Tonight is Christmas Eve. I've been looking forward to this Christmas, because I think the kids will really enjoy unwrapping their gifts. I thought this was the year I'd be able to pull the old "Santa isn't coming if you are naughty, only if you are nice." But, nope! Nobody seems to care about that. Tripp, well he's too young, not even 2. Sophie, on the other hand, is nearly 3 1/2. Shouldn't she get it? That child. Phew. She is becoming such a handful lately. Sassy, talking back, telling me no. I have been telling her she should be nice and not naughty or else and she just says "no!" I'm tempted to tell Santa not to come tonight.
Of course that won't happen. I'm too nice of a mommy. But I think I need some tips in getting my kids to calm down a bit. Tripp has also started the "no!" bit while shaking his head somewhat violently. He has also started to throw food and hit drinks off the table when he's mad. Today we went to a restaurant with some friends. Sophie ran around like a wild woman asking for candy (there is an arcade with candy machines in the back of this restaurant) and Tripp screamed and cried when we put him in his highchair. Still hates being strapped into anything. While we were eating he just decided to smack his chocolate milk right off the table. So frustrating! We had to move tables because it made such a mess. It's embarrassing when the kids act like this. I've gotta think of something and something fast. They went from being sweet angels just a few months ago to holy terrors in restaurants. If anybody has suggestions I will totally welcome them!
Enough about the ranting, let me tell you about Christmas Eve! I'm taking Sophie to see Princess and the Frog when she wakes up from her nap. We tried to go earlier, but we were late (lunch took longer than expected) and Sophie was falling asleep. Have you ever tried to explain to a 3 year old why you aren't going to the movies but that you are going 2 hours later after nap time? Doesn't work so well!! Anyway, she was so tired she fell asleep in the car. She had a late night last night. She was out shopping with daddy for mommy's gift last night (yes, the night before Christmas Eve). Daddy is out with Tripp finishing that shopping now. Nothing like waiting until the last minute!! Anyhoo, Sophie and I are going to the movies. When we get home we'll eat a lowkey dinner, probably sandwiches and the rest of the hashbrown casserole we have and then we'll try to put the kiddos down a tad bit early.
I have a lot of wrapping to do tonight. I haven't wrapped one single gift. John and I have a tradition on Christmas Eve. We pop open a bottle of wine, light the fire, sit by the Christmas tree and wrap gifts, and watch "It's A Wonderful Life." I'm looking forward to that tradition tonight!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sophie's Sweet Face
Sophie hamming it up at Cooper's Farm. She rarely lets me take pictures of her so this was fun! She's just a sweet soul with a beautiful spirit. I love my little girl!
Cheesy pose but I love it!
I just find this one to be so sweet an innocent.
Me and Soph!
Cheesy pose but I love it!
I just find this one to be so sweet an innocent.
Me and Soph!
More from Cooper's Farm
Tripp wouldn't really let me take a good picture of him, but Sophie would. She was hamming it up and I loved every minute of it! Incidentally, our Christmas card picture is from Cooper's Farm. Last year and the year before were from Berry Patch.
Christmas card picture ... aren't the two babies so cute? I tried to get one of them sitting looking pretty and smiling at the camera. Who am I kidding? That never happens. lol This is true to them so I think it made the perfect Christmas card picture.
Here are the cut your own trees.
Tripp's chasing daddy again!
Did I mention there was a Dora Santa? Sophie probably thought this was a bonus and in her book Cooper's probably went up a notch, quite possibly market higher than Berry Patch solely because of Dora. Why don't you give her a little hug, Soph?
This picture just cracks me up. Tripp is licking his lips and trying to decide if he should eat the berry. No Tripp! Stop eating everything you see ... including dog food! lol
Did I also forget to mention there was a small petting farm? Well, that's what they call it. It was more like a pen full of bunnies, a cow that you couldn't touch (but it was cute), and some chickens in a cage. The kids loved the bunnies. Tripp just about dove in.
Where is Sophie? Oh there she is ... in the middle of lots of pretty Christmas trees!
Two cutest kids ever.
Christmas card picture ... aren't the two babies so cute? I tried to get one of them sitting looking pretty and smiling at the camera. Who am I kidding? That never happens. lol This is true to them so I think it made the perfect Christmas card picture.
Here are the cut your own trees.
Tripp's chasing daddy again!
