Christmas 2012!! (and some exciting changes!)

We got home from south Ga over a week ago and I am just now getting a second to update!  We have been playing with all of the new toys constantly and I reorganized the entire house by the time the unpacking was finished. Wes had 9 days off this year so we were able to spend a lot of time with everyone. There was a lot of driving and a lot of meltdowns but it was all worth it...there is nothing like being with family!

I posted all of the pictures we took below. I have some updates for each of us too.

Jay: Growing up!!!  Oh my, when did he grow up? I swear, just as the saying goes, I happened overnight!  He is smart, sweet, cuddly, stubborn, loud, and wild. Still the social butterfly of the family. He is a little negotiator too. I get both frustrated and amused every time we have a negotiation of whatever the issue of the day is. He can reason just enough to be a danger to himself and others and has more than enough persistence to get his way.
He still goes to preschool M-W-F and absolutely loves his teachers. They are wonderful and I can tell they love him as their own.
He can write several letters, some better than others. His favorite letter to write is "J"...obviously!!
He loves to draw pictures, especially of people, faces, and spaceships. They are almost unrecognizable but he works so hard on it and takes his time getting every detail perfect anyway.
He can hop on one foot (his proudest accomplishment of the month) and loves to do flips.
He talks incessantly, as he's always done. I love it and it keeps me laughing all day but, my goodness, just a few moments of quiet would be so nice every once in a while!
He loves rock-n-roll. No country, no slow songs. He will tell you the same thing-in just those words-if you ask him.
He is still a month away from turning four but I've thought of him as a 4year old for months now with his confident little personality and independent attitude. He is three going on thirteen, for sure!

Eli: He turned one and decided to be bossy and dramatic. Where did my laid back, sweetheart go!?  Jay has rubbed off on him. And I have to say, it is about the funniest thing in the world to watch him yell, hit, and snatch things from Jay. Like he is finally getting sweet revenge after a year of torture. I know we need to start telling him no when starts hitting (over and over, as hard as he can), but it's hard to say no when you are laughing so hard!  Jay takes it in stride and, usually, just walks away, after scolding him, of course.
He is still not walking. Today he is 13 months so surely it is just around the corner. He is a little expert on cruising along the furniture and walls though.
He only wants me or Wes....going through a big stranger anxiety phase. Even at Christmas, he would hardly go to anyone else, especially if we were in the room. I tried to stay hidden just to give everyone a change to hold him.

Now for us: Over Christmas Wes signed a contract!!! Yay!!! He made it. :)  Good riddance you crappy residency!  He will be joining South Georgia Eye Partners on August 1. Wes worked for Dr. Petermann after he graduation college and they have kept up over the years. He is based out of Valdosta but has a new office in Tifton, which Wes will be working primarily. We are so excited and cannot wait to get back to south Ga!  We are just so thankful everything has fallen into place and we can finally settle somewhere!
With that being said, Columbia has become a dear home to us. Our friends, our church, the youth group, our neighbors, work friends...each one is so special to us. My excitement about moving quickly turns to a knot in my stomach when I think about saying goodbye to these people who have become so important to us. We have loved Columbia from the first time we visited and will miss so much of this place. Even though I complain about residency a lot, Wes' Attendings and co-residents are wonderful. He often talks about their example and how thankful he is for the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the field.  It is a small, close-knit family. The training Wes received has been more than what he hope for and we will always cherish this program, this community. If it were not so far from family we would settle here in a heartbeat. It will be very hard to leave.

Now that the move is official we have to get this house ready to sell!  I am not looking forward to it and have a feeling it will not be as smooth as our Macon sell but we are praying that the right person comes along and we don't end up stuck with it or loosing a lot of money. So I've been cleaning, getting rid of clutter, organizing, and making a long list of things for Wes to repair. We will put it on the market by February. And please tell me how on earth I will keep this house presentable with two crazy boys in the house!!! Dreading this whole process is a vast understatement!

Well here is the fun we had at Christmas!

Cutie pie

Mama Ross made this fire coat for Jay. He is in love with it. He even wore it to school this morning for show and tell!

Teaming up on Papa!

Opening presents!

Eli is studying his new toy

trying to keep him entertained with my phone....until he tried to throw it across the room.

Doing some serious fireman work

Our Christmas Elf!

This must have been when he decided to just chunk the thing

And now he just has viewing privileges

Santa came to Mimi's house this Christmas

Still sporting the super cool Fire Coat of course!

Eli saw nothing fun about opening boxes, this boy is so serious!

Yay!  Cowboy guns!

He makes such a handsome cowboy

Then Kurt and Ash came with more presents!

It is superheros galore in our house now

Batman watching Spiderman fight the green monster

No wonder Jay always turns into a wrestling maniac after he sees Uncle Kurt!

What a picture. Ashley called Jay a few months ago and asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He quickly said, "a really big Batman". She texted me 20min later to say she ordered the biggest one she could find. He is spoiled!

Eli's first time with a dum-dum.

"where have you been all my life?" Since then, dum-dums have bailed us out of several public meltdowns.

At Aunt Gails fishing...he loves this thing!

Putting puzzles together with Uncle Alan....I'm not sure who was  helping who...

another pose in his cowboy attire, he has worn is Woody boots everyday since!

Wes and his boys

family picture

After Christmas we met the Ross' in Steinhatchee for a few days. The sunsets were gorgeous!

Bye Bye! This homebody was ready to get back to his crib!

Jay loved the boat but surely scared all of the fish away with his non-stop conversations

It was freezing!

Carrie and Jay walking back from the pier

I went to get Jay so he could see the fish Wes caught before they cleaned it. When Papa pulled out the knife Jay innocently said, "papa, don't cut the fish!" Uh oh. Maybe we should  have prepared him.

The next day was warmer and Jay stayed in the condo with Mama Ross so... much quieter too!

Redneck come to town!  We drove home like this....I was not proud. But Jay was not leaving his police car at Mimi's house. Fortunately the Dodge pulled us through, once again.

Jake was ready to get home too!

Eating with Aunt Carrie

Back at home cruising the neighborhood. Both boys love this car!

Back to fishing....pics are way out of order, sorry

I just thought this was a pretty picture

Trying to keep warm in our hats

Riding on the back of the boat while the fisherman look for their next hole

He stopped for a lunch break 15min into the trip

"where are all the fish, Daddy?"

"well Jay, you are probably scaring them away with all the talking"

What a life

By the end of the day I was COLD! I put on three coats, two hats, and barricaded my self from the wind. It was so fun though!

Finally! We have supper!

it is so beautiful down there!

Wes is showing off his photography skills