Little Rascals...

This is my last post before Thanksgiving and I thought I would give you some pictures that will make you smile! Jonas and Nolan are becoming quite the characters! They are such wonderful boys! Mom says I'll pay with the next kiddo since my boys are so easy- I hope she is wrong! Enjoy the pictures...the first one needs no explanations :) Cindy Lou- 3 more days!!!


They hug & give "keesis" constantly! Its the most precious thing I've ever saw!

Did I mention that Jonas and Nolan have become monkeys? I'm just waiting on the fur and funny noises!

Jonas is SO fast at climbing the steps! If you mention "bed" or "nap"- he's off to his room! What can I say, the boys loves to sleep!

They brought my laundry basket into the kitchen and had a sword fight with the cardboard I had left after using all the wrapping paper on it! Amazing what little boys find to entertain themselves!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

I'm slacking on posting, but with trying to get everything squared away for our travels, working, and spending time at home, time is something that I don't get much of! However, a little over a week ago, I did manage to drag all 9 storage bins of Christmas decor out...Chris put the 7 1/2 ft tree up and I decorated! The cage I used to use for the boys is now around our tree which works out extremely well! The boys can't get to gifts or ornaments but we can still enjoy the lights! Unfortunately, they can now climb on any and everything which made hanging stocking and decorating the stair rails impossible this year! I also had to leave my snow villages in their boxes... I guess its just more to look forward to next year! At least the dining room table and mantle got decorated and the wreaths are up! Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

The picture is slightly tilted, so just tilt your head to the right...haha!

My Christmas trees have never been real traditional...so neither is the "toppers" I put on them! Lots and lots of sparkle :)

The pretty pink flowers that circle the top of the tree...

Aunt Amie's Visit!!!

Last week, Amie came to visit! We were so happy to have her come stay a couple nights with us! Amie is my best friend from college. We met at ETSU in psychology class but didn't become close friends until we were accepted into the nursing program. Nursing school was tough and without her, I'm not sure what I would've done! From late nights out at Poor Richards and The Otter, to study nights & Amigos- thru a LOT of tears and smiles- she was always there. Its just the kind of person she is and I thank God for such a wonderful friend who is still in my life and now my boys! Since she is an only child, she can be another aunt to my boys! She got here on Monday afternoon. I cooked dinner and we had fun just catching up. She brought the boys presents after their baths and they were in heaven! Its official- Christmas will be a blast this year after seeing them rip into the wrapping paper on her gifts! Tuesday, Chris took the boys to daycare so Amie & I could sleep in! We had to be at a Veterans day program at 11am and we barely made it in time! We went to the VFW afterwards since I had made food for the veterans along with my motherinlaw and sister in laws. We served them food and had a good time watching all the kids stress Chris out :) After picking the boys up from daycare, we rested until dinner time! Then we loaded up to go to Chris' parents for dinner and games! The girls came out on top again and Chris & Moe were destroyed!! After taking the boys to daycare the next morning, we headed to Turkey Creek to shop before Amie headed back! We had fun and enjoyed lunch at McAlisters! Amie- thanks so much for coming down and visiting! I really wish we lived closer! Your friendship means the world to me and I'm so glad we have not let distance stop us! Love you!

Amie brought presents and the boys were excited!!

Helping Jonas

Amie helping Nolan open his toy

Jonas was attached to Amie's hip! And she was loving it!

Nolan making us all laugh while wearing daddys boots!

Sweet Jonas Kade- look how blond his hair is getting!

Amie with the boys before leaving

Girls Night Sleepover- with the boys :)

Every couple of months, the girls on my moms side of the family get together for a sleepover at my mamaws house. Every since I can remember, I guess since we were babies, we've all be staying with mamaw! We have always loved it. She always stocks her pantry full of candy, cooks dinner, and a big breakfast! Its always so much fun to catch up, play games, and eat! Now since several of us are married and have kids, we don't get together as much as we should...and now, we bring our kids along! 2 weekends ago, it was time! We had been planning this night for a couple of months and I was looking forward to it. I loaded the boys up and we were off! We met my mom, aunt, and cousins at mamaws and had the best time. The boys did so well sleeping in their pack n play away from home. I slept in the bed with mom and I think we were up until 1am just talking... she's always been my best friend. Mamaw made an amazing breakfast the next morning before we finally loaded up and came back home. Enjoy the pictures- they are all of the boys! After they went to sleep, us girls were too busy talking to worry about pictures!


In our "slumber" suits

Nolan telling ghost stories...

Jonas giving it a try

Nolan emptied Mommys bag and climbed in!

Jonas looking at Nolan thinking "Dude, do you know you're sitting in a pink bag?!?"

Nolan found Mimis bag and decided to check his ears out!

We were Tagged!!!

We were tagged by the Ishams & the Tinkers for this fun game and I was actually surprised at the results! Heres the deal- go to your 4th picture folder and click on the 4th picture. Post and give 4 thoughts on the picture....pass on the tag to 4 people!



1. This is a picture of Chris and I in our wedding attire! (Like you couldn't figure that out!) I LOVED my princess dress and I love how it looks like we're all wrapped up in it!

2. This picture means the world to me because it represents a time when it was just us without kids living life so carefree!

