Holiday hangover

We've had a bit of a holiday hangover the past couple of days. I guess hangover may not be a good word to use because it sounds negative. It hasn't been negative, it has been wonderful. Drew and Anna Kate's school has been out since the middle of December, I haven't worked a full week since a couple of weeks before Christmas, and John Clay hasn't been working so he has been spending lots of time at home too.  We don't know what day of the week it is, we haven't really gone anywhere, we've just been hanging out at home. It will be a shock when we have to get back to life so for now, we are just enjoying it.

 Drew has been loving his new helmet he got for Christmas. He got quite upset the other day when we made him take it off so he could eat.

 Multitasking at it's finest. Building blocks and reading books with Daddy.

 Little squirrel watching Barney. I think it is hilarious when she sits like that.

"Hiding" from Drew.

 

 Drew has become a late sleeper.

His sister has gone in the opposite direction. She has been getting up way early. The other morning she just couldn't wait to go wake Drew up.

 

Our Christmas break has been lots of fun. I hate to see it go!

Christmas! (Number 4!!)

Our final Christmas stop was DotDot and Grandaddy's house on Christmas day.  Drew and Anna Kate gave John Clay and I a Christmas gift and slept until 9:45!! After they got up we headed out to celebrate with DotDot, Grandaddy, and Aunt Ashley.  We had breakfast when we got there and then hit the presents. There weren't as many people and not as much chaos as with our other gatherings so they actually took some time to check out their gifts and play with them.  It was cold and rainy so we hung out inside all day, played with our new toys, took naps, and ate. It was nice to slow down a little bit.  It is crazy how each Christmas has been so different since Anna Kate & Drew's first one. They "got it" a little more this year and it was fun to have them help open the gifts. Next year is going to be even better since I am sure they are going to be excited about Santa!

 Posing in front of their new easel. A rare opportunity to get them sitting. together. smiling. Granted they aren't looking at me but I'll take it!

 Excited about his new tractor!

 Waiting patiently for Daddy to get it open.

 He loves anything he can pull so this train was right up his alley!

 Wearing her new sparkly dress with her new rain boots while pushing her baby in her new stroller.

 Coloring on DotDot's door in his new snow boots. These have quickly become his favorite and he will usually pick them out to wear instead of tennis shoes.

Coloring with Grandaddy.



Christmas! (Number 1, 2, & 3!!)

Christmas, like all other holidays was lots and lots of fun but pretty exhausting!  It didn't help matters any that I had two sick kiddos on my hands.  Drew started out with a fever the Wednesday before Christmas. By Wednesday evening, he had been running a fever of 102 for the majority of the day and had developed a pretty croupy cough. We headed to the after hours clinic after they ate dinner. Since there has been so much junk going around, I went in and waited while Drew and Anna Kate watched Barney in the car with John Clay.  The doctor said his ears and lungs were both clear and diagnosed him with a virus and pretty much said, it has to run it's course. Although that felt like a bit of a wasted trip, I'm glad we went because it gave me a little piece of mind when he woke up with a 103.2 fever and labored, wheezy breathing Thursday night.  He ran a fever for about three days but progressively got better. She gave us a prescription for antibiotics just in case which we ended up having filled and giving to him on Sunday. It was his first time on antibiotics and there weren't any allergic reactions, etc.... I kept checking Anna Kate's temperature and she was fine. On Saturday, we went to Mimi Jo's house for our first Christmas celebration. Anna Kate was a little congested but fine when we left the house but just when I thought we were out of the woods, sister spiked a 101.5 fever when we got home. She continued with a fever for a few days just like Drew although her's was never quite as high. On Monday morning as we were getting ready for our Christmas Eve celebrations with the Garlands and Garners, we decided she was probably going to need an antibiotic too. I called and they were just getting ready to close for Christmas holiday and wouldn't be back until Wednesday. They agreed to see her if we brought her right away. John Clay ran her to the doctor while I stayed home with Drew.  Two hours later, they returned with a negative flu test and a prescription for an antibiotic.  Unfortunately, we had a long day ahead with no scheduled nap and a tired little girl. Drew was feeling much better and ready to go!
Our first Christmas Eve stop was Mamaw and Papaw's house. They ate lunch well and we began opening presents. After her first two gifts, she was tired and told me she wanted to go home. She continued to tell me she needed to go "bye-bye" about 35 thousand more time. We finished gifts and visited for a bit longer then headed out. Our plan was to try and get them to nap in the car between the Garland's and the Garner's. She went to sleep about 5 minutes after we got in the car. Drew fell asleep a few minutes after she did. I was excited and thought it was going to work out well. We needed to go by Walmart and get her prescription since they were closing early and wouldn't re-open until after Christmas (for the record, she also did really well with her first experience with antibiotics!). Apparently when I got out of the car, she woke up and there didn't seem to be any chance of her going back to sleep. We headed toward Pepaw & Ann's house and I got Anna Kate out and took her in when we got there. Drew was still asleep so John Clay sat in the car with him for about 30 more minutes. Despite being sick and tired, she was pretty good. They were both a little clingy but we made it through the evening. Just as we were leaving and most of the crowd had cleared out, they came to life. I guess they caught their second wind. They got lots of great things and enjoyed spending time with their Daddy's side of the family, yucky virus and all!
With two sickly kiddies, I got ZERO pictures from our Christmas celebration with the Jones family. :(

