Santa!

We made our annual trip to Bass Pro Shop last weekend to see Santa! This was our third year. (A funny side story... Mamaw Katherine rode with us. Just after we left the house, Drew "called Santa" and said.... "Hey Santa, we're on our way. Katherine is with us." Haha!) That place is really more of an attraction than a store. We spent several hours in there and never ran out of things to do! We looked at the big fish, rode the glass elevator, and then it was our turn to go get in line to see the man himself! They have the line area strategically staged with toy trains, a talking reindeer, and other fun things to look at.  While we waited Drew and Anna Kate were really excited. We have talked a lot about Santa this year and they sort of "get it". I was curious to see how our Santa encounter would turn out this year. Two years ago they sat on his lap but screamed and clung to each other. Last year, they didn't even entertain the thought of sitting on his lap.  They marched down the red carpet and straight to Santa. Anna Kate was very friendly with Santa and talked to him right away. Surprisingly, Drew stuck very close to John Clay and wasn't really sure he needed to sit on his lap. They ended up standing in front of him to get their picture. I'll take it! 

 Checking out the train. The boy loves trains!

 Um..... I'm not sure about this.  Anna Kate told Santa she wanted roses for Christmas. I'm not really sure where that came from because that was the first I had heard of that request. Drew told him he wanted a "big ole' truck and trailer". He wasn't going to sit on his lap but had no problem telling him what he wanted!

A celebratory carousel ride.  They thought they really just needed to stay on it and ride it a few times but the long line of waiters had other plans!

  

 We're going to have to do a little more work on the whole Santa thing and how it all works. Drew thought he would be telling Santa what he wanted and Santa would produce it immediately for him. My sweet, oh so stubborn child was NOT going to be leaving Bass Pro without his "big ole' truck" like he requested. We tried getting an Elf on the Shelf and said that was Santa gave him to them today and that he had to go back to the North Pole to make his truck. None of these explanations were good enough and we finally just had to just leave with an angry boy. We did bribe him with popcorn too. That may have helped a little!

The look on their faces is awesome! Even though Anna Kate bravely interacted with Santa, you can see if her face that she just isn't quite sure about this!

Crazy kids

I have seriously been a blogging slacker. I have good excuses. We have been BUSY! But all of the things we have been up to have also been blog worthy. Hopefully, I will get caught up by the end of the year!
This will be a blog of few words and many pictures as I have found some pretty funny ones on my phone.

 Drew and Anna Kate helped me decorate the Christmas tree this year. This picture is blurry but is the best one to fully show the awesomeness of the entire day.  They were both still in their pj pants (this was at 6ish in the evening), crazy, non-matching socks, and Anna Kate has her shirt on backward. Most people have beautiful pictures of their kids in front of the Christmas tree with smocked outfits on and I have this. Haha! But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The end result. Notice the heavy concentration of ornaments in the center at the bottom. This took a lot for me to just let it go and let them do it how they wanted to. I did fix it after they went to bed but they didn't notice.  Hopefully, next year we will be living somewhere that they can have their own tree that they can decorate however they want to!

 Gitty up horsey!

 Drew has major issues with his outfits. He has definite opinions about what he wants to wear and usually we are launched into World War 3 if we don't agree with what he thinks he will be wearing.  He has also had a hard time transitioning from shorts to pants and short sleeves to long sleeves. I imagine we will get this issue straightened out sometime in April when it is time to go back to short sleeves and shorts.

 They have discovered Disney Junior and love it. This is a rare moment though. These kids are busy and usually don't sit still for long!

 A beautiful princess riding her 4-wheeler!

 Helping Aunt Teresa blow out her candles at her surprise 50th birthday party. They really just wanted some cake.

 Having fun with cousin Raylan

 Her mad face. Hahaha!

 Good times with Aunt Ashley.

 Drew may be a future cheerleader too!

 She didn't want me to take her picture but she was pretending this basket was her car this morning. Their imaginations are so fun!

Sweet sleepy babies. I love it when they cuddle up and actually lay nicely together. 

Happy Birthday to Hayes!

