Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 will be very memorable in our family.  It is the 1st Christmas that we haven't traveled, and our last Christmas as a family of 4.  On the 23rd, I went to the doctor because I had a fever and wasn't really feeling my best.  Being 14 weeks pregnant, I was worried about the baby because everything I've read said a fever during pregnancy is no good.  The doctor thought it best to test me for the flu.  I really didn't think I would have the flu.  I had brought Hannah to the doctor earlier in the week, and they tested her because she had a fever and similar symptoms.  She gave the nurse the hardest time about swabbing her nose.  Jay and I told her that it was not that big of a deal to have a little q-tip in your nose.  I take that all back.....they shove that q-tip so far up your nose that it burns.  When they tested me, I couldn't resist shaking my head!  The doctor came in and told me that I had tested positive for influenza A and I think I went into shock.  I was beyond scared because I knew the only thing I could take is Tylenol, and that really doesn't do too much.  I called Jay, and he started to cancel all of our Christmas plans. 

Jay drove us to my Mom's on Friday, so the kids could open their gifts and have a Christmas dinner.  My brother and Ashton were the only 2 in the house who had not had a flu shot, so Jay went to the store and bought a mask for me to wear!  When we got home after dinner, we let the kids exchange their gifts.  they had each "bought" a gift for each other.

Ben got a train....go figure :)

Ben gave Hannah a Beauty and the Beast Tag book!  The kids went to bed early, and Hannah could not wait for Santa to visit.  We usually bake cookies on Christmas Eve for Santa, but this year Santa got some cookies that Nana had baked at her house.  I think he understood!

Ben took off running as soon as he saw the gifts under the tree!

The kids were great at taking turns opening each of their gifts.  Hannah enjoyed seeing everything that Ben got from Santa.  Ben really only cared about his trains :)

On Christmas morning, after we had finished opening our gifts, it started to snow.  Ben was beyond excited to watch the big snowflakes falling from the sky.  He would alternate between playing trains, and hanging out next to the window!

Daddy took the kids out to play in the snow.

Ben loved it until he fell down in the snow.

Hannah loved it until her hands got cold from touching the snow with no gloves.  Although it wasn't what we planned, this Christmas was special because we got to spend it together!

Christmas Tree and a Camp Out Attempt

Last night we finally we found a Christmas tree.  It wasn't our top pick, but with 2 weeks left to go we had to get something.  Our Christmas "stuff" is all in storage, so we let the kids each pick one ornament from the store last night.  (We are going to finish the rest of the tree today)  The kids had more fun playing with the bubble wrap the tree came in!

They were pretending to go "night night" and using the bubble wrap as a blanket!

Once the tree lights were turned on Ben was 100% focused on the tree.  He stood behind it for awhile plotting his next move....

The kids enjoyed putting their ornaments on the tree.  Hannah's was a Frosty the Snowman:

Ben chose a "beep beep" for his ornament this year.  He doesn't understand that it should stay on the tree, so he takes it down and plays with it.

The kids ended the evening by attempting a camp out in our room.  They were all giggles the first 15 minutes.

Ben adores his big sister and was beyond excited about spending the night with her.  Too bad it only lasted 20 minutes and then she kicked him out!  He wouldn't stop messing with her and she wanted to go to sleep.  Ben went back to his bed and the princess finished the camp out alone.

This morning we woke up early and attended a pancake breakfast at Mommy's school.  Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special appearance, but the kids had the most fun hanging out with Young boys!

Ben did much better when it was a big group of kids.  He wasn't so sure about Santa when he had to stand with his sister!

We are really enjoying the Christmas season so far!  The kids make it So much fun!

My Big Boy!

We decided to let Ben start sleeping in a big boy bed.  We took one side off his crib to transform it into a toddler bed.  Ben was beyond excited (so was Champ)!


Ben and Champ in the "big boy" bed

He has yet to get out of the bed after being told to stay put!  He is a VERY stubborn child so this has been a great surprise for Mommy and Daddy!

Fast asleep!

Although he hasn't gotten out of the bed to play, he has had some difficulty rolling out of the bed.  He is his Mama's boy and sleeps through it all.  Hannah found him this morning sleeping on the floor.  As long as he doesn't mind it, we don't either!