 Present time!

 Drew got lots of bulldozers and diggers and trucks with trailers. He was/still is in heaven!

 Pushing one of her new babies in her new shopping cart. She got lots of babies.

Their new bicycles! They don't really get pedaling yet but will get there! (Look at my poor sweet girl's sick sleepy eyes!).

Drew got a full football uniform from Aunt Teresa. It even says his name on the back. It is quite adorable and he loves the helmet!

These pictures were all I managed to get from Mamaw & Papaw's in between Anna Kate telling me she wanted to go home (and the last one was actually taken by Tami!).

And this was all I managed to get from Pepaw and Ann's house. Two very sleepy babies (with their silly ole paci's... I finally gave in and gave them to them to stop the whining & clinging!) playing blocks with Uncle Aaron. Next year, I will do better with Christmas pictures!

 



Little cuties!

Prepare yourself.... lots of cuteness is coming up.
We've been busy enjoying the Christmas season. We have been finishing up last minute shopping, spending lots of time together enjoying a little slow down in the schedule, and doing lots of driving around looking at Christmas lights.  One poor family in particular with a Micky Mouse inflatable dressed as Santa is probably very concerned I am plotting some sort of home invasion the way we have been stalking their lawn decorations. John Clay asked me last night what we were going to do when Christmas was over and everyone took their lights down. I'm not real sure but Drew and Anna Kate are sure going to be disappointed and our car rides are going to be quite boring.

 We have had several small things that need repairing around our house so Wednesday afternoon Hubert and John Clay set out to fix them. One issue was a leak in our master bathroom sink. Of course, Drew needed to help. He was so funny. He held the flashlight (until he got distracted) and speculated on what he thought was going on.  He kept saying, "it's bent" and would stick his little hand under there to see if it was leaking. It was pretty precious!

 On Saturday, Aunt Ashley decided Anna Kate needed her toes painted. She was so proud of her "beautiful" toes (she also called them her new toes)! She wanted everyone to know about them. We talked to Mamaw Katherine on the phone Saturday night and she tore off her socks and put her feet on the phone to show her her beautiful toes. And my poor, sweet boy, he wanted beautiful toes too. His daddy drew the line and wouldn't let him have them. Poor baby! And by the way, she is still surprised every time we take her socks off and her toes are still beautiful.

Helping DotDot decorate Santa cookies. Or maybe just eating icing. Either way, it was fun.

 Drew needed to get in on the chocolate fun too!

