Christmas Parade!

On Friday, Dec. 2, Greenwood had their annual Christmas parade. The theme this year was Christmas Through the Movies.  It was not as good as years past but it was pretty good & the kids (Natalee, Madison & Carter) had a blast! This was the first parade Madison had ever been to & she loved it! Natalee was better about not being scared of the bands this year & she actually didn't mind the people in costumes, well except for Spiderman (who she kept calling Batman for some reason)! There were several bands participating this year, but not like years past. This used to be the largest Christmas parade in the state but it has since dwindled down some. Afterwards, mom, Brandi, Carol & I took the girls to eat at Pizza Inn.

Madison waiting on the parade to start!

The kids being silly!

Carter waiting...

Natalee wishing it would hurry up!

This was a pretty cute little car.

Watching the bands!

Getting candy from Batman!

Christmas Vacation float

The hospital's How the Grinch Stole Christmas float

Best one of them all, in my opinion.

The back

Someone decided she needed a nap...

how she slept through the bands, I will never know.

Here comes Santa Claus!

Natalee was so excited!  She was trying to get to the float

so she could ride with him!

November

I know, I know....I have not been updating like I should & I'm way behind! Not much has really been happening, but I promise in the new year, I will start updating regularly, even if it's just to let you know how are day/week/weekend went! I'm actually looking forward to blogging again!

Not much really happened in November. Actually I can barely remember anything that did happen besides Thanksgiving & the two biggest college football games of the year!

Let's start at the beginning of November, shall we? We pretty much did nothing the whole month. We did get a new puppy. Her name is Charlie & she is a mix between lab & border collie (we think). She is soo cute!

 Natalee & Charlie watching TV

Terry's birthday was Nov. 4.  He turned the big 3-1! We had planned on going to the movies & to eat, but decided against it.  Instead, we celebrated our birthdays together at the beginning of Dec. when we went shopping in Jackson.

Greenwood had their Annual Christmas Open House on Nov. 8.  After work, we had a girl's night out.  It was mom, Brandi, Natalee, Kerry, Sandy Rhea & me.  We went all over downtown shopping.  Don't think we bought anything, but we had fun browsing & snacking on all the food each store had.  One local store had pictures with Santa.  Natalee LOVED Santa! She went right up to him & sat in his lap, like the big girl she is!

Terry had to work Thanksgiving & Black Friday, so we celebrated with the Mitchell's on Nov. 23. They picked Natalee up that Tuesday to spend the night. We went after I got off work the next day.  We enjoyed ham, turkey, dressing, candied yams, green beans, rolls, lemon pie, coconut cake and I'm sure I'm forgetting something!  It was all good though!  We sat around, played with play-doh & took a short nap!  We enjoy their company!

Thursday, we ate Thanksgiving lunch at granny's. We decided to change to lunch instead of supper this year, since noone but Henry's famiy had anywhere to go.  We had the usual, ham, turkey, sweet potato casserole, green bean bundles, cheese & spaghetti, dressing, rolls, cranberry sauce, apple salad, and two oreo ice cream pies.  It was delish!

After lunch, we all sat around & talked.  Natalee & I took Terry a plate at work, then I took Natalee to meet the Mitchell's in Kilmichael.  We visited with the rest of the Mitchell family & enjoyed our visit. I then headed back to Carrollton!  Went home, got changed & got ready for some shopping fun!  I went back to granny's to eat leftovers for supper & meet up with the people I was going with (granny, mom, Debbie, Brandi & Dustin).  We left around 8:30/9:00 Thursday night and headed to Wal-Mart! It was CROWDED!  I needed an xbox 360, but the tickets were gone before 5 that afternoon and they were not even supposed to be handed out until 9:00 that night!  So I headed to the tv's where mom was.  We both needed a 40" so we got our tickets & stood in the line until midnight!  Dustin & Deadra were in the line for the 32" & Brandi, granny & Debbie were getting the other stuff we needed.  Mom was wanting to get Natalee a power wheels that was on sale that night but they were gone before we got there too and were not supposed to be picked up until the sale started at 10!

After we got our tvs at 12, we pretty much had the entire store to ourselves!  Everyone got what they came for & left!  So quiet & peaceful....  I did manage to pick up a few Christmas items for a few people.  We checked out then headed to get something to eat.  The others were hungry...this pregnant woman (who eats all the time) was not...especially at 2 in the morning!  Since nothing else was open at that time, we sat in the Sherwin Williams parking lot (Debbie works there so it wasn't like we were trespassing or anything..especially since she had to be at work at 7!) and waited for JCPenney's to open.  Granny & I had rode with Debbie & mom & Deadra went in her vehicle.  Good thing too, Debbie's decided it didn't want to crank when it was time to go!  So I hopped in the vehicle with mom & Deadra & granny stayed with Debbie to wait on Shane to come boost them off.  Penney's was crowded but really wasn't that bad.  I finished up Ryan's & Brandi's Christmas though.

