These sweet faces...

Keyton's sweet face!

Garrison's sweet face!

We have been given the wonderful surprise of a FIVE day weekend!   Yay!  It snowed a little so school was called off Thursday, and then again Friday due to the severe cold temperature.   And...if that wasn't good enough, we are off on Monday for MLK Day!   WOW!   I LOVE LOVE LOVE staying at home with my little boys!   I am enjoying EVERY minute of their precious childhood because I can see them growing up way too fast right before my eyes!   I just can't get enough of staring at these sweet faces!   

My Soft-Hearted Boys

Really into the Really Big Movie

Getting a little sad...

Today, the boys cleaned out their movie collection and decided to try and sell some of the ones they really don't watch.  I was very proud of them since they usually don't like to part with many things!   I didn't even ask for them to do this...they just came through the house with a stack to sell.   However, Garrison wanted to keep Clifford's Really Big Movie.   Keyton usually makes Garrison watch big boy shows with him so I asked Keyton to lay down with Garrison and let him enjoy Clifford.   Keyton used to love it so much!   Keyton was a very good big brother and they went in there and turned the lights off to enjoy the movie. I was in the living room watching some TV of my own when I hear Keyton yelling, "Mommy, this is kinda sad!" He sounded like he was almost in tears.   I went in there and both of them had their lips in a pucker.   It seems that Clifford had left Emily-Elizabeth and they were very sad for him.   I told them it would be ok and Keyton said he knew that but that he was still very sad.   They seemed fineso I left them to finish watching it.   About 15 minutes later...Garrison came running out crying as hard as he could!   He scared me because I thought he had gotten hurt.  I picked him up and asked what was wrong.  He just buried his head on my chest and said "Clifford and his friends are still LEFT!"  How sweet!  My boys are so tender hearted.   They were so concerned for poor Clifford.   It looks like they get emotional like me!   Hey...I teared up last night at The President's Farewell Address!   

Something to blog about...

Look at those great helpers!

Keyton was on a mission!

Dig, Garrison, Dig!

Keyton wanted me to watch how good he was at ripping boxes!

Garrison took a break to try on some old clown shoes!

The other night, the boys were playing in the basement in their playroom.  All of a sudden, I hear Keyton yell, "Hey, mommy...come down here and bring your camera.  We are doing something you will want to put on your blog!"  How funny!  He is into blogging already!  He will probably want his own soon!   Anyway, I went down there, camera in hand, anxious for the big reveal!   They had decided to wander over to the very unfinished den area.   This is the future den that they plan on helping their daddy fix up so they can decorate it all "manly!"  Right now, it is just home an old-fashioned wood stove.  (which we love because it helps heat this place sooo good and saves us money!) We throw boxes down sometimes to use for building a fire.  Anyway...they got the ideas that it would be of GREAT HELP to rip all of the boxes up into pieces for me so it would be easier for me to use in starting a fire.  They were oh so proud of their work.   They just kept asking me if I was proud of them.   Of course, I assured them I was oh so proud of my good helpers.   They worked and worked until no box was left unripped!   You just never know when there is going to be something great to blog about!   

Happy New Year!

My sweet big boy!

My sweet baby boy!

Getting ready for the countdown...

Watching the countdown...

After the countdown...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

The boys and I went to our church last night for a chili/spaghetti supper.   We had a great time- they played with toys and I played cards.   Dana had to work since it was a holiday.  It was supposed to be his day off so we were a little bummed, but I do understand.  We left church a little before 11 because the boys wanted to be home at midnight.   They played some more and then they came into the living room with me to watch the countdown on TV.   They thought that was a big deal!   I may not do anything fancy for a New Year's celebration, but there is no where I would rather ring in a new year than at home with my boys!   

Christmas 2008

Our tree before the boys attacked it!

Keyton has wanted these forever!   Santa is nicer than Mommy!

Garrison LOVES LOVES LOVES this!

Santa brought this for BOTH of them!   

They said they would like to sleep in it tonight!

This gun makes real sounds!

His very OWN first aid kit!

The boys thought he needed a new hammer!

This is all I asked for:  Nintendo DS  w/  BrainAge!   

