Holiday Happenings….Christmas Eve at Daddy’s

Christmas can be really crazy with all the different family traditions. When the girls married I asked that they try to continue the tradition of going to Daddy’s for Christmas Eve. I felt that it was really important to continue to gather at Daddy’s house since this is one of the few times that we all get together and I think it is really special for all of us, especially Daddy.

This year it seemed the house was especially full. Gabe was born October 20th and is our newest little one. Kaiden and Maddox are both two this Christmas and are old enough to really enjoy all the activity. They have only been together a few times, so it was funny to see how they reacted to each other. Maddox kept calling him “Baby Kaiden” and trying to kiss him. They were so sweet together and really made it a special night. Gabe was a little too young to really enjoy the gathering, but I am sure that next year he will be right in the middle of everything. These babies really are fun and I can’t help but think how much Momma would have loved all of them!!!!

Gabe didn't seem to enjoy the evening as much as we loved having him there. He is adorable!

Maddox thought Kaiden was just hysterical! I'm not really sure what he thought about her. Most of the night she seemed to just confuse him.

Daddy with his grandkids and great-grandkids....Donnie's are all boys and mine are all girls. Maybe Leah & Kelsey can change that this year.
Kaiden, Beau, Kyle, Cody, Dylan, & Gabe, Kelsey, Maddox, Daddy, & Leah

My Gang...
Garth, Kelsey, Maddox, Leah, Hunter, Me, and Eddie

Donnie's family....Beau, Cody, Kyle, Meagan, Dylan,
Gabe, Donnie, Judy, and Kaiden

Gingerbread Memories....

Some of you may know that I have been trying to do the grandma thing and let Maddox help me cook so one day she will associate wonderful smells in the kitchen with her YaYa. At Halloween we attempted to make cupcakes. After letting her help me mix the batter, I was terrified to let this two year old loose in my kitchen with colored icing. I convinced Maddox that the rest of the cupcake making consisted of her watching them bake and then we would be all finished. I gave her a sucker, sat her in front of the oven window and she was happy. I decorated them after she was gone....there, I admit it! (But doesn't she look cute watching them bake!)

Well, I tried something different for Christmas. I bought a gingerbread train kit. It's great! Everything you need is included and you don't have to bake a thing. I invited Aunt Julie to join the fun (and help with icing control). I'm not sure who had more fun, Julie, Me, or Maddox.

Maybe she won't remember the smells of holiday cooking, but I hope she will remember the fun of being in the kitchen with her YaYa and Aunt JuJu!

Merry Christmas!

TWINS!

After our weekend in Hot Springs, Kelsey had an appointment with Dr. Batres to have an ultrasound. This ultrasound is the one we have been waiting for....the one that will tell us if there are still two babies.

I gave this to God almost as soon as Kelsey told me there was a possibility of twins. The idea of twins was wonderful, but scary. I worry about my baby. I worry that she might have problems with the pregnancy or her health. I worry that she won't be able to care for three babies under the age of three. I worry about the financial drain of that many children for Kelsey and Garth. I realized that there was nothing that I could do except give it to God and wait. On Monday, the ultrasound showed two babies with strong heartbeats! Dr. Batres said that they were probably fraternal twins and that one of the twins had almost split to produce a third baby!

Maddox and I waited in the waiting room for the news. Dr. Batres and Debbie came to talk with us and after congratulations were said, we met Julie at Chili's for lunch.

Baby Carter, two Baby Jessup's and Maddox.....we are truly blessed! Now, prayers for three healthy babies and two healthy mothers!!!!!

Garvan Gardens...new tradition!!

Friday morning Maddox and I drove to Hot Springs for what I hope will become our annual "Christmas Lights" trip. Poppy came up later in the day and Saturday morning Kelsey and Garth joined us.

Saturday it was misting rain and we couldn't go to the ice skating rink so Kelsey and I did a little shopping while Poppy and Garth babysat. That night we went to see the Christmas Lights at Garvan Gardens. Poppy and Garth decided that next year we had better change the stroller to an "all-terrain" vehicle.

Maddox loved the lights and learned to roast marshmallows and make smores with her Daddy. It was really a special time and I look forward to this becoming an annual event for us to share with all our grandbabies.

After Garvan Gardens we went to Coy's for dinner and Maddox wanted to join everyone's Christmas parties...expecially the one that had balloons.

