Noah's Christmas Program

Noah, Noah, Noah. Man, I love this kid. He told us for two weeks he was NOT going to sing during his Mother's Day Out's Christmas Program. 

 And, well, he was true to his word. He never opened his mouth. Not once. Didn't cry, didn't smile, and certainly did NOT sing. 

 He kept cutting his eyes at me like, "I can't believe you are making me do this."

Stubborn little toot. Where does he get this from? No. Clue. Ok, I might have an idea. 

She lost it!

We discovered Hope's first wiggly tooth just a few days before Christmas! She has been so worried that she wouldn't ever lose them! I am personally a fan of her super cute baby teeth, but at age 7 and one month, she was about the only one left who hadn't lost one, so I know she was more than ready! She didn't really wiggle it very much, so it took it's sweet time coming out! I have serious "wiggly tooth phobia." I have forever. I never pulled a tooth out. They stayed in until they fell out. And I still have dreams/nightmares about having a loose tooth. For real.

Anyway. So on Sunday, January 8 right before she went to bed, I asked her how wiggly it was. She said, well, I can lay it flat, an twist it. Dear goodness, if I had been standing I would have totally fainted. So I went and got John to investigate. He said it had to come out and he was scared she would swallow it if she went to sleep. So, this is the part where Hope lost her mind. No way no how was she about to let him pull it, or herself. So we eventually walked away. I had my suspicions that he wanted to lose it at school. At school, you get sent to the nurse's office to get a tooth necklace to put your tooth in. She has mentioned it many times. So, off to school she went on Monday, and when she walked out Monday afternoon she had the biggest smile I have ever seen. With a hole in that sweet smile! And... A tooth necklace.


Stinker pulled her tooth out that morning. John was sad he missed it, but I've got to tell you. I was thrilled! I didn't have to see it! Ha! So, of course she wrote her letter to the tooth fairy when she got home. Her cousin Clara told her if you write a note, the tooth fairy will leave you more money. I'm SURE the tooth fairy would love to thank Clara for sharing that info with her cousin. Before bed, she was a tad freaked out about the tooth fairy coming in her room after she fell asleep. So, she opted to sleep with us. Ha. And, she didn't put the tooth fairy pillow under her pillow. She put it on John's night stand so that the TF would come by daddy and not her. ;)






Mimi got her the cutest Tooth Fairy book ever with a little pillow. They were winners! We have a new tradition! The TF left her $5 and a gold coin! (chocolate, people. Chocolate.)

Now. How do I ensure she loses the next 19 at school as well? This is tooooo much. And omgeeee. I have two more kids to follow. I need therapy.

Christmas phone dump

Whoo! What a Christmas! Here's the fast phone version!!!

Christmas Eve we went to a family service at church. So special to celebrate the birth of Jesus with a lapful of curious babies! We came home and Auntie Amanda brought us some yummy cheesecakey goodness! Within minutes, someone had obviously snuck themselves a taste.



It really wasn't too hard to figure out who. She was caught red handed. And faced.


It was suuuper easy to get the babes down for the night! They were in bed by 8! Noah and Hope thought it would be best if they slept together in Hope's room.


He came!!! Because He came!!!


Emmy is usually the first up in our home. Not the case Christmas morning as we had a sneaky big sister waking up her brother long before the sun came up. Emmy was not thrilled to be awoken from her slumber. But, she's got food, a new chair, and life is good!


Noah seriously could not take his eyes off his new batman toys. Amazed that Santa loved him enough to bring him his 3 most desired gifts!


Gogo was a big hit with big sister!


Noah picked out this batgirl costume for Hope! She loves it! I'm sure they will be a fantastic duo!


Santa left us clues all around the house for a big surprise!!! The last clue was to unwrap our windows that our silly elf Charlie had wrapped up like a present two nights earlier!


It was a trampoline!!! What?! Mommy and daddy were a little concerned that Santa didn't leave a net! Would you believe he put a net up this week while we were on our trip?! Thanks Santa!


So then, we loaded up (a very concerned Noah... Umm, we are leaving all this awesome stuff we just got?) and headed to Arkansas! So Christmas day included about 6.5 hours of driving. Notice who still won't sleep in the car! And yes, she is facing forward. Busted. But hey, I bet we have the only 7 year old still in a 5 point harness.


We made a special stop in Van Buren this year. Papa Roy is sick with cancer, and John really wanted to see him on Christmas day. I'm so glad we did. This picture made it worth it.


I know I have said many times how sweet and caring and concerned Hope's heart is for others. This is my favorite Christmas story this year. Hope needed to pick out and purchase things for all 17 people in her extended family. She just needed to. So I did what my genius sister does, we went to the Dollar Tree. She carefully, with zero coaching, bought for everyone. Things like makeup for Julia, batman Pez for Noah, a chess game for her daddy. But the best was for Papa Roy. She bought him Kleenex because she wanted him to feel better. Oh dear goodness, baby girl. How I wish love could fix everything because there is enough of her love in that box of tissues to cure that cancer.



