one crazy month

Hey there friends and family who read this :)

Today, Jenny, Me and the kids all piled in my car and we went down to Scott's work (and Jim's - they work together) for a "wedding shower."



These are just two cute Dear Santa's I thought I would add for the holiday season :)

Haley's four year old photos :)

Every year on their birthdays I take my kids to picture people to get their birthday photo. Well, this year didn't happen for Haley so I asked my very talented friend, Megan, if she could take Haley's picture so I have one. I love them! I have so many to choose from. I am posting three. While she took Haley's picture, she caught a few with Hunter!

A busy week for Hay!

This Sunday Haley is in our churches children's musical. She doesn't have a big part at all, just a sweet small part of singing with the other pre-k kids. Her picture from last years musical was the advertisement for this year. It was right after her hair cut where the lady didn't understand what a trim was and chopped it.
Nov 5 (I believe that is the date) our church had a 5 year birthday party at the Victoria Gardens center and the kids got to sing a song from their musical.

Wednesday was Haley's last dance class of 2006. Here are some pictures from her "performance."

She was AWESOME! She had great form and listened so well! I was so proud of her!

Creativity in a 2 year old

Look at the empty plate. Hunter was told he could not have a sweet treat without finishing his lunch. I take the laundry to my bedroom and come back to this empty plate. It appears empty. As if he had finished his food.

"Hunter all done." Hunter says proudly. I look under his plate to see all of his lunch.

He simply thought that if it was not on the plate, it was all gone, therefore he is all done.

Our last full day!

Here are some posed family photos on our last day! (Yesterday)

Brothers... Len (age 37), Chris (age 34) and Jimmy (age 28)


The girls... Chenoa, Stef and Jenna.... Note that I am not giving our ages...

Today we fly home!

At the bottom are two pictures of our flight to TN. Both kids slept and were AWESOME on the plane! We are praying for the same behavior on the flight home :).

Our Thanksgiving in TN

Hey y'all ! :)
We are having a blast with family out here in Tennessee! Chenoa made a fabulous dinner! The dessert (which I helped a little with) was to die for... Chenoa really knows what she is doing in the kitchen :).

Here are a few more pictures of what it is like out here. The picture of our family is right down the street from Chris and Chenoa's. Hunter kept asking uncle Chris to see cows, so Chris took us on a walk to see cows :)... after he saw the cows Hunter looks up at Chris and says, "Want horses"

Hunter has won the hearts of his Uncle and family out here :) he makes us all laugh.

I got to play with Maizie's hair :) She wasn't feeling very well :(

Preparing for Thanksgiving in TN

Adam (age 12) and his younger cousin, Hunter (age 2) go for a walk out back while us girls prepare dessert for Thanksgiving. Yes... that is right folks... I cooked :) Here are more pictures...

The last picture is of the back of Chris and Chenoa's house... I will try and get a picture of the front of the house for tomorrow's blog update!

A bit from our Trip...

Here are just a few pictures from today!

Hunter took a nap with Chris :)

Hunter loves his cousin Caleb :)

The girls have just hit it off :)

Jumping on the trampoline :)

boys vs girls...

I don't have any pictures for this one, but I think they are pretty good stories none the less :)

Having a boy after having a girl is so different. Here are two stories to prove...

Six plus months ago... I know, it is an older story, but funny, still :)
It was after night time baths and I was getting Hunter into his PJ's. Haley comesinto the room and this is the dialoge we have...
"Mommy, Hunter's peepee looks different then me."
"It does?"
"Yeah, I don't have boobies on my peepee."

Just a few days ago...
Hunter and Haley were having lunch like always at our kitchen bar. This is the conversation I hear going on....
Haley: "I am four, Hunter."
Hunter: "Hunter FIVE!!!" He says with gusto :)
Haley: "NO, Hunter you are two."
Hunter: "NO HUNTER FIVE"
Haley begins to cry... "NOOOOOOO Hunter you are TWO."
HUnter: "FIIIIIIIIVVVVVEEEEE" he says with a Huge smile on his face. This sends Haley into hystrics running to me. Like most kids her age, she tattle tails on her brother. Hunter, totally loved the whole interaction and was continuing with his lunch. He officially is my brother... the button pusher!

