More Gifts!

Jules and Shook got so much stuff this year!  Stuff we haven't even played with yet! 

From mom and dad, they got a Minnie Mouse scooter:

 

More Princess Dresses, Princess Shoes, and Princess movies (as you will see throughout)!  That's a lot of Princess!  Belle is her favorite so far. 

 

 

 

 

A big truck, ambulance and fire truck that all make noice, talk to you and go forward and backward. (Shook did get more into it as the day went on....he finally would go get the present and bring it to you to help open!)

 

 

He's unusually strong!

 

 

 

A guitar!

 

 

Dad has gotten the most use out of this so far!

 

 

Rain Boots!  She had to wear these out to dinner the day after Christmas.

 

 

A golf set.

 

 

 

And, I'm pretty sure there was lots more stuff, with lots of parts.  I'm not sure what mom and dad were thinking on this.  We've had random parts around our house since Christmas now.  I'm not sure how we are going to keep up with all this!  And, there is more to come!

 

Oh, and Jules and Shook gave Honey, Granny, DeeDee and DaddyDeck and Nana these great calendars!  Everyone loved them!

 

We had fun bathtime too!

 

 

For the day after Christmas, DeeDee and Daddy Deck came up for dinner and presents.

 

Animals!  Of all types!  Shook LOVES these!  He also got a Junior Big Wheel that he loves!

 

 

And, Jules got a Princess LeapPad!  We haven't played it too much yet but I think she is going to like it a lot this next year.

 

 

 

We had a good dinner at Brio and then we had to say good-bye to DeeDee and Daddy Deck.

 

After I went to work for a few days and the kids hung out with Dad, we made our way to Arkansas to see my brother and his family.  Mom made delicous Christmas dinner (I ate way too mch this year....more to come on that.) and we got more presents!

 

Jules and Shook got to play with their cousins.  They had a blast!

 

 

I love the way he has his hand in his belly hole.  He does that all the time!

 

Shook got to take everything out of the cabinets and pantry and hide in there.

 

 

 

 

And eat all the chocolate covered puff corn he wanted, which I'm pretty sure was an entire bag by the time he got everyone that passed the plate to give him a bite.  He shoves it all in, afraid someone else might get a bite!

 

 

 

 

He got to ride on Granny's walker.

 

 

Jules got Bitty Baby American Girl Dolls!

 

She loves them.  Named them Julesey and Shooky (creative) and they danced....

 

 

and posed for family pictures....

 

 

 

and they sleep with her now.

 

Shook got a metal Tonka truck!

 

 

So, he took it for a ride...

 

 

And, a leaf blower so he can help in the yard!

 

 

 

We were tuckered out on the way home Sunday!

 

I got my first set of Christmas China to use next year! Mom is going to add to it every year. I'm pretty excited about it because I have been wanting some for a long time. I also got a comforter and sheets and bed ruffle from DeeDee and Daddy Deck. And, Santa bought me a new smaller Smart camera! Love it! And, best gift, I got a right-hand ring from Michael during our night out the Friday before Christmas. Its a green quartz and I love it!

 

Michael got new sunglasses from Santa and lots of new work clothes and shoes his upcoming (cross your fingers) interviews! 

 

All in all, it was a great Christmas!  We had a great time leading up to Christmas with all of our activities and I'm a little sad for it to be over.  I think Jules is too.  Although, I think we have her pumped up for her birthday now!  I will say that I think we may have gone *a tiny bit* overboard this year but it felt like this was such a great year with her knowing exactly what she wanted and understanding Jesus and Santa to some extent.  I did ask her what she wants for her birthday and she said "Nothing".  I think that probably won't happen but for now I feel good that there is nothing else she can think of that she wants.  We are going to be busy for awhile playing with all this stuff!  Thank God for all our blessings - family, friends, little ones (and gifts)!  Michael and I really do have a lot to be thankful for. 

 

 Here's to hoping 2013 is even better!

 

SANTA CAME!

This is what we woke up to on Christmas Day!

 

One look at this bad boy and the kids didn't even care about the rest of their gifts!  Shook jumped out of my arms so fast when he saw this - it was like lightning speed! 