Rolled out of the bed

It doesn't feel like it was that long ago when we were putting our princess in the "big girl" bed!

Hannah, around the same age, in her "big girl" bed!



Pumpkin Patch 2010

Today we went for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with the Young family.  The kids had a blast!  The farm we visit has animals, and Ben was laughing so hard when the turkey started making noises.  It was adorable.  Ben and Hannah were excited to pick out little pumpkins to put on the mantle at home.  It seemed like Ben walked the entire pumpkin patch!  He always has to check everything out.  Christian and Hannah got their faces painted.  Chris decided to get a bat, and Hannah went with the ghost.  The weather this year was perfect!  As always, it was a wonderful time. 

War Eagle!

Hannah and I will be cheering Auburn on tonight!  Thank you Aunt Marilyn for her sweet dress!  I LOVE it!

Hannah in her Auburn dress!  WAR EAGLE!

Hannah Cheering for Alabama?

Aunt Marilyn made Hannah 2 adorable dresses.  The first is an Alabama dress, and Hannah wore it today during the Alabama game.  Tonight she will put on her Auburn dress and yell "War Eagle" with her Mama! (stay tuned for more pictures)


Hannah and her Daddy watching the UA game!




100% Daddy's Girl



The Leprechaun

While Jay was filling up Ben's bath tonight, he decided to get into some mischief.  (what else is new?)  Jay yelled down the hall, "Check out Ben in his Leprechaun hat!"  It was adorable until I realized that the "hat" is the bowl of the Dora potty that Hannah used to potty train.  Ben, Ben, Ben........

Ben in the "Leprechaun Hat"

The silliest boy!

Ben loves being silly.  Sometimes he is silly on purpose and sometimes that is just him being him.  Ben found Hannah's bike helmet one evening and was trying to hard to get it on his head.  I finally buckled it up for him and he was so proud to walk around wearing that helmet.

Today he found a pair of goggles that Jay and I brought on our honeymoon.  He was really excited when he figured out how to get them on his head.  Then when I was snapping his picture, he was trying to put the lens cap on my camera.  I LOVE this little boy!

Busy Start to Fall

We have had a very busy start to the fall season! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Auntie Teri's baby girl. I can't wait to finally be an "Auntie"....Heather and I even have special shirts for the big day! Hannah was very upset when Mommy's special shirt came in the mail and she didn't have one too. Luckily, I was able to make one, so she could be part of the "team" too! Teri is going to be an amazing Mommy!

While Hannah and I had our nails done today, Ben and Daddy had some boy time. Ben LOVES his Daddy. When Daddy left to go to the football game last week, Ben cried at the door for 20 minutes. I couldn't ask for a better man and little man in my life!

" I love you SO much Daddy!"

" I love you too, Ben"

My new favorite picture!

Playing Outside

Last week we had an afternoon that wasn't too hot. (under 90 degrees!) The kids were excited to have the chance to play in the backyard. Hannah loves to ride her bike, hula hoop, and be the princess of the castle!

Ben has decided that his new favorite adventure is to climb up the slide. He has no fear, so Mommy or Daddy have to stand close by to make sure he doesn't fall over the side.

First Day of Pre-K

Our baby is growing up!! Today Hannah started her first day of pre-k.

She has her own cubby to keep all her "things" in and she has a new purple backpack (just like Dora).

She's so excited to be going to school. She was thrilled to write in her journal this morning, and was excited to her buddy Jordan's familiar face when she arrived. We are so proud of her for having such an awesome 1st day!

Picture of the Day...

Our Trip North

We decided to take the kids to visit my family in New Jersey. They had a blast!! Hannah was a fish and was swimming in Nanny and PopPop's pool the entire weekend. She also enjoyed having Auntie Janis read to her. She got several new books and loved them so much we found more books with the same author on our library trip this week. We also had a suprise fire truck ride from Uncle Denis! Hannah couldn't get over the fact that she was riding around town in a real fire truck and Ben was so excited to see a truck up close. It always feels like our trip is too short, and Hannah cried on Tuesday when it was time to leave. We had so much fun!