Christmas Day 2008: Abby

Unfortunately, Abby was under the weather the days leading up to the big day and was still not quite herself Christmas morning. She eventually came around and started feeling better.

She got a new dog which she has named "Keyser." She loves all the little babies and friends that she got and takes great care of them all.

Because Carter wanted a bike, she wanted the closest thing she could get to that. So she decided she wanted a Princess scooter from Santa.

Christmas Day 2008: Carter

Carter learned to ride his bike a few weeks back, so he asked Santa for a new bike this year. He was pretty sure the big guy would come through.

He did not see this one coming though...

Could it be?...

Looking at me (Matt)...

Looking at Jill...

It finally registers...

Basking in the glow...

We hid the Wii and the related items behind a chair and waited for him to realize he was out of presents. We were also counting on the fact that he would mentally calculate that Abby had more presents to open than him. We didn't let him suffer long. Thanks to Jill for the quick camera work.

Gingerbread House and Cookies for Santa

First Foods

Taylor has started eating his first foods. We started him on baby rice cereal last Thursday. He did not like it. We have added applesauce to the cereal and he can tolerate it. He is still learning and keeps half of it in his mouth now. The first few bites of a feeding usually cause gagging and sour faces. He is up to half of a baby food jar of rice cereal with applesauce for each feeding. He looks so cute and small sitting in his highchair.

We have a second tooth!

Today, Taylor's second bottom tooth came in. He had a hard night last night. He was waking up every hour and wanted to eat every two hours. I felt bad for him because I thought his first tooth was hurting him, so I feed him. Then today, when he was laughing, I noticed the new tooth. He hasn't eaten well today, but he has still been his usual happy self.

Taylor's Baptism

Taylor was baptized today at our church. He did really well. He was alert, happy and looking around at everything. He didn't cry at all, even when the water was put on him. He is a sweet baby. The pic above is us at lunch afterward.

Carter Rides A Bike!

Yesterday Carter learned how to ride his bike. He had been putting it off and just practicing on his scooter. All that scooter riding paid off. In less than a minute he was off and riding his bike. We were so proud of him. I have been looking forward to this day for over a year. I can't wait to go bike riding with him.

The First Tooth

Yesterday I discovered that Taylor has cut his first tooth! The kids were so excited. They wanted him to eat something. He had his 6 month check up on Tuesday and the doctor told me to start him on cereal. The kids were excited to buy the cereal at the store yesterday. We are going to try it at breakfast today. At the doctor Taylor weighed 19 lbs. 11oz. and was 27 in. long. He was 75% in height, weight and head circumference. He is still our tallest baby.

Trimming The Tree

We trimmed our tree this past weekend. The kids had a great time.


Carter was really excited.


Abby wanted to know when she was going to get her candy. Matt had told her that she would get lots of candy in her stocking on Christmas day. So everyday she thinks it is Christmas and wants to know where her candy is.


This is what Taylor did while we decorated the tree. Of course he really likes the lights.


Here is the finished tree. They have done really well taking care around the tree.
It was a lot of fun watching the kids.

Movie Review Corner: Bolt

We all headed out to the theater today to check out "Bolt." It had gotten really good reviews and I had a $25.00 gift card(which covered my ticket), so we loaded up the van in the rain and headed over to Philips Place. 

• Matt: really liked it.
  
• Jill: really liked it.
  
• Carter: really liked it. Maybe better than Wall•E...Gasp!
  
• Abby: between the grape soda, the popcorn and the "pop-tarts" (actually sweet-tarts) and the movie, she was completely entertained.
  
• Taylor: slept and pooped in his pants
  

So...Bolt get's a 4 out of 5 from the Stevens family.

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a great thanksgiving this year. The kids helped me prepare the turkey. I use an "America's Test Kitchen" recipe that requires you to butterfly the turkey. There's much hacking and slashing. The kids loved it, as you can tell...

The turkey cooks in under two hours. The stuffing cooks under the bird.

We didn't get many pics of Thanksgiving day itself. We went over to my brother Bob's house to be with his family(wife Kelly...kids, Hannah, Harris and Ellie). My brother Chris and his family (wife Luci...kids, Colby, Nick and Emma) were all there as well. We had a relaxing time. Uncle Chris made a store run and brought back these beauties...

"Sponch!" became the word of the day, and of course I had to try them. As good as they look(not good).

The day after Thanksgiving, we headed up to the mountains for more family gathering time. We went to my brother Steve's house in the Linville area. His wife Anita and all of his kids (Jennifer, Kate and Matt) were all there. It was great to have pretty much everyone together, even the older neices and nephews who have a lot going on with school, jobs, etc.

Abby at the swings

Abby and Lady down at the creek

Cousin Kate and Taylor

Carter and the cousins at the hot-tub
For my next trick...

After lunch, the guns came out. Carter got to try his hand at the .22. Next year he's going for the Glock.

Uncle Steve adjusts the scope

My work birthday card

My coworker Joey made me the coolest birthday card ever.

Recycling Center Field Trip

Today we went to the Metrolina Recycling Center in Charlotte. This is where all our recyclables are taken each week. There was a puppet show, a talk about what recyclables they accept, a video and we got to look through the viewing windows, (above). They really enjoyed this field trip.

Fall Sunday in the back yard