Basketball with Gracie Cakes, Coly Moly & Super Daddy

Tonight Daddy took Ashlyn Grace and Colson to the Gator Basketball Game. It was UF vs. American University and the final score was 76 to 60 (win for the Gators). When they arrived at the O'Connell Center they were lucky enough to get a picture with Albert. Daddy said that they did REALLY well at the game. He said that Colson really paid attention to the game (at least the first half) and would shake his pom-pom at all the right times. Ashlyn Grace was super happy to have lots of popcorn and her Daddy's lap!

When they left, they posed for some victory pictures outside the Alumni Hall with the bronze Albert and Alberta. Pure excitement on these young Gator Fans faces! (start um early)

Go Gators!

Christmas at Gma and Gpa's New Digs

We went to Elkton for the first Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's new home! They had JUST moved in that week...what a great Christmas present to eachother. The kids loved their new ride... (and actually took a ride around the neighborhood after our yummy meal). Goo Gators!



Braxton loved his penguin, which turned "inside out into a pillow"!

Everyone gather around Gma for a group picture!

While we were hanging out, Braxton made himself comfy in Uncle Thad's lap (it was so cute to watch him go up to Thad, back into his leg and communicate that he wanted up in his lap). What a good sport Uncle Thad!

Gracie wanted to pose with her new Mermaid (actually swims in the water)!

And after lots of good eats Braxton had a yummy dessert of ICE CREAM! ummmm

And before our Christmas concluded...we took the traditional picture of the 5 grandchildren on the couch!!! (not so great of Gracie...but it was the best that we got)

Our New Toy...

Yesterday, for Christmas the Flock received a new trampoline. Good news was: ALL the pieces were there...bad news was it didn't come assembled. SO, Papa agreed to meet at 8:00 AM to get started so that it would be jumpable before Nonnie and Pop left to go back home Saturday. Here are the guys getting everything out of the box at 8:04 AM (I love it when things begin on time)! What you cannot see is that it was 40 degrees!!! (that's COLD for us Gainesvillians)

And wow by 8:55 AM is starts to look like a round structure...

Then, at 9:56 AM Pop arrives to help with the finishing touches (getting the cage safe and securely in place).

By 10:26 AM the new trampoline is all done (that's our great neighbor- Sid, he's helping tie the last things off while Pop is being a Big Kid and getting in the FIRST JUMPS)!

Ashlyn Grace, Colson and Evan seem to be having fun...

And even Braxton was all about it!!! (click on the picture to make it bigger and see his little legs jumping).

Thanks Daddy and Papa for getting started SO early and in such COLD weather and thanks to Pop and Mr. Sid for helping with the finishing details! We love our new trampoline!

Psalm 28:7b Now I'm jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to him. (The Message)

Christmas 2009

Ok, so I wasn't going to include the TRADITIONAL ANNUAL pictures I take every year of the children in front of the tree BEFORE the chaos and fun of handing out and opening gifts begins because I couldn't get a picture of ALL of them together. Braxton (whom you see is MIA) was in Papa's lap, waking, observing, and trying to figure out WHY his Mama had woken him from a perfectly sound sleep, changed his diaper and brought him out to all this noise and lights (poor blue eyes). He looked to be thinking "What is UP with these people!??!" Anyway- the two oldest posed for their picture (Evan being the rule follower jumped right in place upon request and Ashlyn Grace, being Evan's shadow and biggest fan, did just what her Big Brother was doing). Colson, however, has his own picture...because he posed with the tree when HE was ready...just like his personality and such a vivid picture of how Colson likes to be obedient...but on his schedule! :O

So anyway this Christmas we made a huge modification by getting the toys ALL undone BEFORE wrapping them. For those of you with little to no experience with opening children's toys you will need to have: wire cutters, screw drivers, knifes, and scissors on hand JUST to get them out of their packaging and then batteries (of course) to make them work. SO- Nonnie and I did ALL of the de-packaging behind the scenes and even though it took HOURS to wrap them all (or maybe that's because we were wrapping for FOUR children)...opening that morning was SO much more enjoyable and easier on Daddy for sure! We will definitely do THAT again next year.

SO- here are a few favorites from each: Evan had a toss up between his cowboy boots and DS Lite.

Gracie Cakes LOVED her Baby Bath Time and Monkey.

Colson was all about his own 'puter (while sporting his new personalized Elmo Robe)!

And Braxton...well he was all about the balls- here's his Heisman Pose! And do you see that little train in the bottom right of the picture...he plays with that daily!

After we were all done opening gifts, I popped in some French Toast casserole and Braxton got his tray for his high chair all ready. He's one strong 15 month old, and serious about his food!