After Penney's it was off to Radio Shack to get an Xbox.  Yeah, they didn't have any either! They sold all of them the day before! So we headed off to Bath & Body then Goody's.  I didn't get anything from either store.  By this point, it was 6:00 am & I was so tired....  I went back to the truck & waited on everyone else to get finished.  I did manage to take a short (10/20 minute) nap though.  Our last stop was Walgreens to get some wrapping paper.  I got 6 good size rolls for $4.  We finally made it home about 8.  I got on the couch & took me a much needed nap!

The Arkansas/LSU game was coming on tv at 2 so I had to get up & get things prepared for the big party!  We had a house full of Arkansas fans & a few LSU fans, the house decorated in both teams colors & a bunch of finger foods!  Even though LSWho won, Arkansas is still the better team.  LSU's fans (well most of them) are too rowdy, obnoxious, rude & like to fight which is the main reason I do not pull for that team.  I met the Mitchell's at the house to get Natalee & went back to moms.  Natalee & Madison had a BLAST playing with each other.  That was one of the first times they had seen each other in two months, but the time in September was just at Madison's b-day party.  They really do love playing with each other!

 Me & little Brodie man! What a cutie he is!

Ignore this pic of me...it had been a long night & I was not feeling it that day!

Woooooo Pig Soooie!

 Dustin & Brodie man sporting their Razorback gear!

Natalee giving Brodie some love!

This is only the third time she has seen him since he was

born in May.  Only my second! 

 Yummy food!

Can't you tell we got both fans in the house?

We were at mom's one Sunday night, having our family night.  Natalee was in BB's bed watching a movie.  Brandi went in her room & heard Natalee talking.  She asked her who she was talking to & the conversation went something like this....
Natalee -  "The kid in your closet."  Brandi - "Who?"  Natalee - "The little boy in your closet.  Let him out." So Brandi opened the door & Natalee goes "Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"
Where does she come up with this stuff????

Sorry I don't have many pics of November, but I promise to get better with the new year!

Halloween 2011

This year Natalee was a pirate. She kept saying she wanted to be a kitty, then decided a pirate. The day before Halloween she said she wanted to be a kitty pirate (whatever that is!) Well she was just a pirate!

Monday after work, me, mom & Natalee went to my cousin's house in town & got changed. We met Shane, Ryan, Katie Lauren, Terry & Brandi there. A couple of the local churches had a trunk or treat, so we went to them & Natalee had a blast. She was so good about saying "Trick or Treat" & "Thank you". We went to a few house around the churches then headed to another neighborhood. This neighborhood is a great neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone & no one is a stranger! We ran into Henry, Hope & Carter. We walked to a couple of houses with them. Carter was Batman & a cute one at that! Natalee got a bucket full of candy! When we got through, we took Terry home then I took Natalee to granny's. Brandi met us there then we headed to Mrs. Kay's (Byron's mom's) & to daddy & Irene's. Natalee was wore out by the time we got back home! Here's you some pictures to enjoy!!

Being silly on the way home one day!

Our little pirate

Sword fighting with daddy

Getting candy!

the mouse car

Our Crew!

Katie Lauren

Carter & Natalee

Natalee with Aunt Debbie

Pumpkin Patch

Friday night, Terry, mom, Dustin, Rachael & I took Natalee to the pumpkin patch. Actually, it is Bull Bottom Farms & it's so much more than a pumpkin patch! We got there around 7:30 and only stayed about an hour cause it was so cold. We went through the "animal farm", which consisted of a pony, several huge white rabbits & a few goats. She loved the animals. She attempted the hay maze, but got "scared", so Uncle Dustin helped her through it. They had a "corn box" with a slide. It's just like a sand box but filled with corn kernels. Yeah, she wasn't big on that either! I know, my child can be weird! Of course it was dark & we forgot a flashlight, but we went through the corn maze anyways! We got a little lost a couple of times, but we finally made it out! After the corn maze, the hay ride was headed out to the pumpkin patch, so we hopped on! It was a fun, long ride. Natalee sat on the hay between me & Terry & kept saying "I'm sitting here like a big girl, all by myself!" She is so silly! When we got to the pumpkin patch, we walked around for a few minutes trying to find the "right" pumpkin. Natalee picked up two small pumpkins (gourds) & we finally found a huge pumpkin that was perfect! When we got back to the main area, we headed to the Magic Carpet Slide or as Natalee called it the "super slide". It was huge! You get on a piece of carpet & ride down this drop off then it's pretty much going down a slope. Dustin & Rachael did it & said it was "super fun". Natalee was crying & didn't want to do it, but it was a long way up so Terry put her in his lap & they went down. She cried the whole time but was fine when they stopped. She said she didn't like it either! Natalee said the only thing she liked was the hay ride & the pumpkin patch. I think if we would have gone when it was still daylight out, she would have enjoyed more, but that's the lesson you learn for trying to go on a Friday night when you know it won't be too crowded! We will have to go back before they close for the season though during daylight, if not, no biggie, we always have next year!

