Christmas with Friends

Saigel, Riley, Addison, and Dalton...
anxiously waiting to tear in to the presents!

Doug and Cindy got Dalton a Crayola Artist set.
He was so excited!

Riley showing off her sparkly shirt and headband I got for them at Justice. I really enjoy shopping for these girls. I think John and I would go bankrupt if we had a girl of our own. There are so many cute things to buy for girls!

I texted Todd and Paige last week while I was keeping their girls for them and said "If Dalton turns out to be half as sweet as these girls...I will call it a success!" They are all precious and I am so glad Dalton has these girls to grow up with.

A Christmas Surprise

Last Tuesday, my mom and dad brought my Mamaw Hillis to see us. My dad said his Christmas present to her this year was to bring her up to our house from Forrest City to get to see us and where we live. They had a long day in store because after they left my house in Maumelle, they went to my sister's house in Damascus, and then to my brother's house in Bald Knob. We had fun getting to see her and visiting with her for a while. It also makes for a perfect photo opp! (You'll have to excuse the "no make-up" look. They got there earlier than I thought and I did not have time to put any on. Oh, well!)

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Our church is going through a study about Christmas written by Rick Warren called, "The Purpose of Christmas". In the book, he talks about that Christmas is a time for Celebration, Salvation, and Reconciliation. He says that as a three-year-old child, he asked his mom, "Why do we have Christmas?" His mother explained that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday. He said, "Well, then, we should have a birthday party for Jesus! We can have cake and Kool-Aid and sing happy birthday Jesus!" His mother said, "Okay, we will!" He says that started a five-decade family tradition of having a birthday party for Jesus. John and I really liked this idea, so we began this tradition this year with our little one. I am not sure he totally got it, but it was just another way that we could emphasize the fact that yes, gifts are nice, but the greatest gift we have been given is the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

Dalton and dad blowing out the candles for Jesus.

"....Happy birthday dear Jesus, Happy birthday to You!"

Our birthday cake for Jesus.

This party sparked a lot of theological discussion afterwards like "Where is Jesus?" and "Why isn't He here at His party?" I know he doesn't "get"it all now (I don't think I really "get" it all, either!), but my prayer is that we are just slowly planting little seeds in his heart and that one day those seeds will take root and he will come to know Jesus as his own personal Savior. What a joy, privilege, and awesome responsibility we have as his parents to share the Good News of Christ with him.

Ms. Becky and Mr. John came over after our birthday party and brought Dalton a Christmas present. Ms. Becky made this scarf and hat for him. Is it not the cutest? Love it!


I use this blog as a way to share with others what's going on in our lives, but also a way to journal about the funny and memorable things that happen. We started another tradition this year of reading "What does God want for Christmas?" This book tell the story of Christ's birth while putting the nativity scene together, piece by piece. Every night you open a different box and it has a person to add to the nativity. I have always heard about this and thought it sounded so neat and spiritual. I wonder sometimes if the authors intended for it to be as funny as it was at our house! On the night that we opened baby Jesus, who, granted, was laying on some funny looking hay, Dalton says, "Is he laying on macaroni and cheese?" I could not help but laugh! The night we opened Mary, one of the questions in the book was "Are you ready now to give your life to service for God?" John read the question and when he was finished we both looked at Dalton, expecting him to not really even understand the question. But as soon as we looked at him, those eyes widened and he emphatically shook his head "no"! John said, "Okay, let's pray." Too funny!
When we opened the last box which tells what God wants for Christmas by putting a mirror in the box. The answer is "You!" God wants "You" for Christmas! We gave Dalton the box and really built the anticipation of "What does God want for Christmas?". He opened the box and said, "He wants a mirror!" I think God knew we would go crazy as parents if He did not add some kind of humor to the mix!

Santa comed to my house!

I woke up Christmas morning really unaware of what day it was. Mom and Dad got me dressed and then Dad said, "Do you know who came to our house last night?" I said, "Who?" Dad said, "Santa!" Dad said I could go see what Santa brought me but first I had to wait for him to get the video camera ready. As soon as Dad said "Ready!" I ran in the living room and said a big "Wow!" Santa brought me my "big paint brush and big paint" that I told him I wanted plus more! Look at all the stuff he brought me!

My big paint, big brush, and big paper

"Dalton's Snack Shop"
He also brought me this super fun snack shop equipped with menu boards, money, food, clock, price tags, and it even folds up for easy storage which makes my mom and dad very happy! Good job, Santa!

Santa left me a sweet note in my artist pad of paper.

