Ice Ice Baby

 We've had quite an interesting bit of weather activity over the last week. If you had told me last Sunday that the kids and I would be out of school for a whole week, I wouldn't have believed you. But it happened and luckily we had enough ice to do some sledding on the hill in our backyard. The kids have been talking about sliding down that hill since we moved in over a year ago. Mimi bought them some sleds a couple of weeks ago and it was perfect timing! Andy went out with them because he has all the outdoor cold weather gear. I came out briefly to take a coupe of pics and went right back in. :)

 Carson loves to mow. Apparently the ice needed it.

 Snow angels~notice one big one on the left (LG) and a smaller one on the right (Carson)

 Angels in the making

 Chloe had to get in on the action too. :)

 Alisha, Alex, Michael, and Kenzie Jo came over for dinner one night. 

Carson loves loves loves that baby!

 By the end of the week we were getting the "ice crazies" and this pic is a perfect example of the things we started to do to entertain ourselves.

 Allegedly, there's another round of snow coming tomorrow night. We'll see...

This baby...

is technically not a baby anymore. :( Sigh...Although I will say he still loves to snuggle with his mama. :) Last night he asked me to lay down with him. So we laid down on the couch and watched Jake and the Neverland Pirates, which is one of his faves. He also loves Team Umi Zoomi, which he calls "Zoomi Zoomi", Tickety Tock ("Ticky Tock"), Elmo, and Yo Gabba Gabba ("Gabba").

I wanted to document some of the things he is saying and doing right now. I always think I will remember but when I look back on years past, I see that there are so many things I have forgotten.

He immediately says "I sorry, I sorry, mama" if he does something wrong. He says "her" instead of she. I absolutely love that. Ex: "Her not being nice to me." He knows all his colors, letters, shapes, numbers to 15. He can name them if you write them and point to them. He loves his "pup pups." He has 3 of them but he only gets to have 2 at a time so if one gets lost I always have a back up in the closet. He knows where it is and doesn't try to get it. :) Chloe chewed the ears off of 2 of them and his favorite is the one with the ears. He calls them "puppin no ears" and "puppin ears." He has gotten into the habit of talking in this high pitched voice. He loves his classroom and can tell me all that is going on and who has done what. He named almost all of the kids in his class last night so we could write their names on the Valentine's cards. He loves church, which he calls "learn about Jesus." We go on Wednesday nights and after dinner he says, "I'm ready to go to my class." (AKA, the nursery). He loves trucks (especially his big dump truck) and he carries around a plastic reciprocating saw that he calls his "pow thing." If he gets mad at you for whatever, he says, "Let me go get my pow thing" and then he'll come back and poke you with the saw. He loves to play with any type of ball. He loves to dance. If a song comes on or music of any kind comes on around him, he will start dancing. He actually has some rhythm. He gets stuck when he's trying to say something. I hope it's not some sort of speech impediment because we think it's so cute. Ex: The other morning he called and asked me if I had taken my medicine (vitamins) and I told him that I hadn't because I hadn't eaten breakfast yet. He told Andy, "Her has to eat her bre...bra...br...supper." He'll just switch to a word he can say that's close to whatever he's trying to say. He is almost completely potty trained. He sleeps in a diaper at night but goes all day in underwear. 

I'm sure I'm missing something. He is such a blessing to our family. He and LG get along so well and he has such a sweet spirit. I am looking forward to watching him grow but right now I will keep relishing in the things that still make him my baby. :)

Basketball Banquet and other weekend stuff

 LG's basketball banquet was this past Saturday. They ate ice cream and then, each team was called up one by one to receive their "trophies"~a basketball, which LG is SOOOO proud of.

They also received a copy of their team picture.
I am not surprised in the least that my child is the only one who is not facing the camera. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "laughing"~an accurate depiction of her personality.

 Gotta take a family selfie

 Sunday we volunteered in our church's nursery. The kids LOVE Andy, which I find funny. They climbed all over him.

 Check out the sign above his head. A sweet narrative of the picture. :)

Finally, last night's Grizzlies' game was too close for comfort. Andy was standing in front of the TV like this for the last 20 minutes of the game.

