By the Tree

Last year I took some pictures of the kids in front of the tree in Christmas pajamas. I thought I would try again. I bribed them and this is what I got. Look how much older Mae looks!!!

 

Decorating the Tree

This year we got a tree from a hardware store instead of the Christmas Tree Farm. It is absolutely beautiful, but maybe the pokiest one I've ever experienced!!! Can you tell we decorated after a football game?

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving

I didn't even take my big camera for Thanksgiving, so these are all from my phone. We had a wonderfully relaxing Thanksgiving. We planned to stay one night at MiMi and PaPa's, but ended up staying three. That's pretty much how we roll at the holidays!! We spent LOTS of time in the basement, and ate tons!! MiMi, was there too, but I was too busy relaxing to do a good job taking pictures. Brax and I went Black Friday shopping at midnight, and enjoyed our late night date!

 

Family Movie Night

We've started a new tradition on Sunday nights. Family movie night. We get something exciting for the kids (read: easy for mom) to eat, and pick out a family movie. This is partly because it gets dark here at 4:45, and partly just for fun!

Mae is 3!

Mae started off her Birthday morning by saying, "Is is my birthday today?" She then proceeded to ask periodically throughout the day "Am I still three?" She had a great day! I took her to her gymnastics gym for the open gym play time. It was the first time I had taken her, and she LOVED it. After lunch at Chick-Fil-A (her choice), and grocery shopping, we came home for the afternoon.

She requested pink cupcakes with pink icing (no surprise there) and so that's what I made. MiMi and PaPa came for supper and opening presents.







Mae is an extremely fiesty three-year-old. She says no, A LOT, or just ignores us when we ask her to do something. She either wants to do everything herself, or nothing herself.

HOWEVER, when she's choosing to be cheerful, SHE.IS.DELIGHTFUL. She says hilarious things, makes hilarious faces, gives hundreds of kisses and snuggles often. She adores her brother; anything princess related; gymnastics; watching Angelina Ballerina, Peter Pan, Charlie and Lola, and Kipper; playing dress-up, and wearing anything knit. She is completely potty trained during the day, and takes a nap most days.

She definitely keeps us all on our toes!

The Hunting Club and a Career Decision

While Brax, Mae, MiMi, Aunt Katey and I were swimming in Pink and Sparkles, Thomas and PaPa were being manly at the Hunting Club. Thomas got to spend Thursday night at their house, and then all Friday, Friday night and Saturday at the Hunting Club with just PaPa. They rode the four-wheeler and the tractor. Thomas got to use his plastic gun on the stand that real hunters use. He got to get up in a tree stand, and had a all around blast. He apparently told PaPa he wanted to stay for a week.

PaPa said that Thomas talked A LOT including asking "hard" questions. He also made a very important career decision. "PaPa, you don't need to retire because I'm going to become a dentist and take over your practice."

*This may not last, however, please do not think that I haven't already laid on the guilt about doing a good job brushing teeth. The words, "No one wants to go to a dentist with no teeth." may have already come out of my mouth.

Cindrella Party

Prepare yourself for a lot of pink and sparkles!

Yesterday was Mae's Cinderella 3rd birthday party. I was hoping for a tea party, but she wasn't interested. And since it was her birthday I let her pick.

Getting ready. I used my Cricut to make the castle invitations. I made Mae some new ruffle pants, and my friend Laura embriodered the shirt.

 

We had Cinderella's coaches and paper crowns (which MiMi cut out on her Cricut) to decorate.
The girls are (from left to right) Molly, Mae, Caitlyn, Allie, Padyn, Katherine and Allie Reid. Abby didn't want to be in the picture.

 

The girls played Pin the Shoe on Cinderella and ate Princess Cake Pops, Strawberry Mice and Magic Wands.

 

And then Mae got to open presents, with help from the other princesses of course.

 

We really did have a fun time. All the girls were very sweet, and Mae felt very special.

Funnies

Mae was going to play a game on my iPhone, so I asked her if her hands were clean. She looked at them, said, "Nope!", brushed them twice, held them up and said, "Ta Da!"

I set the clock in Thomas and Mae's room at PaPa and MiMi's house and told the kids not to come out till 7:00. It was "Fall Back" night, and apparently when they got up at 6:15 they told PaPa and MiMi that they're clock was going "awfully slow."