Sunday we tried to go ice skating again, but the rain had closed the rink. Instead we spent part of the afternoon shopping in a great little toy shop in downtown Hot Springs. As you can see from the picture, the guys enjoyed it as much (or more) than Maddox.

Kelsey and Garth went to the afternoon movie while Eddie and I babysat. Then after dinner, Eddie and I went to the movie and Garth and Kelsey stayed home with Maddox. That's called "tag-team babysitting", I guess. I think that is something that we will be learning more about in the coming years because of all the new babies.

Babies, babies, babies.....

I haven't posted in a long time. I actually forgot that I had this blog. While checking on the blogs of Patrick and Laura tonight, I realized how fast things change and that I have a story to tell about my little part of this world.

Leah and Hunter told us on September 30th that they are expecting a baby. Her baby is due June 4th...the day before Daddy's birthday. This is such a blessing because they have been trying most of this year to get pregnant. There are a lot of excited family members on both sides waiting to spoil him/her. I watch Leah and Hunter with Maddox and know that "baby Carter" will be one lucky little one to have them as parents! Eddie is really pulling for a boy, but I know he will be thrilled no matter what she has!

On Thanksgiving, Kelsey told me that she was pregnant too, but not to tell anyone because she wanted to wait till she went to the doctor and she had ordered a shirt for Maddox that said she was going to be a big sister. On Friday, Julie, Leah, and I went to Branson to do some Christmas shopping. It was so hard not to tell them about Kelsey's baby, but I kept my mouth shut!! When we got home on Sunday, Kelsey couldn't wait and began to tell everyone. After it was confirmed on Monday with a blood test we thought that was all there was to it for a while.....wrong! Today, the ultrasound showed twins! One had a heartbeat already and one is a couple of days younger so we have to wait till December 15th to hear his heartbeat. Emotions ran high, but we are all praying that little "Ricky Gene" (as Garth has named him) will grow stronger and all will go well for this pregnancy. Her due date is July 29th - 7 1/2 weeks after Leah.

Then, there is my sweet Maddox....

She tee teed in the potty yesterday and again today. I told her I would buy her some big girl panties. She is growing up so fast and has no idea how much her world is going to change in the next few months....and ours too! Things do change fast in our little part of the world!

anniversary, birthdays, and labor day...oh my!

We are full into the middle of our "birthday season". Leah starts us off on August 20th. This year we celebrated her birthday with dinner at the country club and she requested a hummingbird cake.

Then Eddie and I have our anniversary on August 31st. We are usually pretty low-key about this but this year Eddie & I went to Tunica kinda spur-of-the-moment at 7:30 Saturday night. We went to all the casinos except Bally's and didn't get home till 5:30 Sunday morning. Too old for that stuff!

Kelsey's birthday was on Labor Day this year, so she requested a chicken rotel dinner at our house with chocolate chip pound cake. I spent the morning cooking and watching Hurricane Gustav hitting New Orleans.

Both girls wanted cell phones for their birthday.....wonder what they will want next year????

Weekend with the Kaisers in Hot Springs

Thursday, Gerry and Donna Kaiser came to visit us. Eddie and Gerry have known each other for years because of business, but we only met Donna this summer when we went to Murry, KY to their youngest daughter, Kris-Ann's wedding. Eddie and Gerry, both fathers of two daughters approximately the same age, had many of the same experiences thru the years.

Thursday night, Fernando came to our house and cooked an authentic Mexican dinner for Eddie, Me, Gerry, Donna, Leah, Hunter, Kelsey, Garth, Maddox, Phyllis & Jim Stinson, Susan Scott, and Martha & Scott Morgan. The food was delicious and it was fun to introduce Gerry & Donna to our family and friends.

Friday, we drove to Hot Springs to spend the weekend. We rode around on the lake on the boat and dined at Fisherman's Wharf. Saturday after brunch at the English Muffin, we went downtown to window shop, tour the bath house & Arlington Hotel. The afternoon was spent on the lake followed by a beautiful dinner at Bella Arti.

Gerry and Donna left for home early Sunday morning. We enjoyed getting to know them better and look forward to getting together again soon.

Getting started....

I have a blog. Why do I have a blog???

I want to share with my friends about my family and our life. I want to hear about my friends and their family too!

Let's just try it and see if this is something that I can do.

This is our family... Garth & Kelsey, Leah & Hunter, Eddie, Me, and our granddaughter, Maddox. I will share what we are all doing and more pictures soon!