The Grizz won! Way to go!

We got a win!!!

LG won her last basketball game of the season! We were so proud of her and her team. They truly improved so much over the course of the season. We took her straight to the yogurt place and had yogurt for lunch!

 

We are looking forward to next season. Now on to soccer...:)

Basketball Diaries

 Lilley Grace is LOVING basketball. She gets so serious. Whatever the coach tells her to do, she does it with so much intent. During the last game she was designated as the point guard. I know nothing about basketball so Andy has to keep me informed of rules and positions and all that. :) I love watching her competitive spirit come out. During the last game, a good friend of mine, Windy, was getting some action shots of her daughter and got a few of LG as well.

 My favorite picture

Thanks Windy for capturing these special moments with your super duper camera. :)

Christmas Break

 I am in shock that Christmas break is over. We had so much planned and stayed busy most of the time. I looked up and it was time to get back to work and school. :( Sad. Here's a recap of the last 2 weeks...

 Everyone in our house was sick at one time or another with the stomach virus. Mine lasted 4 days! It was horrible but at least we were all better by Christmas. Plus, it gave the elves a chance to give Carson and LG some early Christmas presents~books (LG) and stickers (Carson).

 Friday before Christmas break I was able to work 1/2 day and get to LG's school in time for her Christmas party. All the kids were making gingerbread houses. She actually ate hers. I've never seen anybody eat a gingerbread house and even told her you weren't supposed to eat them because that's what I thought. She ate it anyway. Strong willed...

Right after this picture, she threw up in my hand and hence her time with the stomach virus.

 Random pic~I have always thought Carson looked like Charlie Brown so I quickly grabbed my phone when he came in my room carrying his Charlie Brown doll. See the resemblance???

 The first real day of Christmas break (Monday) began like this. It was wonderful~pjs and movies and me getting over my part of the stomach virus.

 Monday night, LG and I went to PJ Story Time at our church. We got there an hour early. I blame the virus! :)

 LG sitting in Pastor Sandy's storytelling seat.

 Waiting with friends for the stories to begin

 LG got to lead everyone in Away in a Manger

 Tuesday morning both kids went in for their dental checkups. Since this was Carson's first, LG went first so he could watch and see that there was nothing to fear.

 He stole some balloons from somewhere in the clinic and stood and watched LG.

 When it was his turn, he got up on the table like a big boy but as soon as she pulled out the tools, he shot up and said, "No, mama." It's so hard to force your child to do something when they are scared and begging you to help.

 The hygienist was so patient and said he could sit up and I could sit by him while he got his teeth cleaned. Once he felt the toothbrush and realized it wasn't going to hurt him, he let her clean his teeth like a champ...all the while holding onto the balloons. LOL!

 Another random pic~we spent a lot of time with my mom because she was out on break too. This is where Carson has to eat when he's there~in the kitchen, sitting on the floor, with a tray. Haha!

 Would you believe that I have ZERO pics from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day???!!! Too busy enjoying the moment I guess. :) We went to Andy's mom's house for lunch with his extended family on Christmas Eve and then his immediate family came to our house Christmas Eve night and we made cookies for Santa, played games, and had appetizers~starting a new tradition.

My mom always spends the night with us on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day we woke up to Santa's gifts and exchanged gifts with each other. Then we headed out to Andy's mom's again where she always has sausage balls, donut holes, and OJ. We opened presents with the immediate family. We headed back to our house to exchange gifts with Andy's dad and step-mom.

Carson went back to school during the second week of break, Andy went back to work, and LG and I had some girl time together. 

We went to Incredible Pizza with friends on Monday.  

 I spent New Year's Eve at the hospital waiting on the arrival of my grandbestie, McKenzie Jo. She finally made her debut at 7:15 pm. I wasn't able to get my hands on her until 9ish!

Ironically, she weighed 7 lbs 7 oz. just like both of my babies and was delivered by the same Dr who delivered both my babies. :)

LG and MJ

 I left the hospital to spend New Year's Eve with some of our BFFs.

My girls and Andy~the photobomber...

Most of these people came to our house on New Year's Day to watch Bama get beat by Ohio State. :( But we did have fun "recovering" together.