Christmas 2008

The Hobbs Family had a great Christmas. We are probably the only family in the world that has to wake up their kids on Christmas morning. Tucker and I woke the kids up around 6:45 to see what Santa had brought them. Santa Claus was extremely good to all of us this year. He brought Maddie the black and white tiger ("Stripes"), a Barbie Mermaid, some Disney Fairies figurines and a bean bag. Nathan was given a Buzz Lightyear, a bean bag, a a basketball goal, and some underwear. They both got a two-seater battery operated vehicle that they are sharing the driving privileges nicely. I think Nathan actually likes the vehicle better than Maddie does, she is unable to put the tiger down for long!!

Tucker had received some nice presents that he had bought himself before Christmas ( a gun-for home protection and a new radio for his car) so he got a shirt from me and a Shutterfly calendar (which I made) from the kids. Then, Tucker gave me a very nice watch, a pretty shirt, and then he gave me my "big" present: A Swifter Wet-Jet!!!! Yes, you heard me right....a Swifter wet jet, with extra cloths and cleaner!!! I was very shocked and could not believe my eyes....this is my BIG PRESENT!!! I laughed so hard until I was crying. Then, he came back with another present. I had only asked for a computer program to convert my home videos from my camera to my computer and then to a DVD. Well, to my surprise.....he bought me a laptop which does all of the above for me!!!! We all had a very nice Christmas!!!

On Christmas Eve, we went to Tucker's parents' house for a delicious Prime Rib dinner with all of the trimmings. The in-laws out did themselves again this year. After dinner, the kids opened up their presents from the family and then the adults played Dirty Christmas. It started off a little slow this year, but by the end it got pretty heated. Tucker and I came home with the presents we took: a Lowe's gift card and a gift certificate to a nice day spa, both worth $30.00.

Here is Nathan carrying his tool set from his Aunt Kara and family, too cute! It is quite a bit bigger than he is.

Susan, an "adopted aunt" to Tucker, makes the kids outfits every year for Christmas. This year, Audrey wanted a "Little House on the Prairie" dress. So, all 4 girls got the cutest plaid dresses with matching dolls and Nathan got some corduroy coveralls with a car on it. They were the cutest things in the world!

On Christmas Day, my sister and her family came over for lunch and good family fun. The kids played great together and had a blast. Elliott and Nathan hooked up together and had some special bonding, which is great to see (there is only a 9 month difference between the two of them). The girls played dress-up and put on a nice little fashion show and performance for us.

I hope all of you had a great Christmas and some special family time together this year. I hope you took some time from the chaos to remember the real reason for the season: Jesus and what His birth did for all of us! I am very grateful for the things that I have and I enjoy every minute with my family.

This is what finally happened when Nathan was still for too long in the car. He had no nap on Christmas day and go up around 6:45 am! He was knocked out!

Dress up?!?

I was downloading some pictures from my camera and found this picture of Nathan. I had totally forgotten about it. One day, I was washing dishes from lunch and Maddie came into the kitchen and said: "Introducing Nathan..........." I turned around from the sink and found what I believe is some kind of super hero? Maybe....??



Christmas is just around the corner and what a busy time. I have to work on Christmas Eve and then we are going to Tucker's parents' house for a big dinner and Dirty Christmas. Then, off to home to throw the little kiddos in bed and prepare for Santa's arrival. Probably up early Christmas morning to find what Santa has left all of us good girls and boys. Then, my sister and her family are coming to our house to celebrate Christmas. We are very excited to have them back in Tennessee for good!! I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and hope your holiday is filled with lots of love and laughs with your family.

Church Christmas Program

On Sunday night, our church had their children's choir Christmas program. This year the theme was the Nativity scene. Maddie, Audrey, and Hallie were angels and Nathan and Ruby were suppose to be sheep. I got talked into being a shepherd, actually a babysitter to the sheep. Everything was going well until one of the sheep hit the background prop and it starting to fall right on Baby Jesus. Luckily, the fast and quick shepherd that I was, saved Baby Jesus and the whole cast. My reaction time must be chalked up to all of the practice that I have had as a mom the past 4 years.