John Clay got his Christmas present early from my Dad. A new shop vac! (You know you are getting old when you ask for cleaning supplies for Christmas. I asked for a vacuum last year.)

 

And now, the best for last.....

We had a dance party the other night before bed. These kids have some skills!

 



Christmas Program

Drew and Anna Kate had a Christmas concert with their school.  Since they only go one day a week I wondered if they would really participate. Anna Kate especially has been singing the Christmas songs that they have been learning at school. I was a little nervous about whether or not they would behave. They did great! Drew wasn't really feeling the joy and music but he sat there very nicely and didn't move. He didn't sing and a few times he had a bit of a scowl on his face but he did good.  Anna Kate sang along, did some of the hand motions, and sat there very nicely also. I was pretty proud!

Our seats were in the back so I had to zoom way in to get a picture. They put the 2 year old class in the back row. I am sure for good reason! :)

 

The best family picture we were able to snag. They, of course, were feeling uncooperative about having their picture made. What else is new?!?

 

I have some really cute videos of their "performances" but can't get them to upload. You'll just have to take my word for it, I guess!

 

 

Parties & Parades

We had another busy weekend doing all sorts of fun things like going to a Christmas party, a birthday party, and going to two parades in less than 24 hours! These plans were made even better by some amazing weather. It was near 70 all weekend! We were worn out by Sunday but it was great fun!

Friday evening was my company's Christmas party. My boss had the great idea to have the party and invite the families so we could watch the parade from our office since it is on the parade route.  Drew and Anna Kate were a little slow to warm up because there were so many people around. We quickly ate dinner then went outside to watch the parade. It was a long parade but had lots of fun floats, bands, firetrucks, etc... Drew enjoyed all the big trucks and tractors. Anna Kate had fun dancing everytime a band or a float with music came by. After the parade we came back into the office to let the crowd clear out and then planned on heading home since it was getting kind of late. Anna Kate and Drew decided they would play with the other kids that were there afterall and spent the next hour and a half running up and down the steps at our office, swinging from the stair handrail, chasing and being chased. They had a great time! We had to drag them out of there. 



 

Sitting at my desk "working". There were quite a few people there and it was very hectic so I did not get many pictures.

Anna Kate leaving me some notes. I have found all kinds of little scribbles on many different things on my desk and in my drawers.

 

Saturday morning was Hayes' birthday party. The plan was for everyone to meet in Midland to watch the Christmas parade then go to Mr. Gatti's afterward.  To be honest, the Alcoa parade was put to shame by all of the grandeour of the Knoxville parade Friday night and they were a little underwhelmed. They did get to see some more firetrucks, horses, a tractor, and the saving grace.... people on the floats threw candy. They gathered up a huge bucket each of candy.

Drew sitting on John Clay's lap watching the parade get started.

Grandaddy walked over from his office and watched the parade with us!

Anna Kate decided she needed to take a seat to enjoy her DumDum!

Pete & Repeat!

We hung out at Grandaddy's office for a bit while we waited for traffic to clear out. Drew and Anna Kate did some more "work".

Enjoying one of Mimi Jo's cupcakes at Mr. Gatti's after the parade.

Anna Kate had to have a cupcake too. They aren't always the best eaters but you can guarantee they will have birthday cake/cupcakes!

 

Sunday we did our traditional day at DotDot and Grandaddy's house with Aunt Ashley. Anna Kate was running a little fever and just wasn't herself but despite that, it was still a good day!

Drew relaxing in our bed Sunday morning before we left.

This picture cracks me up! We always tell her to pick up her feet. She sure did!

Ride a horsey, ride a horsey! They love these! The one that Anna Kate is on was mine and Ashley's when we were little.

We went for a golf cart ride after they got up from their nap and ran into Dennis as he was going to feed the cows. So we followed him so we could watch. Drew let Dennis take him up to one of the cows to pet it. Anna Kate claimed she and Mommy pet a cow when we went home to tell DotDot and Aunt Ashley about our little adventure. For the record, she liked looking at the cows but was not interested in getting close enough to pet them!

