Karson's First Christmas

Another first in our life with Karson!  Enjoying the christmas holiday.  Getting older anyone could probably agree it just becomes another holiday, with the same traditions, and almost like making sure we do everything we have always done every year!  But this year brought some new enjoyment and excitement with Karson.

I put up our christmas tree right before Thanksgiving because I knew we would be traveling and I wanted to enjoy it when we got back from Sumter.  I loved it this year as I decorated it a little more off the fact that we have a little one in the family.  Then Karson and I made his first christmas ornament to go on the tree.  He was not so excited about me painting his hand and foot to put on the ornament but you gotta do what you gotta do right :)

We decided to take him to Riverbank Zoo to look at all the lights.  We left one day after Brandon got off work and went to get supper and then headed to the zoo.  Of course he is not at the age to really appreciate it and talk back to us but he loves staring at lights so we figured it would be something we could all enjoy together.  And I am sure now we will go back next year and he will be saying "lights, lights, lights!"

He got his first pair of Christmas pajamas to wear christmas night (which I must say were adorable!) and although he didn't realize what was going on Christmas morning we were filled with joy having him with us! We started our morning just like we do every morning playing in the bed and laughing with one another.  

He of course loved playing with the wrapping paper, boxes, and anything unusual for children to play with!  

  

But that didn't stop him from being spoiled rotten by all of his grandparents, aunts, and uncles!  He got quite the mix of toys to bring back home with us. We started at my parents house that morning and then made our way to Brandon's parents house.  Where Karson was finally getting the hang of this?!?....Oh no not so much...still just enjoying the paper!

Yep...I think I'll eat this!

The last gift Karson opened was a lifetime hunting and fishing license from his Grandpa and a wooden gun that his grandpa had carved and painted himself.  Needless to say, Karson's Daddy was pretty excited about this (and one day Karson will be to!)

Oh yeah and Uncle Michael got a gun from Aunt JoJo....these boys had a good christmas!

Another wonderful holiday making lasting memories with my precious family!!!  What a year 2011 has been and what a blessing God has given us in our son Karson Clay Kinder! 

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17

Only few know the price!!

Oh the holidays!!  We rush around trying to buy presents, going to parties, decorating.....posting status updates all about Christmas.  Voicing our opinions on Santa or no Santa...or how crazy it is spending so much money during this time of year....BUT if we stop and think about it what are we all hoping for this time of year....Time Around FAMILY!  It's always a time where we are creating family traditions some new, some old, and everything in between.  What most all of us want at this time of year is family.

So lately my mind has been heavy with all the military people I know.  You see the bottom line is a lot of them will celebrate Christmas away from their family, away from their wife/husband, and children.  And to think probably their only christmas wish would be to spend time with their family.  Just to be home!!  What a great price they pay for our freedom....for us to be sitting around with our family this holiday season....for us to live in a free world.  And honestly that appreciation goes further because even if they aren't serving our country overseas many of them are miles away from their family on different military bases having to celebrate all the holidays on base! They truly pay a price that only few could ever understand or comprehend.  One that I will never be able to comprehend.  And yet it goes even further than that....because behind every great man or woman serving our country they have their family here at home who is "serving" our country as well.  By sacrificing time spent without their mom or dad, or time away from their husband or wife!  I have to say I admire military wives more than you could imagine.  Brandon leaves me for a week and I think I am not gonna make it.  I cannot imagine being away and having the courage and stability all these wives have.  You see we have a lot to sit around with our family and be grateful for this season.  Let's not take this time for granted!!!

And honestly, its not just this time of year its ALL year long.  People spend time away from their family...wives raise their children without daddy being home, no break, no one to wrap their arms around them each night.  Daddy's who miss the birth of a child because they are overseas serving our country...miss the first words, the first smile...whatever it may be!  And I know they don't want our pity by no means...BUT they do deserve our appreciation!  Its because of them we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Don't let a military person go by you without telling them you appreciate them this holiday season!  We truly do not know the price!!!

The video below is a deployment done just a few short months ago.  Family who will be away from one another this holiday season!!  All the photos were done by LizOdom Photography! Her husband also deployed this same time.  What a video of emotion and pictures showing how passionate all these people are!

Karson's First Thanksgiving

Karson is so full of life right now!  He is sitting up, playing with his toys, and always wanting someone to play with him.  So we always go to Sumter for the holidays and this was Karson's first time celebrating Thanksgiving.  Brandon always goes out to the land over thanksgiving and usually most days we are home he hunts.  Well really no usually to it, he hunts!! But we knew we wanted to take Karson to the land for the first time to and he loved it.  He has always loved being outside which makes me happy because I hope the older he gets the more he will want to run and play and use all his energy up outside!  He loved the land...he was mesmerized by the fire...and was such a good boy.

Seriously amazing blue eyes!

Then we celebrated Thanksgiving this year at Brandon's parents house with lots and lots of food!  And of course Karson had to come dressed for the occasion with his tie shirt.  After lunch he played outside with his cousins and oh how I wish I could see inside to all of their minds and just know what they were thinking sometimes!

We really have SO much to be thankful for this season and I am just in awe of all God has blessed us with.  

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Life has been Crazy!!

I started this blog to give family a place to come and see pictures and what all we have been doing lately and I have to say the last few months have been crazy!  Karson is now 8 months old and wanting every minute of attention I can give him.  In fact my only break these days is usually when he is asleep and thats the "check into the game" moment and get your house clean, get supper together....pretty much do whatever you need to do thats most important because when he wakes up its back to business with him again!  So its been so long since I post...I will start with our first family photo session

My best friend, Rebecca and her family came to visit one weekend because we had planned to take family pictures and some of Karson since she captured some cute ones when he was 3 months old.  Well sure enough we wake up that Saturday morning to a very windy and cold day! Coldest day we had yet and of course it would be picture day.  On top of that she forgot her camera and flash so had to use my camera and we borrowed an extra flash from another friend!  We weren't gonna post pone it so we decided to make the best of the situation and do what we could and I have to say we did find some we liked :)