because it's almost like glitter to clean up, and I didn't want to be finding snow in July. As I was sweeping the other day I knew they had been in it again. Which I really wasn't upset about. I chuckled that they thought they could be inconspicuous. So I questioned Mac about it. "Me?" he said, shocked that I would even ask.

Gee. I can't imagine why I thought Mac was the culprit.

Happy 2012

We spent the last day of 2011 cheering our Auburn Tigers on to victory. What a way to end the year. :)

I looked through my blog thinking I would do a "best of" post. There were so many bests for 2011 I wasn't able to narrow it down. I should say 2011 was good to us.

My hope and prayer for 2012 is that all good things from 2011 will carry on into the new year and all things not be left behind.

So thankful for all the many blessings God has so graciously given us.

*Many thanks to my friend, Kelli, at Kelli Alfreds Images, LLC for the picture. We did a fun little mini session before Christmas. More to come.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He shall direct your paths. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Our Christmas 2011

We had a blissfully happy Christmas. I am blessed beyond measure. I don't deserve any of it. I'm thankful for all of it.

This will go down in the books as one of the best Christmases yet. And not just because Santa was good to me. Although he was. Too good. It was just a really great Christmas spent with all of our families. 

As usual we laughed, ate, laughed, ate, laughed until we cried and ate until we wanted to cry. And of course there was a plethora of presents.

I'll mostly let the pictures speak for themselves. Consider yourself warned - there are lots of them.

We started Christmas off with going to my mom and dad's house a few days before Christmas. It was just mom, dad, my two sisters and me and our kiddos. It's always a fun, relaxing, easy day enjoying time together. The cousins play while the adults (and now B) sit around eating, catching up and reminiscing. And of course we cut up and laugh and poke fun. All in the name of sisterly love of course.

Uncle Keith sent the boys a surprise box ;)
It got Reid but his reaction was a bit delayed.

Mac wasn't in the room when Reid opened
his box but knew something was up

Granddaddy helped things along

It still got him haha When you open the box
a giant spider comes out and touches your hand.
It still gets me every time and I know what to expect.

You had to be there for this one.
That and, "Dawn, you in the cake..." baaahahaha

B smelling her Tyler pearberry candle -
a favorite of hers because it smells like her momma ;)

All Claire asked for from her AA and Aint Dawnie was a pair of cowboy boots. I had her convinced she wasn't getting them.

So when she did she was a happy little girl! SO fun!

Somehow I got away without a picture of Mary Lou. :(

Turbo opening his gifts in his boxers - he may live in a nudist colony one day

Like Grace, my sisters were not very cooperative with pictures this year  :( Boo

I think it's safe to say he liked his gift

RaRa gave the boys AUsome tooth fairy pillows. :)

LOVE B's smile in this picture (and such a cute gift card)

Mimi was there too although she somehow escaped my paparazzi ways.
Well almost.
As you can see from her expression the newness of Toby has worn off a
bit. hehee Which is hilarious considering he LOVES her. Seriously.

We managed to fill the next couple of days with last-minute trips to Montgomery because apparently Procrastination Polly is glutton for the punishment that is the mall, the Wal-Mart and the Winn Dixie two days before Christmas.

Finally it was Christmas Eve.

Sissy and the boys donned their Christmas Eve pj's
then headed outside to throw out the reindeer food.
Nothing says Christmas like Monster Jam jammies, right?

We are certain we saw Rudolph while we were outside

Earlier in the day Sissy took it upon herself to make these cookies with the boys so Santa would have some yummy, fun cookies to go with his milk. Mimi was sweet to let them use her kitchen while I wrapped up my last-minute Christmas to-do list.

I think they did a superb job! Thanks, Sissy. You rock.

I found a great Santa tracker app on my phone that we had a lot of fun with Christmas Eve night. It was a radar which showed where Santa was and how long it would be until he made his way to our house. The last we checked he was in Canada so we knew we had better hit the sheets because it wouldn't be long. Chris and I were wide awake at 2 a.m. and checked the Santa tracker again. It said, "Santa will see you next year" so we knew he had already come. ;)

Everyone was up around 6 a.m. to see what Santa brought. It's fun to see if Santa ate his cookies and drank his milk. He usually leaves a little note thanking us for the cookies and milk and reminding us that Jesus is the reason for the season. It's always a fun, crazy time and one when I prefer to not be behind the camera. Maybe I should set up a video camera next year because I really want to remember their faces. There's nothing like seeing Christmas through your children's eyes.

