THS Holiday Party

Last Saturday, Annie and Pa watched the kids and I headed to Charlotte to join Brian and the THS crew for a nice dinner out and some fun.  The guys had been there most of the week meeting and planning for the upcoming year.  Earlier in the day they had done a ropes course that after lots and lots of stories sounded like to me was a mix of Super Mario Brothers and Donkey Kong!

We had a FABULOUS dinner at Morton's and then headed out to Howl at the Moon at the EpiCenter.  It was a really fun night out, just sorry that I forgot we had our camera until the end of the night...

 Lisa, Lizzie, Robin

 Robin, Brian, Lizzie, Blaine

Kevin and Lisa

Visiting Santa

After naps today, we got on our Christmas shirts and headed to get Brian from work for a special treat of mall dinner, visiting Santa and a cookie treat.  The moment I got everyone buckled and came back in for the bags, it started raining like all get out.  On the way I hear a wind advisory on the radio, a stop light is on the fritz and blinking... this is not the trip I envisioned.  I expected some hurdles, but was expecting them at the mall!

So, once we were inside we ate quickly.  Naylor and Lalon made a few laps around the Food Court area and then we headed to Santa's area.  There was a tiny bit of a line, so Whitley Ann and I held a spot while Brian, Naylor and Lalon went to ride the carousel and some cars to help pass the time.  Once it was our turn everyone went up, although Lalon was a bit hesitant to sit on Santa's lap.  That was okay though, since they were full with two other kids, so she just stood in front.  We got a few pictures - not the biggest smiles ever, but no tears, so I count that as a WIN!

Dear Santa...

Last night after dinner we wrote letters to Santa so he'd know what the kids wanted.  With some prompting they told us what they wanted and then Brian and I drew pictures so the kids could understand it.  Then Brian took the kids and their notes out to the mailbox to send the letters to Santa... 

here's a picture of how excited Lalon was about the process.

 and Naylor showing off his letter:

 and to the mailbox they go!

Naylor asked for a bicycle and a helmet to keep him safe.  Some BIG boots, he emphasized big quite a few times.  Some books, movies, shoes, socks and gloves...

 Lalon asked for a camera or computer, some pretty dresses, books and movies, and maybe a doll although that wasn't on the list, she said, "a baby" later on.

Whitley Ann gets some teeth!

I was feeding her yesterday morning and heard the tiniest little "clink" on the spoon.  I took a peek and there were the cutest two little bottom teeth coming in so pretty.  Yet another milestone that she has beaten her big brother and sister in, just by a week or two, but it still counts.  I think we've found the overachiever in the family!

 She is always so, so happy!

I sure do love those blue eyes.  

O Christmas Tree...

 Running as hard as they could - they loved it.

Brian left today to be in Charlotte for the week, so we made an extra effort to go pick out our Christmas tree last night.  It had been raining earlier in the afternoon so Naylor and Lalon were able to find the biggest puddle in the history of the world and jumped in it about 72 times.  We were the only folks there at the time and even across the lot I could hear the sound of splashes and giggles.  They were soaking wet when it was all said and done, but they had the best time and we were going straight home for bed, so why not let them have at it?

I zeroed in on the perfect tree right away, but after a few laps everyone else came back to agree with me.  So we loaded it up (Naylor and Lalon continued to puddle jump) and headed home for a nice warm shower.

The kids are down for their naps now, so I'm going to get the lights on the tree real quick so they can help decorate as soon as they wake up.  Also, I hope tonight to catch up on some blogging - we've been so busy having fun over the past month that I haven't had time to document it!!

 Whitley Ann thinks I should stop taking pictures and go get those hoodlums jumping in the puddles!

Is she not just the cutest thing??

We're on a boat!

As we continue celebrating 35 years of Brian, we went out with our family and friends for a sushi dinner.  Brian loves, loves, loves getting a boat when we get sushi, so I was hoping that we'd get enough folks to join us so that we could get the boat for 10.  And we did!!  It was delicious and a good night with friends.  Afterwards, we were just across from Tony's Oyster Bar, so we had to drop in and see what was going on.

It was a fun time doing a little dancing and just having a great time with our friends.  We are so blessed with awesome friends and amazing family.

Here's a link with more pictures from the evening.  Brian's 10 person boat sushi dinner

Happy Halloween and Happy 35th Birthday Brian!

 Brian carried the patio umbrella to keep everyone dry - too funny, but it worked.

We had a great day for Halloween.  The kids and I made some breakfast and delivered to Brian in bed where he ate and then opened some presents and was off to work for the day.  Naylor and Lalon spent some time in the morning decorating some cookies with frosting and sprinkles and boy did they have fun.  I'll have to keep that on my list of things to do because it was entertaining for some time!

Late in the afternoon it started raining and so we were planning to just skip out on the trick-or-treating, but then as we were eating dinner some folks started arriving, so we decided to hustle and make one token stop so the kids could do their thing and we get a picture.  It was fun, but wet so we came back home.  Naylor and Lalon had just as much or maybe even more fun passing out candy.  It was so cute to hear them say "trick-or-treat" and "Happy Halloween" to all of the kids as they passed the candy along.

Once we were back in, we had some birthday cake.  It was my first attempt ever to make a 10 layer chocolate cake and it was pretty good for a first try!  I'm not sure how those ladies get their layers so thin, but this one was pretty darn great and I'll try it again - maybe around the holidays.

Brian has been helping Blake (our good buddy and neighbor) with his Trail of Terror, but there was too much rain to spook the kids last night without electrocuting someone, so it was postponed.  I think Brian was a little disappointed in that, but they are going to try again tonight once it's dry.  I think he had a pretty good birthday, aside from getting old and all... ;-)

 When I went to pass out some Halloween candy, Whitley Ann snuck some birthday cake!