Happy Christmas Eve!!

Making Santa Christmas cookies with Grandma Joy.

The spot light in the front of our house went out so Todd and his dad went out to fix it. Carson brought his own tools out to help them.

Today we went to the Gaylord Texan to see ICE which this year was themed after "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." They had ice slides for both adults and children's. This is Carson up at the top.

The line for the slide.

Mommy and Carson

Daddy and Carson

Our little penguin ... too cute!

Carson, Don, Todd and Joy

Todd on the slide.

Don, yes Don on the slide!

Joy on the slide!

Carson at the bottom of the slide. He started off in the same position.

After ICE we went over to Bass Pro Shop to see Santa while we waited Carson got to ride on the Carousel.

Mommy and Carson

Mommy Carson and Daddy at ICE ... pics are a little out of order.

The Whos

Look what we got in Dallas!

Cutie in the SNOW!

Our view on our way home from Bass Pro Shop. Yes, that is SNOW!

Carson and Santa!

Carson meeting Santa!

Carson playing in the snow. He loved to lick his gloves.

Our backyard in SNOW!

Our Front Door today in SNOW!!

Carson taking a cat nap while watching his train.

He loves trains if you could not tell.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone. We will be back tomorrow with our Christmas post.

Happy Birthday Ali

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday dear Ali.

Happy birthday to you.

Wish we could be there with you. We hope you had a wonderful day!

Christmas Is Coming

Good Night Time with Daddy. Carson is growing up. He use to sit with Todd to read his book before he goes to bed. First he would to sit on his lap. Then he would sit next to Todd. Now most of the time he want to sit in his crib while Todd reads his books.

The other night when I told him it was time for bed and ran and got his "B" and his "Doggy." Then he took them into his room and started reading "Doggy" a book.

He also started to rock him and sing to him. Too cute! After Christmas Carson is going to be moving into his Big Boy Room. I think he is more than ready.
The other day during his nap be climbed out of his crib came out of his room and wanted his tool set. Once he got it he went back to his room and climbed back up into his crib with his tool set and took his nap.

Carson and "Doggy" dancing to Christmas music. He really loves Jingle Bells. It's on repeat in our car.

Watching a Christmas movie with Daddy.

Here is the Christmas ornament that Carson made for us at school. This is how he puts it on the tree. If we turn it around so that you can see the picture he will come and turn it around again.

Look at our cutie. He is wearing a angle costume with a halo. Too sweet!

This was his Christmas gift to us. He was so excited to give it to us. Whenever you ask him who is that. He will say with a BIG SMILE "Sarton." Yes, that is how he says Carson.

We have a busy week just like the rest of the world. Today we have playgroup over at Kate and Hananh's house. Tuesday Don and Joy arrive from Louisville. Let the fun begin.

Santa Times Two

Santa number one. We went to the Galleria Saturday morning to see Santa and eat lunch. When we walked into Nordstroms this cute Santa was there. So we sat Carson up on his lap. Carson was not to sure about the whole idea but after about 30 seconds he was at home and I think could have sat there all afternoon if he had his snacks and cartoons.

Waiting for Santa number two ... not so sure about it. So we got "Doggy" out of the stroller. Check out his new Little Boy hair cut. He looks so sweet.

Really not that sure about it ... as you can see he has added his "B" to his "Doggy."

All done. I did not take any pictures of him on this Santa's lap because they where taking the pictures.

After our Santa visits we went to the play area and then for lunch. While at lunch Carson sat in a Big Boy chair and ate his hamburger like Big Boys do (not cut into pieces). He is growing up way to fast.

That night we went to the Playgroup Christmas Party. Silly me forgot to take pictures but everyone had a fun and amazing time. It was a fun and busy day.

Sunday we were able to go to church and bring our adopted family their gifts. It was nice to be able to go. That morning I stopped using my pump and was able to wear a dress. Carson on the other hand was not a very good boy and started saying "Hey hey" when things were not going his way. Todd says that to him when he is doing something he is not suppose to. Now I think we will have to start saying something else.

Carson is starting to understand that the babies are in my tummy and their names. He is so cute and calls them "Toton and Tarlina" he also calls himself "Sarcon". He use to say "Carson" but it has changed.

Monday was playgroup at Bass Pro Shop and with all the activities there this 4 wheeler was the hit. The kids climbed all over it.

Randon and Carson

Addison - Yes she is not wearing shoes, has a shotgun and is on a 4 wheeler. She could be a redneck ... a very cute redneck.

The people at Bass Pro LOVE us. Not only were we there for close to two hours and did not buy a thing but we also had a kid fall in between the fake dock and the boat head first. She was screaming and crying like she was being burned alive. Don't worry she was fine.