I was a little overwhelmed with all the stuff!

Counting my money I had earned from my snack shop.

Painting with my big paint brush and paint, painter's palette, and big paper.

I love you, Dad!

Christmas at Aunt Gigi's

We went to my sister's house in Damascus for Christmas lunch with my family. We had a great time. It was there that I realized the difference between a 2-year old and a 3-year old. I remembered that last year I spent most of the time following him around and making sure he was not getting into anything he wasn't supposed to. It was more exhausting than anything. Not this year! He and his cousin Jameson had the best time playing together. Aunt Gigi has a basement in her house and that's where Jansen and Tanner's bedrooms are. Those boys played down there together for at least an hour without fussing or fighting the entire time. At one point, I told Dalton that Jameson was his cousin. He said, "Yah, and my friend, too!" Which is even better! Most of the afternoon was spent playing my nephew's, Jansen and Tanner, Wii game. I found out that my Wii fitness age was 58. I did great at the bowling (I was the intramural champion for bowling at CBC :), but I stunk it up at the baseball and tennis...poor eye-hand coordination, I guess!

Me, Gina, and Spencer
(It appears that Gina is the same height as Spencer and me. But, truth be known, she is standing on her hearth and we are standing on the floor. Good try, Gina!)

Our silly pose...Mom is so proud!

Uncle Jason and Dalton drawing on his Magna Doodle.

Gran and Pop got Dalton 2 movies: 101 Dalmations and Pinochio.
(BTW, Gran, he was watching that movie while I was blogging and loving every minute!)

"Playing" Jansen and Tanner's Wii.
(Notice it's plugged into his pocket!)

Gran and Pop and all their boys. Aunt Kim is expecting boy #5 in February. Boys, boys, boys!

Gina's family

My Mom and Dad

Whew! This Christmas stuff is exhausting!
(Notice the leg stretched out completely touching the seat in front of him. No wonder his 3T pants are almost too short. I just hope they make it until summer!)

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's

After a good nap at home, it was time to go eat Christmas supper with Grandma and Grandpa. Just like every year, Grandma outdid herself with a delicious supper. As a tradition, we always have a family discussion about God and what He has done for us this year. The discussion this year was to name your favorite Christmas song, sing it, and then tell why it was your favorite. It was fun singing Christmas songs together and it was something that the little kids could get involved in too. When it came time for Dalton's turn, he first said his favorite song was "Backyardigans", but then with further thought, he changed it to "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer". Super fun singing that song with all the Herring's! :)

Jeff, Austin, Kristin, Abby, and Grandpa

Grandpa, Autumn, Grandma, Dalton, and me.

Dalton found some chap stick in his stocking.

Bring on the presents!

Uncle John and Austin

Watching Christmas movies together

One of the hardest jobs comes at Christmas every year: getting toys out of the box. This year two of his toys required power tools to get them out! Dalton is giving Dad a hug for working so hard to get his remote control car out of the box.

Uncle Jeff and Aunt Kristin got Dalton this Buzz Light Year robe with his name on it! He has been wanting a robe like mom and dad wear. He said, "Can I go take a shower, now?"

One of his favorite gifts was this echoing microphone. Thanks Grandma!

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning, Dalton and I left the house bright and early to go to AR Children's Hospital for their "Breakfast with Santa". Not sure who had more fun...me or Dalton!

Our breakfast was made and served by the Little Rock Fire Department. They made pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, orange juice, and an orange. They parked their fire truck outside and gave the kids tours of the inside. Dalton loved that!

He got to write a letter to Santa....

....and then sent it to him in the special mailbox.

The elves had Santa on the "mainline" and were calling him so that the kids could talk to Santa.
Too cute!

Listening intently to what Santa had to say.

Christmas would not be complete without a tattoo!

I love this picture!
My how things change in just a year. I remember last year we had to have a family picture with Santa because Dalton had such a death grip on me that I had to be in the picture too. Not this year! This boy went up there all by himself and even told Santa, "Merry Christmas!"

When Santa asked, "What do you want for Christmas?" Dalton answered, "A big paint brush and big paint!" I asked him later why he wanted this and he said Ms. Becky paints the walls at church and he wanted big paint and a big brush like she has. Uh-oh! I am scared! I have been wanting my living room painted....

Making a Chrismas card...we got a little "happy" with the glue!

Santa was letting the kids test drive his sleigh outside. So fun!

We had a great time! I am thinking this will have to be a yearly tradition and dad is going next year to pull double-duty in the long lines! More than a great time, it was all for a wonderful cause!