Everyone we know has a birthday between the end of October and Christmas (or so it seems!). This is wonderful for Drew and Anna Kate who love a good birthday party and love cake even more. This makes an already busy time of year even busier. But it is so much fun and I look forward to the last few months of year because of all the fun things that are in store for us!
Hayes birthday party was a football theme at a gymnastics center this year. It has been pretty cold so this was a great way to let the kids run around and run off some energy. Drew and Anna Kate really love Hayes and I was able to use going to his birthday party as leverage for good behavior for a solid week! :)

 There was an inflatable slide at the party and it was by far their favorite thing.  I am glad they have moved past their fear of the inflatables since our bounce house sat pretty much unused this summer! Can you tell Anna Kate was excited?!

 In the middle of the action with the big kids.

 Having so much fun!

 All smiles!

 Crashing into each other at the bottom.  They seriously went down the slide no less than 40 times. They loved it! I was tired just from watching them.

 Practicing her balance beam skills.

 Drew's turn on the balance beam. I think we are going to be starting them in gymnastics in January. They are going to try and go to a class with Hayes which will be so much fun for them.

 A good day made even better with cake.

 Drew was "helping" Hayes get up.

 Stalling instead of putting their shoes on to leave. We were, of course, the last people out of there.

Again with the cooperation. It is just too much to handle!

Thanksgiving 2013

We went on our annual Thanksgiving marathon this year and it was just as great as years passed. Thanksgiving is always a long day filled with yummy food, wonderful company, and two tired kiddies by the end of the day (the adults are usually right there with them too). We try our hardest to spend time with and make the most to enjoy each family stop. It just feels like there aren't enough hours in the day.  What a wonderful problem to have, right?!

We started our day with breakfast at Pepaw & Ann's house. We enjoyed our time visiting with everyone, chasing poor Barney around, and trying to catch glimpses of the Macy's Parade.

 Our first picture of the day. That is always a good indicator of the level of cooperation. Didn't look too promising, huh?

 Sweet smiles. Still no cooperation but I love their smiles!

 Over the last couple of years, the Garner side of the family has really expanded. Drew and Anna Kate have lots of new cousins their age to play with too.  And, to sweeten the pot even further, this is the only side of the family that has little girls for Anna Kate to play with!

Up next was Aunt Teresa's house.  We got there after they had eaten but that means Drew and Anna Kate have a captive audience. Sadly, this was our shortest stop of the day but we enjoyed seeing everyone. There was SNOW on the ground (ok... just in the flower beds) at Aunt Teresa's house so on our way tot eh car, we even got to have a snow... ball (there wasn't really enough to make balls)... fight!

 Sis found a few things she needed to nibble on.

Oh, Drew... such a mess!  He had a very cute sweater that he insisted on taking off as soon as we stepped inside. He was also quite upset that we didn't bring his hat with us so he had to wear his Daddy's.

Our last stop was DotDot's house.  We got there at just the right time! They were finishing up with the dishes and all of the kids were headed out to play!

 Drew loves to play with Price and Hayes.

 Hayes, John Caleb, Price, Drew, & Anna Kate. The "Jones" cousins minus Nathan.

 Sweet babies

 Anna Kate and Ashley doing a little coloring.  These two are peas in a pod.

 John Clay and Drew building a tower. Drew loves building with blocks.

Worn out and resting with Grandaddy!

Anna Kate taking a little break. She is such a queen. She put these chairs right in the middle of the boys' basketball game!

Fruits of the Spirit

Drew and Anna Kate are still loving going to their Parent's Day Out program on Wednesdays. The staff there is wonderful and they are teaching them awesome things like this....

Is that precious or what?!?

Back in the swing

We have been a little MIA but I think we are getting back in to the swing of things.  My poor girl was knocked on her rear end by a little virus last week.  She was sick for almost a week and it was oh so pitiful! Luckily, her brother didn't get it and she is back to her old self now! Knock on wood, my kids don't get sick very often but when they don't feel good it is so very sad!

 My sick girl sleeping on my lap. In the middle of the day! That is how I knew she was sick for sure! I can only think of one other time in her life that she has fallen asleep in the middle of the day when it has not been nap time.

 The night before she got sick she went with me to a Mary Kay party at Tami's house. She was so excited about going! Here she is with her makeup on. Isn't she beautiful! If you look closely, you can see a streak of blush across her forehead. She is creative too!

And I can't leave my handsome man out.  He is such a funny little character! He is quite insistent that he must always wear his socks, shoes, and hat. This day he was dressed up to play his "football game". That consists of getting down in the stance that linemen do, running toward the ball when we throw it to him, and then falling down. He needs a little work on his coordination.  I think the socks on his hands were his gloves...?

Happy Halloween!