Did I mention there was a Dora Santa? Sophie probably thought this was a bonus and in her book Cooper's probably went up a notch, quite possibly market higher than Berry Patch solely because of Dora. Why don't you give her a little hug, Soph?
This picture just cracks me up. Tripp is licking his lips and trying to decide if he should eat the berry. No Tripp! Stop eating everything you see ... including dog food! lol
Did I also forget to mention there was a small petting farm? Well, that's what they call it. It was more like a pen full of bunnies, a cow that you couldn't touch (but it was cute), and some chickens in a cage. The kids loved the bunnies. Tripp just about dove in.
Where is Sophie? Oh there she is ... in the middle of lots of pretty Christmas trees!
Two cutest kids ever.
Christmas Tree Pickin'
This is a serious topic for me. Growing up we always had a fake, um I mean artificial, Christmas tree. Nothing wrong with that and I didn't know any better, but since moving out on my own I have had a real Christmas tree every year. Just the smell alone is worth paying for a tree every year.
My Christmas trees in Florida were purchased at Home Depot. Even my first few trees in Atlanta were too, but for the last five years we have been buying our trees at Berry Patch Farm. I absolutely adore that place. It's a family run farm in Woodstock. They have trees you can actually cut down yourself. How cool is that? We like the Fraser Firs best and those aren't grown there so we don't get to cut it ourselves. However, they do have them all set up looking pretty out in the farm. You take a little hay ride out to where the trees are and walk through them until you find the perfect tree. I always go for the sad looking Charlie Brown tree because I feel sorry for it thinking that nobody will buy it. Yes, it's just a tree and yes, I'm weird like that. John generally wins out and we buy a nicer tree, but it usually still has some type of flaw. The flaw can always go against the wall!! Anyway, we have been going to Berry Patch for 5 years. It's a Goodballet tradition now. We get our tree, buy a wreath, wander through the trees, take pictures, and drink hot chocolate. Last year the kids were old enough to play on the little swing set they have. It's just very quaint like I always imagined a Christmas tradition to be. But this year, because we moved, we had to find a new tree farm.
I did my research. Don't get me wrong, I checked around. I found two tree farms near our house. After pouting from Thanksgiving until that Sunday I gave in and agreed to skip Berry Patch this year since it is an hour drive now. John vetoed the first tree farm pick and said it was too far. So we packed everyone up and headed to Cooper's. Oh Coopers. Such a disappointment. To their credit, they were an amazingly nice family. I really did like the people working there. They had a nice selection of trees and I do believe we got the nicest tree this year that we have ever had. And, as a bonus, it was less than smaller trees in previous years. But where was the hayride? The hot chocolate? What about the sleigh for us to take pictures in? Or the farm to walk around? **sigh** Oh Berry Patch how I miss you so!!
Here are pictures from our "new" tree farm. I feel bad talking about Cooper's this way, but once you've been to Berry Patch you'd feel the same. John says we are going back to Berry Patch next year. I won't argue!
Wait for me guys!
Where did you go? Don't pick one without me!
All this running is making me tired.
I like this one!
This is the one! Sophie & daddy picked a beautiful tree.
My Christmas trees in Florida were purchased at Home Depot. Even my first few trees in Atlanta were too, but for the last five years we have been buying our trees at Berry Patch Farm. I absolutely adore that place. It's a family run farm in Woodstock. They have trees you can actually cut down yourself. How cool is that? We like the Fraser Firs best and those aren't grown there so we don't get to cut it ourselves. However, they do have them all set up looking pretty out in the farm. You take a little hay ride out to where the trees are and walk through them until you find the perfect tree. I always go for the sad looking Charlie Brown tree because I feel sorry for it thinking that nobody will buy it. Yes, it's just a tree and yes, I'm weird like that. John generally wins out and we buy a nicer tree, but it usually still has some type of flaw. The flaw can always go against the wall!! Anyway, we have been going to Berry Patch for 5 years. It's a Goodballet tradition now. We get our tree, buy a wreath, wander through the trees, take pictures, and drink hot chocolate. Last year the kids were old enough to play on the little swing set they have. It's just very quaint like I always imagined a Christmas tradition to be. But this year, because we moved, we had to find a new tree farm.
