Amy December 24th, 2009
The kids are napping and hopefully building up reserves for tonight’s festivities. First we are going to the Christmas Eve service at church and then we are going to Gigi’s for stew, cornbread, coca coca salad, and vinegar pie – a long running Flowers Christmas Eve traditional dinner. After that, presents! And then home to go to bed and wait for Santa.
Yesterday I got super Mom cudos. I don’t get them often, so I am proud. First off, Camden got up from his nap before I was finished wrapping gifts, so he got to pick out all of the ribbons on everyone’s gifts. He then helped me tie them by holding his little finger on the middle of the ribbon. Next we made cookies! Gingerbread cookies! He got to roll out the dough, cut out the cookies, and decorate. He did a great job. Jax meanwhile was confined to the playpen and PBS Kids. I wasn’t super mom to him, but there’s always next year.
first you roll out the dough
next you cut out cookies
then, decorate!
yummy
the one with four "eyes" has a boo boo on his forehead
Amy December 21st, 2009
Mike and I keep laughing about this, so I thought I’d share with you. Maybe you can relate and maybe you’ll get a giggle too.
Mike has taught Cam the song Jingle Bells – well, the chorus at least. Apparently everytime he tries to sing the verse, Camden tells him that is NOT Jingle Bells. All of this was unknown to me. So on the way to church Mike suggests that we sing Jingle Bells. We sang the chorus and then I proceed with “Dashing through the snow…” Mike looks at me and says, “No, mommy, that is not part of the song.” I just look at him and continue. Cam from the backseat says, “Mommy, Daddy told you that is not Jingle Bells.” Defeated, I give in.
The other day as the kids and I were sitting at the table we were once again singing Jingle Bells. I once again tried to do the verse. Camden looking very frustrated says, “Mommy, Daddy and I KEEP telling you that is not Jingle Bells. We KEEP telling you that.” He just sounded so grown up and so exasperated that I giggle everytime I think about it. Things in a toddler’s world are very black and white and we are not to forget that.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all the way…
Amy December 21st, 2009
Christmastime….
The wonder and magic of Santa
The hope and love of Jesus
The laughter and innocence of children
The food and fellowship of families
The joy of giving and receiving
The smiles and kindness of strangers
The silly hats and accessories of our co-workers
The feelings of optimism and joy in the crowds
The magic, the hope, the joy, the season of Christmas
Amy December 21st, 2009
Yesterday was mine and Mike’s 6th anniversary. We went to Nashville for a last minute getaway and are very gracious to Paw Paw and Maw Maw for watching the kids. We didn’t do anything very exciting – we finished up Christmas shopping, watched TWO movies, slept late – but it was great to be together.
Being together is one of the great benefits of marriage. Someone there for you. Someone to listen to you go on and on about anything or nothing. Someone to snuggle up with on the couch. Someone you can count on.
And that someone for me is Mike. He is a wonderful husband and I am so lucky. I don’t know how he stayed on the market for so long, but I am glad that he did. He makes my life easier and simpler and fuller. He makes marriage easy. And trust me, I have seen the other way so having an easy marriage is a big deal. And he is an incredible Dad. I cannot ask for a better partner in this journey and adventure of marriage and parenthood.
So…. six years and counting. They have flown by! We are so busy lately with two toddlers and Mike’s job that it was a really nice treat to get away for a couple of days and just enjoy each other. During this hectic holiday season, try to find a little time for just you and your honey. Tell him/her that you love them and appreciate them and never take anything for granted.
Happy Anniversary Michael!
Amy December 15th, 2009
You know the old story of how the second child has to fend for themselves while the first child was coddled, right.
Well, we have one of those. With Camden we read to him every night (still do) and went over the animal sounds and the numbers and the letters. But, with Jackson, I have been a bit lax. It is not entirely my fault, so my guilt level is not as high as it could be, since until recently he refused to sit still and listen to a book without trying to eat it or tear out the pages. But…
So here is a little story of how he is learning to count.
