Christmas Came

We had a wonderful Christmas...all over the state of Alabama :-) We started out celebrating the season with our Sunday School Class. So fun to see all the kiddos starting to really play together at our socials! Also fun to get to spend time with the babies :-)

Next, we headed to Wedowee, AL where we celebrated Christmas with Kevin's extended family. We started out at Mawmaw & Pawpaw's (AKA: the Farm).

Dustin donned his Christmas Sweater t-shirt :-)

Carter got some snuggle time with Nana.

We opened lots of presents - Carter was totally spoiled by everyone involved!

This is the BEST picture I got of his Christmas outfit that I made for him.

He got a Stuffed Santa - he likes this Santa MUCH more than the real thing :-)

Peek-a-boo, Papa J!

Next we headed over to Gran & DaddyBob's (AKA: the Lake). Carter was the only Grandchild there, so the spoiling continued (who could resist?)

Playing with Daddy.

Carter is drawn to piles of presents - what can I say - who isn't?

Playing with DaddyBob.

After our wonderful weekend in Wedowee, we headed back to Huntsville. My sweet mother-in-law has been giving me Christmas dishes since we got married (for every birthday/Christmas). This Christmas, I got my 12th place setting - a complete set - woohoo!!! Soooo, I thought I'd have a 12 person dinner party. We had 5 other couples over, and had a fantastic evening with our "Huntsville Family." I cooked ham, green bean casserole, maccaroni & cheese, corn casserole, rolls, and apple pie - everything was yummy!!! Here was my table...

So pretty, thanks, Mrs. Claire!

For those wondering: the plates are scooted up so no little hands pulled them off the table!

We didn't forget about the kiddos...they had their table too!

Note: This didn't last long...

They were done and back to playing/watching cartoons in about 5 minutes flat :-)

At least they are now able to occupy each other while we eat and visit!

Over the next few days, we had fun dancing to Christmas music and checking out presents under the tree. Sorry about the non-quality of these photos - they were too cute not to share!

Pharaoh, Pharaoh?

Next, we headed down to Auburn, AL to celebrate Christmas there with our immediate families. We have never been away from home on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day, but we decided to be in Auburn this year. It was a special time with both families, and we got to spend more time than usual with both sides - a Christmas present in itself. We started at Kevin's parents' house.

Carter and his cousins are all old enough to play together now, and they have a BLAST!

Every doll house needs a boy's touch :-)

We opened gifts.

This one was a hit...

Yee-Haw!!!

Every time Carter rides his horsey, he says "NAY NAY" in his most Southern voice - melts my heart. :-)

The girls got their rides in too!

It was pretty warm, so the boys played outside.

Here are some shots Nana took, and I doctored up. They are precious!

Next we headed over to my family's home in Waverly, AL. We donned our animal hats from long, long, ago and loaded up in the back of the truck, of course, and headed over to the Tinsley's Christmas Light Extravaganza. It is in the MIDDLE. OF. NOWHERE. However, it is a Christmas Family Tradition, and it is spectacular :-)

(Note - for those of you who want to call child services: Carter rode in his carseat until we got there...)

Carter passed out Grandmama's peppermints to everyone - over and over and over again. This was literally all he wanted to do.

On Christmas morning, we opened presents. Yet again - there was no shortage of spoiling C-man. He caught on to the whole unwrapping presents this year.

Santa brought him a John Deere lawn mower.

Grandmama & Granddaddy gave him a Tonka Dump Truck - just what every little boy needs.

Again, it was warm enough for the boys to get some outside time - Waverly-Style :-)

It was a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Drumroll Please....

We are super excited to announce that Carter is going to have a BABY BROTHER in May 2012!!! That's right, Watts Baby #2 is a BOY, and we couldn't be more excited! I'm thinking I may have to get me one of these shirts...

(Found this at http://www.boymomdesigns.com/)

BoyMom - that's me :-)

The Reason for the Season

As we approach Christmas Day, I am trying to keep my focus on the true meaning of Christmas. That God sent his one and only precious son to Earth. I heard this for the first time the other day, and I love it. I pray that we will all focus on Jesus as we go through the hustle and bustle of the next week because he is the reason we celebrate!!!

"One Solitary Life"

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind's progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Santa's Village

We went with some friends to the North Pole (AKA: Downtown Hville) to visit Santa at his village, and we had a blast!

We got to see the toy work shop.

It even snowed while we were there - every 20 minutes!!! Disclaimer: The secret to Alabama "snow" is tiny bubbles :-)

Touching snow.

We got to meet the reindeer!

We are pretty sure that this wasn't Rudolph because his nose didn't glow.

We rode in a sleigh - Colton drove because he's older.

Mommy & Daddy got to ride too!

Then...the big moment - we got to meet Santa himself!

Carter hates Santa.

Good thing the cookie decorating was there to help calm us down.

So we ate our cookies and looked at the Candy Cane Garden to recover from seeing Santa.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

Frosty's face is waving...

Frosty's Face is taking a Cookie Break...

There we go...It's Frosty!

Looking at the toy trains.

At the blacksmith's shop - he was making stocking hooks.

Then it was time to leave, so the boys all held hands to cross the street and head back to Alabama - it's a long walk from the North Pole!

Merry Christmas from the Watts Family

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Christmastime is Here!

I just love this time of year. The story, the traditions, the lights, the trees, the stockings, the music, the fires, the time with family...I could go on and on!

One tradition that my family grew up with is that on the day we decorated our Christmas Tree we got a St. Nick present. It just showed up under the newly decorated tree every year - the first present of the season. It was always such a fun surprise - a present for the family!

Kevin and I decided to keep this tradition alive, and this year St. Nick brought Carter a big squishy ball! He could not have been more excited!

He ran around hugging this ball for days. The St. Nick tradition is gonna be a hit in our home I have a feeling!

Carter and I were feeling crafty one day and decided that his little tree in his playroom needed a special touch, so we painted Christmas ornaments. He was over it in a matter of seconds and much more focused on painting his diaper, so we only painted 3. They turned out really cute though!

Carter loves our Christmas tree. He especially likes the ornaments he can touch (the ones on the bottom). His very favorite is Santa in a hammock - he gives Santa a push - right before he rips him off the tree.

He also loves the Nativity. He calls Baby Jesus "JeeJee" and he can pick out both JeeJee and Joseph. I'm teaching him that the story of Baby Jesus is in the Bible. He will bring his little Bible to you if you ask him, and he likes to say the word "BieBLLLL." So sweet!!! That camel has been known to stick his head in Carter's mouth on occasion as well - nobody knows how that happened :-)

What doesn't fit in the next picture???

That's right - JeeJee is a little bit different, fluffier than usual. Well, that's because this is the official Baby Jesus of our home. It actually goes to a little "My First Christmas" book that is cloth and has finger puppets. We've had it out year round, so Carter has gotten to know the story. When I ask him, "Where is Baby Jesus?" He goes and gets this little stuffed JeeJee out of the book, so we eventually just replaced the other one for now! We are having so much fun with our little man this Christmas!!!

I can't wait to see what other family traditions will come with time!

O, Christmas Tree!

We went on a hunt...

a hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. There were so many to choose from! We had to walk through them all to look for the right one.

Did you know that Christmas trees are itchy when you touch them?

Carter found a few that he really liked, but we redirected him :-)

"It leans just like me!"

"Yep, this is it."

Daddy did the measuring with his hand.

We got a little tired while hunting, so we had to rest...

Eventually, we found our perfect tree...

...so we rode the trolley back from the Christmas Tree field.

While they were packing up our tree, Carter got to take a pony ride!

It was a great December afternoon!