I did my research. Don't get me wrong, I checked around. I found two tree farms near our house. After pouting from Thanksgiving until that Sunday I gave in and agreed to skip Berry Patch this year since it is an hour drive now. John vetoed the first tree farm pick and said it was too far. So we packed everyone up and headed to Cooper's. Oh Coopers. Such a disappointment. To their credit, they were an amazingly nice family. I really did like the people working there. They had a nice selection of trees and I do believe we got the nicest tree this year that we have ever had. And, as a bonus, it was less than smaller trees in previous years. But where was the hayride? The hot chocolate? What about the sleigh for us to take pictures in? Or the farm to walk around? **sigh** Oh Berry Patch how I miss you so!!
Here are pictures from our "new" tree farm. I feel bad talking about Cooper's this way, but once you've been to Berry Patch you'd feel the same. John says we are going back to Berry Patch next year. I won't argue!
Wait for me guys!
Where did you go? Don't pick one without me!
All this running is making me tired.
I like this one!
This is the one! Sophie & daddy picked a beautiful tree.
Happy Mommy Moments
The small things in life are sometimes the best. These little moments happen from time to time and I definitely need to do a better job at recording them. Yesterday was a nice moment for me.
John picked Sophie and Tripp up from school while I finished working. He swung back by the house to pick me up so we could take the kids to the park. When we got to the park I unbuckled Sophie from her car seat and picked her up out of her seat. She gave me a huge bear hug - legs around my waist and arms around my neck - and said "I missed you today mommy" and then squeezed me with a big hug. Gosh do I love these moments. I think these are what parents live for!!
John picked Sophie and Tripp up from school while I finished working. He swung back by the house to pick me up so we could take the kids to the park. When we got to the park I unbuckled Sophie from her car seat and picked her up out of her seat. She gave me a huge bear hug - legs around my waist and arms around my neck - and said "I missed you today mommy" and then squeezed me with a big hug. Gosh do I love these moments. I think these are what parents live for!!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Quote of the Day
Help me to not lean on my own understanding but to rely totally on YOU for guidance.
--Proverbs 3:5
--Proverbs 3:5
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween!
What a great Halloween! I really, truly enjoyed Halloween with the kids this year. I've enjoyed it every year, but mostly because I loved how cute the kids looked in their costumes. This year was fun because the kids actually enjoyed Halloween.
Halloween was actually a week long this year starting last Sunday. We went to trunk-or-treat with the Mallory's at Drew's sister's church. That was cute. People decorate the trunk of their cars and hand out candy. Tripp was a little nutso walking from car to car, but all-in-all it was fun. Kids got a lot of candy!
Tuesday night we went to Kroger for their trick-or-treating Halloween party. It was a little lame, but I do give them props for trying. It was raining pretty bad and everything was inside. My guess is that they set some things up outside on a normal night. They had a haunted house that went through the deli freezer. Justin was scared and wouldn't go through. I carried Tripp and Anthony held Sophie's hand all the way. It was cute. Older kids were screaming through the haunted house. The actors (um, employees) did a good job not jumping out and scaring the little kids. When we were at Kroger today grocery shopping, Sophie asked if we could go back into the freezer lol She has a good memory! They also did some face painting, decorate your own cookie, and gave out candy.
Friday was trick-or-treating and Halloween party at the kids' school. They had a ball! Since the parties were at different times depending on the classroom, I went up and hung out with Sophie for her Halloween party and John went up for Tripp's party. The kids really loved having us there. So much so that I had to bring Sophie home with me at lunch. She was crying and carrying on and I couldn't bare to leave her. She took a nap and I worked. They also got to walk around to the different classrooms and trick-or-treat in their costumes. It was very cute!
Finally, the real thing today! The Mallory's came to trick-or-treat with us and to watch the UF vs UGA game. I won't say who won (Go Gators!!!) so not to tick off my UGA friends, but I was a happy camper. It was hard to get the guys away from the football game and it was getting late (and Tripp was oh so ready to go!) so Holly and I started off with the kids. The guys met us a few minutes later. It was a little bit chilly, nothing like the cold weather of Halloweens past. Not only was it chilly, but it started to rain. It rained earlier in the day and stopped so I thought we would be in the clear. Nope. It started pouring rain just before we left. Some kids and parents just kept trudging through the rain for candy - actually some parents came to the door with bags while their kids sat in the car (really????) - we waited for the rain to slow. It did. We took off.
