Rewards Of Their Hard Work

Over the Christmas Holiday we have had a lot of fun with family,and still more to come before back to school next week. Jeff & I also thought this would be a great opportunity to teach the boys the value of hard work and the rewards that sometimes will follow. (If they have a good attitude) They like to have their own money so that they can buy whatever they want....with some assistance of course ; ) If the reward is getting paid, attitudes are normally at their best! The boys did a great job helping around the house the other day. Also, yesterday I took them to a job site Jeff is working at right now, to give their daddy a hand. This was the first time they got to do this, so they were very excited!

They were trying to spell...yay!

This One's For Nana & Papaw

We wrapped up our Christmas celebrations over at Nana & Papaw's (my parents) house today. We all had a great time visiting together. The cousins were actually playing out side at the same time, so it was a perfect picture opportunity.

Grace was in bed for the night, when Jeff heard a baby crying coming from her room. He opened the door and saw that she had put the baby doll (which makes real baby sounds) in bed with her. He told her, okay if she cries one more time and is keeping you up, I will take her from you. For some reason he never told me that when our kids were babies....hehe ;)

Home For Christmas

Last night the kids baked cookies for us.. and for Santa too.

Our kids are very serious when it comes to chocolate chip cookies...just look at those faces! Grace was busy counting all of them.

Three years ago we started reading the Christmas Story from Luke in the Bible. This is a long time tradition with my side of the family, and one Jeff & I will continue with our children.

Jeff & I woke to Caden saying... Jared has his Bible out and marked for when ever you get up.

I will not bore all of you with the tons of pictures we took of the kids opening there gifts, so I will just post some favorites.

Daddy and the boys learning all the tricks of their new video/camera/Mp3 player.

Grace woke about an hour after the boys this morning. Any other day of the year she would have been one of the first ones up. She has not been feeling well lately, so we let her sleep in this morning. She was a very busy little girl today just cooking & cleaning all day.

I took this picture tonight at Santa Land. I love how you can see the reflection of Jesus and crosses over the water.

The kids were very excited and thankful for all the gifts. We were all blessed this Christmas.

Below is a video from this morning. Grace got some chocolate out of her stocking, I had no clue she could say or knew what chocolate was. Just leave it to us girls, we know what's good!!

Cornett Christmas Tradition

Christmas 1999

Joshua at the age of 5 holding 3 month old Jared. And 3 year old Rachel trying patiently to wait her turn. ~One of my favorite pictures~

Christmas 2001

The tradition begins. The 1st cousins picture.

Christmas 2002

We welcomed Jacob & Caden to our crew! ~Jared was being a toot, he didn't want to sit down or help hold his brother.

Christmas 2003

Christmas 2007
Welcome Baby Grace!

Christmas 2009

Grace just loves her cousin Josh!

And yes, I skipped a few years, was just showing progression:)

First Christmas

This was our first Christmas Memaw was not with us...though we miss her very much we all know she is having her first Christmas with Jesus this year. Merry Christmas Memaw, we love you.

Papaw and his shadow.

Grace and my nephew Gunner were so cute together, I would find him helping her with little things through out the day.

Uncle T.J. and his son Garrison listening to Grace count the ring toss rings. (I love Garr's smile in this picture).

The kids got to make a gingerbread house. With some help from Aunt Sue with the hot glue.

We all had a great time even though we didn't let the kids ride the four wheelers. It was just too cold this year.

Guinea Pigs For Breakfast!?

Sounds yummy. Doesn't it?

This morning the boys had there Christmas Party at School. In Caden's class we were asked to bring Pigs In a Blanket. While they were baking Jared walked into the kitchen this morning and asked, what are the guinea pigs for? You mean the pigs in a blanket.? Oh..I wasn't sure what they were called. Later, on our way to school with just Jared and I in the car (Daddy & Grace went to Caden's party, while I went with Jared. Parties at the same time every year...ugh) Anyways, we start laughing about it again and he asked, "why are they called that anyway?" Well, you know the weenie comes from a pig. "What!! I thought it came from a dog. (He whispered to himself)..you know for hot dog." You thought we have been eating little weenie dogs?...like Sissy? (a.k.a. Dachshund) No!...not her but other weenie dogs.

Oh the things our children say that makes us grin :)

In The Back Yard Again

I'm sure you have heard of The Backyardagin's on Nick Jr.

They play and explore in their back yard.

Well these two are our version of that show.

They love the outdoors!

