O Christmas Tree

I was a little reluctant of the tree this year... not knowing what my mischievous toddler would get into (or destroy!).  I was afraid wouldn't be able to turn my back at all. 

We put lights on the tree while the kids were asleep.  Hannah came downstairs the next morning and stared with amazement and curiosity.

Both kids really loved decorating the tree.  I separated the kid-friendly from the adult-only ornaments for handling and hanging.  Jackson loves to look at the one's he has received through the years.

Jack also his own miniature tree with ornaments in his room.  He wanted to decorate it all by himself.

All in all, Hannah has been fantastic with the tree.  She gently touches the ornaments or rings the bells.  And she has only pulled bows off of 2 presents.

18 Months

This toddler is keeping us on our toes!  And we are lovin' every minute of it.  :)  The curiosity, the sweet snuggles, the meltdowns, seeing the world through her eyes... I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.

Here's Hannah's latest antics:

• Just in the last few days she has been playing with our manger scene and putting baby Jesus "Nite Nite". 
• She wants to kiss her babies, stuffed animals, and us all the time.
• When I tell her we need to go shopping she squeals and does a little happy dance.  Even if it is just the grocery store.
• Still a fabulous eater and very rarely denies any food.  However, she is also still very DEMANDING for food, wanting tons of it and fast.  Especially if it is mexican food.  She can seriously put away a lot for her tiny frame!
• She lives for playing chase and wrestling with big brother.  I've said this often on here before, but I am still so amazed at how they play with each other and enjoy each other's company so much.
• 18 Month olds + Christmas decor is not a good pairing.  There is no turning my back now!
• Every time brother plays wii she gets the extra wii sticks or steering wheels and thinks she plays too.
• She will belt out singing with her eyes shut, head swaying, and much enthusiasm.  It is hilarious!
• She can already blow her nose.  (I won't even go into the hassle that is with her brother!)
• When we tell her it is time for bed or naps, she heads for the steps with her blankie.  And, usually dives for the crib when we lift her up.  No fussing.
• She is signaling to us she needs to poop before she does the deed by grabbing at her diaper.  I will probably start potty training after the new year.  (And I can NOT believe I just typed those words!).
• She chatters up a storm and we usually know what she is trying to say. 

A few of her latest words:
side side (outside), mommy and daddy (not just mama and dada), sad, bowl, Thank You,
me's-oo (she says this for "help" for some reason), fish, doggie, I love you, up, bump, diaper
pee-ewww (while holding her nose for stinky smells), No!, bath ("baff"),
nite nite (her word for her pink blankie and also for going to bed)

Love that I caught this little expression on camera!  It is SO her!

Hannah, you have turned our world upside down - all for the better.  You are so silly and love to make us laugh.  You are so caring and sweet to your babies... a good little mommy.  You are so bright and pick up new things everyday.  You especially study people and can mimic behavior so well.  All the more reason to keep us on our toes, make sure we point you to Jesus, and be the kind of role models God wants us to be.  We are so blessed!

Thanksgiving in Tennessee

It had been a while since we had made it to Knoxville for Thanksgiving.  It was a whirlwind of a trip and such a great time. 

On Wednesday we went to the Knoxville Zoo with cousin Elle and Uncle Tyson.  The kids had a great time! 

Posing with the penguins

the wildest animals there!

We had an incredible Thanksgiving meal with my family.  Mom did an amazing job, as always!!  The kids enjoyed the outdoors while it was still warm.

Granddaddy and cousin Emerson

 On Friday, Mimi and Mommy hit the Black Friday deals and knocked off quite a bit of their shopping lists.  After a little resting, we ventured downtown to the Fantasy of Trees.  The trees were beautiful!  Jackson loved riding a spinning ride with daddy and decorating cookies with Granddaddy Pete.  I don't have many pictures due to the tremendous toddler meltdown I was addressing.  It was a big one! 

Daddy and Jackson by the Sunsphere.  Jackson loves seeing this from the highway every time we come to town.  Mike and I joke that we first met there at the 1982 World's Fair, since we both attended.

I thought this snowman tree was incredibly creative!  I'd love to replicate at my home.

Jackson asked both grandparents to read with him that night before bed.  Precious moments!!

Finding Rest... In Him

Last weekend the ladies from The Bridge went to Caswell for a women's retreat. The theme was Finding Rest In Him. A fitting theme that seemed to speak to everyone. Myself included!

The weather was absolutely beautiful and we were able to enjoy the serene setting in it's fullest. I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such FUN, encouraging, and caring women!

Our cottage for the weekend.  It was stinkin' huge and so nice!

Some of us explored the old forts and walked along the beach.



Thanksgiving lunch @ school

At Jack's school, the Kindergarteners and the First Graders share a Thanksgiving lunch together.  This year was the K's turn to be Native Americans and the 1st Graders were the Pilgrims.  They were adorable!  I had a blast helping with "the feast".

Foliage Fun

Jackson has been asking to jump in a pile of leaves for weeks.  Finally we had enough leaves fall.  Hannah was pretty unsure about the whole thing until she saw how much fun Jackson was having.  There was no way she was going to let him have all the fun!

