Thanksgiving Holiday 2012

I never take enough pictures when we get together, for some reason. But here are some highlights from this year's Thanksgiving:

A little Grammie time for her birthday the week before

Maecie showing off her "singing with a spoon" skills!

My Thankful Fireplace

Keeping kids busy is sometimes a dirty job...

Paint is always a fun activity though!

Pre-holiday baking!

Clayton likes to take pictures of himself with my phone. I don't know where he gets it from....

Look at that hot mama!! Haha!

Sleepy Daddy and Lucie in a post-turkey nap

Huntsman is on the move... this little cutie was pulling up on everything!

Aunt Shea and Maecie making faces at the camera!

Cute siblings snuggled up together in the hotel room

Happy Lucie and Daddy!

When you don't make it to Thanksgiving, others will eat your favorite foods and rub it in your face!! Cause that's love...

"Uh, mom ... I think I need a little help here" says the cutey from the other room

Having a baby shower for Logan and Sarah kisses the baby!

The younger girls decide to watch Peter Pan during the shower.

Two best friends getting closer to 30! AHH!!

All in all, it was a wonderful and mostly relaxing weekend! Looking forward to next year when we head to the mountains!!

Hair and Flowers...

Have you ever seen such hair on a two-year-old?

Hair that can even go up in a bun?!

Or so much hair on a 7 month old??

So much that I have to put it up so that it won't be in her face ... but her brother says it looks like a water fountain!

And how about that brother?? He is such a funny guy!

This is a snap dragon flower, mom! he says...

Because when you smell it, it snaps to your face, like this!  Hilarious!!

Love these cute, smart kiddos of mine!

Family Day at the Park

Went to the park one day as a family ... here are some of our captured moments!

Daddy and Lucie on the slide

Captain Clayton

Maecie go down the slide

Taking a gander at the water nearby

Attempting to get all three in a pic together...

Two hotties! haha!

The quietest and most still these two were all day!

Little Lucie conquering the wall!

It was a great day had by all!!

The Many Looks of Maecie

Maecie has been quite the little fashionista lately ... She will dress herself, then change her clothes at least 3 times a day. Her latest fascination has been with bathing suits and boots. But not necessarily together...

When all else fails, a tutu will suffice!

I got my running shoes on!

I'm a pretty, princess and don't you forget it!

Yep, I won the fight and got to wear my bathing suit to bed...

Wearing another tutu for a birthday party!

"CHAAAEESSE"

So what if it's 85 degrees outside? I got new boots and I'm not afraid to wear them.

Love, Love, Love this girl! 

Now if only we could get out of this defiant two-year-old phase...

To Grandma's House We Go...

We took a much needed family trip to Florence and Columbia, SC Labor Day weekend. Our goal was to visit with family and pick up some furniture. With my grandmother moving to an apartment, she was getting rid of a hutch. And since my house didn't quite have the best place to store Patrick's Grandmother's china, I asked for it!

We trekked to Florence and picked up some furniture and visited with Grandma Da. Clayton drew a picture to give to Da upon our arrival:

{He's such the little artist}

Grandma Da gave some pink pillows to Maecie (who LOVES pink) and she had a lovely time playing with them:

Then we headed to Grammie and Grandpa's house in Columbia. Patrick and I were able to sneak off to see a movie, just the two of us! So hard to go on a date these days... We (Patrick) helped Grandpa around the house the next day and the kids and I helped Grammie rearrange furniture, pull out all of the toys, and "work out" on their exercise equipment!

 The kids love visiting their grandparents and I'm glad they have such awesome ones {all 7 of them!!}

Officially a Kindergartener!

Clayton is officially a Kindergartener! He was up and dressed before I could even turn around. He asked if it was time to go, but I suggested we eat breakfast first! 

I think he asked a couple of more times if it was time to go, but I was able to hold him off with a chore or two. He happily fed the dog when asked. And I overheard him tell Maecie that while he was gone all day, she could take care of the dog!

Finally it was time to go and we had to take pictures...

 I've got my backpack!

I want to go to school too, Mom!

Heading out of the door...

We made it to the school!

Mom did okay too ... a little twinge as I left him there, already working puzzles, with only a "Bye, Mom!" as I walked out of the door. And then the rest of my day was consumed with preparations to teach preschool music and trying to get the girls acclimated to new people. Maecie asked numerous times "where Bubba?" and when we left the preschool it was, "Let's go find Bubba!" I think she and I will have to adapt the most!

When it was time to pick up Clayton, we waited in line for 45 minutes (so hoping that gets better after the first week!), and he joined us in the car! "Hey Mom! School was GREAT!" That was music to my ears!

As dinner was cooking, Clayton and Maecie enjoyed some brother/sister time in the recliner watching cartoons. I hope every day goes as well!

Waterslide-A-Palooza 2012

It all started with a homemade slip-n-slide, made of foam board and plastic with a row of straw bales covered with a tarp to catch you at the bottom. Patrick and a buddy, Shane, had made it for Clayton's 2nd birthday. It was such a hit, that they did it again at Shane's house. They had to purchase the supplies over again and didn't like that idea. So then Patrick, Shane, and two other friends came up with a design to make it able to store and re-use. It has since been used at a friend's house once and our house twice. Waterslide-A-Palooza was born!

It's begins with the stairs that lead to a 12ft tall platform....

Then you proceed down  the slide ...

And you end at the stop sign...

The slide was 112ft long and 4 ft wide. It took approximately 3 days to put together. It was done over the period of 6 days,but there were some days when no building was occurring due to work schedules. We had people ages 1 (in an adult's lap) to much older going down and having a great time!

Clayton had the best time from day one! Maecie was excited for the slide, waking up and asking to put on her "babin' suit". However, the first couple of times going down made her nervous. She would cover her eyes, or only go down with her Daddy. But by the end of the palooza week, she was going down with friends and watching the entire way!

Here is Clayton showing off his moves...

On his knees

And on his stomach

Here is Maecie showing off...

Maecie surfing down the slide

She played so hard, she zonked out in the chair!

When the party starts to die down, you amp it up with BUBBLES!!

But the best memory made, was the "family train".... (Lucie will have to join the fun next year!)

So long Waterslide-A-Palooza 2012 .... see you next year!