 

And two funny Anna Kate stories... Because that is the purpose of this blog, right?!

 

She has always gotten into the wipes and will carry them around and is known to put them in her mouth, for reasons unknown to us. She has been especially obsessed with them lately. She wants wipes so she can wipe her babies and stuffed animals, so she can blow her nose, so she can clean, etc... Well, Sunday I was putting some things up in their room and she came wandering in her room with, of course, a wipe in her hand and said so nonchaluntly, and not really to anyone in particular, "This wipe is very, very special". What?? I'm not really even sure where she got that saying from. I can't recall anything that we have told her is very special.

 

Monday evening John Clay picked them up from DotDot's and had even given them a bath by the time I got home from work. He said while they were in the bathtub, Drew had a blue marker that Anna Kate really wanted to have.  She told him, "Drew, share with Sissy. If you don't I may crrryyyyy!".  Hahaha! Looks like we have a little comedian on our hands!



Santa!

"Santa! I (DON'T) know him!"  That is a quote out of one of my favorite Christmas movies, Elf. I love that movie. And I can't wait until Drew and Anna Kate are old enough to watch it with me. But, I digress.... back to our big adventure this weekend.
We went to see Santa on Sunday as the Bass Pro Shop.  Megan works as one of his elves so after naps we went to see her at work and to sit on Santa's lap. Drew was just excited to see Megan. He could have cared less about our other plans.  There wasn't much of a line so we got in and out pretty quickly. In the few minutes that we waited, we talked about Santa and told Drew and Anna Kate that they were supposed to tell him what they want for Christmas (they are still too young to grasp all of this), and we watched the other kids sit on his lap. Anna Kate was excited and I had to convince her she needed to wait her turn. Drew was still just excited that Megan was there.  When it was our turn Anna Kate marched about half way down the little isle and then decided she wanted me to carry her. That was when our excitement for Santa ended. She wanted nothing to do with him. She wouldn't look at him, talk to him, nothing. And she had the death grip on me. At one point, she even had her leg thrown up on my shoulder. There was no way she was going to sit on his lap. Drew talked to him and told him he wanted a truck and a digger for Christmas. But he had the death grip on John Clay and was not going to entertain sitting on his lap either. We finally convinced them that we could squat down in front of him and have a family picture.  I don't think it is one I'll frame and hang on the wall. It is a terrible picture of me, it is great of Anna Kate (she's looking AND smiling at the camera!). Drew is completely expressionless, and it is a good picture of John Clay besides the fact he looks like he is hung up by his shirt collar because of Drew's tight hold on his shirt. We got out of there without any tears, no decent pictures with Santa, and a couple of candy canes. After Santa, we rode the carousel which they really enjoyed, we went and looked at the big fish, and rode the glass elevator up and down about 10 times with Mamaw while Papaw shopped. We had fun and again, it was great in their book because Megan was there.
After Bass Pro we went to Cracker Barrel for dinner. It was a bit of a disaster because our 20 minute wait to be seated turned into an hour but I will choose not to relive it. Drew and Anna Kate enjoyed destroying all of the displays playing with all of the toys.  When we finally got out of there, we crossed the parking lot and went to the light show in the Smokies parking lot. I was sure they were going to love all of the lights. And they did talk about how pretty there were but they were mostly interested in what buttons they could push since they were out of their car seats. I guess they are still a little too young to truly appreciate the lights coordinated with the music. I was impressed and enjoyed it so it definitely wasn't a wasted trip!
That was our Sunday. The rest of our weekend was pretty low key. We spent Saturday evening at DotDot and Grandaddy's while John Clay's band played. Aunt Ashley, Nanny Norma, and Uncle Papaw came over for dinner and that is always a good time. The weather has been amazing (it feels more like Spring than Winter) so we have been taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time outside. Drew and Anna Kate are loving all of the Christmas decorations and I am loving how excited they are about everything. It is contagious!