Marly, Sophie, and Tripp had a great time! I wish we had gotten some video of the night. I need a new camera for that. I lost my little video camera. This was Tripp's first Halloween as a walker. Last year we pushed him in the pink car and Sophie was very hesitant to walk up to doors. This year Tripp thoroughly enjoyed walking from house to house, up the stairs to the door, and getting the candy (and grabbing more if the opportunity arose!). Sophie loved every minute of the attention and playing the big sis, let me walk first role. Tripp was in awe of the older kids in costumes. He was priceless tonight, it was like he was in his element. And, Sophie. Sweet Sophie. She just wanted the candy. Candy, candy, and more candy ... and sneaking a piece to eat here and there ... that girl has a sweet tooth! Marly is like a pro. She went house to house, getting her candy, walking down the steps, and moving on to the next house. Well-behaved as always! Sophie and Tripp always enjoy their time with her. She's like another member of the family.
All-in-all this was a fabulous Halloween. The kids loved it and I loved it. Oh!! Wait!! I didn't mention the costumes. Tripp was Spiderman with muscles. It is honestly one of the cutest costumes I have ever seen. In the beginning he wouldn't put the mask on, but by the end of the week he was an old pro and kept the mask on for us. All the parents who saw him loved the costume! I let Sophie pick out her own costume this year. She picked a pink Spidergirl costume that was super cute. That's why I picked Spiderman for Tripp. Well the costume didn't fit well and had a hole by Tuesday so I purchased a new costume for her. She wanted to be a butterfly. I was looking so last minute for a costume and just could not find a butterfly so I settled on a fairy costume that had big wings .... or so it did on the cover of the package. What a sham. When you see the costume, you won't see any wings ... that's because they are so small you can't see them. They're there, they're behind her back. I was so annoyed by that. Of course, Sophie didn't seem to mind. She loved her star light wand and her light up skirt. She was happy with her pitiful butterfly costume. Marly was Little Mermaid. She had a red wig, not sure where it went. She was adorable and the red wig was a hoot!!
Halloween 2009 was the best yet!
Halloween was actually a week long this year starting last Sunday. We went to trunk-or-treat with the Mallory's at Drew's sister's church. That was cute. People decorate the trunk of their cars and hand out candy. Tripp was a little nutso walking from car to car, but all-in-all it was fun. Kids got a lot of candy!
Tuesday night we went to Kroger for their trick-or-treating Halloween party. It was a little lame, but I do give them props for trying. It was raining pretty bad and everything was inside. My guess is that they set some things up outside on a normal night. They had a haunted house that went through the deli freezer. Justin was scared and wouldn't go through. I carried Tripp and Anthony held Sophie's hand all the way. It was cute. Older kids were screaming through the haunted house. The actors (um, employees) did a good job not jumping out and scaring the little kids. When we were at Kroger today grocery shopping, Sophie asked if we could go back into the freezer lol She has a good memory! They also did some face painting, decorate your own cookie, and gave out candy.
Friday was trick-or-treating and Halloween party at the kids' school. They had a ball! Since the parties were at different times depending on the classroom, I went up and hung out with Sophie for her Halloween party and John went up for Tripp's party. The kids really loved having us there. So much so that I had to bring Sophie home with me at lunch. She was crying and carrying on and I couldn't bare to leave her. She took a nap and I worked. They also got to walk around to the different classrooms and trick-or-treat in their costumes. It was very cute!
Finally, the real thing today! The Mallory's came to trick-or-treat with us and to watch the UF vs UGA game. I won't say who won (Go Gators!!!) so not to tick off my UGA friends, but I was a happy camper. It was hard to get the guys away from the football game and it was getting late (and Tripp was oh so ready to go!) so Holly and I started off with the kids. The guys met us a few minutes later. It was a little bit chilly, nothing like the cold weather of Halloweens past. Not only was it chilly, but it started to rain. It rained earlier in the day and stopped so I thought we would be in the clear. Nope. It started pouring rain just before we left. Some kids and parents just kept trudging through the rain for candy - actually some parents came to the door with bags while their kids sat in the car (really????) - we waited for the rain to slow. It did. We took off.
Marly, Sophie, and Tripp had a great time! I wish we had gotten some video of the night. I need a new camera for that. I lost my little video camera. This was Tripp's first Halloween as a walker. Last year we pushed him in the pink car and Sophie was very hesitant to walk up to doors. This year Tripp thoroughly enjoyed walking from house to house, up the stairs to the door, and getting the candy (and grabbing more if the opportunity arose!). Sophie loved every minute of the attention and playing the big sis, let me walk first role. Tripp was in awe of the older kids in costumes. He was priceless tonight, it was like he was in his element. And, Sophie. Sweet Sophie. She just wanted the candy. Candy, candy, and more candy ... and sneaking a piece to eat here and there ... that girl has a sweet tooth! Marly is like a pro. She went house to house, getting her candy, walking down the steps, and moving on to the next house. Well-behaved as always! Sophie and Tripp always enjoy their time with her. She's like another member of the family.