Since it was dark, I didn't take my camera, but mom did. We really didn't get very many pics, but did manage to get a few. When I get them from her, I will upload! Hope everyone has a great week & Happy Halloween!!

Exciting News!!

Some of you may have seen this on FB, but for those who don't have FB I just wanted to share some exciting news in our life.

Yep, you read it right! Natalee is going to be a big sister! I was trying to wait til the first trimester was over, but I can't! I'm 11 weeks, yesterday. Natalee seems to be really excited! Hope everyone has a great week!

Things Natalee says & does....

Since I want to remember certain things, I am going to write them down here. I never really started her baby book, which I really need to get caught up on, so I decided the blog would be the best place for now.

Natalee is a very smart child & she loves to be funny. Every once in a while, she will say something & you will look at her with the "what did you just say?" or the "how did you know that?" kind of look. I'm sure I will continue to update this list but for now this is just a few of the things I can remember she has said.

I asked Natalee the other day, what she wanted for her birthday. Her response..."A man."

We are trying to potty train, and have been doing good, but there are days that Natalee just doesn't want to do it. The other morning, I asked her if she needed to go potty before we got dressed. She said, "No. I'm a baby & I want to wear a diaper. And I want a pacifier." She hasn't had a pacifier for over a year & a half.

A couple of nights later, she was pottying right before bed. She looks at me with the dead serious, upset look & says "I'm not a big girl!" I told her she was and asked her why she thought that and she said "Because you put pull-ups on me all the time." She only wears pull-ups at night when she is at home!

We were sitting on the couch watching tv the other night & Natalee looks at Terry & says "Daddy, scratch my booby." He told her "That's your job." She says "No it's not. It's yours!"

Natalee's favorite song is "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. Don't ask, cause I don't know! Anyway, one night Terry let her watch the video on YouTube & put his headphones on. She was singing at the top of her lungs! It was hilarious! Especially since she didn't know the right words!

Natalee came home from the babysitter's one day & said her & Brody were going to the water park. I asked her when & she said "Two days". Everything happens in two days to her! Oh & she has her first crush! Brody is such a cutie & she is always asking for him to come to her house or for him to spend the night!

One night it was thundering real bad. Natalee was looking out the door & it thundered really loud. She looks at me & says "Momma is fundering. I not like the funders!"

We were in the grocery store last weekend & it was CROWDED! Natalee is on the phone with Papaw Callaway & she looks at me & says "I tooted!" I told her to hush cause there was a lot of people around. So she decided instead of keeping it to herself, she would let Nana know. Nana was on the other end of the aisle!

A commercial came on tv about the dangers of belly fat. As soon as it went off, Natalee says " I think Uncle Shane has that".

Vacation - Final Chapter

On Monday morning, we got up real early. We had reservations for Parasailing at 8:30 that morning. I wanted to go so bad, but I didn't, and now I regret it, but I'll do it next time!


Some of the scenery while riding the boat




Taking a boat ride! Her first one and she loved it!

Brandi, Callaway & Katie Lauren went up first. It was Katie Lauren & Callaway's first time, but Brandi had been before. KL was so scared when they first went up, but was fine afterwards. She said it was so much fun!


Getting ready to fly!


There they go!


Coming back in!

Next up was Dustin, Adam, Jeremy & Ryan. This was a first for each of them. They loved it!


Getting ready to go up!


Flyin' High


Takin' a dip in the water

After parasailing, we went to The Pancakery for breakfast. Their pancakes were HUGE! I mean the same size as the plate huge! And you got TWO! I knew I wouldn't be able to eat one so I just got the traditional breakfast, but Adam & Jeremy got the Chocolatier. It was two pancakes with chocolate chips topped with chocolate syrup & whipped cream. They looked too die for! And they probably were, but it had a LOT of chocolate! When we got back to the condo, Debbie, her family, granny ,mom & Brandi went shopping while Terry, Natalee & I got ready to go on our dolphin cruise.

We had to be at the dolphin cruise check in 30 minutes before the boat left dock. As you went onto the boat, you had your picture made, then found a seat. We left dock & explored the harbor before heading out to open waters to look for dolphins. We stopped a couple of places & didn't see anything. We finally found a big group of dolphins that kept us entertained. I didn't get any good pictures since my camera died, but I did get a few on my phone. The captain & crew were wonderful with the kids! They let each child have a turn "driving" the boat & they each got a certificate stating they were "Captain for a Day". Before docking, they let all the kids come to the front of the boat to pick a toy out of the "treasure chest".


