Christmas 2008

Christmas Card 2008

What a wonderful Christmas! We celebrated with a trip to Bowie, trip to Mimi's (Bedford) and a trip to Arkansas. We were all over the place! The boys really enjoyed every aspect of Christmas and loved saying "Happy Birthday Jesus!" Jonah asked for super heroes, in particular, a "big Batman". Carson asked for a big boy bike and Creed, well Creed didn't ask for much! We enjoyed all of the festivities, and even set out yummy cookies for Santa and reindeer food for his reindeer. Fun!

Carson's Christmas Party at School

Christmas Morning

Carson and his Big Boy Bike

Jonah and his Big Batman

T and Alan at Mimi's House

Mr. Creed

Mom and Creed

Giggly Creed

At the Grider Christmas, Uncle Jay, Aunt Nola, Uncle Ronnie, Daddy, Aunt Judy

Jonah and Carson with cousins Aaron and Luke

Carson on the John Deere

Jonah's turn!

Jonah and Carson with "Little Paul"

T and Creed at Mimi's

Mimi with the boys on Christmas morning

Creed's Baby Dedication

We have dedicated each of our boys to the Lord. By "dedicating" we mean proclaiming before the church congregation that we will raise your children in the eyes of the Lord. We are asking the congregation as well as the Lord to grant us grace and wisdom as we raise our children in a Christian home, with hopes that they may one day proclaim Jesus Christ as their Savior. Talk about a big job! It's one that Rusty and I don't take lightly...

Deuteronemy 6:4-7 The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength. 6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.

I'm always nervous about the older boys' behavior, and asking them to walk on stage in front of hundreds of people and "stand still" and "be quiet" and "stop hitting each other", it was quite a hoot. At one point I just stopped caring what we looked like and really tried to soak in what the pastor was saying as he prayed over our family. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of comfort and joy. What a blessing it is to be a mother!

As the ceremony progressed, Creed was getting a little squirmy. He didn't cry though - good boy! We ended everything and walked off of the stage to find that Creed had "christened" his nice, Saks Fifth Avenue outfit. And, me being the crazy Mom trying to get everyone put together and looking nice, didn't pack another outfit for him. So, he spent the rest of church wrapped up in a blanket with nothing but a diaper and socks on. :) Memories...

Pops and Mimi with Creed

Happy Birthday Mimi!

We headed to Mimi's house to celebrate her birthday. The boys enjoyed creating their annual gingerbread house with Mimi. She loves making it but always sends it home with us...some of the gum drops mysteriously disappeared over the next few days...weird...

Creed and Dad

Mimi opening her Christmas plate for us.

Mimi and the boys...this year they made a gingerbread train instead of a gingerbread house.

Mom watching the "masterpiece" unfold...(Carson took this picture)

Fun with Friends

We enjoyed some Christmas festivities with friends this year. We visited Santa at a tree lighting ceremony in Murphy, attended playgroup at the Barretto's, many parks etc. Here are some pics that we wanted to share...

One funny story. When we attended the Murphy Tree Lighting Ceremony we arrived just before Santa did. It was exciting - the boys could hear the fire engine's sirens (Santa arrived hanging on to the side of the engine) and were sooooo excited. Jonah looked at me and said, "MOM - It's SANTA!!!!" With all of the commotion (Creed crying due to the sirens, Carson and Madeline running to see Santa on the fire truck, Jonah jumping up and down and me fumbling for my camera), I lost sight of Jonah. Santa was making his way to the Christmas tree where there was a long line waiting already to sit in his lap. I'm looking through the sea of people, shouting Jonah's name. After a few attempts I started to panic. I asked the other moms to keep an eye on Creed and Carson and I set out to find Jonah. I wound through the line looking at all of the little kids frozen faces, none of which belonged to my sweet curly-headed boy! As I reached the front of the line, I see Jonah walking towards me from Santa. I said, "Jonah sweetie where did you go? Mommy couldn't find you and I was scared." He said, "Mom, but it's SANTA!" And there you have it, a little boy's mystical view of the man in a red suit at Christmas time. Oh to be young again! A reporter followed Jonah up to me and said, "Is this your little boy? What's his name? He just followed Santa straight to his seat and plopped right down in his lap, bypassing the line of people. We'd like to put his picture in the paper." Needless to say, we never saw his picture in the paper, but this story is one I will never forget! :)