I just had to include this because it's SO darn cute! Braxton LOVES his Papa!

And last but not least, every year since Yvonne has paid off her debt, she has purchased herself something wonderful for Christmas. This year, Aunt Yvonne got herself a new laptop. You can see her surprise and pure joy. Congrats Aunt Yvonne, you deserve it!

Braxton 15 Month Check up (a little late)

This morning Braxton had his 15 month check up (14 days late). Here are his statistics:

Height 32.25 inches 85%

Weight 27 pounds 7 ounces 80-85%

Head 19.3 inches 90%

He received three shots and did VERY well. He cried just long enough to get down and leave the room. By the time he made the corner, Dr. B was there offering a sticker and up to the front they went for his prize! He received H1N1, Chicken Poxs and HIB. :)

Since I wasn't blogging from the beginning of our Flock..I'm going to include the stats for all previous Flemings (basically for Mom to have all the info in one place):
Evan
Height 32"
Weight 24 pounds 1 ounce
Head 19.3 cm
Ashlyn Grace
Height 29 3/4"
Weight 20 pounds 12 ounces
Head 18.5 inches
Colson
Height 31 3/4"
Weight 23 pounds 8 ounces
Head 19 1/4 inches

Colson gets a Big Boy Hair Cut

So we went to see Mrs. Dian for a Big Boy Hair Cut (like Evan's, as Coly explained)...and she knew just what to do...

Coly was very cooperative and VERY serious the WHOLE time...this was the typical look on this face...

And now the finished product... He loved it.

Here's the ride home...Cool Moo'Dee

At first sight, Ashlyn Grace said, "Colson, you look just like Evan." They do look more similar, but Colson is still clearly his own person...opposite in so many ways from his Big Brother!

Caroling with Cornerstone Friends...

Tonight, thanks to the awesome coordination of Julianna (our awesome HRM),...the second grade class and various other Cornerstone-ians met at the Starbucks outside the town of Tioga to warm up and go caroling through the lovely neighborhood of Tioga. With electric candles and sheet music in hand...off they went a caroling...

Ashlyn Grace couldn't read the words...but she knew the songs well enough to sing right along! (pink puffy coat and super cute suede boots to the left)

As you can see it was a good turn-out, they went to many houses, and a wonderful time was had by all. Evan and Ashlyn Grace enjoyed spreading Christmas Joy around the Town of Tioga and coming home for some hot chocolate and marshmallows!

Gaylord Palm ICE for Christmas with Gpa and Gma!

This weekend Grandpa and Grandma took the whole Flock, Aunt Yvonne, Uncle Thad (Grandpa's Son) and Dylan to the Gaylord Palm in Orlando for an awesome Christmas Weekend Experience. You can check out more info about this awesome resort and ICE at: http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-palms/special-events/kissimmee-orlando-events/ICE/index.html

The first night we were all captivated by the musical and show (a lady danced on a ribbon and the drummer played while being suspended in the air).

The next day we went through ICE... here we are all bundled up and ready to go...

Before entry, everyone gets a blue parka and then before you enter the ICE room there's a few photo opps...how cute are THEY???

After ICE, we headed to the lower level to make 4 gingerbread houses!!!

On the last night we had dinner in the Key West wing of the resort on a boat, serenaded by the Jimmy Buffet Guy via iPod assistance..but either way the kids loved it and the Flemings got up to dance.

Time to grab a group picture with Grandpa and Grandma!

And I just wanted to include this last picture...as we were waiting for the bellhop to come for the bags, my little ones were entertaining eachother (loving on eachother)...and Evan was in Grandma's room watching TV. They just LOVE eachother...and I LOVE THAT!

I seriously took way too make GREAT pictures to post...so check them ALL out at:http://www.clarkcolor.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=1833152002/a=92494451_92494451/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=clark/

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma...we had a great time!

Christmas a little early with our Nanny Extraordinare!

After the morning and lunch with our Nanny Extraordinaire, Kaley, we dawned Braxton with Evan's Santa Hat and moved to the family room to exchange gifts.




Kaley started...she handed out all the gifts...with two for Colson (one for his birthday and one for Christmas).



Colson LOVED his pack of gum (which Kaley gave to each of them- she knows them SO well)! And Braxton was intrigued with trying to figure out WHAT to DO with his gift!



Another babydoll for Ashlyn Grace and a noisy truck for Colson! Ashlyn Grace loves her babies.

And Evan loved his solider battle kit. It came with this cool jeep/car that he bad to put together all by himself which he did during quiet time.

How do you think Colson felt about his Barney DVD...

Braxton finally got his gift opened and was pleased to have his own set of keys, which make noise.

Thank you, Kaley for all of our thoughtful gifts! We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!