Christmas Day and Happy New Year!

Looks like Santa thought one little girl and boy were especially good this year.



Christmas Day was spent just the way we pictured it. We cooked cinnamon rolls and as the aroma filled the house, we opened presents.



We stayed in our pajama's all day and we played with toys. Dave and I cooked our very first turkey. And it was the bomb if I do say so myself.



We watched "A Christmas Story" at least 5 times and we snuggled.

And later on we were visited by Dave's family for the last round of presents.

We were blessed to have Dave's Great Grandma stop by.



This was like her 90th Christmas, so you know she knows how to do it up right ;)
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Tonight is New Year's Eve

Looking back over this past year it has been just like every year before this one. A lot of ups and downs and in-betweens.

We moved into our new place. 



Punkie learned to swim.



First Hair Cut.



My baby turned 2.







We welcomed our little Bubba.









1 Month:



2 Months:



3 Months:



4 Months:



5 Months:



Actually, looking back...this year kicked every other years butt. This year rocked. Looking forward to 2011 and all the possibility it holds.

Have a safe and happy New Year!!!!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve my parents, grandparents and brother came over. We had a really great meal. My mom made hogie bake and we had pretzel bread, a cheese ball, shrimp and grasshopper pie. I think Kensley and Rowan got a few gifts as well ;)

What would Christmas be without a gift basket of pure sugar?



The kids with Uncle Colton:



My bubbas



Is it true what they say about after being with someone for so long you start to look alike? Because after 50 years together...



Grandma kicking Grandpa's bum in bowling.



Kensley wrestling Papa to the ground. Pretty sure I heard him scream UNCLE.





Rowan's first racetrack:









We had so much fun, ate too much food and had a fabulous Christmas eve with family. Now off to bed because Santa comes tonight!

Christmas Eve Eve

I am going to break these posts into days because there is a lot to cover and I don't have much time. Rowan is napping so I'm hopping on real quick to get these pictures up for family.

The night before Christmas Eve, Dave's Aunt and Uncle stopped by with their gifts for Kensley and Rowan.



Kensley literally made it 5 seconds with those presents in the room before she started to tear into them. I had to ask her to stop and wait for everyone and she wasn't so thrilled with that idea.





She went ahead and opened Rowan's gifts as well. In fact I am just now noticing that I didn't even get a picture of Rowan that night. Sorry Bubba.



This was the "BIG GIFT." It was a play table with little side storage compartments. Rowan ended up getting a race track and it went on this table in the playroom.



Daddy opening the BIG GIFT.





The Barbie make-up kit. This was probably one of her favorite gifts. I spent all day Christmas eve wiping make-up off her face.



We were so grateful that we got to see Dave's aunt and uncle before they headed to D.C for the holidays. They spoil Kensley and Rowan and even Dave and myself and we are so blessed to have them!



Thank you for the toys!!!

Merry Christmas From All of Us to You

Let It Snow!

Santa Baby

 On Saturday I took the kids to have lunch with Santa. I don't know if I have mentioned it on here, but Kensley LOVES Santa this year. When he came walking in with his elves she was waiving at him and jumping up and down. She was the first one on his lap. Afterward, she walked over to the elves and grabbed their hands and walked all over the building with them.

One thing I can say about my child: She is super shy.





Rowan didn't seem too interested and Kensley refused to sit on his lap with Rowan so I had to do individual pics this year.

Best part of the whole day? They had a little microphone set up so kids could come sing Christmas songs. Kensley watched the kids super intently until she walked up, grabbed the microphone and then so lightly and sweetly began humming and singing a song. No clue as to what song it was but everyone had tears running down their faces we were laughing so hard.

Look for her in 2025 on American Idol.

P.S. This year was so much better than last year.

Update Soon

I feel like I am so far behind and can never possibly catch up. Between spraining my wrist, baking Christmas cookies, making snacks for mommy group, going to mommy group, working, keeping a house clean and organized and spending time with the people who mean the most to me...I am just a tad overwhelmed. I hope to get back to regularly posting tomorrow. But for tonight I just need a break. I hope you all understand.

Kensley-isms

Kensley is very into money right now and is always asking for change to put in her piggy bank. Every coin is a "penny" no matter how many times we have told her differently. She is getting really good at conning her grandma and Gigi into giving her their spare change whenever they visit.

On Monday when Gigi came to watch Kensley she brought her a bag full of coins and as a special prize- a $5 bill. Kensley ran up to Gigi, threw the $5 bill on the floor and screamed,

"PENNIES!!!!!!"

Girlfriend still needs to learn a few things...

Happy 5 Months Rowan!

Dear Rowan, 

  Today you turn 5 months old. Where in the world have the last 5 months gone? I swear I blinked and here we are. You are such a delight baby boy. Everyone has said to me how you are such a happy baby and I couldn't agree more. You are always smiling and cooing. You love to be held and adore playing with your big sissy. 

This is the first month that you really started to notice other objects. Your sister has these 3 cars that magnetically attach to each other and the other day she was pushing them across the floor and I noticed how your head turned to follow them. I placed you on the floor and you grabbed for them. You spent nearly an hour batting and pushing them.

You are a pro at grabbing toys and putting them in your mouth. One day this week you grabbed for your toy and once you gripped it in your little hand you swung it up to your mouth as hard as you could. You completely missed and ended up clocking yourself right in the nose. You busted out in tears but you stopped seconds later more determined then ever to get it in your mouth.

This month you started solid foods. You are not much of a fan of cereal but you seem to like sweet potatoes. You LOVE peas. When I feed you peas you start bouncing up and down and flail your arms all over the place. You ripped the spoon out of my hands like, "WOMAN ILL FEED THIS DELICIOUSNESS TO MYSELF." You had me cracking up the entire time. You nearly ate the whole jar last night. So right now I would say peas are your favorite. And it makes me happy to tell you that now your face looks like your butt. 

Last night I gave you and your sister a bath together for the first time without you in your baby tub. I made the water just high enough for you to get a little wet and then I laid you down inside and put your sister in beside you. You were kicking your legs like crazy and splashing water all over the place. You had your sister soaking wet and she was laughing so hard. So she decided to lay down beside you and kick her feet too. Water was going everywhere and I couldn't help but think how as you get older the two of you are going to have so much fun together. I hope the two of you are always the best of friends.

I hope you know that you are absolute joy in our lives. I think back now to the first month after you were born and how hard it was to adjust to our new "normal." I remember wondering what on earth we were thinking and if it was ever going to feel like I had things under control. I think one thing (out of many) that you have taught me is that I will never have everything "under control" but I can say that now things are much better. We found our groove and we are rocking it.  I can't imagine my day without you in it. From your big smiling grin in the mornings, the afternoon playtime on the floor, to the sweet smell of your skin and snuggles at bedtime. I am so blessed to call you mine. 

I love you to the moon and back.

Love,

Mama