There's a New Sheriff in Town

I think we might just have taken next year's Christmas Card pictures. These kids are a trip. Mckinley received a pink cowgirl hat and a pink gun. I didn't ask for them to be in the picture. I don't think she would have taken it if I had told her she couldn't. Brax got a race car track from Maw Maw and Paw Paw. He won one similar to it this summer. It "mysteriously" disappeared. The thing took up a whole room. Literally. This new one is a perfect size.
                 Here's a picture of Brax when he got his cowboy hat and gun. He was just about the same age.
  

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen

Some of my most favorite memories of Christmas were baking with my mom. She was a pretty incredible woman and she just had this way about her that made everything 10x better (my dad does this pretty well too). Baking Christmas cookies with her was awesome. It was fun, and messy, and a group effort, and delicious, and I could go on and on. She always had a list of about 10 things she wanted to bake for the holidays and she always accomplished this.
This year I wanted to do just a hint of baking. I wanted this to be one of the memories my kids grew up with. I talked it up big time. They put on their aprons.
They lasted for 2 minutes. Literally. And told me let them know when they were done.
I'll try again next year.

Christmas Chaos

                                     

    The chaos has set in for sure. Every year I say that when the next year rolls around I will be finished with my shopping before December, I will not rush, rush, rush, and I'll take time to enjoy the season. It's like for 335 days I don't know when Christmas is and BAM- the time is upon us again. Although another season is here and I, A) haven't finished my shopping and B) I do rush, rush, rush, I am enjoying the season. I still have tons to do but I'm going to enjoy doing it and really focus on how fortunate that we are so blessed to be healthy and to have as much as we do. I have also been reflecting on all the changes that have taken place since last year this time. We have so much to be grateful for.
    Just this past week we had Braxton's Pageant at church. My little shepherd had a line in this years play. He did really well.  And just look at how much fun he was having too. No matter what he says Mckinley had a good time. When Braxton's group stood up to sing one of their songs she pointed and said "My brudder!".
    Last Thursday we made the trek to the mall to see Santa. When I picked Mckinley up that afternoon and asked her if she was going to see Santa she said "uhhhh Nope." And she didn't. Wouldn't even wave to him. Once we got back out to the car (I didn't even buy the photo of Brax sitting on his lap. He was seriously disgruntled that his elf had not arrived) "Norman" the elf was sitting on the car seat patiently waiting for us to come out. He's been into all kinds of mischief since!

And the Band Plays On

It's not just from my childhood, or my dad's, or even his mothers. We are now the proud new owners of a piano that goes back almost a century. I have a picture of my grandparents standing in front of this piano at their wedding.
I like antiques and even more so when I know the history behind something that has been in the family but I almost am speechless when I look at this piano. The history it has. And now my children will have it become apart of their childhood.
This was moved to the house last night "after business hours" and bedtime for my two and was in the house in less than 30 minutes. When the kids woke up this morning they walked in almost in disbelief. Mckinley whispered  "a big one".

"Tank You SO Much"

I can remember how excited I was on Halloween. We would order Chinese every year and after we were all home we'd eat dinner and then get ready to go out. I don't remember how exhausting it was. My parents did a really good job of concealing this. 

The kids were so excited and could hardly wait to eat Chinese after we were all home. I walked through the evening a million times I think. So after the last piece of rice had been cleaned up (or so I thought. I'm STILL stepping on it) we raced upstairs and started the mad dash of getting the 'Hulk' and 'Snow White' ready. This being our official 2nd year of going Trick or Treating we walked out and were ready with a stroller and juice on hand. Both of them did really good and Mckinley was happy to have Braxton push her house from house. They learned the routine pretty well and when we'd arrive at the next porch they'd both get their buckets ready and ring the bell. Braxton remembered to say Trick or Treat and when I asked Mckinley what she should say she said "Tank you SO much". This would get them both another handful!

After about an hour we went home and looked through the loot. Then it was bath time and bed. I can't believe another Halloween has come and gone.

What a Treat!

We took the kids and 2 of the "Hulks" buddies to the Trunk or Treat at church the other night. Fun times were had!!

What Warms My Soul

    It was something we "just did" when I was a kid. Every time you saw family, no matter how recent, you gave them a hug. No matter when the last time you talked to someone, you told them you loved them. Every time you left, no matter for how long, you gave them a hug and told them you loved them. Even angry. Even frustrated. Even embarrassed. It's one of the things that I've never regretted doing. So I'm raising my children with the same mentality. Not really with effort because it's something we "just do" everyday. All the time.
    It's funny because they can be kicking and screaming. Wailing on one another angry. But when it's time to go to bed or leave for the day, this is what happens.

Just a Glimpse

This girl is a handful. I tried to get a video of her just to give you a sneak peak of her southern "drawl" and well......take a look for yourself.

Lookie Lookie

I am not just not sure where she learns this stuff.....

The New Birthday Suit

Lately this Princess has had two demanding requests: dresses and "a suit". Ever since we've returned from the beach she insists on putting on a bathing suit. Lot's of times we can talk her out of it or distract her. She'll pull on any thing that looks like a bathing suit and say "beach". I found this really cute bathing suit (which just happens to have a tutu) on clearance for next summer. We've worn it around the house 3 times now.'Twice this past week she wore her new " night gown" down to Maw Maw's and when I got there to get her after work she still had it on. We absolutely have Princess on our hands.
I was able to get a picture of her tonight with her new birthday shirt on but only after promising that she could change into her suit. She made out like a REAL Princess today. She not only got a fabulous new wardrobe but a Princess Tricycle AND a Princess Scooter. Brax got a new scooter too!
Birthdays. what fun. I don't worry about my birthday anymore or how old I'll be. But what I do worry about is when I think about my children's next birthday and how much older they'll be.
Time flies. Hang on. We're on the ride of our life!