My sweet little angel and sheep

The sheep, the shepherd, and the angel

Cee-Cee, Audrey, Maddie, and Hallie

Doesn't Nathan look like a donkey? Can you say Eeyore?

Ruby and Nathan being silly in the middle of the production
The Angel with Baby Jesus

Maybe next year, Nathan will be ready to sing in the choir, too........

Progress????

I am so proud of my little man, Nathan! I just wanted to share with everyone his recent accomplishment. I am not sure if it is a fluke or real, but for the past 3 days (drum roll).........., Nathan has gone pee-pee in the POTTY!!!! He has asked to sit on the potty and he immediately starts trying to go and all 3 times - he has had some action!! I can't believe that he is interested in the potty. Maddie was not interested in going to the potty until I brought Nathan home from the hospital. I hope this is the beginning of potty training for him. How I long for the days of not having to buy diapers. Santa Claus is going to put some big boy underwear in his stocking for Christmas (can you feel the excitement?). We have requested some Lightning McQueen and Diego underwear. We will definitely keep you posted on this progress..... YIPPEE!!!!

Christmas Shopping and Sick Kids

I decided to brave the mass of people today in Cool Springs to try to finish my Christmas shopping. It took me over an hour to get from my house to Old Navy, traffic was terrible. It usually takes me about 40 minutes to get to Cool Springs. Thank goodness the lines in the stores were not long at all. I spent most of my time sitting in traffic and trying to get down the aisles in the stores. I didn't eat lunch until 2:35 and on my way home - I developed somewhat of a headache. I am starting to think that on-line shopping is the way to go. But, I have to admit as bad as I dread the crowds, it is kinda of fun!

Tucker stayed home with the kids and I believe he had a pretty fun day, too. Apparently, Nathan got into the pizza and destroyed the box in Maddie's room, his room, the playroom, and decorated the computer desk with pizza! I am not sure what Daddy was doing while all of this was going on. I believe he told me that he was watching T.V. and Nathan went around the hall and up the stairs where he really couldn't see him. Fun times at the Hobbs house.

Nathan had his check-up with the ENT on Thursday. His ears looked wonderful and the tubes are doing their jobs. His hearing was great, even with his nasty nose and cold. The doctor gave us a prescription for Augmentin thanks to Nathan having a horrible sinus infection. He is starting to sleep a little better at night, thank goodness. I had to pick Maddie up from preschool early on Friday. Her eyes were swollen, red, and closed shut when she woke up from nap. I took her to the doctor, she has pink eye in both eyes and on an antibiotic eye drop for 7 days. You just never know what is going to happen from day to day, do you?

Tagged!!

Thanks, Tiana! I was tagged by my friend Tiana. OK, I looked into my picture folders and the 4th folder and the 4th picture was a picture of Maddie, Audrey, and Hallie (her cousins) at the Easter program at church this past year. The Easter program was about the trees that made the Lord's table, the fishing boat, and the cross that Jesus used. They are dressed up as "trees" and it was a really cute program. I guess that they were pretty excited here by looking at their faces!


OK, I tag Brandon and Allison! What you do is look into your 4th picture folder and post the 4th picture and explain what it is about. Have fun!

Letter to Santa

Monday night, Tucker and Maddie sat down and wrote a letter to Santa. It was really cute, the two of them sitting at the kitchen table discussing what Maddie wants for Christmas. Since October, Maddie has paused the commericals on the DVR with things that she has wanted. She and her daddy made a list of these items and wrote the letter to Santa. She was so excited when I found Santa's address and informed her that she could receive a letter in return from him. We put in $5.00, a self-addressed and stamped envelope along with the letter and sealed it shut. On Tuesday morning on our way to preschool, Maddie held on to the letter for dear life. We stopped by the post office and sent the letter on it's way to the North Pole. Once again, she was very excited and couldn't stop smiling. I just hope it doesn't take a long time to receive the letter from Santa. I don't know how she is going to contain herself!!