Loading the boat to go look for dolphins!

After the dolphin cruise, we went back to the condo to meet up with everyone else. We then headed to Baytowne Wharf. It was so beautiful! They had a pond that had remote control boats. The "boys" played with that for a minute, then Terry, Natalee & I headed to find something to eat. The rest of the gang was going to eat at Acme Oyster House & we didn't want that, so we went to Poppy's Hammerheads Bar & Grille. OMG! Some of the best onion straws & a great prime rib! The rest of the gang ended up going to see all of the yachts & other high dollar boats, before going to eat. Acme told them it would be about a 2 hour wait, so they decided to eat at Hammerheads too. While they were eating, we went to the candy store & went walking around & window shopping in the other stores there. They had a kiddie area too. Natalee wanted to ride the merry-go round, but didn't want to ride any of the animals. Instead she wanted the race car! She wanted her daddy to ride with her, so he knelt down beside her during the ride. We walked around a little long then headed back to the condo. It had been a long but very fun & eventful day!

The next morning, we got up & got our bags ready to head home. We ate breakfast then did a little shopping before heading out. As we were about to leave, it started POURING rain! Luckily, it hadn't rained the whole time we were there! We took our time getting back home. We were in no hurry to go to work the next day! We stopped in Pensacola & ate lunch at Cracker Barrell. After that, we only made a couple of more pit stops to get gas & some snacks. We finally made it home around 9 that night. We took mom & Callaway to their house & unloaded their things then went home to unload ours. We were very tired from the ride, so we just went to bed. The unpacking waited til the next day!

Vacation - Part 3

Sunday morning we got up & hung out around the condo for a while. Debbie, Shane, Ryan, Katie Lauren, Dustin, Adam & Jeremy went to the water park. We wanted to take Natalee but Terry & I were burnt from the beach the day before, so we decided not to. Instead, we went with mom, Brandi, Callaway & Granny to eat. We ate lunch at Mellow Mushroom. So good! I had the sausage & cheese calzone & OMG...it was to die for! Wish I had one now!


Eating at Mellow Mushroom!

Anyways, after that, Terry & Callaway went to Bass Pro. You know men, they will find a Bass Pro everywhere they go! Us girls, went to book our parasailing trip & walked around Harborwalk again. We then went to the grocery store & got the stuff to cook burgers on the grill. We got back to the condo, relaxed a little & cooked. We hung out for a little while & Natalee discovered that if you pull your ears your tongue will stick out, so she had to do it to everybody to see if their tongues stuck out! It was pretty funny!






After we got the kitchen clean, Terry, Callaway, Brandi, Mom & I took Natalee to Fudpucker's to see the alligators. She even got to hold one!


Looking at the alligators!


The gators!

When we left Fudpuckers, the boys were next door at Sunsations playing Glow in the Dark mini golf. It was pretty cool. Natalee loved the black lights!


This is the first pic I took but it didn't "glow in the dark". I finally changed the setting the rest turned out pretty cool!









While they played a game of glow in the dark laser tag, me, Natalee, mom, Brandi, Katie Lauren & Callaway went back dowstairs to shop. Natalee decided she wanted a hermit crab. We picked the one that was moving non-stop. It is in a very pretty shell. We finally went back to the condo around midnight! It was a long but fun day!

A Sad Farewell

I wanted to take a moment to say farewell to a very beloved lady. On our way to Florida, last Friday, I got a phone call saying that our daycare provider (babysitter) had passed away. Sometimes in the night, Thursday, she had a heart attack. Mrs. Joyce King, "Nanny", as Natalee called her, was a wonderful lady. She was also the grandmother of one of my brother's best friends, so she was like family. Natalee loved her & "Pop". Terry started to keep Natalee at home that Thursday, but I am so glad we got to see her & Natalee got to give her "love" one last time. Besides Natalee, she had 2 of her grandchildren & 2 other little boys that she kept. Nanny always had breakfast ready when we got there in the mornings & cooked lunch everyday. She may have gotten on to the kids every once in a while but it was because they needed it. Sometimes Natalee didn't want to go to Nanny's but that was on days she was in one of her moods, now she is always asking about Nanny. It is very hard to tell a 2 year old that she will never be able to see the lady she has seen daily since she was 10 months old, and I know she is really too young to understand. Everytime she asks to go to Nanny's, I tell her that she has gone to live with Jesus in Heaven & her quick response is "No she's not. She's at her house!". I hate that we were on vacation when this happened, so we were unable to attend the funeral, but I plan on doing something special for Pop, like buying a ceramic cross & take Natalee to see him & give it to him.

RIP "Nanny"! We love you & miss you dearly!