Baby's worst enemy or best friend?

This could quiet possibly be the worlds greatest invention and unfortuntely, Dane's seen more than his fair share of it lately! Recently Nolan was being very helpful and knew that I needed the bulb syringe so he eagerly asked if he could help me by getting me the "snotter". (That's one for the baby book!) But I suppose everything has to have a name and bulb syringe is so out of touch with what it really is so we've renamed "the snotter" at our house!

Every True Son So Happy Hearted...

Skies above us are blue

There's a spirit so deep within us

Old Missouri here's to you! (Rah! Rah!)

Ok, so we didn't win the 2009 Texas Bowl but we supported our Mizzou Tigers the entire game! The boys loved the pre-game pep rally and even got to take a picture with Truman the Tiger (Nolan IS a member of the Truman Club afterall!)

Grandpa, Nolan and Grandpa enjoying the game (before we were losing)!

Thank goodness I had my camera out and was able to snap this picture of the first (and only) touch down!

The nearly impossible gift!

This is the picture of the grandsons that we had made for Butch and Sally for Christmas. Let's just say that next time we attempt to pose 5 children together I hope they are ages 15 to 20!

Dear Santa...I would like an iphone for my Daddy!

Every year we head to the Gaylord Texan to visit Santa and this year was no exception! We got the boys "dolled" up and headed out right after church (early birds get to see Santa very quickly!) The resulting picture was marvelous! Look at these 3 handsome dudes! This might be the best picture I ever get! Next year Dane will have stranger anxiety so I already have a vision as to what that picture will entale and in a few years Nolan's going to protest sitting on Santa's lap! So, this was my year to enjoy!

Look at this sweet face waiting in line to ask Santa for a Thomas toy and an iphone for his Daddy! (Yes, he really asked Santa for that!)

Checking out Santa's workshop while we are waiting.

I got this great new camera and if you look close enough you can actually see the spit being flung from Dane's lips! Now that's some quick shutter speed! Can anyone resist those giant baby blues staring at you?

Our attempt at a family picture!

I wish the sun hadn't been so bright that day. It shone through the atrium and while the natural light was beautiful it cast shadows everywhere! This was the best picture I got of Dane and the poinsettas.

And of course, Dane's biggest fan Nolan had to scoop him up for a picture together!

Luke peeking at his favorite train display! I think if given the choice to see the trains or Santa he's actually pick the trains!

It's a Grinch Christmas!

The Binkleys and the Wilsons got our warm clothes on and headed out to the Gaylord Texan to see ICE - The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. This first picture is looking up at the Texas star in the atrium of the hotel at night time. Isn't it beautiful all lit up? Makes we want to break out in song..."the stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas!"

We posed for our picture as we were heading in to see all of the fabulous sculptures carved of ice portaying the story of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I loved this story as a kid and looked forward to watching it every year! Luke loves it too! Guess he gets it from me!

Cousins! Alexis, Mariah, Nolan and Luke

The Binkley ladies!

Drew and the boys! Luke looks like he's up to no good!

Gail and Vicki posing with the famous Grinch!

A White Christmas...in Texas of all places!

Can you believe it? A white Christmas in Texas?! And it came on Christmas Eve?! The snow couldn't have been more perfect (minus the bad weather that Vicki and family had to drive in to get to our house). The boys and I were decorating our sugar cookies when the snow started falling. It was like a modern day Norman Rockwell moment!

We managed to capture a family picture before we headed to Christmas Eve church service.

Santa arrives! Nolan came and woke us up this year at 4:30am telling me that he got Dane out of bed and handed him to Alexis and then came downstairs to get us. As I was walking Nolan back upstairs he had to pass by all that Santa left for him and he says, "Did you see that cool Hotwheels set?" It must have been terribly hard to go back to sleep. And poor Dane, he was plucked out of bed and had no idea why! Nolan woke up again at 6:45am (a more reasonable time) and announced that Santa didn't leave anything for Lukey but that he got TWO Razor scooters...hummmmm...sorry to break the news to you Nolan but I think one of those scooters belongs to your brother!

Dane gets a new helmet so he can stay safe when riding on the back of Daddy's bike!

Luke got more GeoTrax! Could life be more perfect?

Nolan got Widgits! And a marble game and a scooter and a Zhu Zhu pet and a ....

You better watch out, you better not cry...

Although it seems as though the Christmas season begins earlier every year I found that this year was the funnest year for the boys thus far! Nolan received a "pay card" (a gift card to you and me) for his birthday so I took him shopping to pick out that special gift. He choose a hotwheels set and we headed to the counter to make our purchase. As the clerk hands me my receipt Nolan sees "IT" as a beacon of light shown upon the "Elf on the Shelf" sitting right behind the counter. If any of you haven't heard about this new phenomenon let me share...it is a very old fashioned looking stuffed elf and a book which describes what that elf is all about. That's it...no batteries, no game, just an elf and your ability to believe in that elf. Nolan immediately requested a "re-do" so the clerk returned the hotwheels (believe me, I asked him several times if he was sure) and he instead purchased Elf on the Shelf. Now, this elf has special Christmas magic and each night he flies to the North Pole to report on your behavior for the day. While you are sleeping he returns and picks a new spot which to keep watch for the next day. It is amazing how much influence our elf (who Nolan named Melvin) has instilling good behavior. Melvin traveled to Santa Fe with us and once when Luke was annoying Nolan, Nolan leans over and says, "Lukey, Melvin is watching you!" Unfortunately, Melvin returned to the North Pole on Christmas Eve as his work at our house is through (he returns again the following Thanksgiving). However, when times get tough throughout the year Melvin might just have to make a "guest appearance" at our house!