Who knew wrapping paper could be so much fun?

Have you met my billy goat?

She won't eat pears, peaches, bananas, grapes, peas, carrots, beans, cheese, or yogurt.

But she will eat paper towels, wrapping paper, napkins, paper on straws, kleenex, junk mail envelopes, pew response cards, and her very favorite: toilet paper. She does prefer for it to be un-used. Thank goodness.

Oh Tannenbaum!

This past weekend, we went and got our Christmas tree.

We're pretty particular about which one...it's always the first tree Brad picks up.

So since we're only there a few minutes, I wanted to make the most of the "Christmas-y"

moment for Lillianna by introducing her a wonderful Christmas-y tradition she should always take part in...

Pelting your loved ones with snowballs.

Since we live in Alabama, she must learn to take advantage of such opportunities...who knows the next time she'll get to throw snow.

(A new shipment of trees from the North and they still had snow on them.)

Then we came home to decorate...
Ellenie was still in the snowball frame of mind.

Lillianna really enjoyed decorating the tree and was SO PROUD of ALL the apples she hung.

Got a few presents under the tree...looks like a few more are in the curtain....

Oh, just want I always wanted!



L: Since it's Christmas, I'm feeling like sharing.
E: W-w-w-w-what?!


E: Whew. Decorating the tree is very hard work.

L: You can say that again.

E: Decorating the tree is very hard work.

Yep. This was the scene a little after 11 pm last night.

I took a pic for Lillianna to see...she loved the story even though she was sad to see the tree bare and against the wall this morning.

Merry Christmas!

Giving Thanks

I AM THANKFUL...

for

blocks, ballet, boo-boos, bugs,

the minutes, the moments, the miracles, the meltdowns,

the looks, love, laughter, and little feet,

the playing, pretending, pooping, praying, and picking up,

our talks, treasures, your tantrums, twirly dresses, and tucking in,

the falls, frowns, the feeding, finger prints,

our walks, the wiping, and even the whining,

the diapers, diapers, diapers,

silliness, sassiness, song singing, snuggles, and smiles,

kisses, ketchup stains, keeping up,and more kisses,

the crayons, chaos, cuddling,

I AM THANKFUL

for you,

and you,

the two of you together,

for ALL that you bring into my life...

I AM THANKFUL.

Tiny Tim Walks!

Though she had taken a few steps here and there, Friday Nov. 20th was the big day.

The Concentration....she actually is alot more steady when her mind is on something else. Like this Thomas the Train Collector card her big sis would be furious to know she had.

ArrrMom! Quit taking pictures of me!

Thumbs up!

I'm cool, I'm rad, I'm hip, I'm so big!

She's a Grand Ol' Park

These pics are old...from Election Day (notice our patriotic colors) ...but ones that are too cute to not remember forever.

And it was on a day that our country will remember forever so I want pictures to show the girls someday. Plus, as we close in on our move date (although it keeps changing and is now 5 months later than we once thought it would be) I am growing increasingly sentimental about all our favorite places. The Park is certainly one of them. And since this was one of the last perfect fall days, cool but sunny, this day will always be one of my favorites too.

Sneaky lil sis

E: Arrrr!

How come she gets to eat all the good stuff! I want some...NOW.

E: Hmmm....

I've got the perfect plan.

E: Oh look Lillianna....Dora is talking to the Grumpy Old Troll.

E: Ha ha! Success!

Birthday Boy

These pictures are a little belated but still so very cute.

My sweet nephew Bentley turned 2 recently!

We went to celebrate with him and were so glad we did.

We had no idea we were going to be a part of our first Pirate Princess Luau Birthday Party!

It was so special and so much fun!

The Birthday Boy



Ellenie practicing her Hula dance

Bis Sis Ella flashing her biggest Princess smile

Leah pointing out her award winning Cheese

Daisy and her crazy face

Cousins are the best huh Ellenie?

Boo or Moo

Back in August when people started asking Lillianna what she was going to be for Halloween, the first answer she gave was, "A pig."

That simple.

And that was it.

She never waivered, never debated, never regretted.

A pig.

Sounded simple to me to...a pink pair of pants, pink shirt, a tail, a snout, some ears...viola! A pig.
But it ended up a little trickier to make her NOT look like a rabbit, a cat, a pink poodle.

Added the hoof cuffs on the shirt...the little Pig in "slop bucket"

...hmmm still looks a little like the Easter Bunny to me.

The Pig Nose Necklace. That's what she called it and only wore it that way.

So then Ginny gave us a sheep costume which was perfect for Ellenie who couldn't decide what she wanted to be anyway.
So the Parsons Farm theme was on its way.
I dug out my Chicken Hat and told Brad to pull out a plaid shirt as the Farmer. (no pics for here...just use your imagination)
Lillianna wanted Boone, our lab, to be a cow. But I ran out of time to make that one.


L: Ellenie, what are you? Casper the Ghost?
E: Very funny sis. Look who's talking...Crazy Pink Cat girl.


Little Maggie was SO excited to be a Bumble Bee!

Maggie the Bee, Abby the Auburn Cheerleader, and Lillianna the pig/cat/bunny were precious trick or treating and had so much fun!
It was a happy, funny halloween!