Teaser Christmas Post

We've made it through Christmas with grandparents, family, extended family, great grandparents, more grandparents and extended family and are now home recovering from the flu!

I hope to get some more pictures up soon, but this will have to do for now . . .

Makenna enjoyed making her first baked goods in her Easy Bake Oven!

Slim Chance

*UPDATE* I didn't win . . . but there will be another giveaway later this winter.

For the slim chance that I might win, I entered my name in a contest for a copy of the photo editing program, Adobe Lightroom.

If you'd like a chance to win, go here and enter your name.

This is one photo that MckMama edited with the program . . .

Just In Case You're Wondering . . .

We are still alive. No time for fun things like blogging . . .

Instead, we're doing things like this . . . WORK! Mind you I had to take a picture of him in action because it's a rare find! Actually he does the most WITHOUT complaining of the three of them.

Most days go like this though . . . I believe he thinks this type of a thing is an accomplishment.

Our Thanksgiving

This is a little picture of our Thanksgiving . . . we used them as "place cards" on the table for our turkey dinner. They were surrounded by turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, sweet potato casserole, cran-raspberry salad, deviled eggs and rolls. We were way too stuffed to eat our traditional pumpkin or chocolate pie for hours and a after a short walk.

We thoroughly enjoyed hosting this year's dinner. Thankful that we could be with family -- Gramma, Papaw, Aunt Mel, Uncle Josh & Uncle Rick.

We hope you had a blessed holiday too!

Thankgiving Wishes!

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,

MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP,

MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY

HAVE NARY A LUMP.

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS,

MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER

STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Professional Party Pics

Thanks to a very talented friend of ours, Madi has beautiful pictures to remember her party for a long time to come.

For time's sake, I'll just post the slideshow from the photographer's blog . . .

Thanks Dixie!

Party #1

Tonight we took Madi and a few friends to a Paint-Your-Own-Pottery place for her 5th birthday.

Didn't notice until we were leaving that they had her name on the welcome sign.

Each girl picked out a figurine to paint and dusted them off with a wet sponge . . .

Then they went over to pick out paint colors . . .

We had pizza, chips, applesauce and cake! Some of Madi's favorites.

She was so excited about her gifts!

Typical Madi picture (not looking at the camera)!

Thanks to everyone involved in making this a GREAT party!

Birthday Girl

We love you, and we're so incredibly proud of you! Can't believe you are 5 already! We hope you enjoy your birthday celebration!

Love,
Dad, Mom, Makenna & Isaiah

Terrible Twos

We've officially hit the "terrible twos" stage with Isaiah. The girls hit it at 18 months and again at 3 years old, but he's right on schedule! HA! Actually, I think most of it is the "boy" factor, but he's into everything . . . how does this work? what would happen if I put this here? and most annoying, leaving a path of destruction wherever he goes!

For example, I'll just get the livingroom straightened up and start working on the kitchen when I go to check on said screaming child and I notice the livingroom is trashed again. Sometimes I stand over him and make him clean it all up, but who has hours in a day to do that?? So sometimes it's just easier to put him in his room and clean it up myself. (See picture below) He isn't too thrilled with being stuck in his room with lots of toys, books and fun things to do! We are trying to teach him to pick up one thing before he leaves it to play with another, but that takes time . . .

Another part of this phase is his eating habits . . . he could eat constantly the entire time he's awake! I know he's a growing boy and needs to eat, but again who has hours in a day to feed said child?? That and this is what we deal with at mealtime when he SHOULD be eating . . .

BUT THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

Moving To The Next Phase

Taking down the baby crib tonight . . .

"A hammer, hammer here . . ."

"A hammer, hammer there . . ."

"Here a hammer, there a hammer, every where a hammer, hammer."

And he's in his big boy bed! Loving the "Ractees"!

Thankfully tonight went smoothly. I think it helped that he's fighting a cold and didn't take a long nap, so he was tired and ready for bed. Reading a "choo-choo" book is a nightly ritual. Tonight was Daddy's turn. Isaiah picks who will read him a book.