Cookie jars For Sale :)

I am trying to make a few extra dollars for this tight holiday season... so I am making Holiday cookie and Brownie mixes in a jar. They are going for $10. The choices are

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie
Chocolate PB Chip Cookie
Butterscotch Brownie Mix
Country Homemade Cookie Mix

Let me know :) They make great gifts for extended family, teachers, neighbors, Sunday school teachers, friends....

Happy November... Post Halloween

Oct 30, Haley's preschool class had a Halloween carnival and parade. Haley went as Pocahontas. I was able to go and help out in her class. She had a blast. Watching her in class amazes me at how calm and still she can sit and listen to her teacher and wait for instruction. I was so proud of my daughter!

Halloween night... We went trick or treating at only a few friends and families homes. We, then, headed up to CBC to their carnival for the kids to enjoy. Hunter threw a fit when we wouldn't just let him eat all of his candy!

Our car ride to the homes we visited and to the church was interesting. Hunter went as a doggy and acted like one in the car. Haley went on to give us a lecture on Halloween safety that she had learned by the safety batroll :) Her facts were these:

1. Do not go up to a dark house. They are sleeping and we cannot wake them. It isn't safe.
2. If you are sleeping you cannot trick or treat.
3. If you cannot find your parents, find any other adult around because they will help you. (I had to correct this fact).
4. Do not cross the street because cars do not see you and make want to hurt you.
5. If you sleep and it is dark out then you cannot eat your candy!
6. Do not eat your candy without your mom or dad to look at it... it may be bad stuff!

Overall her facts weren't all that wrong... just needed clarification! :) I am glad she is paying attention!

Before we went to CBC, we had a family dinner at my parents house and met up with the Taylor's. They came by to trick or treat and then we all headed out for a night of fun! This is a picture of our cute kids.

Hunter - Dog
Grant - Robin
Haley - Pocahontas
Logan - Batman

A side picture...
My parents got back from a week in Georgia and TN on Monday. Pam McElrea (family to me somehow) sent these wax lips to Haley. She thought they were the greatest thing... Thanks Pam for thinking of Haley... we love you:)

Halloween questions...

Five years it has been since my last encounter with the pumpkin goo... FIVE years I have been BLESSED with NOT having to get gross and yucky! Then the Armstrongs had to go and invite us to a pumpkin carving party.... THANKS :)

Since our return from the pumpkin patch... Haley walks around carrying this pumpkin and asking me if we can make pumpkin pie.

When I told her I didn't know how... she came back with,
"Well, mom, who then knows how to make a pumpkin pie? I have a good pumpkin!"
"Well, when we go to Tennessee, Aunt Chenoa is going to make a pumpkin pie you can help her." She got a huge grin and asked,
"Will Shelby and Maizie help us too? Maybe Aunt Chenoa can teach you how to make a pumpkin pie."
When she found out how many days it was til we are going to go on our trip, she got sad... So Nana has promised to help her make her pumpkin pie.... :) Such a spoiled girl!

Halloween Questions:
1. What does your Halloween look like this year?
2. Are you adults dressing up?
3. Anyone not celebrate Halloween?

The Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday we headed out to the Pumpkin patch! The kids and I rode with our good friends.... Kelly, Logan and Grant in their Suburban. The kids had a blast on the drive both to and from. They listen to Veggie Tales... sang and "talked" to each other.... what fun!

In this picture.... I told them to make a funny face for the camera... both Hunter and Grant didn't really get it.... Logan and Haley understood (I think) and made silly faces.

We went with our MOPs group. We got on a big tractor and went for a little ride (a circle around the Patch). In this picture: Carrie, Wyatt, Wes, Haley, Logan and part me and Hunter are on the tractor...

After the tractor ride there was a "lesson" on the birds and the bees... and yes... they talked about impregnating the flower to get a pumpkin. Haley paid close attention and would even raise her hand when she knew an answer.

The kids got to pet animals. Hunter mostly liked to chase them. He wanted to hug the ducks. They really didn't like that :).

At the end we all got pumpkins :) FUN!!!

Thanks Kelly for driving us all out there... Tons of Fun!!!