3. It was actually taken in May, five months AFTER we got married :) I wanted pictures of us outdoors and since we got married in December when it was cold, this was perfect! Not to mention how fun it was to get back in my wedding dress :)

4. I could go on and on about this picture & my love for it (which is probably why I have it in a 16x20!) but I'll just say that I smile every time I look at it and thank God for giving me such an amazing husband. He truly is my best friend, my bright side to everything, and an awesome dad who has a heart of gold!

You're up! We tag-
1. The Bensons (Cindy)
2. The Parks Family
3. The Snow Family
4. The Dearing Family

Calling all moms!!!

After some unfortunate incidents, I am looking for a new pediatrician. We were with Dr. Lin at Knoxville Pediatrics in the Farragut office right next to Turkey Creek...I love Dr. Lin and so do my boys! He is so good with them!! But now we are looking again. I feel like I'm back at square one trying to find a good one! I would prefer someone close, Oak Ridge or Farragut would be great! Turkey Creek is only 20 minutes away from our house which is great. I would also prefer that the pediatrician has hospital rights at Childrens Hospital so if we were ever there, they could be seen by their own ped. Any suggestions...I'll take any and every one of them I can get! Thanks!!

I Stand Amazed...

I was driving down home from Knoxville today listening to a worship CD that our church put out 2 years ago. Its an absolutely AWESOME CD! In fact, I played the first one so much and took it so many places, it became scratched and I purchased a new one a while back! Its called "You Are God Alone" performed by Grace Baptist Church Worship Choir. You will not be disappointed in purchasing this CD, I promise! (Its sold at Cedar Springs) We belong to a very BIG church and the choir is amazing in every sense of the word! My favorite part of worship is the singing...at times, it brings me to tears and other times I get cold chills all over me! There are very few songs that give me chills, but "I Stand Amazed" does it every time! To hear the words...I can't explain. To me, it is utterly amazing that someone could love me so much that He would take my sins, make them His own, and die alone. Thats powerful and a love that none of us could ever imagine. I think the song speaks for itself so I'm just going to post the lyrics and I found a video on youtube to add. Its not our church choir, but the guy does a good job! If you have 6 free minutes- please watch this video...

I Stand Amazed Lyrics

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Chorus:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

Lovin Life!

Life at the Raymond house has been very entertaining! I never imagined how much fun twins could be! They keep us laughing on a daily basis. They have become so independent! They brush their own hair after bath time, brush their own teeth (after we have helped them of course!), take their shoes & socks off, and LOVE helping with laundry & dishes! They are learning new words daily. Daycare has definitely been a huge plus for them! They LOVE their friends and we have been amazed at how much they have learned! They can both do sign language which is so much fun! I could go on and on bragging and having my "mommy moments" but I'll spare you! We are now counting down the days until we fly out to Seattle to visit Aunt Cindy & Uncle Davis for 5 days! 19 days to go!!! And Chris is counting down the days until our anniversary trip to New York City- he's such an amazing husband :) Enjoy the pictures!


Nolan digging to the bottom of his toy box to find his "car car".... just wait until Jonas sees this opportunity!

Jonas closing the lid on Nolan! Mommy saying "Jonas, let brother out" and Jonas shaking his head no!

Making of mess of pasta & mommys homemade sauce- complete with tomatoes, carrots, spinach, onions, & garlic...and they LOVE it :)

My boys LOVE to eat!

Nolan carrying Mickey while pushing his buggy

Daddy getting Nolan ready for school

Jonas checking out his toy box

Halloween Night!!

Halloween was such a fun time for the boys this year! At daycare, they got to ride around in a wagon and trick or treat at the different classrooms! They came home with 2 bags full of mommy friendly candy (goldfish, vanilla wafers, marshmellows, etc). I picked them up right after their nap so we could get started on our night...I knew it would be a long one! Its been our tradition now for 4 years (hard to believe Chris & I have been together that long!) to go to my moms and hand out candy. Halloween is a BIG DEAL in their neighborhood and they usually have 300+ kids! Not to mention that their "crew" all live within a couple houses of each other and they all ADORE Nolan & Jonas! So after picking the boys up, we took them up to see Chris' family so they could see them in their costumes! The boys LOVE their nana & papaw and all the toys at their house! After getting their bags nana made them, we took off to moms. Mom made a big pot of chili that we all enjoyed a little too much! After getting the boys ready again, Poppy got the golf cart out rode around to see the Bartletts, Ebles, Ledbetters, Fraleys, Wades, and Bullingtons! The boys aren't old enough to trick or treat yet, so we made our rounds before it started getting dark! Then we headed back to mimis to sit out on the porch and hand out candy to all the kids! Nolan LOVED handing out candy! The more people talked to us, the more candy Nolan poured into their bags! Thanks mimi & poppy for another fun Halloween! Cindy- we missed you and Davis!! Enjoy the pictures- they are in no particular order!


Jonas playing with his Mickey & his buggy at mimis!

Nolan sharing his Mickey with Poppy- he is Poppy's boy!

Nolan leaving Cowboy some nerds!

When we came back inside mimis, the boys immediately went to check on Cowboy!

Nolan handed out candy with Mimi for hours!

Jonas LOVED being outside with everyone!

Filling up their tanks before leaving!

Trick or Treating in style! Poppy drove us around the neighborhood in the golf cart!

Jonas almost knocked Mimi down trying to get away from Misty- the witch

Mimi helping Jonas get into his costume

Jonas riding his 4-wheeler at Nana & Papaws

Nolan riding his 4-wheeler at Nana & Papaws