Christmas Day

Wow, what a whirlwind of a day!! Jax woke up at 6:00 a.m. and Shade woke up around 6:30 and they started yelling at us to come and get them. Zach went in and hung out with them until 7:00 getting them all crazy and way to excited. I don't know how they stayed in bed that long. They came running out and were very excited to see everything. Shade ran around the house looking for Santa. He was a little sad Santa had to go home. They started opening everything and of course were looking for their Ben 10 Omnitrix watches. That is all they have been talking about for months. Well, Santa was very good to them and they got them and about 6 different Ben 10 action figures. They got all kinds of good stuff, learning systems, clothes, books, transformers, WWF wrestling belts, light sabers...I could go on a long time. By the time they had opened everything Aynslee decided to wake up. Her favorite gift was her My little pony that Zach got her. I was excited that she got a Popple(remember those?). The very best part of Christmas morning was when I acted like I was taking the trash out and came back in to show the boys what Santa could not fit in the house. They ran out to see what it was and about fell over. They got a John Deere Gator power wheels. They both jumped right in and took it for a spin. I love to see their faces so happy. We are truly a spoiled rotten family. We have been blessed so much. We had a great day hanging out and playing with all of our stuff. The boys ran the battery out on the Gator and Ayns loved to chew on Minty (the pony). Now, we are just trying to clean everything up and find a home for it all. It will take a while, but we had a great time making the mess. Thank you to all of our family for the great gifts and money. We really missed you all on Christmas day, but thought of you often. We love you all!!!

Sugar Cookies

Christmas is almost here and I had a sudden panic attack this morning when I realized that this will be the first year that I would not have my Grandma Leaks mouth watering sugar cookies. I have gone home every year for Christmas and have always had at least one (usually 20). I even made them to send to Zach last year while he was deployed. I didn't want him to miss out. Well, I hate to make sugar cookies. They take way to long and for some reason they never turn out right. I had to try this year. I have to brag a little, they were good. Not Grandma Leak good, but not bad for Rikki good. I also had to send a picture of the cookies because Courtney and Sonnie told me last year that I was the worst froster they had ever met. I thought these looked dang good!! Good enough to eat sisters!! We took a plate to Jacksons friend Gavin and his family. Then a couple of plates to our neighbors. We love Christmas time and love the opportunity to share. We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and I hope your mouths are watering for these Grandma Leak sugar cookies. They are the best. Frosting his cookie for Gavin (For those of you who saw our Christmas card, he has the same look on his face. Like why are you making me do this.)
Shades cookie got LOTS of frosting on his

Aynslee was such a good girl. She hung out in her bouncer the whole time

My wonderful frosting job

Not bad Courtney and Sonnie!!

Getting one of the plates ready

Here is our tree and stockings. We are quickly adding to our stocking collection

Our newest addition

Last week Zachs parents flew down here for a visit, and we had a great time. Whenever Zach and his dad get together they always seem to find a project to do. Since we are trying to get our yard landscaped they decided that we needed a flag pole in our front yard. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical at first when they told me they were going to put it together from scratch. They thought the one at Lowes was to crappy for our yard. Go figure. They went to Lowes and looked around for about an hour grabbing things here and there that they thought would make a great flag pole. A few black poles, the top of a bed post, some silver spray paint, and various other weird things, 37 pieces to be exact. Well, with as unsure about it as I was, it actually turned out very well. I have to give them both props for there vision and putting it together the way they thought it would go. It also gave them something to keep them busy. Good job guys. We are now the most patriotic home on Wolfe Road. God bless America. The infamous flag pole ( sorry it is dark, they worked all day)
Our Christmas lights.

Shade rockin' like a true southerner. We are thinking of changing his name to Bubba

Zach, Jax and Rich. Checking out our property. This is a weekly ride for the boys. They love it.

Oh Christmas Tree

We, unlike most of the United States have waited until December to start celebrating Christmas. Today we decided that it would be ok to get our tree. We drove to a little tree farm not that far from our home. When we got there, we were reminded that this is not the west and we are in Mississippi. Not prime christmas tree country. There were about 50 little trees that cost about double what they were worth. It was a lot of fun though. The kids loved looking at all the trees and fire ants around the trees. Shade is a fire ant magnet, he can trip into one anytime. Jax has an eye for calling them out and Shade will come running to see it and trip right on it. We love our boys. Anyway, back to the tree, we found a great tree and cut it down and they wrapped it up and tied it on our car for us. The past few years we have gone in the great Black Hills of South Dakota to find our tree, but this was just about as fun. It was cold, but a lot less cold and not as much wind as South Dakota, and no snow. Grandpa and Grandma Stewart are here for a week and they got to come with us. It was a great day. I will post pictures of the decorated tree later. Trying to decide if this was the one. It was not.
It took 3 strong boys to cut down this monster

What a scary picture. Jax and Shade with saws!!!

Jax, Shade, Zach, Grandma, Grandpa, and Aynslee

Same picture, just me instead of Zach

Our family and our tree 2007