From 3:30-6:30 this is where you could find them yesterday, yes even in the 40 degree weather :o)

Running up toward the house after telling them it was time to go in for the night.

The Blessing Next Door

We are truly blessed to have such sweet neighbors. They have blessed us in so many ways and they don't even realize it. (will post more on that later) They moved in next door a little over 3 years ago. They have a daughter who is two days older than Grace. Last night they came over and gave the kids and us Christmas gifts.

The girls opening Grace's first Cabbage Patch!

I had the boys sit with backs together, so they couldn't see each others gift...since they were the same NERF gun!! Last night and today after school, it has been non stop NERF wars at our house.

A little later after daddy got home, we all walked over to take them their gifts. No this is not A's gift, just a cute picture of the girls playing together.

My thirty four year old blessing

Today is a day of celebration though my wife may not share my enthusiasm. This day thirtyfour years ago the Lord chose to bless me by bringing Stacey into this world. She came in kickin and screaming and hadn't stopped yet. I (her husband) made arrangements for the kids to be at the grandparents tonight. This is a special treat for us, we actually get to be adults not just parents for a change. We went to eat at a new restaurant were I got to look into her eyes without distraction. She thinks that I'm weird because I tell her I'm still allowed to do that.

In life we lose sight of the wonderful things we have when confronted by everyday problems. Well when I look into her eyes I lose sight of lifes everyday problems. I want to say that I love my wife with all the fibre of my being and to thank GOD for blessing me thirtyfour years ago.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY RED HAIRED ANGEL

LOVE HER ALWAYS

JEFF

We Are So Proud

Caden, brought home his progress report card today, along with some graded papers. I will say first, he loves math, and it's showing with his grades! Spelling and reading though he doesn't care for as much, but he is making AWESOME grades and doing very well!! The reason for this post is because Caden made a 100 on his last two spelling tests!! Great job Caden, mommy and daddy are so very proud of you and your hard work!!! We love you sweetie.

The Princess & The Pee

Our little girl was actually showing some signs today of wanting to use her potty. She didn't just pretend to go...she actually went in her potty, twice today! Thank you Jesus!! Looking forward to diaper free days.

A Must Have For Christmas...

Jeff & I could not pass this one up...we were about to take out a Christmas box when Caden walked into it and said "just the right size for me!" I said, "it sure is! He's a Caden doll in a box." Then Jeff said, "a doll to get all of her little chores done." NOOOOO and Caden attacked his daddy with lots of tickling :)

A Commando Caden Doll

He will get all of her little chores done!

He is also CADE to the RESCUE!

If we could only make a snowman out of leaves...

we would have one of the biggest in town.

We spent our Saturday working around the house.

We love all of our trees, but when fall is here we always have our work cut out for us. We have several work days in the fall & winter, and sometimes in the spring we have to play catch up.

If you look close enough Caden is making sure Jared is lighting the bonfire correctly ;)

Our Fun Filled Week...

From MOPS on Tuesday, Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday, Thursday we spent the day with the Cornett's. (not sure how I missed getting pictures of that day, guess I was to busy visiting and playing Wii ;) Shopping at 4am on Friday, to decorating the house for Christmas! Saturday we spent the day with my side of the family, we had a fun day together. To Sunday certainly a day of rest.

His first time to try this thing kids call fun.

Way to go Jared!!

Here I am trying to attempt riding it. My nephew you see here, was great giving me lots of pointers. But I know what he was really thinking...Aunt Stacey just give up on trying and please just give it back to me ; )

Monica and Grace saw the goats while riding around, and of course Grace tried to pet them.

Grace and 2nd cousin Cole. It's great being 2! The Parents get to do all the work. One of them is probably saying to the other (How long do ya think we can get them to push us for?)

Papaw, Aly & Grace.

Great throw Caden!

Those girls love playing together.

Building rockets to launch!

Getting ready....

Just look where it landed! 75 feet away in the cargo rack of the four wheeler!

One more time.

Seesaw up & down, in the sky & on the ground.


Not 5 min. after leaving she was out.
Little girl had a hard few days.

Friday afternoon while Grace was napping, we put the lights on the house. This is the first year the boys got to help with this!

I was so nervous having them on the roof, but they did great!

We had great conversation ...

everything looks so different from up high.

We are all talking about which direction the tree Adam & Eve ate from would be.

We moved indoors to put up the Christmas Tree.

Caden put the hooks on the ornaments...

While Jared hung most of them.

Grace was a big girl/helper this year in her reindeer ears!