Candy Cane Cutie

Let's just say our third is nothing like our first and second.  He is on all the time.  Climbing up on top of the kitchen table, the big kid beds, and jumping from the chairs to the couches are a few of his favorite activities.  And did I mention he's fast?  Like lightning this little one.  So in order to get a moment of quiet today I handed our youngest a candy cane.  A hush washed over him if only for an instant.  I now have countless candy cane fingerprints all over the walls and doors to go clean up.  I wonder sometimes is it worth it just for a few minutes of silence?  He sure is cute though isn't he?

Tis' the Season

Well it's that time of year again - when we want to spend more time with our family but somehow spend less.  Our weekends around here are so precious to us because it is the only time that we can be a complete family.  The last two weekends have felt completely rushed.  Although we spent wonderful family time baking cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, putting up Christmas trees, and attempting to shorten the never ending shopping list it has just gone by way too fast.  This is the first Christmas that I have been working so I find myself longing for the lazy days of Christmas past when we could spend all afternoon on a project.  I am really looking forward to having the next couple of weeks off to enjoy with my family and clean out some closets.  I thought I'd share some pictures of our past few weekends.

Caroline was such a good helper when I attempted to make sugar cookies.  It's harder than it looks.  Pam actually figured it out for me and Caroline helped her roll the dough and cut the shapes just right.  She had a good time pouring sprinkles on everything.

I plan on making these Christmas trees with my class this coming week.  I thought they turned out so cute.  I didn't get a picture of our finished gingerbread scene but this year we added three Christmas trees and a fence around the whole house using chocolate covered pretzels.  It was so messy but it turned out cute.

I thought this was the funniest picture.  Cooper has started squinting his eyes when the camera comes near.  He has also started learning body parts lately.  He can recognize his head, eyes, ears, and mouth.  He has really developed quite the personality.  He is really different than the other two that's for sure. 

Never too Late to be Thankful!

My post might be a little late seeing how we celebrated Thanksgiving last Thursday but it's never too late to be thankful. 

For instance, I am thankful that my children survived the latest holiday.  Caroline fell into a fountain in my parents backyard and Connor pulled her out soaking wet with a scrapped up face and a nasty gash on her noggin.  Connor came down with some nasty wheezing and coughing which ended up being the after effects of the Swine flu that he just got over a week or so ago.  This all happened right at Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.  Happy to say they are all better now but it was a crazy weekend. 

You can see on the side of Caroline's face that she scrapped her cheek up.  She sure did love playing with the dog and PawPaw.

Isn't she rotten in her PawPaw's hat?

Thanksgiving dinner was delicious even with all the drama of the day.  We had lots of yummy turkey and ham with all kinds of sides.  The kids loved the jello dessert that Nannie made them the most! 

Another thing that I thankful for is being able to spend some time with my Granny.  She gave me some roses out of her garden to plant down here.  Connor & Caroline loved playing in her backyard with the dirt and rocks and watching the chickens. 

I have plenty to be thankful for this year.  A healthy brood of children, good friends, dear family, what more could a girl ask for?

For some reason I just love this picture.  He was a Mama's boy during this trip. 

Happy Halloween

Book-O-Ween

Just a quick post to share this picture of some of us girls at work dressed up for Book-O-Ween.  We all decided to try to dress like a fairy from a series of books called The Rainbow Fairies.  I was "Sienna the Saturday Fairy".  We had so much fun today celebrating Book-O-Ween.  The kids got to come to school dressed as a storybook character and we did craft rotations most of the day after we paraded through the school in our costumes.  No lie there had to be 75 to 100 parents and staff watching the parade.  It was crazy!  I felt really ummmmm what's the word  . . . awkward dressed like a fairy, squeezed into a pink tutu - strutting my stuff in front of parents and staff but the kids had a blast!  I can't wait to see my own children dressed up tomorrow for the real trick-or-treating event!  I'll share pictures soon!

A Trip to the Dentist

Caroline took her first trip to the dentist today.  Of course bunny had to go too.  Craig took her and he took some great pictures that I thought I'd share.  Apparently she did a great job and has no cavities. 

Say Ahhhhh

A trip to the treasure box to top it all off.  She had a blast.  Who knew going to the dentist could be so much fun? 

Candy Apple Craziness

I guess it's about time to update the blog. It's been kind of crazy around here lately. I'm still trying to figure out this whole "working mom" thing and Craig just started his new job. Add to that all the normal demands of running a household and you get no time left to blog. But sometime after bathing the kids and reading a gazillion bedtime stories and don't forget washing and drying poor bunny so Caroline can sleep tonight without catching some nasty funk from her beloved Bunny I carved out sometime to share a fun little moment I experienced this afternoon with my three darling children. We made candy apples!
We've been talking about it lately with all the fall goodies out there right now Connor is still limited to certain candies. I came across a candy apple kit in Publix over the weekend and Connor was so excited to try it. Of course you mention candy and Caroline is all over it. So after all the homework was done and the dinner was served and the dishes were thrown in the sink to make room for more dirty dishes nicely put away we dove into candy apple craziness.

Connor washed the apples for me

Caroline stirred the mixture for me

With visions of sugar plums or was it candied apples dancing in their heads they waited like Santa and his reindeer were right up the street delivering presents ever so patiently for the candy to boil and reach that perfect temperature.

The candy mixture was super hot so after we dipped the apples we left them to cool on wax paper while we played outside for a few minutes. When we returned we found some delicious, candy apples.

The genius mom that I am knew that we needed to take these heavenly treats outside to devour so I wouldn't have candied apple all over my disaster of a house sparkling clean house. They took all of about three bites before deciding it was just too much work. The scrumptious apples now sit in a ziploc bag in my frig waiting to be gnawed on tomorrow.

So some of you might be wondering what about the youngest? What was he doing during all these Autumn shenanigans? Well he was hanging on my leg and crying for a candy apple what did you think he was doing? So my sweet baby growing toddler who wants to be like the "big kids" got an apple all to himself and had a few bites of Mama's candied apple too.