I'm pretty sure that Santa worked hard to set up that train track and it lasted all of about 1 hour before it was destroyed and subsequently all over my floor!  In fact, I'm not sure how we managed to walk around the rest of the day!

We eventually made it to the other gifts.  All in all we were opening presents for about 10 hours on Christmas day!  We got really distracted!

I love this Princess!

She really liked "the kitchen"!

This is his new "Uh Oh" face!

 

Santa brought a Princess nightgown too!

When she finally realized she got the bike, we had to ride it around the house for awhile and she took off like nobody's business.  I was very surprised at how well she did and how well she maneuvered around everything.

So, Santa brought Jules a Cinderella bike, nightgown, dress, slippers, undies and all kinds of goodies in her stocking.

Shook got a Home Depot Workshop and lots of goodies in his stocking.

 

Together they got a train table and lots of trains, new food for the kitchen, games and legos. 

 

And, that is not even starting with what they got from mom and dad, Honey or Dee Dee!  We have WAY too much stuff at our house now!

Bye Bye Memphis

 

As some of you may know, we got Memphis (AKA "Little Decker #3" on this blog) when he was 3 months old in December 2008.  We named him Memphis T Decker since Michael and I had just recently moved from Memphis. 

 

As you also may know from either talking and visiting with us or from reading this blog, Little Decker #2 is deathly afraid of Memphis (and anything walking, including his shadow - yes, this has actually happened and it was quite hilarious).  I've never seen a little boy more afraid of animals.  He screamed bloody murder about cats, little dogs, big dogs, you name it.  SO, this made it extremely hard to have the kids outside at any time. 

 

After considering this and coupled with the amount of time we had been spending with Memphis since Shook was born, which was pretty much 0 hours per day, we decided to look for him a home.

 

He's a great dog and has always been great with both kids.  He was easy to potty train and he and I used to go running together, back when I had time for him and running!  As you can tell, I now I have time for neither!

 

 

 

This weekend we found a home for him.  It was through a friend of a friend of a friend who knows someone at the Humane Society who knows a family that wanted a hypoallergenic dog.  Kind of crazy.  The family has twin 6 year old boys!  And, a fenced in yard!  And, they will keep him inside!  And, they will take him to work with them!  I mean, this has to be like doggy heaven for a well-mannered dog. 

 

Jules didn't ask about him for a couple of days and when she did we told her he is visiting with friends.  I don't think she'll ask about him much more but we will see.

 

We have gotten a couple of phone calls and emails from the family since he left and they said that he has been perfect.  They bathed him and so far no one with allergies has had a hard time.  The wife was off this week so she is getting him accustomed to the environment and will call us with more updates. 

 

We are hoping for the best!  I just hope he is really happy!

 

I do miss him but I have to say, it was nice to have the kids play on the porch Christmas Eve (yes, it was 70 degrees here) and not have to worry about anything.  They played and played and played and I cooked!  

Christmas Eve!

We had a great Christmas Eve with Honey, Granny and Aunt Sue getting ready for Santa and the Reindeer! 

Look at this cute guy!

 

 

He started showing his muscles for some reason (and grunting).  It was really funny!  Look how red his face got!

 



 

Dinner was delicious, if I do say so myself.  It was beef tenderloin, bang bang shrimp, mashed potato casserole and salad.  And, don't forget Jesus' birthday cake!

After dinner we put food out for the Reindeer so they would see our house!

And, we opened our last advent gift - Twas the Night Before Christmas.

We went and snuggled in bed and waited for Santa and the Reindeer.  Honey laid down with Jules and they thought they heard the Reindeer one time! 

Looking back at these pictures, it really does look like Shook never wears a shirt, or clothes in general for that matter.  I promise he does but for some reason he has gotten really picky about them too!  Sunday, we were trying to get ready for church and I bet I put 3 different outfits on him and he was complaining about each one until he finally got a soft Christmas t-shirt and corduroys.  We did his Christmas overalls and those were bothering him (they are a little small now!) and a button up and that was bothering him.  But, I noticed throughout the weekend that he would try to take his clothes off and they said at school, he took his pajama shirt off after nap!  He just likes to be naked!!  But, I promise he has clothes!