All-in-all this was a fabulous Halloween. The kids loved it and I loved it. Oh!! Wait!! I didn't mention the costumes. Tripp was Spiderman with muscles. It is honestly one of the cutest costumes I have ever seen. In the beginning he wouldn't put the mask on, but by the end of the week he was an old pro and kept the mask on for us. All the parents who saw him loved the costume! I let Sophie pick out her own costume this year. She picked a pink Spidergirl costume that was super cute. That's why I picked Spiderman for Tripp. Well the costume didn't fit well and had a hole by Tuesday so I purchased a new costume for her. She wanted to be a butterfly. I was looking so last minute for a costume and just could not find a butterfly so I settled on a fairy costume that had big wings .... or so it did on the cover of the package. What a sham. When you see the costume, you won't see any wings ... that's because they are so small you can't see them. They're there, they're behind her back. I was so annoyed by that. Of course, Sophie didn't seem to mind. She loved her star light wand and her light up skirt. She was happy with her pitiful butterfly costume. Marly was Little Mermaid. She had a red wig, not sure where it went. She was adorable and the red wig was a hoot!!
Halloween 2009 was the best yet!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Quote of the Day
The self is not something that one finds. It is something that one creates.
-- Thomas Szasz (1920-) American Psychiatrist
-- Thomas Szasz (1920-) American Psychiatrist
Thursday, October 15, 2009
My sweet baby boy
Have you ever taken a picture of your baby and thought "Wow! This is quite possibly the best picture I have ever seen of my baby?" I have! Once with Sophie ... the picture is posted somewhere in this blog. She looks like an angel in the picture. Now I have one of Tripp, too ... man, isn't he the sweetest most precious thing you've ever seen? I just want to squeeze him. I'm submitting this picture to baby Gap for their model contest. If he doesn't win, well then there is no justice in this world! ;-)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Fall is here!
It's the changing of seasons here in Atlanta. My absolute favorite time of year is fall. I mean seriously, can you really find anything wrong with fall?
1. Weather is cooler
2. Windows are open
3. You can play outside with the kids and not break a sweat
4. There aren't so many nasty flies trying to get in the house
5. Holidays are just around the corner
6. You can burn those yummy holiday candles
7. Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks
8. Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks is almost here ... hooray (as Sophie would say!)
9. Lots of days off work - 1 bank holiday in September, 1 in October, 2 in November, and 1 in December ... it pays to work at a bank!
10. Most importantly -- college football returns!
Nope, fall is perfect!
When I first moved to Atlanta, September was my favorite month because it was the sign fall was nearing. Septemeber weather was always a welcome relief to the schorching August heat. Now it seems like fall doesn't hit until October, so I'm debating about whether or not I should change my favorite month. Hm. September does offer some great things - start of football, Labor day (bank holiday!), and some possibility of using the pool without freezing water ... eh, that's not enough. I may just have a case to change my favorite month to October. I'm still debating.
In honor of fall, I have changed my background ... and I promise to post more often. Happy Fall Y'all!!
1. Weather is cooler
2. Windows are open
3. You can play outside with the kids and not break a sweat
4. There aren't so many nasty flies trying to get in the house
5. Holidays are just around the corner
6. You can burn those yummy holiday candles
7. Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks
8. Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks is almost here ... hooray (as Sophie would say!)
9. Lots of days off work - 1 bank holiday in September, 1 in October, 2 in November, and 1 in December ... it pays to work at a bank!
10. Most importantly -- college football returns!
Nope, fall is perfect!
When I first moved to Atlanta, September was my favorite month because it was the sign fall was nearing. Septemeber weather was always a welcome relief to the schorching August heat. Now it seems like fall doesn't hit until October, so I'm debating about whether or not I should change my favorite month. Hm. September does offer some great things - start of football, Labor day (bank holiday!), and some possibility of using the pool without freezing water ... eh, that's not enough. I may just have a case to change my favorite month to October. I'm still debating.
In honor of fall, I have changed my background ... and I promise to post more often. Happy Fall Y'all!!
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