We went and picked out treats for our Operation Christmas Child boxes last week. Thomas was very intentional about the things he got for his box, which was melted my heart. On the way home we were talking about the reasons that people wouldn't have enough money for Christmas. One of the things I mentioned was war/oppression.
Thomas: I could probably kill them.
Kim: I don't think we really want to kill anyone.
Thomas: No, mom, really. With my karate skills, and if they got really close to me, and if they didn't have a sword or a gun or anything.
*I'm not exactly sure what "karate skills" Thomas is talking about, but he's never been to a class.

In the bathroom at the library.
Kim: Mae, are you finished or do you need to go #2?
Mae: (Sigh) I need a holiday.

Kim: When we get home we'll have to change those pants since they got a little wet.
Mae: But Mom, they're ever so soft.

Leaf Jumping

This afternoon I raked up some of our leaves for Thomas and Mae to jump. We have had a spectacular fall. Lovely, crisp weather, and the leaves have been GORGEOUS! Our leaves are all brown, but the kids still had a really fun time jumping-for about ten minutes. Then we had to stop because Thomas has bronchitis and can't stop coughing if he starts...

Trick-Or-Treat!

Last night the Dad, the Mom, Jake the Pirate and Tinkerbell went Trick-Or-Treating in a neighborhood where A LOT of our friends live. We started out at the Mayers and ended at the Mayers which is exactly what we did last year. We went with a big group and it was really fun! There a lot of boys for Jake the Pirate to run with, and Tinkerbell spent most of her time on the Dad's shoulders. (No Nap.) AND the weather was awesome!! Cool enough that those who weren't running (read: everyone except the boys) needed a long-sleeve shirt, but not so cold that anyone had to really bundle up. It was delightful. We're so thankful for community!

Mae's Halloween Program

Yesterday was the Halloween Program and Party at school. Basically the kids get dressed up, parade in, and sing regular songs with new "Fall" words. It's adorable to parents and grandparents and maybe nobody else. The group picture is all the 2's and 3's. Mae did a good job following along with Miss Leah. Brax even got to come!

Mae's Program Video

Nature Trail

This afternoon was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!! Sunny and high of 60. Just about perfect! So, we tried out a nature trail near our house. It was so so pretty! The kids had fun (although Mae kept saying, "I don't like the woods!" "I want to be out of the woods!") There was a 1.5 mile trail around a lake and the kids both made it really well. It's really close to our house, so I'm sure we'll be going again soon!


This picture is blurry, but I just had to include it. If Mae wasn't on Brax's shoulders she was making sure she was in front of Thomas. That girl is SOMETHING!

 

 

 

 

Team Pictures/Trophy

Thomas finished up his soccer season and loved it! We took team pictures the other day before his party and he got his "second real trophy!" Ah, the little things in life...

 

Pumpkins

We carved our pumpkins last week. Thomas has been begging since we picked his. His is a face with many eyes and Mae's is a crown. I didn't get a picture of him by his pumpkin, but there's Mae.

If I'm just really honest, carving pumpkins isn't that much fun with kids who can't cut yet. Just a lot of pumpkin guts. But, it will get more fun, right? They sure do love the finished product!!

 

Girls Weekend

Last weekend I went to Orlando and met Sally, Becky and Stefanie. It was to celebrate Becky's (slightly important)birthday, but also just to enjoy time together. We certainly did that! We ate, slept, shopped, watched movies, laughed and relaxed by the pool. It was pretty much all that a girls weekend should be!

 

 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch Brax was holding down the fort! Mae went to PaPa and MiMi's and Brax worked from home Thursday and Friday to he could take/pick up Thomas from school. Then he and Thomas went bowling Friday night and headed to MiMi and PaPa's on Saturday morning. Just in time to meet a HUGE pile of dirt. They were getting some major yardwork done so the kids got to play in A LOT of dirt!! And ride in a Bobcat! And visit with Aunt Katey. It was pretty much a win.win.win.

 

Daddy/Daughter Date

A few weeks ago Chick-Fil-A hosted a Daddy/Daughter date. Brax took Mae and she felt so special going on a date with Daddy! I remember my Dad taking me on dates and how special I always felt!! I hope they do it for a lot more years!