Happy Birthday, Granny

Today is my grandmother's birthday. She would have turned 92 years old. I feel compelled to post something in her honor/memory. My grandmother and I became really close in the few months that she was sick and I helped take care of her. It has been difficult for me to comprehend that she is actually gone. I always told her that she would live to be 100 years old. In reply, she would tell me how silly I was and how she didn't think she wanted to live that long. In some way, I felt that she was inevitable and that nothing could touch her. Granny was never sick much and was a pretty healthy person, except for the few aches and pains that she complained about. She only took about 4 medications a day and still drove and lived by herself. I often wonder how her health would have been if she hadn't gone to Wendy's on that day, fell and broke her hip. I have heard more than once, that once an elderly person falls and breaks something, that is pretty much the "end." Boy, how true that is......

She lived in Dyersburg and I have to admit that I didn't go see her as often as I should have. I made excuses of how busy I was and then I would tell myself that "you really need to go see her." I feel a little guilty and I am still trying to tell myself that she knew that I loved her and cared for her dearly. Friends of my grandmother have told me since her death how proud she was of my sister, myself, and her 5 great grandchildren. She would always show them new pictures of the kids and talk about how she loved them.

I am certainly not looking for any pity, I just wanted to post some of my feelings that I have been having the past few months. I guess I am just going through the steps of grieving. I miss my grandmother and her little quirks. I feel peace knowing that she has been reunited with her son (my daddy) in heaven. My mother said not too long ago, "I bet Sidney hasn't had a moment of peace since Granny arrived in heaven." How true this statement is....my grandmother was a talker and would tell you what she was thinking or feeling without even being asked. She certainly didn't hide her thoughts. I love you and miss you, Granny.

Santa Claus

Last night, Horizon had a family holiday dinner. Barney, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were there to visit with the kids. I was afraid that Nathan would not have anything to do with them, unfortunately I was right. He was very interested in them, but did not want to get close to them. I guess his "stranger recognition" has settled in too comfortably. He would wave at them and look at them, but that was pretty much it. I had to peel the child off of me and sit with Santa just to get his picture taken. He was screaming like someone was beating him. Maybe next year he will do better. Merry Christmas, Santa and don't hold it against Nathan - he is a pretty good boy!

Maddie, on the other hand, did great! She walked right up to all of them and talked to them like such a big girl. Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she mentioned this white and black tiger that she is dying to have. He was pretty shocked that that was all she wanted. However, everything the child sees on T.V., she wants and must have!

A Father's Teachings........

On Sunday morning, Tucker taught the kids how to drink straight from the bottle. However, he did tell them that it is only ok drink from the bottle if there is hardly anything left in it. I guess sometimes you just have to go with the flow....

I thought this picture was really cute, this is how my kids are suppose to act!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We went to Jimmy and Susan's house (great friends of the family) for a big feast and ate a whole lot! I just wanted to post some pictures from our big day.

It has been a pretty rough year for the Hobbs Family and I am very grateful that we are all safe and healthy. I am extremely thankful that Tucker's eye has healed and that he has vision. For those of you that don't know, Tucker has had two eye surgeries due to a detached retina in two places, torn in 7 places, and then he developed scar tissue. After ~6 months, it is getting better and he is almost out of the woods. My mom is improving and getting stronger from her back surgery and recent illness. There is so much to thank God for in our lives! Happy Thanksgiving!

Splish, Splash!

Bath-time FUN!

Bon Aqua has arrived!