This Halloween was a little different because Drew and Anna Kate definitely "got it" more this year than in years past.  In understanding more what it was about, they also had their own opinions on what they were going to dress up as.  I don't know if I have fully explained their desire to be able to pick out what they are going to wear on here but it is a never ending battle that wears.me.out! I talk to other people about this hoping it is a stage that will pass but so far, I have figured out that this really isn't a typical 3 year old thing.  I guess I am just lucky enough that this is a Drew and Anna Kate thing.  It is a challenge (to say the least) to get them in clothes that match. We won't even get started on seasonally appropriate clothes or shoes and socks that also match.  The last few weeks have been particularly hard because the weather is warm one day and cool the next so I have not been able to rid their closets completely of summer clothes.  Drew especially is having trouble transitioning from shorts and short sleeves to pants and long sleeves. And coats seem to be out of the question lately.  He will only wear his tennis shoes and prefers his navy blue knee socks no matter what else he has on.  Anna Kate was insisting on only sandals until I finally put them all in the storage bin for the attic last week. I say all of this to preface the challenge I had before me when it came to picking a costume.
Anna Kate and I went shopping one weekend several weeks ago and happened upon a butterfly costume with wings, a wand, and a tutu. Pair that with some pink and glitter and the girl was sold. She was done with her costume quest over a month ago. Drew got a very nice football uniform for Christmas from Aunt Teresa last year complete with a helmet, shoulder pads, and it even had his name on the jersey. I thought we were set.  About a week before Halloween, he started to take notice when we talked about what he would be dressing up as.  And any time anyone asked him what he was going to be, he would answer with anything other than a football player. I would correct him at first without much thought but then noticed that he just was not convinced that is what he should be. I did not want to force a costume upon him so I made the mistake of opening up the lines of communication for him to decide what he wanted to be.  I got a wide array of answers.... a scary bear, an airplane, Buzz Lightyear, an alligator, a dragon, a rocket ship, etc.... Like seriously, you could ask him once and then again 5 minutes later and get a different answer. For a few days, it was a joke.  A couple of days before Halloween I decided I needed to get serious about what he was going to be.  Buzz Lightyear seemed to be his favorite so on Monday after work, I set out to find a Buzz costume. None under $40 to be found. On Tuesday morning, I found an alligator costume and thought I was in the clear. When I showed it to him and asked him about it, he informed me he did not want to be an alligator, he wanted to be Spiderman.  After talking with him about it, I decided he was pretty serious about Spiderman so Tuesday was a mission to find him a costume. I found not only one but two and thought I was set to go.  In the middle of all of this back and forth, Aunt Ashley's friend Meredith was nice enough to let us borrow a Mickey and Woody costume as a second costume for school on Wednesday. I had decided I was going to send Anna in her Minnie dress as to not damage her butterfly wings before the main event.  Tuesday night I came in with my hard fought finds of Spiderman costumes and he wanted to put it on right away. And then he took it off right away. He wasn't impressed and I wanted to scream!  In desperation of needing to find my sweet, indecisive child a costume, I pulled out Mickey and even though he had already seen it once, he thought that was a great choice.  We won't talk about the fact that he cried Wednesday while we were getting him dressed for school because he wanted to be an alligator or "Lighting da Queen" instead of Mickey. He ended up going to school as Mickey and his sister was Minnie and they were the cutest pair there if I do say so myself!

Thursday morning, it was still to be determined what he was going to dress up as. We had a Mickey, Spiderman, and Woody option.  He decided on Mickey again and Anna Kate was a beautiful butterfly.  We took them trick-or-treating in the neighborhood John Clay mows in Lenoir City. After we were done there, we went to DotDot and Grandaddy's house to trick-or-treat and eat dinner.  It was a fun night and they really enjoyed the trick-or-treating part. Anna Kate kept telling me she wanted to go to "more places".  They had a great night and I am sure next year will be even more fun and will hopefully have less costume drama!

 They weren't feel cooperative for pictures before we left Thursday night.

First trick or treating experience!  Anna Kate was really into it and quite cordial with people. She was also very polite and would always say thank you. Drew was more shy about the whole thing.

This house really gave out some good stuff!

 And they let us come right in!

 Someone was excited!

 Raiding the candy bowl. Notice the pile in his left hand? He was hoarding it up!

 She dumped her treat bag out right away.

 Checking out his goods.

A better view of her costume.