Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!  I just love celebrating this season with family.  James started to understand some of the meaning of Christmas.  We taught him all about Baby Jesus, Mary, and the story of His birth.  We went and saw the Live Nativity at church and taught him all about the animals at the manger (he liked the baby goat and the donkey the best). 

 James also helped decorate a little for Christmas.  

We discussed our Elf on the Shelf named "Red" as well as Santa Claus bringing presents just like the Wise Men brought presents to Jesus.  

James even had his first white Christmas! 

 I think one lesson he really received and took to heart was that of love and family.  We've so enjoyed having family in our home this year, filling our house with joy and warmth. 

 

James and Pops

 

James, Daddy and the pugs catching a snooze after opening presents.

Christmas Dinner 

 

James and Charlie 

 

With Uncle Trey

Helping Aunt Amy open presents

The 3 James: James Patrick (Cousin J.P.), James Edwin, and James Rex (Grumps)

 We are so truly blessed and we thank God for all of our precious family.  

"Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  - Luke 2:10-12

Trick or Treat!

Okay, so I am incredibly late on this and already have my Christmas decorations on my blog and the Christmas season on my brain.  I just love holidays!  I love that we have three good holidays back to back starting with Halloween and ending with the best, Christmas!  Here is a little of what we were up to during Halloween.

Our church had a wonderful Trunk-or-Treat for all the kids.  James was a perfect skunk (smell and all--ha!).  Since it was raining, we had to hold it indoors in the Children's wing.  Our Sunday School class (dressed as Cowboys and Indians) took over one classroom and passed out candy to the kids.  It was so busy!  James was intimidated at first, but understood quickly to say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you".  He liked the "wah-wee-pops" the best.  

We decided to go neighborhood Trick-or-Treating in Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood with Cousin Charlie before trying 2-3 homes in our neighborhood.  Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood is nice and small, so they had all the kids gathered at a block party and then people stood on their front porches to hand out candy to the kids.  It was perfect for James!  Charlie and James really stocked up on candy!

Watch out!  His tail is up!

James the Skunk and Charlie the Dino

Playing Chase

My Happy Boy!

 

We had to have a little photo shoot on the front porch too.  He is occasionally figuring out how to smile at a camera without squinting his eyes closed.  

Saying "cheese"!

Say "candy"!

My guys 

 Very blessed!

Surgery

James had his surgery back on 10/19.  He was such a trooper and we were so proud of him!  Here are a couple of pics of us our adventure.

Our pre-op room had several toys to help keep him occupied.   

James in his gown.  Almost broke my heart, but so stinkin' cute too!

  It was not a hard decision for him to choose a digger from the prize closet.  

Please pardon my look.  I had not slept well the night before for some reason....

Daddy and James right before going back. It was so sad when Chris came back with just the digger.  

Grammy and Pops stayed for several days to help out and Grandma came and helped out too.  We entertained James with the "Cars" movie, playing with his cars, building gas stations and towers with his blocks, and doing crafts.  He really enjoyed putting the little kid table upstairs (in the place of our coffee table) and coloring with markers.  

"Brown right here...

 ...there we go!  Good job!!"

 Grandma brought over some playdoh too that James really liked!  

 Of course, we also had to cheer on our Auburn Tigers!  It was a little difficult to discourage James from copying me while watching the Auburn vs. LSU game since I was jumping up and down cheering like a crazy woman.  James thought it was hilarious!

Pumpkin Patch

We took James to his first Pumpkin Patch a few weeks ago.  James bypassed all the pumpkins and headed straight for the large pen of goats.  Chris and I thought it was so cute when he would say "Hi goats!" in the sweetest and most gentle voice like he was talking to a group of little babies.  James fed the goats some corn and then attempted to find more for them to eat.  We had to stop him from picking up the stinky brown pellets.  The goats likely do not like to eat those.  You can be that we washed his hands thoroughly and immediately! 

 

We finally got around to looking for our family pumpkins.  His favorite pumpkin (that we took home) was this little white pumpkin.  

James had fun reorganizing the small pumpkins for the farm. 

 Then he did additional child labor moving some bigger pumpkins.  

We finally found all our pumpkins.  We had a big one for Daddy, a medium for Mama, and a little one for James, plus a few little gourds.  James found another reason to do some work by pulling the wagon! 

Photo op attempts have been a permanent failure lately.  This was the best one!  

Happy Autumn from Chris, Leigh, and our little Pumpkinhead!