Jonah looking frantically for Santa


Carson and Madeline excited about seeing Santa

Playgroup friends at the Murphy Christmas Tree Lighting

Jonah with Hannah at the Playgroup Christmas Party

Buddies: Evan, Creed and Graham

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was celebrated many places. First, Paw, T and Alan came over Wednesday night for dinner. This was Mom's first day back at work, so T did all of the cooking, and it was delicious! The next morning Mom met Alissa at the Turkey Trot and ran 8 miles. What a way to start the day! We were able to talk and enjoy the nice weather together. It was so good to catch up with her. From there, we headed to Bedford to Mimi's house for Thanksgiving dinner with Mimi, Pops, T and Alan. We loved all of the yummy food! Next we were off to Bowie for the weekend. We enjoyed MORE FOOD, and some fun shopping too. Mom and Dad always enjoy shopping together the Saturday after Thanksgiving together while Carson and Jonah play with cousins, aunts and uncles in Bowie. This year Creed joined Mom and Dad and was a very good shopping partner!

Mimi and Pops - Christmas Card 2008

T and Mom

T, Jonah and Alan

Paw and Creed

Paw, Carson, Creed and Jonah...Creed looks a little overwhelmed...



Mimi and the boys enjoying a game of Candyland...

Creed 3 Months

My baby boy is 3 months old! Oh I can't believe it...

He is smiling and laughing outloud now. Dad has a special tickle spot that gets Creed giggling like crazy. Carson and Jonah are spending more and more time with him. The more animated Creed becomes the more they want to be with him. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year with our added blessing.

At his 3 month appointment Creed was in the 75 percentile for both height and weight. It seems as though he will be a big guy...like his brother Jonah! We love you big boy!

All bundled up...

Pooped!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Rusty celebrated his 32nd birthday at home with us on a FUN Sunday afternoon. We baked him a cake, blew out his candles and played baseball and football in the backyard with him. The boys really enjoyed having him home and I know that he enjoyed it as well. We took one of my favorite pictures right before the sun went down...my 4 favorite guys! I love you Big R.

Family Photo

So Carson came home from school telling me that he needed a picture of his family to take to school the next morning. I realized the only family picture we had was of Rusty in a mullet wig, so I didn't think that was a good idea. Rusty got home after the kids were in bed that night, so I jumped out of bed the next morning, got everyone dressed and set the camera up. I don't know why, but this picture makes me laugh. Rusty looks so important, rushed for work (typical). The boys look all "gelled up", ready for a day of preschool (typical). Creed looks like "what the heck are you people doing to me now" (typical), and I'm ready for a jog (only typical 3 days a week...should be more). Anyway, it's just funny to me that we had to schedule a photo op at 7:30 in the morning. Fun times!

Some of the kids brought professional pictures where everyone is wearing matching shirts at a park...not the McClendons!

Trip to Houston

Jonah, Aunt Mimi, Carson, Creed and Uncle Ian

We traveled to Houston (Mom and 3 boys...first trip with all 3). It was quite an adventure! We had to pull over once on the way there and once on the way home to feed Creed and let the boys run around and play. Overall, it was an awesome trip. I couldn't do it without all of the help we receive as soon as we get there. Uncle Ian and Aunt Mimi are like surrogate parents to my kids. They love them like their own. It's so nice to go somewhere and feel like you are surrounded by family - all the help and patience, I can't say enough wonderful things about them.

Uncle Ian with Rylee and Creed - all 3 are snoozing!


Rylee and Creed seem to be getting along just fine!

Sydnee said, "Oh well, I'll just snuggle up by MYSELF and go to sleep!" Poor Sydnee...

Mimi had a doctor's appointment so while waiting on her, we had some "fun on the hill".

Uncle Ian and Creed at Bill's, pre burger!

Jonah racing down the hill Uncle Ian found for us!


Carson was on a mission - we were trying to make him tired so that he would take a good nap. I bet we had him ride that bike for over 2 miles...didn't help, he still wouldn't go down for a nap!

Creed lounging...love the foot propped up, he looks like his Daddy!

We fed the ducks...

Mimi and Mom took a break while Creed slept in Mommy's lap. The boys were busy racing!

We visited Mat and Kelli to watch the Tech OSU game and it was more of the same! I think Kelli is ready for #3, she helped out by holding Creed most of the night - I don't think she minded one bit! And Kendal and Ava were busy tutoring Carson and Jonah. At one point I heard Kendal reading a book to the boys - so sweet! You share that brain power all that you like Ms. Kendal!