I got more though! :-) 

The boys had soooo much fun opening all of their cool gifts!   Keyton said this was the best Christmas ever!   Garrison couldn't stop looking at his new tractor that Santa left for him!  He even opened some of his presents while sitting on it! Keyton got all kinds of new "big boy" gadgets!  He can't wait to try out his new Laser Tag and Night Vision Goggles!   Garrison is excited to get his tractor outside and drive and he is already trying out his "real" laptop!  I still haven't seen my living room floor yet!  I'm sure it is there...we will get to it eventually!   Christmas is so much fun!   

Our new guest...

They could hardly wait to open this box!!!

They loved the little elf...so cute!!!

We are so excited to have a guest in our house.  He is one of Santa's elves and he will be staying with us until Christmas Eve! He came to our house complete with a book telling of his duties.   See, this little elf, which my boys named Snowy, sits in our house and watches the boys.  He flies off to the North Pole every night and reports to Santa.  He tells Santa if they were good or bad.   Each morning when we wake up, he will be in a different location in our house and it is our job it try and find him!   On Christmas eve, he goes back to the North Pole with Santa. However, Snowy will return to our house each year around Christmas time because he is OUR special elf! The boys are super excited and have been showering him with hugs and kisses!   They cannot wait to see where he is in the morning!   The book is very cool because it has a place in the back to record what year your started this family tradition and you can register your elf's name online in the elf database!  I am excited to have started a new family tradition with my boys!   

Snowmen

The last-minute creation!

Keyton enjoying it...yum-o!

Garrison enjoying it...yum-o!

Since we didn't really get enough snow to make a snowman...this morning we had the next best thing!   I made the boys snowman pancakes!   I don't know why, but the idea struck me as soon as I woke up. I often do different things when I make pancakes.  So, this morning we had SNOWMEN!!!  The kids were so excited!   They turned out okay but I wish I had M&M's to use as the eyes and mouth...the chocolate syrup was a little runny!   They really enjoyed the piece of Starburst I used for the nose!     I just had to use what I had!   It didn't  matter what it was made of...the boys absolutely loved them!   They said I had "good ideas!" That is something every mommy needs to hear!   

We LOVE snow days!!!

My boys love the snow!!!

Keyton

Garrison

Keyton & the shovel...

Garrison & the rake...

We LOVE snow days at the DOWDY house!!!  The boys got so excited when they saw the snow falling last night.   As soon as they woke up, they looked out to make sure it was still here!  Then they immediately begged to go play in it for a little while! So...I bundled them up and we went out for as long as we could stand it...IT IS SO COLD!!!!   Brr! They had fun throwing snow at me and using their shovel and rake in the snow.   I love getting to spend the whole day at home with my boys! I don't know who gets more excited about these snow days...the kids or us teachers......hmmmm.....probably teachers!  :-)

Cute sight...

Dana & Keyton were zoned in...Garrison sensed my presence

Tonight the boys went to the basement and were waiting on Dana to take a shower and come down and play with them.  Dana got out of the shower and came through the house and said "Rudolph is on!"   Dana LOVES when those old cartoons some on each year.  He says it takes him back to his childhood.  I always remember loving it when they came on as well.  I actually bought the Rudolph & Frosty DVD's for him last year.  Still yet...he says it is better when they actually come on the TV. So...he yelled for the boys to come upstairs and watch a "special show" with him.  At first they complained because they were deep in the middle of playing.  However, they gave in, snuggled up with him, and enjoyed the show!  I had to capture it on camera.  It was a sweet moment seeing my three guys glued to the TV watching about those magical reindeer! Garrison said he loved those reindeer and Keyton wanted to know how they were able to fly! Dana was just content watching the show!   Ahhh...the simple things in life!

Our Christmas Card...

This is our Christmas card for the year.  It showcases some of my many favorite pictures of our family beach trip!   I am loving the brown and blue together.  It is one of my favorite color combinations!   We have so much to be thankful for during the holiday season.  We all should try to remember to be thankful all year long and not just during the last few months of the year.  I know that my family has faced many struggles over the last few years.  They have definitely made me realize what are the important things in life!  I am so very blessed to be able to call the 3 wonderful guys in this Christmas card MY guys!   I love my family!