AND Christmas Day with Papa & Gamma

Seth playing with Grace. He would lay down and wave to her then get up and try to get her attention. Really cute...
JoAnna playing 'Santa' with reindeer ears.
Gracie waving "Hi", with a little assistance from her grampa.
Micah and Jayden really playing before they opened all of those presents!
Micah and Jayden playing before opening all of those presents behind them.

The BIG Day

Christmas Morning! Gracie in her Christmas P.j.'s and her cute beret she got from Santa.

Jayden got a new bike! It's his first 2-wheeler! A Schwinn Sting-Ray... A cute little low rider in red. I think mommy is more excited about this bike that Jay is!

Grace with her first Barbie! The story behind this is, for weeks before Christmas we would ask Jayden what he wanted for Christmas. He would rattle off a list of things. We would then turn to Grace and ask her what she wanted. We would say, "Do you want a Barbie??" She would get a great big smile on her face. So her big brother bought her this ballerina Barbie for her first Christmas.

I wanted to give the kid's the WHOLE picture... Wake up on Christmas Morning with the bike under the tree and presents surrouding it. Jayden woke up that morning, came into our bedroom, said, "Santa came!" and then fell back asleep with us for a little while longer.

Santa also brought Jayden a Gameboy.

Christmas Eve at John & Nana's

On Christmas Eve we headed over to Adam's mom and stepdad's home. Along with Adam's sister and her husband, there were John's kids - Kristanne and her husband, Jeremy & Bethany with her husband, David and their two kids, Nathan and Lucy. This is Jayden opening up his most wanted gift, an R2-D2, or as Nathan was calling it, Doctor D2.

This is a picture of me opening up a surprise gift. I thought I was going to have to fake a happy face (I thought I was getting something else). Bad picture, GOOD present. It is a Coach purse.

Suzanne opening one of her gifts. Little turquoise boxes are always fun to open. (That's the back of Jeremy's head, in case your wondering.)

Jayden and Nathan were given disposable camera's as a warm up gift. Jayden had fun taking picture's of Nathan taking picture's of him.

Christmas with Papa & Kathleen

We spent the 23rd of December with Bart and Kathleen, Adam's dad and stepmom. Adam's sister, Sarah, and her husband, Patrick, also came over to our little place. We had a lot of fun eating a yummy dinner together and opening our Christmas gifts. Jayden got a Harley...

Grace was happy with the paper, and mommy was happy with the cute little clothes she got!

Jayden taking a moonlit ride on his new bike.

Jayden begging to open his presents. We teased him throughout the night that this big gift he is looking at in the picture, was not his. He would read his name on the tag and point out that is was indeed his. I guess Santa knew, too.

Gracie wanted to take a ride. She loves the sounds the bike makes.

North Dakota

The other night we were watching tv where there was a life-size nativity set on one of the shows. At some point during the show they lost the baby Jesus. Jayden got a little worried and started asking questions. "Where is Jesus, Dad? Where did he go?" We didn't even get a chance to answer him when he says, "I know, he is in Norfacoda." (North Dakota)

Christmas Party #1

This was a rare night out. My old boss invited Adam and I to their Christmas Party, oops, I mean, End of the Year Celebration. It was at the House of Blues earlier this month.

Jayden's Latest

Recently Jayden has been talking so sweetly to Grace. He'll snuggle up to her and say things like, "I love you soo much, Grace," or "Your the cutest little girl in the world, yes, you are!" Immediately following each of these statements, however, he will turn to me and say, "Don't tell your sisters I said that, ok, Mom?" I'll say, "Who are my sisters?" He'll proceed to tell me my sister's names. It makes me laugh and, of course, I have told my sisters!

Grace and Jay

Jayden and Gracie were playing on the ground and, of course, Jayden struck a pose for the camera. This picture was also taken before I figured out the red-eye reduction flash. You can really tell how big her pupils are, though!

Mommy's, err Grace's Christmas Present (a little early)

Merry Christmas, Gracie! A new toy for Grace and a little peace for Mommy while she cooks dinner. Can you see why this is a gift for both of us??
(I also figured out the red-eye reduction flash for these pictures, but it takes so long to snap the photo now, it is hard to get her smiling... It is a work in progress.)

First Food

This was Grace's first day of eating baby food! She had green beans... mmmm... Jayden has been very helpful in getting Grace to open her mouth. He loves the faces she makes with each new food.

Same Day, Different Place

I couldn't resist snapping this picture. She was just so cute in her seat and with her hood pulled over her.














A funny side note, Jayden was in the car talking to the person parked next to us. He was a young teenager who was wearing a Santa hat. Jayden said, "Hey, you're Santa! Say, 'Ho Ho Ho!'" The teenager wouldn't do it, but it really got the other passenger's laughing. Which only makes Jayden keep going. He must have said it three times, and finally the teenager did it. The parents were laughing so hard. We started to drive away and Jayden yells out, "Bye, Santa! Merry Christmas!"

At the Park

SUPERMAN!
A few moments after I took this picture, Jayden went over to a couple of girls who were playing nearby. The girls didn't want to play with him, but he kept persisting. The last thing I heard him say to them was, "It's o.k.! I'm a nice boy! I like girls!" Spoken like a true heterosexual.








This was actually Gracie's first time in a swing. She loved it. I loved it, too, until she started to suck on the plastic of the seat. Ick!

Daddy and Kids

Adam was changing a diaper... I had to document the occasion! (Just kidding, honey.)
Actually it was the moment after that I was trying to capture. Adam had Gracie laughing so cute, but then she wouldn't smile for that camera. Oh, well.

Thanksgiving, Continued - at Papa and Kathleen's

Papa & Grace after eating Pumpkin Pie.














We entered our Football Stadium into the Gingerbread House Contest. Look carefully, it was a recreation of the Dolphins vs. Bears 1985 Superbowl game. Unfortunately, we did not win. We believe the judge was bribed because, although we never called it this, the Trailer Park won. No hard feelings.

Thanksgiving with Nana and John - 2005

Picture taken compliments of Jayden Busch... He's quite the photographer.














Nathan playing quietly while Jayden snaps his picture.












Check out the kiddo's in the next 2 pictures. At least Grace and Lucy were consistent.





























Adam has gotten Jayden to lick people by telling his victim he has a secret to tell. We caught this on film.

Knott's Berry Farm - November 5, 2005

Striking a pose with the famous Snoopy.














Jayden all locked up.















The REAL Red Barron.

I love you, Mommy

The other night I was laying in bed with Jayden.
Jayden: "I love you, Mommy."
Me: "I love you, too, Jayden."
Jayden: "Thank you for loving me, Mommy."
Me: "Goodnight, Sweetie."
We would be quiet for a little bit and then Jayden would start to feel tired. To fight the urge to fall asleep he would start up again. After a few minutes of this same dialogue I had to say, "That's enough now. Go to sleep." We were quiet and cuddling. Then,
Jayden: "Mommy?" -- oh, great, here we go again...
Me: "Yes, Jayden."
Jayden: "Can you stop putting your bref (breath) on me? It's disgusting."

Jayden & Gracie Girl

This picture was taken last summer at our friend's, Brett & Melinda Byrd's new home.

In the beginning...

My sister has had a blog for over a year now, to keep those of us who live far away in touch with their busy family. I love it so much, that I decided to copy her. So, this is officially the first posting. Welcome & Enjoy! (and thanks Elisabeth for the idea!)