My parents always like to see Bethany and the boys on Christmas morning. After we had our family time mom, dad, Snuggie and Nana came by for a quick visit and a breakfast of conecuh casserole, Sister Schubert's blueberry rolls, and cheese grits. Then they headed on their way to spend the rest of the afternoon with The Colleys.

Sissy has so many people who love her that we have to share her on Christmas. We snapped a few pictures before she headed to Selma. 

Obviously from the angle one of the littles took this one :)

Not long after that it was time for Christmas with all The Nortons. We should be ashamed that the only time we all get together is during the holidays. We don't live far from each other, we have a ton of fun and enjoy each other's company so much. I informed them all when they got there they weren't allowed to be cameraphobes.

The boys love cousin Grey.
I don't think Grey loves my camera.

Haylie too - they're the cool, older cousins

Giving Big Daddy some love

Uncle Donnie and Aunt Rae
Rae hooked us up with all kind of yummies for the day

Grandmama Norton giving the boys a good squeeze :)

Grandmama with the grands
Haylie, Mac, Reid, Grant and Grey Nort

Me with my guys. I am so outnumbered when B's not here

The two lovebirds ;)

I thought I would go sit on the lovebirds' lap for a pic with my in-laws
It didn't quite turn out like I imagined... in more ways than one.
Big Daddy, you're a mess. This Big Mama loves you.

Grandmama loves her wine in the evenings. Since one of their dogs broke
her wine glass the other day we decided to get her a new one. By this time
of the day she's probably thinking, "Wish this glass came filled with wine."

Thank goodness Uncle Donnie is a pro at putting toys and games together.

Louise with her daughers-in-law
Louise, you have two lucky sons, right Rae!?! haha

Mother and son
Boy did my man get an equal dose of McHugh and Norton ;)

And lastly,

The four reasons that make our Christmas extra special

Hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours.

Happy New Year!

Bueller Bags One

Mr. Competitive could take it no more. Ever since Grant and Sissy got their first deer last season Mac has had the fever. He understood last year he was too small/young, but he kept telling us this year he was ready - that this was his year. To be honest we still didn't really think he was ready.

Leave it to Bueller to prove us all wrong. Yesterday my four guys headed to the hunting land in hopes of seeing a shooter for Grant.

At first it was just going to be Chris and Grant. Then Reid decided he wanted to tag along too. Mac hasn't been wanting to go much this year because he said he wasn't going unless and until he could shoot, as was the case yesterday. However, a little talk between Chris and Grant about a trip to Academy beforehand as well as candy and pizza, and he changed his tune a bit.

I bet he's glad he did.

Chris and Grant went hunting the other day and watched a spike. That same spike was in the field when they got in the stand yesterday. Chris got Grant's attention and mouthed, "Do you want to let Mac shoot it?" Grant being the sweet big brother that he is (and his sister and brothers' biggest "cheerleader")  said, "YES!" So Chris asked Mac if he wanted to shoot it. Of course he wanted to. While I'm not a proponent of killing spikes I was really glad Chris let him. Mac climbed up in his daddy's lap, got the gun situated where he was comfortable with it, and watched the deer through the scope for a while. Chris coached him for a bit and told him to shoot when he was ready. I think they took the safety off three different times before he finally felt ready. :) The fourth time he took the shot. It was a perfect shot. Chris said they watched to make sure he was down then Mac, beaming and grinning like a cheshire cat, looked at Chris and said, "YESSSSS!"

If he looks like he's about to throw up or pass out in that
picture it's because he is. He has a very weak stomach
and said the smell was "Ewwww-wee NAAASTY," and
that he was holding his breath the whole time. :)

That's one proud little 6-year-old deer slayer. Way to go, Mac!

Ok Granddaddy, break out the tools because your Mac-man is requesting a European mount. ;)

Christmas post coming soon... It honestly was the best Christmas yet. So.Very.Blessed.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name

that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess 

that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11