Family Thanksgiving

I'm a few days late, but I had 224 pictures to edit so cut me some slack ok? We had a fantastic time this holiday at Grandma and Grandpa's in Tennessee. It was probably the most fun weekend we have all had together that I can remember.

Maybe it's because with us now having kids I really get what it's all about or maybe it's because there were 7 cousins that were more than happy to wear out my two children for the four days. Either way, this one goes in the memory books under Best Holidays!

The food was amazing as always, and extra special, Great Grandma Aurel was able to be there (and had baked plenty of cookies well in advance!) We celebrated Cory's (38), Kevin's (15) and Duke's (1st) birthdays and even Santa joined in the fun with a suprise visit on Friday night to hear what all the kids wanted for Christmas (even had an advance gift for everyone!)

For us, we started off a little leary about the 3 1/2 hour drive, but the boys pulled through great. (We even went the entire trip home without the DVD player on except for the last 30 minutes - shocking, I know!) I was not so sure how the sleeping arrangements would work out...figured we'd have Jack in our bed all weekend rather than on his mattress on the floor of our room, but was wrong on that one too...little guy slept on it on his own all weekend without a hitch and little brother had his cozy spot in the pack n play in the closet.

Of course, we weren't in a "routine" but I was glad for it. It was nice to have some fun and spoils, even if it means that now Jack associates "Maama and Paapa's House" with as many cookies and gumdrops he asks for and getting to stay up after bath and run around the living room like a crazy kid. But he also grasped the concept of "snuggle with Mommy?" and I love that!

We enjoyed spending time with everyone, just playing, eating, talking and being with one another. The only change for next year...Grandma has to sit and let us girls take over the kitchen! (Even if it means at the loss of some amazing food, I think we'll be able to manage!)

Enjoy a few pictures of our time together.

Duke Celebrates!

I can hardly believe it, my baby boy is 1 year old today! They say the first year flies by, this one was in warp speed. Maybe it's because with his big brother not that much bigger really that it's gone twice as fast as Jack's first year. Either way, I am both thankful for how wonderful it was while slightly saddened that it's really here. My baby is growing up and there is nothing I can do to delay it. I even overheard Cory talking to Duke tonight asking him if he could just stay this sweet and cute forever.

I should share in this blog all the memories I have of his first year, but I find it hard to do that without comparing it with his brother's and I really need to try and work on not doing that as much as it seems to happen. This sweet, wonderful baby has been everything a mother could want when she's not expecting another child so soon after the first. It's as if he knew the moment he arrived that he was here to bring absolute joy to us in everything he does. And although I remember thinking there was no way I could possibly love a second baby as much as I loved my first, I have discovered that it's not just possible, it's guaranteed.

So Baby Duke, Happy Birthday...and thank you for bringing us more joy, more love, more happiness, more hope, more smiles and more laughter than we ever believed was possible!

Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy

All I will preface this with is, have your kleenex handy, a fistfull.

What's Your Book?

I'm posting this blog entry in honor of my youngest niece Victoria (on Cory's side), who is twice her advanced age of almost 9 (I think!) when it comes to personality.

She quizzed me a few weeks ago with this question:

"If you could be a book, what book would you be?"

Pretty thoughtful in my opinion...so which is it for you? Post a comment...would love to hear.

I know my choice changes often when I ponder this but lately I've been thinking, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Just the thought of being to walk into a closet and enter another world has some kind of appeal to me lately :).

Humor Needed

I must preface the following by saying that Cory continues to be a GREAT Daddy and helper to me in all things home related, however, I just had to post this for all Mother's everywhere!

_______________________________________________

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, and complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Urgent Care.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished and eyebrows groomed.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:00 am.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information:
each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size, doctor's name
each child's weight, length and time of birth and length of labor
each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years eventually earning the right,

To be called Mother!


After you get done laughing, send this to as many females as you think will get a kick out of it and as many men as you think can handle it.

Just don't send it back to me.... I'm going to bed!

Life Snippets

Over the past few weeks although things have been crazy, I have managed to grab the camera here and there to record a few of the funnier moments in our days.

Enjoy what we've been laughing about, including:

• Duke's short stint of crawling has moved up a notch (gotta keep up with big brother you know!)



• Fun times with 0ur new ball pit since the blow up Dora version sprouted a hole and deflated, framed with Jack's favorite two words, "Elmo and Zoe!" and Duke's new game for Jack, "you bring 'em, I'll toss 'em".



• The Elephant Chronicles. How "Daddy does it Best" and how quick Duke is picking up on EVERYTHING!

Halloween, Fun but Missed Home Today!

Ok, so I miss being home around my sisters on days like this. I admit it. Growing up in a neighborhood where Halloween is a BIG deal and now living in the country is hard for me. I have so many fond memories of "trick or treat"ing in the old neighborhood and handing out candy when the ghouls and goblins knocked on the front door of our house; it being dark out and pumpkins lit all over with candles. I always looked forward to someday having kids all come to my house and handing out candy, but since living in the apartment in Birmingham when we first moved here 11 years ago, we haven't had trick or treaters (and one of those 2 years in the apartments Cory refused to let me hand out candy, "just turn off the lights, we don't need to have all those people seeing in our place." I love him but sometimes he can be a scrooge!) I know it's not the same for Cory, since he grew up in a similar setting as we live now. So, I guess we've got to make our own memories here.

I'm working on it. I've got friends that live in neighborhoods, and someday when the boys are older, we'll probably head over to one of their houses for a party and door to door fun. For now, since the boys are so young, we're just doing the dress up thing and participating in the school party. And we had a great day at it.

Jack was a trooper from the start, loudly proclaiming this morning, PARTY! (He has a GREAT memory, so watch what you say or promise when you see him!) He happily dressed up as a cowboy and Daddy taught him to take his hat off and say "Howdy Tex!" And Daddy also saved the day by finding a horse costume at Wal-mart last night on his way home from north Alabama. It was only a 3-6 mos size but scissors can do wonders and it worked perfectly. They were TOO CUTE!

In the afternoon I headed back to school for the afternoon party in Jack's room. He wore his hat and holster all day, which shocked me...I was certain the novelty would wear off just as the party would start. We got a few cute pics, as evidenced below. And most fun for me, was stopping at Publix for a few things on the way home and getting lots of smiles and "they are soooo cute!", "what clever costumes!" from strangers...I like showing them off occassionally after all!

So all in all, it was a great day. And Jack even got to top it off with his first sucker. Well, I say it was his first, the first I've ever given him and I generally feel that most of the time I'm the one giving him most of his "firsts"...interesting that when I did he loudly proclaimed "SUCKER!"....hmmm, how's that work?

All dressed up and ready to go!

Not so keen on getting our pic taken by Aunt Kay at school.

Short lived meltdown. Somebody wanted his snack...NOW!

(Jack, Ms. Amy, Sam, Ellis, Braedon, Madison, Ali, Erin, Ms. Missy)

How cute is this horsey?!