"Happy Birthday Jesus" Party

Will had his Christmas Party at school this past Thursday where they celebrated Jesus' Birthday. I thought it was really great that his teachers had them focusing on what Christmas is really about. They made a manger for "Baby Jesus" and sang Happy Birthday to him. It was so sweet!! I've said it before, but I love Wynnbrook and his teachers are just wonderful!

Will and his "best buddy" Cullen

Thanks Mrs. Stone for the sword!!!

I think Will must have won....

Friday night we went to The Landings shopping center to see Santa. I was so excited when Will walked right up to Santa, sat in his lap, and gave him a big hug. This is the first picture I have of Will with Santa. I didn't get one of him when he was a baby and the last two years he screamed and would not go near him. Santa asked him what Caroline wanted and he told him all she needed were diapers, that she was too little for toys. I told him I thought Santa could handle that!

After seeing Santa we treated ourselves to Fudrucker's for a big fat cheeseburger and a very YUMMY milkshake.

Then to end the night we went on a Horse Carriage Ride, this was the only picture I have of that.

Nana and Papa come to town...

Last weekend Nana and Papa came for a visit. Will loves it when they come, not only that he's loves to see them, but they just can't come without bringing all of us lots of goodies. This time Will got some hunting clothes and hat, some ornaments for his tree, and a guitar---which was a special toy that Papa got him for doing his job (which I won't talk about on this:) But, most of you know what it was!! Caroline got some ornaments and of course a new outfit. Jared and I both got some new ornaments, some Christmas dish towels, and decorations. Thanks Nana for EVERYTHING you get us!!

Excuse the mess in the background!!

Now all he needs is a gun instead of the big pen!

Where do I begin???

Well, since it's been a few weeks since my last post it may be a long one....you can quit reading if you get bored. I just want to have it for myself to remember!!

We had a wonderful, busy Thanksgiving. It seems that holidays just go by so fast, sometimes too fast to really enjoy them. Somehow I didn't manage to get any pictures Thanksgiving Day at my parents house, we enjoyed it with my Aunt and Uncle and cousins that we don't get to see to often. Caroline and Claire (my niece) were in their matching Thanksgiving outfits, but I don't have a picture to share. Friday we ate another great meal at Jared's mom's and dinner at his dad's that night.

Caroline and "Cousin Dean"

Saturday morning, after two days of Thanksgiving I had an appointment to get pictures made. I had a "great idea" to ask two of my sister-n-laws to bring their kids so we could get a picture of all of the grand kids for my mom. Not such a great idea for a one month old, three month old, 1 year old, and a three 1/2 year old. Needless to say we won't be getting any of those pictures. Caroline was not to happy after taking pictures for 45 minutes before they got there. I didn't even end up getting a Christmas picture of Will and Caroline. Oh well, we did get lots of others that were good!!

"Dress Rehearsal" for pictures

When we got back from Dothan I couldn't wait to get my Christmas stuff out. I think I was more excited than Will. Our little elf friend "Jack" came out too. Once again....I think I'm more excited than Will. We wanted to go to a tree farm and cut down a tree, but I just decided to put up our ugly artificial tree again for the last time. Since we are still in an apartment it was just easier!! Caroline loves it the most I think, she just stares at the lights. Will did have fun decorating the tree!! Last Saturday I spent most of the day trying to get a Christmas card picture that my sister-n-law Sydney just made for me. Can't wait to send them out!! By the end of their photo shoot this is what they looked like....It's hard trying to get a good one of both of them.

Sunday Jared's mom came because he had knee surgery on Monday. He had a cyst on his knee and they had to go in and remove it. They had to end up doing more than they thought they would. He went back to work today, but probably should have stayed home one more day. Will is also sick with a fever and real bad cough, so no school for him this week :( Hopefully Caroline won't get what he has, but he just can't keep his hands off of her. He's just so sweet, this is how I found them this morning. He even shared his "mimi" (blanket) with her, said she was cold.

My sweet, sick little boy....

Oh...and Caroline's decided she doesn't want to sleep through the night anymore. The past four nights she's woken up twice a night and once last night. So between that, Will being sick and sleeping in the bed with me the past couple of nights and Jared's surgery, I'm feeling a little sleep deprived today. Thankfully when I got on the computer this morning I read my friend Lindsay's blog and saw her post http://silviofamily.blogspot.com/2008/12/choose-joy.html. So, I am going to choose to be happy and joyful today and be thankful for the two sweet children I have, even if they are waking me up all night:)

A week in pictures....

