SANTA CLAUS CAME TO THE WANSTRATH'S

HO HO HO AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. SANTA CLAUS VISITED OUR HOUSE EARLY CHRISTMAS MORNING AND THE BOYS WERE SO EXCITED. MILES WOKE UP FIRST...SURPRISE SURPRISE....LUKE WALKED UP AND HAD A LOOK AT ALL OF THE TOYS WITH CONFUSION. HE TOUCHED A FEW THINGS AND THEN SAID, "ELMO" WANTING TO FOLLOW HIS MORNING ROUTINE OF WATCHING HIS ELMO MOVIE. MILES, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS VERY IMPRESSED. HE SAID HE COULDNT BELIEVE HIS EYES. IT GETS MORE AND MORE EXCITING EVERY YEAR. WE HEADED OVER TO NENE AND PAW PAW'S IN OUR PAJAMAS TO SEE WHAT SANTA BROUGHT TO HER HOUSE. I LOVE CHRISTMAS TIME AND I CERTAINLY LOVE SEEING THE LOOK ON MY BOYS' FACES WHEN SANTA COMES.

UNCLE WILL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

UNCLE WILL CAME HOME FROM KANSAS FOR AN EXTENDED HOLIDAY VISIT. MILES HAS BEEN ANTICIPATING HIS ARRIVAL FOR WEEKS. UNFORTUNATELY LUKE DOES NOT REMEMBER UNCLE WILL SO IT TOOK HIM A BIT TO WARM UP TO HIM. MILES THINKS ITS THE GREATEST THING PLAYING WITH UNCLE WILL AND JUST BEING AROUND HIM IS SO "COOL." WE ARE SO GLAD THAT HE IS HOME FOR A WHILE. HIS FIANCE, MONICA, WILL BE JOINING US ON DEC. 26TH FOR A FEW DAYS.

CHRISTMAS EVE AT AUNT SHERRY'S

OUR FAMILY CHANGED TRADITION THIS YEAR AND HAD CHRISTMAS EVE AT AUNT SHERRY'S HOUSE. WE HAVE DONE IT AT MY PARENT'S HOUSE SINCE GRANNY PASSED AWAY BUT THIS YEAR AUNT SHERRY WANTED TO HOST THE EVENT. WE HAD A GREAT TIME EATING SNACKS AND DOING OUR YANKEE SWAP. THE CHILDREN ALL SWAPPED ORNAMENTS AND OPENED PRESENTS FROM THEIR AUNTS AND UNCLES. AUNT SHERRY CAME UP WITH SOME MORE BRILLIANT ADULT GAMES. KYLE AND I TOOK HOME THE PRIZE AS THE COUPLE GAME WINNERS FOR THE SECOND CHRISTMAS IN A ROW. WE MUST REALLY KNOW ALOT ABOUT EACH OTHER. WE LEFT ABOUT 8:00 SO THAT WE COULD COME HOME AND GET READY FOR SANTA TO COME. MILES IS SURE THAT HE SPOTTED HIM ON THE WAY HOME FROM AUNT SHERRY'S HOUSE IN THE NIGHT SKY AND TOLD DADDY TO GO FASTER SO THAT WE COULD GET HOME AND GET TO BED.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE

MILES AND LUKE WENT TO ALEX'S TO MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE. THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN PUTTING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CANDY ON THE HOUSE. LUKE HAD MORE FUN SNEAKING GUM DROPS AND EATING THEM. IT TURNED OUT REALLY CUTE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

CHRISTMAS WITH ALEX

MILES AND LUKE ENJOYED GOING TO ALEX'S HOUSE ON DEC. 22ND TO CELEBRATE OUR ANNUAL GIFT SWAP WITH HIM. DADDY, MOMMY, MILES, LUKE, SHANNON, ALEX, AND JAMES ENJOYED SWAPPING PRESENTS. WE HAD GREAT FINGER FOODS AND THE BOYS PLAYED FOR HOURS IN ALEX'S PLAYROOM. WE ALWAYS HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH THEIR FAMILY. NOTICE THE TRAIN STICKERS ALL OVER ALEX AND MILES IN THE FIRST PICTURE. THE BOYS LOVE THEIR TRAINS.

HOLLYWOOD

LUKE WAS JUST MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS SUCKING HIS "WOO WOO" WHEN HE FOUND MOMMY'S GLASSES ON THE COUCH AND DECIDED TO TRY THEM ON. THIS PICTURE IS PRICELESS. THEY ARE AS BIG AS HIS LITTLE SWEET FACE. HE IS READY FOR THE MOVIES.

