Our Christmas vacation

Our Christmas vacation started a little early. We headed up to Indiana to celebrate the life of Jesse's grandpa Chupp.

We were so thankful that Caroline got to meet her great grandma and great grandpa Chupp this past summer. Great Grandpa Chupp was an amazing, God fearing man and we are so glad we were able to be with all the Chupps as we celebrated his life.

(two Christmases ago)

The next week was spent with Grandma and Grandpa Chupp. There were a lot of stories read,


a fishing trip,

a first snow,

board games,

tractor drivin',

and even a bonfire.


We always have so much fun when we go to the Chupps!

The next week, we went to my parents house. My favorite picture of the trip was taken there. What a sweet face!

The boys and uncle Paul wasted no time and were absolute BFFs! They think he is the coolest dude ever! We went to see The Adventures of Tintin.

After Christmas Eve service (where the boys got to participate in the live nativity), we opened our Christmas Eve pjs.

(that face is what every parent hopes for when their child opens a present :).)

VERY excited for Santa to come!

Christmas Morning . . .

That face again!

Yes, it was a cooking set! The boy LOVES the foodnetwork!

And this one was very excited about the Darth Vader helmet. Caroline wasn't as excited as Jack was!

The Puckett's flew in on the 26th and we got to do Christmas all over again.

We celebrated our Christmas with everyone on Tuesday morning. I woke up to Jack yelling, "Mommy!
It's a white Christmas after all!!!" So sweet!

We got all bundled up and went to play in the snow before presents. Turns out Papa was the all time snow ball fight champion when he was a kid.



He was a pro!

Then back inside for MORE presents!

After presents, it was still snowing so we went back outside for a photo op. I love these pictures!

All the kids got these awesome guns from the Pucketts. They had a blast playing with them. Lauren is NOT playing around!

The last few days of the trip were spent at Jesse's sister's house. Caroline loved hanging out with her uncles


and her cousin Anna who is one of the most awesome kids I have ever met!

She's trying really hard not to be jealous of cousin Lily!
Jack was in hog heaven with all the babies he got to hold!

We got to spend a couple hours with Jesse's Grandma and Grandpa Schrock.

Grandma and Grandpa Schrock with all the Greg Chupp grandkids.

And this picture was on the last night in the hotel room. No bathtub and a desperately needed bath . . .

We packed a lot in to three weeks! We had a GREAT time but we were SO ready to be home!

Lost Tooth

We lost our first tooth in the Chupp house!

James came to me about a week ago and said there was something wrong with his tooth. I knew they would probably start losing teeth during their kindergarten year but was a little surprised that it would be this soon. It was very loose Thursday night and I was afraid he would lose it at school and really lose it. So, I tried to pull it out myself and am proud to say that I think I might have traumatized him just a little. I'm not allowed to get near his mouth for a while :)! Needless to say I couldn't get it out.

This is how it happened in his words . . . "Okay, when we comed in from recess, we all got a drink, then we sat down and I got a drink, and then it popped right out. I showed my friends and then I went to the nurse."
The tooth fairy might have left 8 quarters under his pillow but it's hard to know for sure because he immediately put them in his piggy bank after he found them. Not sure where he gets his saving money mentality from. Definitely not from his parents.

Halloween 2011

The boys have had Mario Brothers fever for the past year. When they play the video game, they call themselves the Mario Bros. "Jack! Quit throwing me off the cliff! We are the Mario Bros! " So, it was fitting that they be the Mario Brothers for Halloween and Caroline had to be the mushroom.

There is no such thing as a Mario Brothers mushroom costume in Caroline's size so I called in the BIG GUNS and had my mom make this FABULOUS costume. Didn't she do a fantastic job?

She even dyed the shirt and made the pants. We got a lot of compliments on this little one!

And these boys were a big hit too.

Sunday night we went to Trunk or Treat at my church with my sister and her family.

We weren't sure what to expect. It was very Fall Festivaly and there were tons of games for the kids to play.

They had a blast!

And then we dressed up again for the big night.

I wonder why Caroline's thumb is securely lodged in her nose?!?!?

Half way through trick or treating!

So tired after a fun night!

Already starting to wonder what next years theme will be . . .