Last Thursday Will had to dress up as a King for school. It wasn't easy finding a King costume in one day, considering his teacher told us the day before. I was able to find a crown for $.69 at Party City and borrowed my neighbors daughters cape from her Snow White costume. They were dressing as Kings and Queens to take presents to Baby Jesus for a fundraiser they were doing for Toys for Tots. He enjoyed picking out a toy for the little boy. Last week we also packed a shoe box full of goodies for Operation Christmas Child http://samaritanspurse.org/. He had to pick everything out, some stuff I had to put back, he wanted to be really generous!!

His classroom and another one also had a "Sweet Family Gathering" for Parents and Grandparents on Thursday. The kids sang a little song and surprised us with all the words and numbers they knew in Spanish. Will's classroom made some yummy strawberries dipped in chocolate and the teachers made some fabulous desserts for us. Will also surprised us with a bag of potpourri that smells great! Unfortunately my camera died so I couldn't get a picture of the kids, Jared did get this one.

Nana (my mom) came Friday afternoon, so we were pretty lazy that morning and I think stayed in our PJ's till after lunch.

Snuggling in my bed, Will begging me to take their picture!!

Will opening his presents from Nana, she can't come without bringing something! Thanks Nana!!

Will left with Nana Saturday afternoon and they met Papa in Troy to go to the Football game. He has been staying with my parents and with Jared's mom and step dad this week in Dothan. We are leaving tomorrow and can't wait to see him!!

So, what have I done since Will has been gone...sleeping till 9:30 everyday, shopping a little, and not cleaning any liked I hoped to do. I forgot how easy it was with only one kid!! I think Caroline has enjoyed having the spotlight this week. I've taken lots of pictures the past few days of her. She has just been smiling all week, maybe it's because she has had mine and Jared's total attention!

I am getting Caroline's three month pictures and a Christmas picture of her and Will made on Saturday. I can't decide which dress for her to wear. I need some opinions....

Three Months

"Sweet Caroline"...
That's what Will calls you...he likes to sing that song to you when you get upset and start crying. Surprisingly, sometimes it works. He really does love you so much and has since the day you were born. He is already so protective of you. He has just got to be the best big brother I know, hopefully he'll stay that way.

Will holding your hand in the car....

he has a hard time keeping his hands off of you!

You are changing so much everyday, with all of your different facial expressions, laughs, and squeals. (Especially your cat squeal, Nana says you sound like a cat when you cry lately:) I'm trying hard to get you on a good schedule during the day, but it's not working. Although you sleep good at night (which I'm very thankful for) you don't like to take naps. You only take about 20-30 minute naps during the day. Most of the time that is after rocking you for about 20 minutes. If someone is in the room with you talking to you, you are very happy. I think you are going to take after your brother and love being around people and being on the go. In fact, that is the only way you take a good nap, in your car seat shopping!! You love sitting in your bouncy seat, laying in your bed watching your mobile, or wrapped around me in your moby wrap!

Your first trip to the park!!
You also love Daddy, although he says you cry every time he holds you. But, I think you're just messing with him and giving him a hard time.

Your biggest milestone this month was rolling over. I don't know who was more excited me or Will. Tuesday night I just laid you on the floor for some "tummy time" and you just started rolling. You are such a strong little girl, I think you may be sitting up alone soon!!

"Roll Over"

We have had such a fun month with your first Halloween, a trip to Blue Ridge, and a couple of trips to Dothan. I think you are going to love going "home" to Dothan as much as Will. I just can't believe how big you are getting, soon you will start eating cereal, but I am going to cherish you being a baby for as long as I can. We all love you so much!!

Love you---Mom

Family Fun

If you've been wondering why I haven't written anything lately, we've been on vacation. Jared has been so busy with work lately, so we decided to get away last week. His mom and step dad have a cabin in Blue Ridge, GA, so we spent the week up there. It was our first time there, and it was just beautiful. We had a great time with them and Jared's step-sister and her two boys came down from North Carolina for a couple of nights. Will definitely enjoyed playing with them. We did lots of driving, hiking, and sight seeing. I think you need about two weeks there to have time to relax and see all of the stuff you want to see. Will's favorite was the train ride, it was not only his and Caroline's first train ride, it was also mine and Jared's first. Thanks G and FaFa for a fun week, can't wait to go back again!!