Daddy has many talents... now add to the list balancing a rake on his chin.

 We believe in child labor chores.  Train them up early. :)

Pausing from the craziness to catch you up on our little one

Well, hello November!  Where did you come from?  The last two weeks have been a blur! 

Hannah has cracked me up so much in the last few weeks.  She is mimicking me constantly --  hands on her hips while chatting with daddy, looking at circulars with me and licking her fingers to turn the pages just like I do, walking around the house pretending to talk on a cellphone, and mothering her babies. 

She also wants to do everything just like brother... which is working to our advantage for the moment in that we can tell her to go to timeout and she walks straight over and sits and waits contently.  Wonder how long that will last?!

Every morning when I try to corral Jackson to get him out the door to go to school (herding cats!), she gets her shoes, jacket, and purse all ready to go.

Yesterday while shopping for jeans for me Hannah was my little fashion commentator - "Woooow!", "No.", "Yesssssssssss".  The girl loves to shop.

In fact, the girliness seems to multiply more everyday.  She sometimes walks with a sache (sp?).  Swinging her hips and everything.  It totally cracks us up.  Where does she come up with this??  My days at home with her are filled by playing tea party, playing kitchen, and playing babydolls. 

She will sometimes say "I love you".  Her first full phrase was "Night night, dada.  Night night, jack jack!".  So cute.  Last night she added, "I love you, dada".  Melts her daddy's heart to pieces. 

Trick or Treatin'

This year Jackson was a Star Wars Clone Trooper (NOT a storm trooper, he emphasized to everyone.)  Hannah was a Carolina Cheerleader.  Cousin Ethan joined us again this year and he was a pirate.  They got a huge loot and had a blast!

Beforehand I teased Jackson that he had to give all the Kit Kats to me.  Big mistake.  He actually told people that his mommy wanted the Kit Kats.  It totally sounded like I had put him up to saying it to get more candy.  So embarrassing!

I've been trying to teach Hannah how to say "trick or treat" for the last few days, but it was more than she could manage to get out.  She did seem to understand the concept right away!  She stood at our door all dressed and with her pumpkin well before nighttime arrived.  Hannah LOVED it.  She was a giggly mess going door-to-door and wanted to go to each one with the big boys.  We tried to help her carry the heavy pumpkin, but she had a meltdown thinking we were taking it away.  She enjoyed her first candy ever tonight, a sucker.  It was a hit!

Aunt Cheri, Uncle Matt and Caleb

"Heels are #1!"  (ok... not really. She is just pointing that she wanted to get going and stop all the photo fuss)

Earlier this week we attended a Trunk or Treat at the school where we have church.  Our church sponsored a "Wii Sports" themed trunk - interactive and all.  It was a favorite!

Girls Trip 2010

Last weekend I flew to Austin, TX to meet up with my awesome college buds (aka "seesturs" - Ashley, Heather, Rebecca, Shannon and Weez).  This was hands-down our favorite trip so far!  We laughed until we cried, reminisced, laughed about funny things our kids do, encouraged each other, rebuked each other (true!), were downright silly, laughed some more, and ate and ate and ate.

We were all over that awesome town.  Austin has such a unique culture and atmosphere.  I loved it!  The town's motto:  "Keep Austin Weird".  Enough said.  Everything is local, organic, and purely one-of-a-kind.  One interesting note is that some of the town's best food is from those little food trailers.  Seriously, we ate at the South Austin Trailer Park (Torchy's!).  And, I could have eaten there every meal and been deliriously happy.  We had full days and late nights that I am still recovering from!

It's hard to recap for blogging purposes, but here's a little run down of our activities:

Thursday:  flew into Austin, Weez made us a Cuban dinner, toured the Blanton Art Museum (Turner to Monet exhibit... awesome), Vivos for chips and salsa.

Friday:  Slept in (amen!), paddled on Lady Bird Lake (aka Colorado River), hiked Mt. Bonnell, lunch at Torchy's (the BEST tex-mex I have ever had), Barton Springs, Mayfield Park and all the peacocks, stop for coffee, Target (yes, target), tried on hats and boots at Sheplers -  the world's largest cowboy outfitter store, crashed at Weez's and watched YouTube videos, dinner at Hyde Park Bar and Grill, and then back to Weez's to watch "The Last Song.

Saturday:  More sleeping in, lunch @ The Snack Bar, walked and shopped on S. Congress, incredible pies from the CutiePie and cupcakes from Hey Cupcake (food trailers extraordinaire!), Ikea, outlet shopping, dinner at the Mansion at Judges Hill, driving around downtown and 6th Streets and all the wild scene there, Mozarts for coffee and dessert.

Sunday:  sniff sniff... it was early to the airport and bye to my girls.  I had a little layover in Dallas with Ash, Heather, Rebecca and Shannon before taking our separate flights home.

Now for some pics:

ridiculously good...  I'm having withdrawl.

When in Texas...

the closest we could get to riding a machanical bull... yes, we looked.

don't ask.  :)  I think we were a little delirious from shopping.

So grateful for my hubby who not only encourages me to go on these trips each year, but also takes on all the home responsibilities with the kids!  Thanks, hon.  You are truly the best!