CHRISTMAS AT GRANNY AND PAW PAW'S IN PARIS, TN.

WE SPENT DEC. 21ST AT GRANNY AND PAW PAW'S IN PARIS, TN. THE BOYS HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME OPENING PRESENTS FROM SANTA AND FROM GRANNY AND PAW PAW. IT IS SO NICE WHEN WE GET TO VISIT WITH THEM. WE HAD A GREAT LUNCH AND MILES, LUKE, DADDY, AND UNCLE BLAKE WENT DOWN GRANNY'S BIG GRASSY HILL ON MILES' SLED. HE HASNT HAD A GOOD SNOW IN HIS LIFETIME SO WE THOUGHT WE COULD USE THE SLED AT GRANNY'S BIG STEEP HILL. WE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS THERE. MILES AND LUKE RECEIVED GROCERY CARTS FROM SANTA AND A NEW CASH REGISTER ALONG WITH COUNTLESS OTHER GIFTS. PAW PAW, AUNT ZUZANNE, UNCLE BLAKE, DADDY, AND MILES PLAYED A GAME OF GO FISH AFTER LUNCH. IT WAS GREAT FUN.

FUN AT UNCLE BLAKE'S AND AUNT SUZANNE'S

UNCLE BLAKE AND AUNT SUZANNE HAD US OVER FOR A PRE CHRISTMAS DINNER AT THEIR HOUSE. DADDY, MOMMY, GIGI, AND BUDMAN WENT TO EAT ALONG WITH AUNT SUZANNE'S FAMILY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME RUNNING AROUND UNCLE BLAKE'S HOUSE AND GETTING INTO NEW THINGS. HE HAD A DOG NAMED MAGGIE AND SEVERAL KITTY CATS THAT WE LOVED PLAYING WITH. WE ENDED THE NIGHT BY PLAYING WITH SOME LEGOS THAT UNCLE BLAKE HAD. MILES BUILT A TALL TOWER AND LUKE LOVED KNOCKING IT OVER. GOOD TIMES.

OUR FAMILY

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN AFTER MILES' CHRISTMAS MUSICAL TUESDAY. IT WAS SO NICE THAT KYLE COULD BE THERE TO SEE MILES SING. WE HAD A GREAT TIME BEING ALL TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE SO PROUD OF MILES AND HIS PERFORMANCE WITH HIS CLASSMATES. LUKE SEEMED TO ENJOY IT AS WELL.

MILES PERFORMS AT HIS FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

MILES PERFORMED TUESDAY AFTERNOON WITH HIS PARENTS' DAY OUT CLASS AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. THE 4 YEAR OLD CLASS SANG 4 SONGS. I KNOW THE PICTURE IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO SEE BUT MILES IS IN THE MIDDLE IN THE BACK ROW. THE 4 YEAR OLD CLASS DRESSED IN WHITE, THE 3 YEAR OLD CLASS DRESSED IN GREEN, AND THE 2 YEAR OLD CLASS DRESSED IN RED. MILES DID VERY WELL. THEY LEARNED SIGN LANGUAGE TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR SILENT NIGHT SONG AND IT WAS A TEAR JERKER. I AM SO PROUD OF HIM. DADDY, MOMMY, LUKE, NENE, PAW PAW, GIGI, AND BUDMAN WERE ALL THERE TO WATCH HIM. I LOVE YOU, MILES.

OPRYLAND HOTEL

KYLE'S WORK CHRISTMAS PARTY WAS HELD IN THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLROOM AT OPRYLAND HOTEL ON DEC. 15TH, 2007. THE WHOLE FAMILY ATTENDED FOR BRUNCH, SANTA, CRAFTS, AND SOCIALIZING. AFTER THE EVENT KYLE, THE BOYS, AND MYSELF WALKED AROUND OPRYLAND'S CONSERVATORY ADMIRING THE DECORATIONS. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. KYLE, MILES, AND LUKE TOOK A BOAT RIDE THROUGH THE CONSERVATORY. MILES LOVED LOOKING AT THE FISH BELOW AND LUKE WAS AMAZED AT ALL OF THE DECORATIONS HANGING ABOVE...ESPECIALLY THE HOT AIR BALLOONS.

CHRISTMAS P.J.'S

MILES AND LUKE GOT INTO THEIR MATCHING SANTA PAJAMAS AND I GOT A FEW SHOTS IN FRONT OF THE TREE. IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO GET GOOD SHOTS OF THEM BOTH TOGETHER. THEY WONT SIT STILL VERY LONG. THIS IS AN ADORABLE SHOT OF THEM ANTICIPATING SANTA'S ARRIVAL IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. I DONT KNOW IF MILES IS GOING TO MAKE IT...HE IS SO ANXIOUS. I CANT WAIT TO SEE LUKE'S REACTION TO WHAT SANTA LEAVES UNDER THE TREE.