When we left Blue Ridge, we drove straight on through Columbus for a fun weekend in Dothan. We got to see lots of family and friends. Including our new little niece Claire who was born October 30th, she is beautiful with a head full of hair if we didn't rub it all out. Will also enjoyed playing with Lillie, my other niece who we don't get to see enough.

We enjoyed the Peanut Festival this weekend too....we went to the fair Friday night and got rained on. Will only got to ride two rides, but we made up with his disappointment with food. We got to eat a corn dog from the Corn Dog Man and Will and Lillie mostly enjoyed Nana's corn. Sadly we left fast because of the rain and didn't get an elephant ear. Saturday morning we got up and headed down to the parade. Will enjoyed it more than we did I think, with the marching bands, big tractors, and of course the jets. Caroline just slept in her stroller straight through it. Then we headed back to mom's and dad's to watch the Alabama game and I'll just say ROLL TIDE to all of my Louisiana friends!!! I also included a couple of pictures from Halloween, we just stayed around here and went trick-or-treating with some of Will's friends.

Our little Football Player

Will got a new football uniform Monday and I really didn't want to buy it since he already had an Atlanta Falcons' one at home that his Papa bought him. But, I do not think I would have been able to leave the mall without it. I think he's already decided he's an Auburn fan, there was no talking him into wanting the Alabama one. I guess Jared won!! I do have to admit he does look really cute in it, even though I don't really like the colors. We could not get home fast enough, as soon as we walked in the door he was stripping off his clothes. He has hardly had it off since. Needless to say this is going to be his Halloween costume. At first he wanted to be Spiderman, then he discovered football and can I say, he's a bit obsessed with it. Tomorrow they get to wear their Halloween costumes to school, so he's very excited. I'm just worried he's going to want to play football and try to tackle all of the other kids. I think we need to have a talk with him tonight about it.

I have the shoulder pads on backwards I think...

"Mr. Tough Guy"

Will and Caroline had there first bath together last night. It was the first bath she really enjoyed, she sat in the tub for about 10 minutes. Usually it's a real quick bath while she's screaming. I think she liked watching Will splash around!!

Guys night out...

Will and I were left alone for an "all boys" weekend... We decided to go and enjoy the hockey season opener between the Columbus Cottonmouths and the Huntsville Havoc...

It was both mine and Will's first experience at hockey. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Even though our home team took a 2-6 lose, we really got into the hard hitting action. Will is ,of course, now wanting to play hockey...

I think we may have an avid athlete on our hands.

Will stealing a hug from "boomer"...

Growing, Growing, Growing

Caroline had her 2 month check-up yesterday and is getting soooo big. She weighed 11 lbs, 12 oz and 23 1/2 in long!! She got five shots in her little legs, and I think the people in the waiting room could hear her screaming. I can't believe she is already two months old and changing everyday. She is now "cooing" and smiling all of the time. Especially at Will, he can just look at her and she will start smiling. No more of the screaming afternoons where I want to pull my hair out. Although, it hasn't completely stopped, but just not everyday. She had one of those nights last night, I think she was hurting a little bit from her shots. She has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks now which is wonderful, she sleeps better than Will most of the time. Last night she went to sleep at 9:15 and is still asleep right now as I am writing this. But, Mr. Will had me up at 6:00 this morning and also woke up once during the night. Here are a couple of pictures to see how much she has already changed. She has lost most of what little bit of hair she had, lost the sideburns too (thank goodness)!!

Two weeks old.....

Two months old!!!

Pirates and Pumpkin Patch

Last week Will had a busy week at school. Wednesday they had a Pirate's and Princess Pizza Party. Of course I waited till last minute to get him something to wear, so a quick run to Target Tuesday night I found a hat, patch, and sword that he loved. They got to make their on personal pizza for lunch. Thursday we went on a field trip to Marengo Farms where we went on a hayride, saw farm animals, and picked out a pumpkin for the class. Of course Will had to choose which pumpkin they were taking back to school. He has a great teacher and would really like to go everyday, but I only signed him up for 3 days and now he would have to change classrooms to go 5 days. I just don't think I want him to change teachers since he likes her so much and all of his little friends.

We went to Dothan this past weekend for Addison's 1st Birthday Party. It was great seeing everyone and all of the children. It is crazy to think that we are all mommies now or almost!! Will was not in the picture because he had already left to go to the Troy game with my parents, he loves football.

Happy Birthday Addison!!!!