This week is all about getting ready for Christmas. Time to get busy!!

Like Father Like Son

Yesterday Todd was working on our Christmas card list so Carson went and got his pad of paper and a pen and then mimicked Todd. He has been doing this a lot.

Tonight Todd was checking his email on his phone so Carson went and got his phone and sat next to Todd and did whatever he did.

Even rubbing his nose. What a sweetie!

Meet Carolina Joy. We had an sono done on Monday. Carson went with me to my appointment. He has seen so many sonos that every time he sees a pic like this he says "Baby." What a smart little boy he is.

Introducing Colton Michael. While we were having the sono done they will click on the heart and you can hear the heartbeat. When they did Colton's Carson came from behind the table and said "Wow!' I told him that it was the baby's heartbeat. Then when they clicked on Carolina's he came again from behind the table and said "heartbeat." He really is starting to learn and catch on to things really fast now. You have to watch what you do now because his little eyes and ears catch everything.

Ashley a Celebration of Life

Today in about an hour there is going to be a celebration of a beautiful life that was cut way to short. My cousin Ashley Rae Abernethy lost her battle with with cancer earlier this week. As my mom's friend Kathy said she may have lost her battle with cancer but she won her battle of life. Today would have been her 23rd birthday. We are not able to make it to her funeral and the celebration of her life. I know it's where we should be and wish we could. Our hearts, prayers and tears go out to her family and friends. Please read Ali's blog because her son Jackson has what I think are the most comforting thoughts and words for this sad time. The faith of a child will always amaze me.

From Ali's Blog:

Sad News
I have to report some sad news. My cousin (second cousin actually) Ashley Abernethy passed away today after battling sinus cancer since May. She was only 22. I ask you to please pray for her mother, Barb, her sister, Kelsey, and the rest of her family. Just last night, Jackson prayed for her during his bedtime prayer. And then Andrew prayed for the family before dinner and Jackson asked, "What happened to Ashley's family?" I said they were sad because Ashley had to go to heaven. I didn't want to just flat out say she died, but he knew it. He said, "So she died?" And I replied yes. He said, "Oh man. That's bad when cousins die." Then tonight I asked him to pray for Ashley's family during his bedtime prayer and he asked if Ashley was in heaven with God and Jesus and asked if she could see them. I told him yes and he said, "Wow that is so cool to be able to see God and Jesus." The faith of a child.

Below is her obituary.

Ashley Rae Abernethy
12.02.09 Ashley Rae Abernethy
Ashley Rae Abernethy, 22, Lee’s Summit, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 1, 2009, ending her courageous seven-month battle against SinoNasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma.
“Ash Dog the Booty Hog” was born on December 4, 1986 in Shawnee Mission, Ks. to John Kendall and Barbara Jean (Conoyer) Abernethy. She graduated from Lee’s Summit High School and attended Northwest Missouri State University. Ashley was everyone’s buddy and the consummate peacemaker among her many and varied friends. She loved serving others and caring for babies and children, and this beautiful girl was dearly loved by her family and friends.
Ashley was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather and namesake, Ray Conoyer. She is survived by her mother, Barb Abernethy, and sister, Kelsey Abernethy, of the home, and her father, Ken Abernethy, Independence. She also is survived by her maternal grandparents, Dorothy and Bill Killday, Edina; paternal grandparents, Don and Helen Abernethy, Caruthersville, and Jackie and Doug Kollar, Kirksville; aunts and uncles, Donna and Ray Hudson, Alexandria, Va., Linda and Tim Wurm, Wentzville, Steve and Joanne Conoyer, Palmyra, Nancy and Scott Goodwin, Knox City, and Paul Abernethy, Independence; cousins, Lauren and Beth Hudson, Brian and Danny Wurm, Jay and Trevor Conoyer, Montana Goodwin and Chase Abernethy; Ken’s companion, Lucinda Hoffman, Independence; Barb’s companion, Mark Bredemeier, Lee’s Summit; and Ashley’s faithful dog, Bud.
Ashley also leaves behind loving friends and classmates that grew into the hundreds and an army of her fellow prayer warriors that in recent months multiplied into the thousands all across the country.
The family would like to thank Dr. Kelley Young, and the staffs at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, St. Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit, and Kansas City Hospice House for all their loving care of Ashley during her final weeks here with us. Although she has left us too soon, we can only imagine Ashley’s joy as she is surrounded by His glory and hears the sweetest sound, the voices of the angels. She is finally home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Rosary Service following at 8 p.m., at Langsford Funeral Home, Lee’s Summit. Mass of the Christian Burial will be Friday, December 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, Lee’s Summit, with graveside services to follow at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday dear Papa.