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

IT WAS A WARM DECEMBER DAY AND DADDY AND ADAM WERE HANGING OUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. THE BOYS WERE SO EXCITED TO "HELP OUT." I DRESSED THEM IN THEIR MATCHING SWEATERS THAT NENE BOUGHT IN ITALY. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE BOYS WOULD DECIDE IT WAS A GREAT DAY TO DIG IN THE DIRT AND HAUL IT IN THEIR WHEELBARROW. THEY WERE FILTHY BUT HAD A GREAT TIME. MILES AND OUR NEIGHBOR, CHRIS, EVEN DECIDED TO DIG UP ONE OF OUR DEAD TREES AND DISPOSE OF IT. THEY HAD A GREAT DAY WORKING WITH THE "BIG BOYS."

THANKSGIVING DAY!!

MY CUTE HUSBAND AND MY MOTHER TAKE A ODDLY PHOTOGENIC TOGETHER. OUR FAMILY WENT TO MY COUSIN, TAMMY'S HOUSE AND HAD A DELICIOUS THANKSGIVING DINNER. THE BOYS PLAYED WITH THEIR COUSINS, WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE THANKFUL FOR, HAD DINNER, AND OF COURSE WATCHED FOOTBALL. IT WAS A GREAT TIME. FOLLOWING TAMMY'S WE WENT TO PAT AND LARRY'S TO DO THANKSGIVING DESSERT WITH THEIR FAMILY. IT WAS SUCH A NICE TIME.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

MILES' MOTHER'S DAY OUT CLASS CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING WITH A SPECIAL LUNCHEON FOR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS. MILES' CLASS HAD MADE INDIAN HEADGEAR AND I DRESSED THE BOYS IN THEIR MATCHING TURKEY SHIRTS. WE HAD A GREAT LUNCH AND I THINK MILES ENJOYED HAVING LUNCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THESE ARE MEMORIES THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET. GOBBLE GOBBLE.

TEACHERS GONE WILD...GATLINBURG 2007

WELL MOMMY'S FIRST TRIP AWAY FROM MY BOYS WAS SO MUCH FUN. THE GIRLS THAT I TEACH WITH AND I DECIDED MONTHS AGO TO TAKE AN OVERNIGHT TRIP TO GATLINBURG, TN. WE VISITED THE OUTLET MALLS, WALKED THE STRIP, WENT OUT FOR DINNER AND DANCING, AND HAD SO SO SO MANY LAUGHS. IT WAS A GREAT TRIP. ALLISON IS PREGNANT BUT HUNG WITH US LIKE A TROOPER. SUSAN AND I SURE MISSED OUR BABIES BUT WERE SECRETLY GLAD TO HAVE A LITTLE GROWN UP TIME. HOPEFULLY THIS WONT BE OUR LAST TRIP TOGETHER. IT WOULD BE ASHAME TO MISS OUT ON SO MUCH FUN AGAIN.

PLAY DATE

MOMMY, MILES, AND LUKE MET EVAN, HIS MOMMY, AND BABY BROTHER AT KIDS' PARTY JUMP FOR A PLAY DATE ON FRIDAY. MILES AND EVAN HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME JUMPING ON ALL OF THE DIFFERENT INFLATABLES. LUKE DOESNT LIKE IT...HE IS A LITTLE TOO YOUNG. HE PREFERS TO RIDE THE TRICYCLES AND OTHER LITTLE TOYS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE. MY BOYS ARE GETTING SO BIG.

SESAME STREET LIVE

MOMMY, LUKE, SUSAN, AND KENNEDI WENT TO SESAME STREET LIVE LAST WEEK. IT WASNT UNTIL 7:00 THAT NIGHT IN NASHVILLE SO WE WERE UNSURE HOW THE BABIES WOULD DO THAT LATE. IT WAS GREAT!! KENNEDI AND LUKE LOVED SEEING ALL OF THE DANCING AND SINGING CHARACTERS OF SESAME STREET. LUKE WAS PARTICULARLY ENTHRALLED WITH ELMO. HE CALLED FOR HIM ALL NIGHT. WE WRAPPED THE NIGHT UP WITH THESE FABULOUS (HA HA) $8.00 BALLOONS. LUKE'S IS STILL FLYING HIGH IN THE HOUSE. HE ACTUALLY WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND SAID "BALLOON." GREAT TIMES!!!

