Let's get some fresh air!

The weather has been beautiful (crisp, but beautiful!) so we headed outside for some fall clean up and to get the Christmas lights up. With all these boys around I barely lifted a finger (not really, but I was trying to explain to Jaxon why he should offer to take the heavy things for me. Him being a boy, me being a woman...you know! Yeah-he didn't get it either! Truthfully, Jaxon has become a huge help around the house. Its neat to see him grow up to be so helpful. Ty and Huddy wanted to help too...and they did! So cute! Poor Kenna wanted to be out there helping too. She's been asking her daddy to put the lights up for weeks and she really wanted to help, but with a fever and bad cough she didn't feel up for it. She actually tried to fake not being sick any more but none of us fell for it. We let her come out with us for a little while but after a short time she was in tears and ready to sit by the fire. Poor little girl!

Here's that new smile I was telling you about. Cheese ball!

Not Jay's favorite place to be.

Jaxon's not to big on heights either so the two of them were a pair! I was down on the ground putting Christmas lights on the bushes and I snickered the whole time listening to these two! "whoo!" "you OK?" "yeah, I'm good"....a few minutes later... "whoo" "you OK?" "yeah, I'm good" and so on! It was too funny!

Huddy's into posing for the camera with funny faces these days! This is his favorite...the tear your lips till they bleed pose! Yikes!

This is the technique that Jay learned from Adam Renstrom a few years ago...it's amazing! You put the bag behind you and put your heals inside the bag, bend over and shovel the leaves in with your hands! He really made great time!

Ty & Huddy getting there 3 leaves in the bag!

More help from the peanuts!

Jaxon was in charge of raking the leaves to his dad so Jay could keep shoveling!

What a good helper you are Ty Ty!

Thanksgiving

Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34

This was the first Thanksgiving that we have had in our home since we moved in 4 years ago. It was very pleasant. I always love the preparation for gatherings like this but this one was more mellow than usual. We didn't have any family coming in from out of town until Thanksgiving day so the day before was quiet. After the kids went to bed on Thanksgiving Eve I finished the last minute things and set the table for the next day and then Jay and I talked about the things we are thankful for. The list is long because our God is so gracious! All that we have, this world we live in, the people in our lives and especially our salvation is all from HIM! And for that we are eternally THANKFUL!

Thanksgiving morning we ate breakfast together and then sped up the pace to get the food ready by noon. Chad, Bridgette, Emme & Levi came and spent the day with us, which was fun. Bridgette & I even got some time to work on "projects", so that was nice. Kasey arrived mid afternoon and came over when Jay picked up his dad. It was great to have Charley over this Thanksgiving. A year ago, the day before Thanksgiving, was the day that Charley had his stroke, so we weren't sure how he would be feeling. But, he was in pretty good spirits. He enjoyed his time being in our home, watching the kids play, visiting with the adults, looking at past pictures & most of all eating pie! He had a slice of every kind we had & then some! Some of us played games while others watched football, but just being in the same vicinity as one another is nice. We ended the night by watching the news about the riots that were going on around the Mall, where the crazy people were waiting in line to get in at the 1:00am shopping time! I don't get it and don't care to!

These were our little name tags...aren't those turkey's cute!

Kase, Charley & Jax
As Jay always says " I have a one to one ratio of pie and cool whip". See for yourselves! =)

I stole this picture from my brothers blog. I loved how we all look so into dishing up our plates! I love Thanksgiving dinner (or lunch in our case).
This is Ty's new smile.

My boys!
Family Photo! Poor Kenna has been sick for days, running a pretty high temp. She was so miserable she couldn't even turn around for the family picture. So, there she is all cuddled up on her daddy...the place she wanted to be most of the day.

Celebrating my birthday 80's style!

So, for my 33rd birthday, my friend April threw me a birthday party 80's style! It was HILARIOUS! I think we laughed all night long...at each other. My cheeks were hurting by the end of the night because I couldn't stop laughing. We were entertained all night! The Matt's sang (or yelled) Dead or Alive, Megan reenacted the footloose dance, Stephanie tried to show us a Michael Jackson routine she did in the 80's and the rest of us made fools of ourselves in other ways. The Moffatt's made taco's and we listened to 80's music all night. Jay bought the Guitar Hero game and we dueled it out through out the night. And then of course we tried to reenact how we danced in the 80's...of course I wasn't really allowed to go to dances until 1989, so what do I know. I went as a Solid Gold Dancer (without wearing a leotard) and Jay...well...I'll let you decide. Lets just say its a good thing we met in the 90's!

I was the reigning champion in the women's division, until Jami came along!