Last night I was dropping the boys off at GiGi’s for Mike and mine weekly bowling night. Well, Camden was not feeling well and hadn’t had a nap and was just generally rather cranky. He was not going to do anything I asked and on more than one occassion I had to employ the “ONE, TWO… you don’t want me to get to THREE” tactic. After about the fourth time, I had do this, this is what happened.
Me: Camden! One…
Jackson: Two (said sweetly from the other room)
Mom and me started laughing and Camden got off for whatever he was doing. Well, all I have to say is Jackson is learning to count!
Amy December 15th, 2009
These past few months have been a whirlwind. Mike has now been working in Huntsville for 6 months and still has to commute 3 hours a day. Unfortunately this means that he only gets to see the boys about 30 minutes in the evening before they go to bed and we collapse in front of the tv.
Well, the house is now officially on the market! We actually got For Sale signs posted yesterday. I have a good feeling that the house will sell in a reasonable time frame and we will be headed west – to H’ville. I am going to miss this house greatly. It is in a beautiful location and I love my big rocks and isolation, but this chapter of our lives is closing. We will soon begin a new one and with it new adventures!
I hope that my blogging will become a bit more regular now that all of the house cleaning and repairing and prepping is done. But then again I am still chasing a 1 year old and a 3 year old daily, so no promises. I always have several blogs going on in my head, but when I get a break, I usually don’t make it to the computer. I’ll try to do better because these thoughts get overcome quickly if I don’t put them down and I am enjoying recording some of our daily life and thoughts.
So on that note, if you know of anyone who wants to live in the beautiful NW Georgia mountains or is looking for a great second home, think of us.
Amy December 15th, 2009
I cannot believe that our little boy is 3. The time has flown by and I know that time only seems to get faster. I am so lucky that I have been able to stay home with the boys this past year and I am enjoying watching them grow and change.
Camden has matured so much this past year. He keeps us all on our toes and reminds us of the rules on more than one occassion. He is terribly sweet and loving and wants nothing more than to please. He is smart and curious and his imagination is coming into full swing. He watches out for his little brother, when not trying to reclaim toys, and gets so excited and appreciative when you do something for him. How can we not say Yes?
For his third birthday we went to the Discover Museum in Chattanooga. It had snowed in the night, so the hour drive was beautiful! The grandparents and my sister and her kids met us there and everyone had a blast. Jax had as much fun as his brother and cousins. Then it was back to the house for cake and presents. I made the cake and decorated it with Cars toys as I couldn’t find any cake toppers. But these “cake toppers” can be played with again and again.
Happy Birthday Cam!
Amy December 15th, 2009
You would think that in a blog posting titled November 2009, there would be some pics from Thanksgiving. But alas, no. However, don’t despair, I do have some other things to share.
Here is a picture that I just think is cute. This is right after I bought Cam a new hat and gloves and he insisted on wearing them everytime we went outside.
Next we have been doing some house repairs in anticipation of putting the house on the market. In this particular shot, Mike and Cam are replacing a door jamb that the cat thought was a great scratching post. Note that Cam has the real hammer and Mike has to use “Pat”.
and finally the tree decorating. Camden loved it, Jax tried to take all of Cam’s ornaments off and eat them. And Camden’s idea of hanging ornaments was to see how many you can get on one limb, which drove his daddy crazy. And I am proud to say that Jackson has gotten alot better and our tree is still standing and looking great.
Amy December 15th, 2009
I know that this post is terribly tardy, but I wanted to go ahead and post some pics of my adorable kids especially for those that didn’t see them dressed up.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, for Halloween Cam was a pirate – ARGHHH! – without a boat, and Jax was Frankenstein or as I thought Cam called him Crankenstein, which he was before the night was through.
The boys got to celebrate Halloween twice, once in AL on the 30th and then in Grey on the 31st.
I am also including some shots from the pumpkin patch which we went to the week before. Jax was great as long as he was free and mobile, no posed shots for him.
I found pumpkins!
on the pumpkin...
off the pumpkin
cheese!