Praying I never forget these sweet times!

Fall Harvest Party

Every year at school, Makenna has a Fall Harvest Party. Basically, the current senior class picks a theme. The elementary students / teachers dress up and have a contest for the best costumes. Then the whole afternoon is spent playing games, crafts, face painting, etc. Of course, candy is involved!

This year Makenna wanted to dress up like a soccer player. Thanks to friends of ours that have kids who play soccer, she was able to do that. When we tried on her outfit a few days beforehand, I asked what other kids were dressing up as. She mentioned one boy was going to be a "racer". She asked if that was a sport. In her defense, we only refer to it as NASCAR. That boy ended up being the winning boy in her class (in spite of the fact that he is a Jr. fan -- sorry we're Jeff Gordon fans). Then she asked if soccer was a sport. I told her "Yes", and she asked why it was never on TV. HA! Well, usually that's because Daddy is watching NASCAR, pro or college football, baseball, etc. My brothers used to play and were really good -- All-Star good! We'll have to bring out the VHS tapes and let her watch a game or two unless we can snag the remote while it's actually on TV.

Here's our "soccer player"

The other kids and I decided to go to the school to see the parade of costumes. Isaiah was really interested and was good for most of the program.

Makenna & Mekenzie (an injured Steelers player)

Here's some of Makenna's classmates coming down from the platform. (The "racer" is on the right complete with checkered flag and trophy!)

Here are all the winners K4-6th grade. Makenna's friend, Mekenzie won for the 3rd grade girls and right below her is her sister, Lauren, also Makenna & Madison's friend. Notice the Green Bay Packer?? In Steeler Country?? What was he thinking? (Actually, they just moved here last year. He's the principal's son.)

For last year's Fall Harvest Party -- Patriotic Theme, Click Here!

Children's Museum

Today we went to the Children's Museum with Uncle Brian, Aunt Niki, Halle & Evan. We had originally planned to go to the zoo, but 45 degrees and rain changed that plan!

We spent a lot of time in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood . . .

"Trolley ride, anyone?"

Cousins

(Madi's facial imprint on the right in the middle)

Boys being boys -- Brian & Rick trying to figure out how the TV camera worked

A different kind of family portrait.

The letters on this screen would bounce off your head.

(The dot is the camera. Your image was projected back on to the screen.)

This large man's movements were controlled by the levers.

The gravity room (the picture was taken at a level horizon)

Isaiah loved playing with cars

and "Choo-choo"

Going up & down made bubbles.

Makenna enjoying the water area.

Halle & Madison (taken by Makenna)

And sweet baby Evan!

Happy / Sad Occasion

Last week the kids and I headed to Ohio for the funeral of my Great Aunt Mabel. Even though the purpose of our visit wasn't a happy one, we did enjoy the time spent with family.

My Great Aunt Mabel is the lady in the red jacket -- my grandma's sister-in-law

Wednesday evening was the viewing. Thursday morning we hung out with Papaw and went to a local 'kiddie park'.

The girls started off excited to ride on the Little Dipper.

But as you can see, Madi became terrified. Makenna was a real help in consoling her as much as possible. Unfortunately the ride takes you around twice. Madi was a little gun shy after this ride.

Isaiah loved to ride the boat and ring the bell. (Madi wouldn't ride because it looked like it went too fast -- this was after the Little Dipper ride.)

This ride was more her speed.



Poor Makenna was too tall to ride all but three rides. She is the first passenger on the train.


We also stopped by the school I graduated from. Papaw let the kids climb up on the referee stand in the gym.

We also saw Uncle Jon's name on the Athlete of the Year award (see top left)

Thursday afternoon was the viewing. Afterwards we visited with family over a meal.

Pictured is my Aunt Mary Ellen, Makenna & Aunt Lenore -- my grandma's sisters

My Uncle Dewey & Aunt Mary Ellen

PS: Aunt Lenore -- Isaiah didn't sleep at all on the way home, but it wasn't too bad of a trip.