Catching Up

AH!  I am so behind...said every mom a million times during the Christmas season!  I am no different.  But I am doing my best to catch you all up on the last month or so.  We left off with our super fun trip to the Mountains.  Let's see basketball season started and once again Brian is assistant coach.  Jake is doing great and has definitely improved over the last year.  Not sure he has ever taken a shot but he is always looking to pass to his friends.  And he always has his arms up on defense...never fails.  He is number 25 this year and on his best friends JP's team.  Going to be a great season!

Our neighbors had family in town and we all went to the aquarium...3 adults, 8 kids, on Thanksgiving break.  Maybe we should thought those numbers through a tad more, but we managed to have a great time.  (Not to mention we came home with all 8 kids!)  Thought this was a cute picture of some of them.

That brings us to Thanksgiving.  We went to Sandersville to see Nana!  The kids were so excited.  Daddy and Nana, however, not feeling so well.  Sadly, we had to leave a day early but we managed to get in lots of fun before we left!

Papa Veal's walker might have given Grace the most entertainment!  She wheeled around the house on it and just had a ball!

Nana snuggles!

And Julianna gave a Frozen concert.  Singing along at the top of her lungs.  Yes, both she and Grace know every word of every song!  And we even managed a cute kid picture!

Hated to leave but we will see them again after Christmas!  Next?  We came home to rest, shop and Sunday we had our first-definitely making it-annual Thanksgiving neighborhood kickball game.  Oh so much fun!

There was laughter, homeruns, outs, and tears, oh and Grace stuck her hand in dog poop.  But we are already looking forward to a rematch next year!  We split the adults up into two teams but I see parents vs. kids in our future, not sure how much longer we will be able to win (that's assuming we could beat them now!).  Love our neighborhood!

Oh next is our visit with Santa.  First of all let me say NO TEARS!  Yes!  Santa is a big deal, kids love him and they were ready with their lists and to discuss it with the big guy!  Take a look at their lists but pay special attention to Grace's list.

Yes, top of her list is food.  Just food.  She is consistent and it's all she says she wants.  What can I say?  The girl does love to eat!  But it definitely threw Santa for a loop.  But they all hopped up on his lap and smiled for the camera.

And the Christmas Season begins!

Mountain Trip

Oh my gosh time just flies by.  We have been so busy and I am trying to catch up.  A couple weeks ago we went to Gatlinburg for a weekend with the Decker's.  The drive up was a little rough for everyone but once we got there it was fun times!  We rented a beautiful cabin, complete with hot tub, pool table, air hockey, and best of all queen bunk beds!  Grace got a room to herself but the other 4 had such fun sleeping in the same room!

Saturday everyone was up early and had a wonderful breakfast.  The boys (plus Grace) went off to explore Gatlinburg.  They rode go-karts and ate all kinds of fun stuff.  The men came back with tons of moonshine...they were super excited.

The girls heads to the Christmas store, after getting hot chocolate and cookies of course!  We had such fun picking out ornaments and decorations.  So nice to spend some time with my sweet Julianna!  And it got us in the Christmas spirit!

Then we went back to the cabin for dinner and the kids played games and jumped in the hot tub.  I can't help but add this picture of Grace.  Meegan and I were reading magazines and she just picked one up and started flipping through.  She is so fun!

We had a great weekend.  I can't say enough how fortunate we are to have the Decker's down the street.  Our neighborhood is just the best.  We have made such wonderful friends here.  I know this was just the first of many trips together!

Julianna's Dates

On Monday Julianna didn't have school.  I have been looking forward to this day since she never really gets me to herself.  She just loves art.  Coloring, painting, drawing, you name it she loves it.  So I thought going to a studio and painting would be perfect.

Can't you just see how excited and happy she is to get to paint a canvas!  She picked a butterfly.  They traced it on her canvas and off she went.  

She loved every minute.  And of course picked out her picture she was going to paint next time.  I think she did a great job.  She's only 4 and painted this for the most part all by herself!  

Then on Saturday it was her turn to go with Daddy to the Auburn game!  Excited would be an understatement.  She would wake up in the morning and ask if today was the day she was going to Auburn.  Finally very early Saturday morning she woke me up (she had no clothes on) saying "Mommy get up I don't know what to wear! Come on you need to help me get ready!"  So we found her cheerleader outfit and since it was cold found pants and shirt to go under.  And she was ready! 

Off they went to cheer on the Tigers.  I know they had a great time even if the Tigers didn't win.  I hope she continues to be excited to go to Auburn.  Maybe in 14 years we will be dropping her off there!  War Eagle!

Halloween

Halloween was a whirlwind!  The weekend before the kids closed out their fall sports season.  They both enjoyed learning their new sport.  Julianna loved playing soccer with her friends Lily and Hadley.  Jake played flag football and decided he liked defense better than offense.  It was a great season and we are looking forward to the spring!

After the final games we took the kids to Boo at the Zoo.  Super cute!  I had never done that before.  They had all kinds of fun activities and they collected candy along the way.  And its another opportunity to wear their costumes!

The next day we had Lily's (Julianna's BFF) Mermaid birthday party.  This party was complete with mermaids in the backyard pool!  The kids were sooo excited!  Then they sprinkled "magic dust" and turned into humans.  They played with the kids and did tattoos and face painting.  Lots of fun!

Finally it was Halloween week and Grandma came to visit!  Just in time for Trunk or Treat.  This year the trunks were amazing!  We saw a Frozen trunk, Duck Dynasty, Christmas, Princesses, a Fire Truck.  There was even one spot you could launch a pumpkin and knock your teachers picture over.  So much fun...and so much candy!

Finally Halloween came.  It was a full day of parties and candy.  Thankfully since Grandma was here I could go to Jake's Halloween centers.  I didn't tell him I was coming, he was so surprised and happy to see me!

After Jake's school I hurried to catch the end of Julianna's party.  She was playing some hot potato and having a great time.  They awarded her the Best Frozen Princess award.  Then we were off to make it to Grace's school Trunk or Treat.

We made it and dressed Grace up.  She was Anna to Julianna's Elsa (of course!).  Her BFF Cadence is in her class.  They are two peas in a pod!

After yet another trunk or treat we went home to rest up for the main event.  Like we don't have enough candy yet!  I joined the social committee and we were busily setting up for our Halloween party.  Brian and Grandma got everyone ready and brought them over.  We had a great time eating pizza and playing games.  Finally it was time to trick or treat!

I forgot to mention our pumpkins!  Brian painstakingly carved 3 pumpkins, as he does every year.  Its not my thing...that goodness its his!  The kids get to pick out their own design and every year Daddy delivers!  This year was no exception!

So off the kids went trick or treating.  We bought a golf cart with our neighbors...and I gotta say it's the way to trick or treat!  So nice to just ride along while the kids run from house to house.  Especially when it started raining.  But that didn't stop them!  It was a great night, they loaded up on candy and had such fun with their friends!

Julianna's 1st Karate Graduation

I am a little late in posting this but we've been busy!  If I hadn't mentioned it, Julianna decided she wanted to do karate with Jake.  She is so enthusiastic (most of the time) and works really hard.  A couple weeks ago she attended her first graduation.  Which means she advances her belt and gets to break a board.

Unfortunately I had to miss this milestone but I left her (and my camera) with Brian with instructions to video her breaking her very first board.  So here is our Julianna...

She also closed the ceremony.  Which means she stood up in front of everyone and recited the pledge.  She is an amazing little girl!