My Girl

                                  

Funny how a small moment can have such a lasting impression. Two years ago my small moment was a well thought out  C-section. We were going to  take Braxton to his Maw Maw's and Brandon and I were going to be at the hospital by 6:30 for an 8:30 C-Section. Somebody else had a better idea.
Our sweet Mckinley turns "2" tomorrow. It blows my mind when I think about how fast the past two years have gone. All that we've done. And all of the happiness and joy she's brought to our life.
 We laugh when we think about how our children made their entrance into this world. Braxton was two days late and was forced to make his arrival. Once he was born he was fine. I still feel like we have to force him to do a lot of things. But once he's there, he's fine.
Mckinley was a planned c-section. Down to the minute we knew what to expect. But she decided to come on her own terms when she was ready. No matter what everybody else had planned, she was coming. And that's who she is. When she's ready, you better be.
Day after day, all day,  I think about my babies. How wonderful they are. How beautiful they are. And how lucky I am. Out of all the people that God could have picked, I get to be their mom!

Catch Up

Too much has happened. Too much time has passed. Let's just look at the pictures and call it a month. Hopefully things will get back into a routine soon and I can post regularly. There's always something going on around here.
Enjoy! 

They Can Deceive You

Don't let this "little" stuffed animal bucket fool you.
And don't let the adorable smile from Mckinley surrounded by the animals fool you. As I was on the phone this morning she demanded (and I do mean demanded) that I pour out the bucket of animals in her bed. With her in it. It is full of stuffed animals that she received as gifts prior to being born. She loves them.
 And then leaves them for me to clean up!
Brax has become very interested in his Lego's this summer. He is becoming quite creative and even a little patient when he has to fix them because they came apart.

A HUGE Deal

It all started on the Fourth of July.
 Mckinley has loved the pool this year. Last year she would hardly get in but this year she loves it. She doesn't want to sit on the side (no matter how cool you tell her she looks), she doesn't want to be in your arms, she wants to be in the pool, by herself, and she wants to get there by jumping in. One problem. She can't swim. It was really making pool time no fun. I just dreaded the thought of getting in and fighting with her about having to stay in  my arms. Why not put on the extra life jacket we have, you ask? Because she didn't like it.
Fast forward to July 4th. We had our little pals over and they were in the pool like fish. Brax loved having someone to rough house with and cannon ball with. The bigger kids weren't wearing life jackets but he didn't seem to care. The smallest friend had a life jacket "thingey" that goes around the front. It's called a "puddle jumper" and Brandon put it on Mckinley to see what would happen. She loved it. She can now jump in and float around. And she'll even agree when you tell her she looks cool!
And before the end of the night Braxton took his life jacket off and came up and whispered that he could swim without it. I stood on the side ready to rescue watching. I held my breath and then I saw it. Braxton swam from one side of the pool to the OTHER with NO LIFE JACKET! We were all quite proud.
He asked when he climbed out if he could put his life jacket back on the next time he got in. Of course I said yes. But it's a great feeling knowing that he can be in the water without his life jacket if he had to.

Had to Show Off

Yep. Had to show you some pictures that a very dear and talented friend took for me. I have this frame and a huge wall in my den. I needed the right picture. Now I'm having a hard time deciding which one to frame.

Mountains of Memories

"So we loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly...Hills that is...."
The Beverly Hillbillies, one of my favorite shows. We used to watch it when I was a kid. Fast forward 15 years and I found out that right down the road from our place in the mountains "Jane" from the show had a mountain retreat. Just icing on the cake for a place I already thought was fantastic.
The kids and I just returned from a week in the mountains with Grandaddy. Brandon was able to come up and stay for a night and we took the kids to Tweetsie. Braxton already thinks the place ranks up there with Disney World (poor kid!) but the girl loved it. She squealed with delight as we came up over the hill and she saw the train. We had to board it as soon as we got there. Never mind it didn't leave for another 30 minutes. They both had a grand time. Thank goodness You Tube has a Mouse Mine video someone took!
The week was nice. We weren't rushed or pressed for time. We were in a good routine by mid-week. Strange feeling this week though. I found myself thinking about the times I was a kid and would go up there. I could picture my sister and brother and I doing some of the exact things that we did this week. I enjoyed telling my children about some of the fun times I have had up there and look forward to creating the same memories for them. 

It's Summertime!!

We heard about  a local theater that showed $1 movies Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. They also had $1 popcorn and $1 drinks. Even better is that adults are free and children under 2 are free also. Its first come, first served. I detest events like this. I loaded the kids up, we were dressed, and they were PUMPED up and by golly I wanted them to see the movie. Luckily we made it with a few minutes to spare and after we had our seats I went back out and got them both a pop corn and drink. We were all set! They both ate their entire box of popcorn and Mckinley only had to leave once for a diaper change. Once she was back in the theater she slept for the last 20 minutes of the show. That was her nap for the day.
We've had a great start to our summer together!!