18 months

Firt things first, this cute baby celebrated turning 18 months old on Christmas Day!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve finally arrived as did the Gregory Clan. This year was Bubba and Julie's turn to come to Tennessee for Christmas (from Florida). We all want to be in one place so everyone bunked up here.

My parent's grandchildren...


Around dinner time we added in the extended Gregory family. It is tradition to spend Christmas Eve at Muber and Pa's with my cousins. Since so many were at my house, we just moved the festivities to here. Thanks to mom and Julie for getting all the food ready for everyone. These are my grandparents great- grandchildren. The four youngest were all born within 8 months of one another.
Sam and Eliza were patiently awaiting their turn to open a present by cheering on their younger siblings. These 2 are fun to watch everytime they are together they are glued to each other.
Chase and Paige
Bryson and KK
Jared and Georgia
Eliza and her prize Snoopy Snow Cone Machine with Muber looking on in the back.
Pa and Muber... I thought I got a better picture of them, but not both in the same shot.

Jones Family Christmas

When I see this photo the song "Which one of these is not like the others?" always seems to go through my head. Poor, sweet Eliza. She is either going to be one tough cookie, one spoiled girl, or one lonely teenager because not only does she have her brothers to prevent her from dating, she has several doting cousins that cover the entire county.

We never do get to spend much time with the enitre Jones clan. Our short time (thanks to a sick tummy Bay) together was fun!

L-R: Front- Kodey, Jesse, Callan, Silas, Tobey

L-R: Back- Baylor, Avery, Eliza, Cruz, Brady, Connor, and Jackson

I have several photos of the event that IS Jones Christmas, but I don't think everyone would be pleased with the phoots. Several odd faces, lots of mid photo moving, and unprepared shots cause me to leave you with just my kiddos.

I do have to add that Papa gets the award for most creative gift giver this year. He wanted to get Gran a laptop, but wanted her to pick it out. So, he fabulously wrapped about 10 gifts in newspaper and in them hid some money and a piece to a puzzle that formed a photo of a laptop. I don't know if it was more fun watching Gran open the gifts, or watching Papa giggle at his crafy-ness.

Gingerbread House

Building a Gingerbread House has become one of our favorite traditions. The kids ask when we are going to do it a thousand times before I ever even get one. Because I have learned how to be the least frustrated in this project, I hotglue it all together sometime prior to its sugary assembly then I set it on the table and back away. Sometimes I help with the icing, sometimes I totally let it be their project. We dig through Haloween Candy (thus the reason for all the Buzz Lightyear adorning our house) and pile on as much as it will hold.
The joy for them is totally worth it. I just have to figure out how to make the project last more than 7 minutes.

KOTK Performance

This kids Mom's Day Out always does a little performance to mark the Christmas Season. I was afraid that Cruz would pull a Silas and cry as soon as he saw me in the crowd. But the director has gotten OH SO SMART. She casted his sister in a speaking role during the young ones stage time and she got to stand up there with him and comfort him. It was precious. Cruz did not once move his lips but I did see a jingle of the bells a few times.



And when it was Eliza's turn... she pulled out a mean "Walk like an Egyptian"... I mean "Oh, come let us adore him."



Eliza and her sweet buddy, Jacob (who I might add is an absolutely normal sized 4 year old... just looks big next to our pipsqueak)


Our "Clay-Clay" who seems to be "raising the roof"


It is always special when Daddy gets to come to school.

OH BROTHERS!

You know, he is gonna have to be tough to be the baby brother in this house. The boys never leave him alone and are always "playing" with him. Enter exhibit A...

My sweet little baby boy, shirtless, with a hammer ready for some work.



Only to turn around and find what I find more times than I care to count. The boys pull his pants down and tuck his diaper in so he is walking around "cracking" them up.

Baylor's Chorus

Thanks to neighbors, Baylor goes to school a little early every Tuesday so he can be a part of the 4th and 5th grade Chorus. He seems to really like it and enjoys the special freedoms and treatment it gives him. We were finally treated to get a listen in on what they have been doing every week in their Christmas Performance.

Baylor on the stage with the very few boys that participate.


Baylor and his long time friend (since pre-school). They just seem to get each other and always navigate back to each other. They are the same in so many ways... sports, academics, nature. I love that he has some rock solid friends.


Add in our neighbor friend, and you have one great looking group of 4th graders.