Stringer Family Christmas

It has been a very long time since my mom's side of the family has gotten all together. It's not because family get togethers haven't happened, it was more because we didn't make them a priority.




The loss of my brother has been so tough, but it has also taught us the importance of family. So, when the opportunity came up to get together I was ready to jump at the chance. I really wanted my mom and dad to come to, since they have had trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, and that is very understandable.





My mom's siblings and there families were all there. It was exciting to see everyone and how much everyone had changed. I was trying to think back of the last time that I had been with all of them at one time and it had to have been before my grandfather died while I was still in college.




We spent the day nibbling on the massive spread of food, drinking coffee, and catching up. I am one of the oldest cousins, well, now that my brother is gone, I am the second oldest cousin, so most of my cousins were either in elementary or junior high the last time I really visited with them.




It's funny because when you have Facebook, you seem more connected with those you love, but you realize the little things that you miss when you are visiting face to face.




The boys even realized that they really love some of their beautiful cousins they didn't even know that they had.





Of course, they were thrilled to hang out with their first cousin Joshi.





And I loved being with my little brother Bobby.







Will, the flirt, made his rounds. Reed was super impressed with Cooper's hunting pics. Tuck was quite the ladies' man, and I could totally see Nash following in his actor cousin Jim's footsteps.





It's been too long and I know that we will make it a priority to get together sooner this time.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Team Brunch

Every year Abbey and I honor my team with a meal. This year, my team grew from 5 persons to about 20. It has been a big change.




Since our home isn't quite big enough to host 20 adults and we live 29 miles from work, we decided that we would bring the meal to them.




This year, the menu consisted of cheesy grits, cranberry apple crisp, country ham and biscuits, cinnamon rolls, and grape salad.





My team has had to work super hard over the past few months. It was a Greg meal and it was a good time of fellowship.

I love the people that I work with.


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Nashville Christmas Parade

We continued our yearly tradition of going to the Nashville Christmas parade this year. We did break from the tradition of eating at spaghetti factory, because the line was ridiculous.

We ended up eating Sbarro which was not nearly as yummy as I the brown butter and mezithra that I had planned on eating. But it was good.

This year, our party included: Uncle Bill, Miss Candace, the Davidsons, and the 6 of us. Last year at this time, baby Tuck was not home yet.

Before the parade, Abbey and Michelle ran the Ruldolph Run 5K.

The parade was long but good, I think that the kids thoroughly enjoyed it. The Nashville Christmas parade consists largely of marching bands and Shriners.

One of my favorite creative things was this Christmas tree made of plastic water bottles. It was on the the Boy Scouts float.

I also loved the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" balloon.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Operation Christmas Child

Every year the boys each put together their own operation
Christmas child boxes for a needy child. This year, instead of braving the store with four energetic little boys, we set up our own little store on the kitchen table.





The boys were very impressed with the selection of the LandLife Mercantile.






Will had trouble remembering that he didn't need to try out every one of the toys before he put it in his box.





Reed was very conscientious to stuff his box as full as he possibly could.




Nash wanted to study the selection before putting just any toy in his box.




Reed got so excited he had to squat on the table to make sure he could reach everything.




Will thought that the most important part was choosing really good candy for the little boys and girls that the boxes would be going to.




It didn't take Tuck long to learn that Candy is an important part of life so he wanted to help with it as well.










We did the little labels where you can track your box so we will be watching to see where they go. This past Sunday Reed, Abbey, and I took our boxes to the altar where everyone brings ours and church and prayed for the little boys that would receive them.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Our Superstar Mommy

Last weekend, our superstar Mommy participated in the Ragnar Series Relay race. It was from Chattanooga to Nashville. The course was 197 miles long. Abbey ran the third longest leg which was 18 miles. So she ran almost 1/10 of the race.

Several other from our church also ran on another team.

After Abbey ran her half marathon and we missed her coming over the finish line we were determined not to miss her finish this race so we got there in plenty of time.

Will got tired so he took a little rest on his namesake's shoulder. Thankfully, we were able to hangout with Abbey for a little bit before the finish as she was already done with her portion of the run.

Enna, Poppy, and Joshi were also there with us to help celebrate Abbey's big accomplishment.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuck's First Birthday

I can hardly believe that we celebrated Tuck's first birthday yesterday. Tuck's birth was one that most people who adopt internationally don't usually get. We were able to follow his birthmother's pregnancy and knew the exact day when he was scheduled to be born. So, for us, his birth was probably as close to a real pregnancy as we have experienced.

Everyone who has read this blog for any length of time knows that Abbey takes party planning seriously. She decided that this party would be a pumpkin party. So, we have been collecting pumpkins for a little while. Abbey searched for the best pumpkin type recipes and she decided on a nice fall menu.

Unlike most of the parties, Abbey decided that we should invite "family" to the party, so we didn't have the big blowout party that we normally have. Well, that's not completely true. There was still plenty of food and decor, just not so many people that we had to move the location.

The brothers were excited that they got to have a few of their friends come over. Reed had Britton, Nash had Caleb, Will had Paityn, and Tuck had Carah and Cate.

Abbey's menu consisted of homemade vegetable beef soup, grilled cheese on sourdough (my contribution), apples with caramel dip and pumpkin dip, and cheese puff balls.

I think that everything was really nicely decorated. The guests all left with their own pumpkin party mix and the kids got their own pumpkin tray plate. Also, Abbey made pumpkin spice play doh for the kids to play with while they were at the party. Yes, that's right, she made play doh that pumpkin scented.

The special guests for Tuck's party were Pop and Lola, Uncle Bill, Miss Candace, The Batsons, and the Davidsons.

It was a great party.

We have been so blessed over the past year to have Tuck in our lives. Most people knew that having a fourth child was definitely not on our radar. Our family story is an amazing testament of how amazing God's plan is. We were the family that wanted a boy and a girl, which became a boy, two more boys and we were done. Thankfully, God knew that we need Tuck.

He helps move the cuteness factor of our boys to straight over the top!