Christmas Happenings

Saturday before Christmas, Terry, Natalee & I loaded up & headed south.  We went to Madison to eat supper then headed back north to Canton.  We took Natalee to see "Canton - the City of Lights".  It was amazing!  She had a blast & loved looking at all the Christmas lights.  They had the whole town square lit with different scenes, the courthouse was beautiful, a giant Christmas tree that was GORGEOUS, a couple of carousels, a train, a horse & carriage, & so much more!  When we first got there, we stood in line for the carousel for probably close to an hour.  Natalee wanted mommy to ride with her.  She picked her a horse & we got on.  It didn't really look safe to begin with but Natalee wanted to ride so we did.  Once it got going it was going really fast & Natalee started crying.  She kept saying "It's going too fast!  I want off!", but we couldn't just hop off so we had to finish the ride.  It was kind of wobbly too.  That is the only thing we rode though, cause it was really cold & so crowded.  So we ended up walking around the square, taking pictures, & looking at all the beautiful lights.  Before we left, we stopped by the book store for some hot chocolate.  Yeah, it was not good!  All in all we had a blast & Natalee had so much fun!

Mommy & Natalee riding the Carousel

The courthouse was beautiful!

Daddy & Natalee

Some of the decorations

Natalee LOVED all of the Christmas decorations.  She even had her own tree in her room.  The weekend after Thanksgiving, Pete the Elf, came back to visit Natalee.  She really enjoyed looking for him every morning!  I TRIED to remember to get a picture of him in all the places he liked to hide & all the things he liked to get into, but I think there were a few I missed (of course!).   He was caught in the tree with a half eaten candy cane, in the basket of ornaments on the counter, in the Halloween candy, in the cabinet in a glass....you can imagine what kind of mischief he got into!

Natalee's tree

Some of the Mis-Adventures of Pete below...

got on mommy's computer

Got caught in the chandelier

Even got in the Halloween Candy!

Found him a swing!

The "flour" note Pete left for Natalee on Christmas morning!

It's a....

GIRL!  On Natalee's birthday, Dec. 22, we had our ultrasound appointment.  I planned to have it that day, since I would be off & I wanted Natalee to have something special to remember her third birthday by, after all it would be her last as an only child!  Our appointment was for 2:15.  They took me back & did what they needed to do to get all of the measurements & everything.  The tech went & got Natalee & Terry.  Natalee was kind of scared at first.  She kept saying she didn't want to get a shot.  I kept telling her we were at my doctor, not hers, but it still didn't help.  Terry had to hold her the whole time.  The tech showed her the baby & where the arms & lets were.  She then let us hear the heartbeat.  Natalee was so excited to see her little brother or sister on the "tv screen".  The baby was stuck in one position & did NOT want to move, but the tech finally got her to wiggle enough that we could tell it was a girl!  Natalee was super excited!  She & Terry kept saying it was a girl the whole time, but mommy just knew it was a boy!  Boy, was I wrong!  No one thinks it's a girl though.  Everyone still thinks it's a boy, but we have proof she's a she!

To tell all of the parents, we wrapped little bottles filled with strawberry (pink) malted milk balls.  I had a poem attached that read: "Pink or blue, which will it be, open this present & you will see!".  They then opened & saw the pink!  It was cute!

We have had a hard time coming up with a name for this little girl.  There are several names out there that I love, but Terry wasn't thrilled about any of them.  We had finally narrowed it down to Sadie Grace & Lillian "Lily" Brooke.  Natalee keeps calling her Sadie Grace, so it looks like that will be her name!  I love it!  Not too many people in the family like it, but the way I see it, is they got to name their kids, so let me name mine! LOL

Natalee turns THREE!

Wow, it's hard to believe our baby girl is THREE!  Seems like yesterday was the Christmas Eve we got to bring her home from the hospital!

Her official birthday wasn't until Dec. 22, but we had her party on Saturday, Dec. 10 (my b-day) at a local cabin.  It's a really nice cabin that is only a huge living room, a really nice kitchen, a bathroom & a really nice deck surrounding it, overlooking a pond.  Since it was big enough to hold everyone & was FREE! we decided it would be the best place for a birthday party!  We had her party at 10:00 that morning & had a breakfast bar.  It consisted of blueberry & strawberry muffins, bacon, cheese & egg muffin cups, powdered donuts, chocolate covered donuts, sausage balls, Sunny D & milk.

Natalee decided she wanted a kitty cat theme, so we went with Hello Kitty.  It was too cute.  Just wish I had more decorations than I did, but it all worked out great!  We (the kids) played Pin the Tail on the Donkey & had some balloons they were playing with.  I think they really enjoyed themselves.

She had so many people show up and more kids were there this year than there had ever been.   After we all enjoyed breakfast, we opened presents.  Natalee got so many toys, I think she still has some she hasn't played with! And on top of that she still had Christmas to go! We then enjoyed chocolate or vanilla cupcakes with pink frosting & vanilla ice cream!  I think everyone had fun!

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!