So this is Christmas?

These are our Christmas card pictures. They are a little better than the ones on the actual cards. I tried to be all fancy and do them sepia, but they ended up glowing in the dark;(

How!

Aubrey was an Indian for his Thanksgiving Feast at school. Never try to design a costume with a 5 year old. We went to Hancock's and it took way longer that I imagined it would. He had a certain idea and so did I. We ended up compromising. He wanted an eagle design on the back and I did the best i could to freehand one. Anyway. Who knew a no sew project could get so difficult?

Halloween Night!

We had lots of fun Halloween night. We went to our friends the Thompson's for a party and to trick or treat. We all brought our scariest food. There is always lot of it! I made Rotel adn bone chips (I cut out bone shapes from corn tortillas), "skin graft sandwiches", and moonpies with ghost piped on them.

Aubrey really got into the running up to the door and saying "trick or treat." Oliver manned the red wagon.

Halloween Costumes

Aubrey will be "Flash Gordon." He has no idea who he is, but he likes the color red.Oliver is an octopus. He is beginning to walk, so it is super cute. The tentacles stick out and he doesn't even mind the hood/head.

Fall Festival

We went to Briarwood's Fall Festival last week. Aubrey got his face painted and his hair sprayed with blue and purple color. We had popcorn and cotton candy, even Oliver. It was the first truly autumn day we had in Birmingham. Finally!

Go Lions!

Never thought I would say that again.

It is homecoming time at Briarwood Christian School. We went to the parade yesterday. Corinth....you are safe. They have nothing on you!




Aubrey gave "fives" to the players. He was so pumped!

Running/Walking in Disney

Kate and I went to Disney World and walk/ran a 5K last week. It was called The Expedition Everest Challenge. It included an obstacle course, scavenger hunt and the a fore mentioned 5K. We had a great time.

If anyone out there would like to do something like that, go to the Wide World of Sports website.Click on endurance. You get tremendous discounts on rooms and tickets for doing one.

First Day of Kindergarden!

It was a typical first day of school. We were late even after we go up early. We didn't know if we should to drop him off or take him inside. He made it to his class. Bobby went to check on him, and of course, he knew more what to do than we did! He is so big.

Tennessee River Run!

We went to Corinth/ Pickwick for a week this summer. We don't get to go as much as we wish we could. We visited the regular haunts, and visited lots of family. We never seem to have enough time to do all that we want to do. Especially with the baby, we hardly get out of the door before 12pm.
Aubrey had a great time riding the Waverunner, inner tubing, and boating.

The Best Beach Trip Ever?

Well...we survived our beach trip. No one got a bad sunburn, I think in part because we didn't spend much time at the beach. For the second year in a row, the water has be so full of seaweed that we dare not enter. One day we even had jellyfish so bad we couldn't even play n the sand for fear of being stung. Aubrey was even stung by sea nettles one day. As a result, he was scared to go into the water for the rest of the week.



We went to the beach with our longtime friend the Seiden Family. Four boys strong, it sure made for a lively bunch. (Especially with my two!) The boys found the pool to be the most fun. I suspect the older they are the more fun the beach will become.



We stayed at the Lily Pad at Carillon Beach. This is our third stay at Carillon. We have always stayed in a different house each year, I bet we always will. We ride around in the golf cart looking for our next place or place to buy!




The entry where Oliver slept through the night...well...that hasn't happened since. It was worse at the beach. It made it hard to enjoy a vacation when you are getting up 4 times a night or when you are getting up at 5:20am because someone is bright eyed and bushy tailed.




We went to the Margaritaville restaurant in Panama City on Tuesday night. I reserved the "Boat Table" a couple of months ago. It was so fun! They had people walking on stilts and making balloon animals. We got up and sang and danced to Margaritaville. The little ones had no idea how or what Jimmy Buffet was about. It was a fun outing for the adults anyway. Anywhere you have a whole menu of Margaritas is my kind of place!

We left on Saturday to thunderstorms. Just in time!

Summer Cupcakes

We made the cutest cupcakes! (Beach themed of course) They are chocolate cake, blue icing, graham crackers for the beach and Swedish Fish for the fish.






They are fun and easy to do with kids.

We are bringing them to the beach for all of the kids to enjoy!

SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it finally happened. Oliver sleep from 9pm-6:15am. It is a miracle. I wondered when it would happen. It took Aubrey 6 months to do it as well.

He even sleep all night in his bed. He usually end up in the bed with me at some point. BUT, not last night. Per usual, I rolled over and suspected he was dead.

I hope we are as lucky in the upcoming nights, knock on wood! We are about to leave for the beach, and it would be great if I didn't have to get up for that feeding.

Baby Baptism Day!

Oliver was baptised on Sunday! He was great. He didn't cry, and he even let the pastor hold him and walk him up the aisle. He has become a bit of a Momma's/Daddy's boy. He usually always wants one of us. I guess it's the age.



Aubrey did well too. He said he was a little nervous, but I have to admit I was too. I could just see me taking a header down the center aisle. It is cobblestone and I was wearing heals. I know I walk down it every Sunday, but not by myself, and usually not in such high heals.

Family came from Corinth to witness the event. We ate lunch at the Cobb Lane restaurant where most all of the women got Bloody Marys and Mimosas. (Except for Donna, she can't drink champagne, and me, I get too sleepy.)That was a real twist!

This is from Oliver's 5 month "photo shoot." My cousin Rosemary does some amazing artistic work. I like getting pictures of feet and elbows, fat rolls and dimples. I think it will be these things that I will want to remember.

A Sippee Cup May Hold the Key!

Oliver doesn't like taking the bottle, but he sucked on this sippee cup the other day for 30 minutes. I think he really likes chewing on the nipple part the most.

Carillon in April

I love Carillon in the Springtime!




We went to our favorite summer retreat in the Spring this year. It was Bobby's idea. He wanted to go and just relax. Not that we don't do that on our summer trip, but we always are trying to go to the go-carts, put put, and water park.




We went to the pool and beach everyday. I was even cold at the beach. I always complain it is too hot, so I felt weird about it!






Aubrey is learning the freestyle swimming stroke. He is doing well. He is a little bit of a daredevil and gets himself into trouble sometimes, but overall he's a good swimmer.



Oliver cried most of the way down. He is fine when he is asleep, but gets quite bored when he is awake. I don't know what we will do in July. Maybe he will be old enough to take some drugs.(Joking, kind-of!) He had fun in the pool, but didn't like the beach so much. It is very bright and we forgot his sunglasses. (We bought him some from One Step Ahead. The have a strap that Velcros around his head.)

Brotherly Love!

A typical Sunday morning

Bath time!













I found this "towel bag" of Aubrey's. It looked so cozy. Oliver loves the bath. He coos and laughs and doesn't mind the water pouring over him. This is foreign to us. Aubrey couldn't stand the bath and cried until he was 2.

My Mad Hatter

Aubrey had his "Mad Hatter" Tea Party today at school. He picked out and decorated the hat himself. They had cheese, fruit, chicken fingers, and tea or lemonade.

Pump-It-Up!

Aubrey's birthday party was today. He had a blast! We had it at a place called Pump It Up! It is a place that has about 7 or 8 moonjumps. We had cake and ice cream. The theme is Transformers. Bubble swords were given as favors.


Aubrey in his Transformer Shirt.


The Family minus Oliver. Never wake a sleeping baby.


Kate's cute outfit!


Mom and Oliver. I hope she doesn't miss a rental call.
( See phone on hip)


Notice he is blowing out the candle on his $45 cake. Yes, that is what I wrote. I thought I was getting out cheap by getting it from Publix. No such luck.