Matt & John's duet of some Journey song, it was very touching.

This is Ruthie (April's mom) and the reason she is in this picture is because the outfit I am wearing was hers! She actually wore this thing! Thanks for letting me borrow your sweet strapless jumpsuit, Ruthie!

Like I said....Its a good thing we met in the 90's

The girls (look at Stephanie's Madonna pose...awesome!)

Hmmm...I think the guys were more disturbing looking than anything.

Megan & Matt gettin down!

April, rockin out!

They were "Wanted(wanted)....Dead or ALIVE!" sing it with me now!

Jami killed us all....Stephanie was horrible, but she entertained us the most!

Me & April playing "Hit me with your best shot"

I even beat Jay! Only once though...I think his mullet threw him off.

Thanks for the great night, my friends! You always make my birthday full of fun...What could be next?

Let's Go to the Movies!

We took the kids to see "The Bee" movie last week and these are just a few fun pictures from the night. This was Ty's first time to the movie's when he actually sat and watched. OK-he didn't really watch, but he was quiet and sat with each of us at one point or another, gladly finishing off any food or candy that was available! Huddy LOVED going to the movies...he's been talking about it ever since then. "That was fun going to the movies, huh?" he says.

He can hardly wait to get his candy open so he's chewing on the box!

Tyson was the overseer of the popcorn that night.

Let the movie begin!

Happy Birthday Ella Bella!

Happy 3rd Birthday Ella Marie! Your Uncle Jay, Aunt Heather, cousins, Jax, Kenna, Huddy & Ty all Love you so much! We cant wait to see you for Christmas! Hugs & Kisses!

All by ourselves!

Josh & Heather Marie were in town this last weekend and we had a great time! Thanks for coming guys. As you can see Heather is about ready to have her baby (only 3 1/2 weeks Heath!) so we appreciate them driving all the way from Yak to spend time with us! One night we planned ahead (amazing) and got a baby sitter for the kids and we went out just the 6 of us. Chad, Bridge, JP, Heather Marie, Me and Jay all went to PF Chang's for dinner (request of the pregnant woman...none of us minded). After that we did a little wondering around the mall until we got a table at the Cheesecake Factory for dessert! We did a little restaurant hopping but we weren't about to go home early! Don't get me wrong...we LOVE having the families together but 8 kids & 1 on the way makes for a noisy weekend so it was nice to get out and hang as adults for once! Looking forward to the next time we are all together! Love you guys!

The Last of the Cowboys...

Not only was it Halloween, but it was also the last time a Hughes boy would be the "Cowboy". Take a walk with me down memory lane...would you?

Cowboy Jax (age 2 1/2) The first cowboy to steal my heart.

Cowboy Hudson (age 2 1/2) My blue eyed cowboy puts the Georgia stars to shame.

Cowboy Ty (age 21 months) My baby and the last of the cowboys...

The Costume will now be laid to rest in the memory box for the boys...maybe one day I will have a grandson who will wear it...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We started the day off by going to Bible study, then to Daddies work (we've done this every year since Jaxon was born), and then home for a quick nap to regain our strength and then off to the neighborhood for the good stuff!

When Jaxon & Kenna got home from school, they got their costumes on and we planned our route. First we'd stop by Grandpa Charley's then to the Crocker's for a tradition of Chili & Corn bread, followed by trick-or-treating!

Cleopatra

Cowboy Ty

"Army Guy" (not a soldier...lets just get that straight) Huddy was the highlight of the Halloween festivities this year. He had so much fun. He ran from door to door for over an hour with this cheesy grin on his face. He couldn't believe everyone was giving him candy just because he was knocking on their door. He was very courteous though...saying thank you at he top of his lungs every time. Once, there was a bowl just sitting out side with candy in it, he took his one piece and then ran back to Jay and said "I couldn't say thank you because there door was broken." Too cute!

The nutty King Tut. Jaxon informed us that the real King Tut was Jaxon's age when he became King, so he felt he was a good representation of the real deal.

Trick or Treating is tradition with the Crockers. This is the 4th year we've done this together. I looked back at the pictures from the other years and couldn't believe how Jaxon & Kenna have grown and how we actually added 2 more kids to our family since the first outing.

Their hittin' the streets!

Time to spread out your loot and see what you got!

This was a high light for Huddy...purple Dracula teeth.

After about 5 pieces of candy Huddy got up off the floor (leaving his candy unattended) walked right over to Jay and said " Can I cuddle with you, I want to go home and go to bed." NEVER have we heard these words come out of his mouth...He'll ask to cuddle but not to go to bed! He was one worn out little "Army Guy"!