We also got to spend time with Mama Fae and Uncle Jamie and exchange presents on Christmas day for the first time!


We headed to little rock and met up with my whole family at my mom and dad's our crazy family Christmas is my favorite tradition. There are tons of presents in that living room, covering the floor, but even more love! More pics when I post camera pics!

We stayed at Ninny's until Friday! I loves being able to just hang out and catch up with everyone we miss so much. We took over Julia's room again, bless her heart. Which meant I got to snuggle with my favorite boy every night.


We had several girl day outs, including our annual trip to Dillard's after Christmas sale, lots of teen/tween shopping, and some yummy cheeburger cheeburger.





We went back to VB to spend the day with John's parents. We were happy to hear Papa Roy had been using his kleenex and they were helping him feel better!

Uncle Sam came for a visit too and we wet to City Park.





We got home late last night and today we are doing what we look forward to every year. Just hanging out and playing with our new toys together. I love my little family!


Merry Christmas!!!

Phone Dump

My friend Amanda is good about regularly posting pics from her phone, and I would like to be good at doing that! So here is an attempt. Here are some pre Christmas pics from my phone from the last few weeks:

Charlie the elf is back!



Hope came downstairs dressed as an elf on the shelf! She wouldn't talk and kept hiding in different places! It was pretty hilarious.



There's been another special elf here too! ;)



All of my babies have worn this Santa outfit! And if first belonged to my Clay Fuller, so it's extra special!



Here is one of our Christmas cards! I ordered two different ones.


We have had some fun play dates with these cuties!



Hold the phone! John and I got dressed up and went to a fancy party. This is so not me! But we had so much fun! My friends Courtney and Amanda dressed me up and made me go, and Courtney and Jeff watched all our crazy babies! Thank you, sweet friends!!!



Daddy took Hope to see Annie! I was a little sad I didn't go because we all know Jill loves some Annie! But, so happy they got a Daddy Daughter Date!






I happen to think this girl is perfection.





Yes. Awkward smile stage is in full force.


Before his play at school. That he told us he was not going to do. He was true to his word. He didn't sing one word.


Before brother's play


School Christmas Party!


Hope and her teacher, Mrs. Rocas. Hope is having a great first grade year!





My parents came for a quick visit! We shoved as much Christmas fun as we could in one short weekend! We mailed our letters to Santa!





Here's our pic with Santa! We didn't have any meltdowns!


No weekend with Mimi is complete without makeovers.


Hope is planning on spending every night of her Christmas break like this. Curled up on the couch with hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies. Sounds like a plan to me.


Shooo! I feel better! We are looking forward to Christmas! Hope everyone is enjoying the most wonderful time of the year!

Why I should Blog More

Because I have a terrible memory.

Which I was reminded of tonight when I came across a file on my computer with 2 pages of Emmy's first name combined with different middle names. Now, while I do remember we could not agree on a middle name until she was 2 days old, I did not remember thinking of some of these middle names. Especially the one I've highlighted here from the first page.

Emmy Brighton Dyer

Emmy Grace Dyer

Emmy Kate Dyer

Emmy Caroline Dyer

Emmy Hazel Dyer

Emmy Bright Dyer

Emmy Love Dyer

Emmy Rose Dyer

Emmy Jenn Dyer

Emmy Sizzle Dyer

Emmy Olivia Dyer

Emmy Bliss Dyer

Emmy Anabel Dyer

Emmy Merit Dyer

Emmy Evelyn Dyer

Emmy Presley Dyer

WHAT? I do know that it was a joke, but why? I feel like there is a really funny story there, probably involving Hope, but I have NO IDEA. So, dear Emmy, I'm so sorry I don't remember why I would even joke about naming you Emmy Sizzle. But, you might just want to be thankful that we didn't actually name you that. You're welcome.

And in case I haven't fully shared the story, John wanted to name Emmy, Emmy Love, from day one. I was not the biggest fan. To say the least. But I caved after many pain reducing drugs. Ha. And part of her middle name story took place when we came house hunting a couple weeks before she was born. There was a pillow in a Hallmark store here that said "What the world needs now is Love, sweet love." I told John that if I did end up caving, he had to find a way to buy that pillow for her room. So, as I waited in the hospital for him to come pick me and Emmy Love up, he was running all over town in Little Rock looking for that pillow! He finally begged someone in the Hallmark store in Texas to break the rules and send him the one from there! And is pretty cute in her room. ;) In the end, I'm glad I did cave, because nothing fits her better than Emmy Love. But seriously, Emmy Sizzle is a close second.

Little Brothers do not Change

You know your little brother, Ross, has been to visit when your playroom has been turned into a giant fort. (Check out the Cheezer...aka Emmy...) We had so much fun when Ross, Amanda and sweet Ava came to visit last month! I don't have many pictures, but we sure had fun! Come back soon!