Happy birthday to you.

Yesterday Papa got to enjoy his birthday down at Big Cedar with my Mom, Caroline and Molly. They were able to do some shopping, go to Silver Dollar City and have dinner at Big Cedar ... Yummy!

We are very blessed to have Papa in our lives. He is an amazing man who is an inspiration for all his family and friends.

This week we joined our playgroup for a tour of our fire station. Carson was a little afraid and spent most of his time there right by Mommy's legs. The other kids had a blast and did minimal amount of damage to the station and it's trucks. A few horns went off without warning and some supplies were taken out of the ambulance. No matter where you are with a group a two year olds there will always be a mess. But the mommies buttered up the firemen with sandwiched, drinks and cookies. When we all left there were smiles on every ones faces.

Christmas Two Weeks Early

Carson was such an amazing helper with the Christmas decorating this year.

Since we were going to be out of town the two weekends before Thanksgiving we went ahead and did our Christmas decorating super early this year. It was also a very nice 75 degrees outside so it made for the perfect day for decorating and lights.

Carson would push these Rubbermaid containers around the house. He was so proud of himself.

Back to work!

Our Results! Next year we will need to make room for two more stockings. What a happy thought.

Carson loved to turn the lights on and off on our trees. We have a clicker and he puts it to good use.

This year Carson is really starting to love his Christmas books.

My Advent Calendar Box. I have been waiting for this for a while now. The only problem with it this year is that I can only put one days gift in at a time since I have a set a little sticky two year old hands always checking it.

I guess having it all done so early was a blessing because right now it would be hard to pull it off.

WE ARE BACK!

Pretty flowers from the Farwells. So nice of them.

Since a little before Halloween this is were Carson likes to watch his DVD's ... Todd's side of our bed. He is so cute when he does it. He will bring in his "B", his "Doggy" and whatever snack he is eating. Todd loves the crumbs! Then when you come it to the room he will say "sit sit sit" he wants you to sit next to him and watch. What a cutie!

First let me apologize for the laps in our blog postings. I have not been feeling my best and it all started on our drive back from Missouri after our Halloween trip. With this pregnancy I now get car sick when I'm not driving. So the 11 hour trip back with Todd driving was a rough one. To make this short. After 3 trips to the ER and a few days in the hospital due to my inability to stop to vomiting once I start. So now to stop the nausea before it starts they have me on a 24 hour pump that gives me my medicine all day long. Don't worry the babies are perfectly healthy and had no idea all of this was going on. While watching the sono while I was in the hospital we were able to see them and Colton was even kicking Carolina. Poor boy I can already tell he is going to be spending some time in "time out."

Since the traveling is what started all of this they don't want me to travel for a while. So Todd and I have canceled all our trips all the way through the end of December. This meant that we had to miss Thanksgiving with my family back in Kirksville. That made me sad but we made the best out of it and had a nice relaxing long weekend here in Dallas. Todd and I even made our first turkey and it was a success. Mom and Dad were so sweet and even sent us 3 bags of homemade noodles to make .... YUMMY! Over all we had a very nice "Merry Little Thanksgiving" here at home.

We are very blessed to have amazing family and friends. Matt and Hang watched Carson for us the whole time I was in the ER and hospital. Carson loved his time with them and they were so kind to even stay over at our house so that he could sleep in his own bed and play with his own toys.

My playgroup friends were ready to take over if I was going to have to spend more time in the hospital and even volunteered to take Carson once I got home. Kate came over so that Todd could get caught up on some home stuff. Her daughter Hannah and Carson played for a few hours and Todd was able to catch up on mail and all the other house duties.

Kaitlin was so sweet and flew down from Iowa to help me when Todd went back to work. All I can say is that Carson is in LOVE. Even a week after she had left Carson is still asking for her. By the time she had to leave to go home I was feeling much better. I was so thankful to have her here. What a wonderful family I'm blessed with. I wish I would have taken some pictures of the two of them but it just did not get done. THANK YOU KAITLIN!!!

My sister Ali and her very cute and sweet family sent me the prettiest flowers which put a big smile on my face. Thanks Ali! They looked perfect in the kitchen with all the Christmas decor.

Lissy also was planning on coming down to help out BUT I was feeling much better. Thank you Lis for even thinking about it. I know that you are so busy and it meant a lot to know that you wanted to help.

So over all it's been a crazy month but we are healthy and we have two healthy babies that are growing like they should be.