 Drew took Anna Kate for a wagon ride on Saturday. Such a good brother!

Anna Kate decided she needed to get her tutu out and wear it on Saturday. She wore it all day. She even wore it to help Grandaddy vacuum up the leaves. Because fashion should always come first!

 She just spotted Santa!

 Drew and Megan discussing Santa.

 Riding the carousel. Pictures do not to translate Drew's excitement well. He always looks so unamused!

 Little ham even waved at Mamaw while she took pictures. I can't even get her to look at me when I have the camera out!

Checking out the "big ole' fish". Anna Kate said she wanted to swim with them. Shew!

Busy weekend and Fantasy of Trees

Our Thanksgiving weekend ended up being packed with all kinds of fun things! It was quite unintentional but we filled up every bit of our 4 day weekend. On Friday, Drew, Anna Kate, and I picked up DotDot after breakfast and went to the Carter's sale in Turkey Creek.  The traffic was way down and we got in and out pretty quickly.  They made out like bandits and got lots of new, cute things. We hit Chick-fil-A for lunch and went to Aunt Ashley's house to visit after we finished shopping. We laugh because AK & D think Aunt Ashley lives at DotDot and Grandaddy's house (or the Convention Center... they said that was her house after we went to see her there for Tinsel & Treasure).  So, they got to see her real house. They also moved all of her stuff around and probably got ketchup all over everything. But they had fun doing it.  Friday was Uncle Aaron's birthday so after we went home and had naps, we went to Mamaw & Papaw's house for birthday dinner.  Megan was there also and you know how much they love Megan. 
We went to the UT football game on Saturday so Drew and Anna Kate stayed with DotDot and Grandaddy.  From what I hear, they napped most of the time.  They had been quite busy. Aunt Teresa mentioned that Drew and Anna Kate might enjoy the Fantasy of Trees since they have been enjoying seeing all of the "Chrisom" lights so we decided at last minute to go there after Mamaw Katherine and I got done at a baby shower on Saturday afternoon.  It was kind of late when we got over there but they had a great time.  The crowd wasn't bad and they really enjoyed looking at all of the pretty trees.  They also really liked riding the carousel.  On Sunday we had lunch at Mamaw & Papaw's house and ended our super busy weekend with Ty's birthday party. Anna Kate and Drew really seemed to enjoy themselves during all of our fun activities this weekend but it may take them a week to catch up on their rest!

 Of course, they really wanted to touch everything. Their Daddy and I held our breath the entire time hoping they didn't knock a tree over!

 So excited! She had to get her hair out of her eyes so she could take it all in.

 Checking out the baby dolls.  It blinked it's eyes, drank a bottle, and cried.  Drew's sweet little self started patting her when she started crying.  Anna Kate wasn't real sure what to think about her.

 Petting the "moo-cows".

 Little stinkers are intentionally uncooperative for me!  They would pose and smile so nicely for Aunt Teresa.  There were some ladies that even stopped and laughed at how rotten they were being.

 Anna Kate wasn't so sure about the carousel the first time but absolutely loved it the second time. She didn't want to get off and had a toddler melt down when I made her.

 He really loved it to. I'm not sure what the serious look was about. He kept looking up to study how the gears were working to make the horses go up and down.

 In reference to the aforementioned toddler fit, we got cookies as a consolation prize.  She stopped and posed very sweetly with her cookie in front of this pretty pink tree when her Aunt Teresa requested to get her picture. I got my camera out and got this. And then she took off.

Enjoying his cookie too!

On the way to the car. Drew was completely wound up so I'm not real sure why he laid over like he was sleepy when I said they were snug as bugs. Silly goose! He chattered the entire way home and every time we drove up on lights of any sort (Christmas lights, street lights, lights on a restaurant), he would scream, "I SEE CHRISOM LIGHTS!".