MOMMY'S ANGELS

THIS WAS A RANDOM PICTURE SHOT AT MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A GREAT PHOTO OP WILL PRESENT ITSELF. THEY WERE SHARING A STOOL DOWN IN MOM'S SHOP AND JUST SAT BACK TO BACK WITH ADORABLE SMILES. I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND LOOK WHAT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO CAPTURE. THEY ARE MY BABIES.

POWER UP MILES WITH HIS MUCH OLDER GIRLFRIEND, MAISIE

MILES WAS A RED POWER RANGER FOR HALLOWEEN. HE WAS JUST AT THE RIGHT AGE THIS YEAR TO HAVE A BLAST. WE WENT TRICK OR TREATING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THEN IT WAS OFF TO NANA'S TO SEE HIS GIRLFRIEND MAISIE. AFTER HITTING SOME MORE HOUSES WE WENT TO NENE'S AND GOT SPECIAL TREATS FOLLOWED BY A DELICIOUS DINNER OF CHILI AND GRILLED CHEESE. JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT THE BOYS WERE EXHAUSTED WE HEADED HOME TO DISCOVER OUR NEIGHBOR, CHRIS, ON HIS GOLF CART. HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF MILES AND I USED THE GOLF CART TO GO TO SOME MORE HOUSES. DADDY AND LUKE CAME INSIDE AND MILES AND I HEADED OUT ON THE GOLF CART FOR SOME MORE TRICK OR TREAT FUN. HE LOVED IT. WHAT AN ADORABLE POWER RANGER.

ITSY BITSY SPIDER...LUKE

LUKE WAS THE MOST ADORABLE SPIDER FOR HALLOWEEN. THE COSTUME WAS SO ADORABLE AND HE LOVED TRICK OR TREATING WITH HIS BIG BROTHER. HE FOLLOWED ALONG RIGHT WITH HIM THE ENTIRE TIME. HE WASNT AFRAID OF ANY GHOSTS OR GOBLINS. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

MILES' HALLOWEEN PARTY AT FIRST BAPTIST

MILES HAD HIS HALLOWEEN PARTY ON OCT. 30TH WITH HIS PARENTS' DAY OUT CLASS. LUKE AND I WENT TO TAKE PLENTY OF GOODIES FOR THE CLASS. LUKE DECIDED HE WANTED TO BE PART OF THE CLASS AND SAT BESIDE HIS BIG BROTHER THE ENTIRE TIME. HE ATE LUNCH WITH THE CLASS LIKE A BIG BOY. MILES AND HIS FRIENDS HAD FUN AT THE PARTY AND MILES BEHAVED SO WELL. I AM SO GLAD THAT I WAS A PART OF IT.

MILES' SCHOOL FIELD TRIP TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH

MILES RECENTLY HAD A FIELD TRIP WITH HIS PARENTS' DAY OUT GROUP TO BOTTOMVIEW FARM. WE MET EVERYONE AT SCHOOL AND BUDMAN AND GIGI MADE THE TRIP WITH US. WE TRAVELED TO PORTLAND. THE WEATHER WAS VERY COLD AND WINDY. WE STARTED BY LISTENING TO STORIES FROM AN INDIAN AND HIS WIFE. THE INDIAN PLAYED HIS FLUTE ALSO. WE THEN TOOK A HAYRIDE TO THE MUDDY PUMPKIN PATCH TO PICK A COUPLE OF PUMPKINS. AFTER THAT MILES GOT TO TAKE HIS FAVORITE RIDE OF ALL ON THE BOTTOMVIEW TRAIN. THE DIRECTOR THEN TOLD FACTS ABOUT HONEY BEES AND COWS. WE THEN SAW ONE OF THE MEN MILK THE COW. WE HAD A PICNIC LUNCH THEN HEADED FOR HOME. WE HAD A GREAT DAY.

TOOL MAN LUKE

LUKE LOVES TO WORK WITH SCREW DRIVERS TO "FIX" HIS TOYS. I HAPPENED TO CAPTURE HIM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WORKING ON A TOY. MAYBE SANTA WILL BRING HIM HIS OWN TOOL SET FOR CHRISTMAS. YOU JUST CANT BEAT A SMILE LIKE THIS.

NENE AND HER BOYS

THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE BOYS WITH NENE (MY MOM) BEFORE WE WENT ON AN OUTING. KYLE WAS OUT OF TOWN IN TUNICA WITH THE BOYS AND SO THE 4 OF US WENT OUT FOR CHINESE AND SHOPPING. THE BOYS HAD A GREAT TIME. THEY LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR NENE. SHE IS THE APPLE OF THEIR EYES.