Finally, Bon Aqua has gotten cell service!! It is a miracle! For those of you that don't know, we have never been able to use our cell phones at our house. Actually, if you went to the far corner of our back yard and stood real still, you would have one little bar of service. For about a year, there has been this nice cell tower near my in-laws without any service attached to it. Well, last week AT&T attached their equipment to the tower. However, that did not help us out. Tucker and I have Verizon service (even though Tucker works for AT&T-go figure). Well, I got a call yesterday from a friend saying that Verizon had attached their equipment to the tower. So, I picked up my cell phone and HALLELUJAH - I had 4 bars of service. Now, I don't really think this is going to change much regarding my cell phone usage, but it is nice to know that it is available if I ever need it. Plus, I will not have to wait 'til I get to the main road to receive service or hear my voice messages. Oh, the rewards for living in a small town in the country! Bon Aqua has finally arrived into current technology!

The Endless Search.......

I don't know about you other moms, but for the last 3 years of my life I have searched for.......yes, the SIPPY CUP!!! My children have always been able to misplace their cups and have no clue where to find them. Then, I start looking under the beds, the furniture, in the bathrooms, closets, corners, etc. It always seems to happen just around dinner time, too. I have pretty much broken Maddie of her sippy cup, but now have to start all over again with Nathan. Although, he is not quite as bad as Maddie was with wondering off with her cup. You never knew where you were going to find hers. I assume, if I made them stay in the kitchen with their cups, this might never happen. But, how do you rationalize with a 22 month old!! Oh well, hopefully I only have about 1 1/2 - 2 more years of the searching.......maybe I will survive!

Playtime with Daddy......Priceless

Just about every night, Tucker likes to lie down in the floor and watch T.V. This would be his "so-called" time to "relax". The kids, of course, see Daddy as a "human play set". They love to climb, tickle, and aggravate him. It is absolutely the funniest thing that I have ever seen. It never gets boring for me. I laugh and laugh until I find myself in tears. The other night, Nathan had on a sweatshirt with a hood and he would not take the hood off. He kept running hard into Tucker like a football player and laughing. Then, Maddie had to join in on the fun. She would run up to him and then slowly and so "ladylike" barely hit him. When I got the camera, Nathan decided to sit on Maddie and begin to aggravate her. I just wanted to share these few pictures with you. I would rather sit and watch the three of them play than watch T.V. any day. Now, that is what I call PRICELESS!!

Thank you!

Thank you so much Brandon and Tiana for the advice on the pictures. I figured out what I was doing wrong. I really think this whole BLOG-THING is going to be a lot of FUN!

The Marks Family

My sister, Leigh Ann and her family are moving back to Tennessee. We are very excited and looking forward to Maddie and Nathan getting to know their other cousins much better. Nathan and Elliott will surely be great friends and will have so much fun getting into some "trouble" I'm sure. They should be moving before Christmas, so the girls will be able to start school in January. Needless to say, this is probably the best Christmas present my mother will receive. Merry "early" Christmas, MOM!!

My first posting - here it goes....

I have been enjoying reading other blogs and decided to finally join in the fun. I am going to try really hard to post something as often as I can.

The most recent news in our family is that I have a new job. Yes, I finally left Baptist Hospital. I am quite sad, for I have meet so many nice people there and I have worked there for almost 8 1/2 years. I have been working at Horizon Medical Center in Dickson prn for a little over a year. They offered me a part-time position and I start on Monday. I am really excited about spending less time on the road and more time with my family.

The kids are doing really well. Maddie is growing up so fast and her vocabulary is awesome. Nathan is into everything, like most 22 month old boys are. He had to have tubes put in his ear about 3 weeks ago and he seems to be doing pretty good. We have our first runny nose since the surgery, so I guess we are giving them a test run.

I hope you enjoy our family blog and check in often. I have posted some recent pictures. Take care and until next time.......

The Leopard and the Pirate

What a cheese-head!

Nathan was way too serious here in the picture!

Maddie, Nathan, and their cousins. We had a great time

trick-or-treating with them.