BLUE RANGERS

THE BLUE RANGERS SEASON HAS COME TO AN END. WE WON OUR FINAL GAME TODAY. DADDY HEADED UP THE TROPHY CEREMONY AFTER THE GAME. MILES SCORED 3 GOALS TODAY FOR A SEASON TOTAL OF 10. HE IS SAD THE SEASON IS OVER. AFTER THE CEREMONY THE TEAM ALL WENT TO THE DAIRY QUEEN FOR ICE CREAM TREATS. WAY TO GO BLUE RANGERS AND COACH DADDY.

LUKE IS ALL SMILES

LUKE HAS THE GREATEST PERSONALITY. ALWAYS LAUGHING AND SMILING. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO CAPTURE IT ON CAMERA. WE COULD NEVER GET HIM TO SMILE FOR PICTURES. NOW HE GLADLY LOOKS INTO THE CAMERA AND SAYS "CHEESE."

SLEEP TIGHT

YES, I KNOW....LUKE STILL SLEEPS IN OUR BED. ITS SOMETHING I SAID I WOULD NEVER NEVER DO BUT THINGS CHANGE AND HERE WE ARE COSLEEPING. ANYWAY, LUKE REALLY GOT RELAXED LAST NIGHT WITH HIS LEG COCKED UP AND ARMS BEHIND THE HEAD JUST LIKE HIS OLDER BROTHER. I JUST THOUGHT HE WAS SO ADORABLE AND PEACEFUL.

A WALK WITH DINOSAURS

PAW PAW WAS NICE ENOUGH TO OFFER MILES AND KYLE 2 TICKETS TO WALKING WITH DINOSAURS AT THE SOMMET CENTER DOWNTOWN. THE WENT THURSDAY NIGHT. THIS IS MILES GETTING READY TO GO HOLDING HIS DINOSAUR AND SPORTING HIS DINOSAUR TSHIRT. THE BOYS HAD A GREAT TIME SEEING THE LIFE SIZE DINOSAURS AND HEARING ALL OF THE FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT THE PALEONTOLOGIST HAD TO SHARE. I AM SO GLAD THEY ENJOYED THE SHOW.

MILES AND HIS WAGON

MILES IS ENJOYING A LITTLE EXERCISE PULLING HIS WAGON ON THIS BRISK AUTUMN DAY. HE PLAYED OUTSIDE WITH HIS GIGI AND BUDMAN AFTER THE CLAN RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO THE MALL. HE LOVES PULLING THINGS IN HIS WAGON. HOW FAST HE IS GROWING UP BEFORE OUR EYES. IT MAKES ME SO SAD....I AM ALSO SO CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT GREAT THINGS HIS FUTURE HOLDS.

POWER UP!!!

MILES DECIDED MONTHS AGO THAT HE WANTED TO BE A RED POWER RANGER FOR HALLOWEEN. AFTER WAITING AND WAITING THE COSTUME FINALLY CAME. HE COULDNT WAIT TO TRY IT ON. THE BUILT IN MUSCLES ARE HIS FAVORITE PART OF THE COSTUME. WE CANT WAIT TO GO TRICK OR TREATING. WHAT A FUN YEAR THIS WILL BE FOR US ALL.

ITALIA

MILES AND LUKE IN THEIR MATCHING ITALIA SHIRTS THAT NENE BROUGHT BACK LAST WEEK FROM HER TRIP TO ITALY. THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE OCCASIONS THAT THEY ARE PLAYING TOGETHER AND GETTING ALONG. YOU KNOW HOW BROTHERS CAN BE.

YOGURT ANYONE???

LUKE IS IN THE PHASE OF SELF FEEDING. AS YOU CAN SEE, HE DOESNT ALWAYS HIT HIS MOUTH. THIS WAS AN EPISODE WITH YOGURT AND HE WAS HAVING A BALL. I JUST LOVE THIS LITTLE YOGURT MUSTACHE HE IS SPORTING. THAT SMILE IS PRICELESS.

WORLD'S BIGGEST CAT

MEET SUZY. THIS IS GAY AND JERRY'S BABY GIRL. SHE IS HUGE. I DONT KNOW WHAT SHE WEIGHS EXACTLY BUT IF YOU NOTICE THE LOOK ON KYLE'S FACE IT IS TAKING A BIT OF EFFORT TO LIFT HER. WE TEASE THAT IF THE KIDS GET TO CLOSE TO HER THAT SHE MIGHT EAT THEM. WE JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS SO HILARIOUS THAT WE HAD TO SHARE.