Christmas Decorating

So far this Christmas season has started off with a bang. We started to decorate the tree on Black Friday. Everyone is a year older therefore we are allowing a little more creativity with things. However, I quickly learned that somethings still haven't changed from last year. The first ornament James got his hands on he quickly decapitated and amputated it all in one smooth throw across the room. We had a moment of silence for Mickey and Minnie and mostly so Mommy could really take in what happened in a split second. That was the first and last ornament of the night. It was off to bed. The next day during James nap Ansley went outside to help me decorate the front yard. You can only guess that that ended within 10 minutes of starting. I new that I was pushing the limit when I decided to lay big bulb lights on the grass in front of the flower beds. I was hanging the wreath and I heard a pop and Ansley gasping. I turned around immediately and was some what relieved that she was fine but the new lights were not. She was climbing on the lights with her red cowboy boots (which was against the color of the day but I don't rule the shoes only the outfit) on and stepped on a light. That ended the outside decorating!

Right before James attempted to decorate

Trouble

The end of the decorating

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. My mom and I started off by hitting the mall on Wednesday at 9 am. I think this was the most successful shopping trip I have had in a long time. We spent a little under two hours in Macy's and I was able to cross off most of my Christmas list while saving over $100.

After my morning celebration it came to a halt that night when I had a feeling James might have an ear infection. Unfortunately, when he gets an ear infection he doesn't really run a fever. He had been up for two nights in a row but I thought he was pulling an early two year old attitude. Our day before Thanksgiving adventure began with a trip to the pet store. On the way to the store I decided to just make a quick stop at the minute clinic just to make sure I was right about his attitude. The one thing they don't tell you about the minute clinic is that if your child has had more than 4 ear infections in the same year they can't treat him. Grrr!!! The practitioner was very nice she checked his ears off the record so I could know if I needed to head to Kidstime. The first ear was nasty and the second one was bulging!! So off we went to Kidstime. You would think that a child with ears this gross would be sitting quietly and sluggish in his moms lap. Instead, he was so loud and high on life while all the other sick kids and parents were looking at me like I couldn't control this kid. Luckily, they took us fast. Good news is he on the mend yet blowing up numerous diapers along the way.

On to Thanksgiving...we celebrated Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house. The Turkey was juicy and the company was fun. The kids all enjoyed playing in each room of my parents house. We were lucky enough to have Bob's parents with us at my parents house. It is definitely a blessing when both sides of the family can share the holiday in one place.

On Saturday we met up with my brother and his family for a Thanksgiving Pizza. We attempted to take the 4 kids to get a picture with the grandparents at the Forum. Unfortunately, James was a wrecked because I was there and wasn't holding him (yes that is my fault. I take full responsibility). Caroline got some good pictures of the kids however this was the one I got.

Merry Christmas!!

Who needs a bed!

Ansley loves to play in her room. She loves her dollhouse which I would call it more of an animal house than dollhouse these days. She spends at least 30 minutes a night before she falls asleep playing in her doll house with her millions of figurines. Most nights she doesn't quite make it to her bed. Below are two pictures of her usual sleeping places.

Just another "House on the Market" Sunday

We have been getting some great traffic since we changed agents in August. I think there have been two weekends we haven't had anyone come by (which was so nice)! This past weekend was seeming to be very quiet. Saturday Bob went to the Georgia Tech game and the kids and I went to Sweet Apple for the pancake breakfast. Ansley was really excited to see where I work and where she will go to school next year. Her friend Addison didn't hesitate to introduce her to the school surroundings, unfortunately my daughter is scared of characters dressed up. That brought the tears!! Luckily, she forgot about it and enjoyed playing and seeing the school buses.
Once we finished the "yummy" pancakes as Ansley described them, we headed to my parents to play and chill out. My dad was a saint and watched James sleep so Mom, Ansley, Caroline, Frances, and I could go shopping. I didn't realize how much fun can be had at Pottery Barn kids. Ansley and Frances seriously thought they were in a big doll house! Guess where we will be on a rainy weekend.
Of course on Saturday I decided to not to do any cleaning of the house. Well you can guess what happened on Sunday. We came home from early service. Ansley took to her normal Sunday rest routine...art at the kitchen table. James fought taking a nap because he is a mommies boy and wanted mommy to put him down but I was to busy destroying my closet. Finally, Bob won the battle and got him to sleep. I had made a pile of clothes and coat hangers. It was an all day adventure. I finally found my cell phone under the deep pile of clothes only to find out that someone wants to see the house at 1:30. AHH!! It was 1:00..... saying no is not a choice. So I gather Ansley and Bob wakes up James and we pull the car into the driveway. Thank goodness for the DVD player in the car. We strapped the kids down and turned on a sing along. Then the madness began of throwing my entire closet into garbage bags and putting it into the car.   We cleaned the entire house within 30 minutes.We are good!! We headed to my parents to crash for what we thought was going to be an hour. Nope at 3:00 the people called and they were just on their way to our house. It is a good thing my parents enjoy the party we bring to their house. I am pretty sure we only saw Ansley when she was hungry. Grandma's house is an adventure! At this point it would be really nice for someone to just drop a bid our way. I don't care if we have to move during the holidays.
On a good note I started my Thyroid medicine on Friday and I beginning to feel a little bit better!! Each day I seem to feel a little bit better. Someone asked me how long I had been feeling this way and I said I can't remember I have two little kids I just thought it came with the job.
Special Note:
Please keep Bob Grandmother in your prayers she was in the hospital this weekend and has decided to start Hospice care. She is at peace with her cancer and is staying strong with her God!!

Karate!

Ansley got her white belt on Tuesday!

Poop

I think potty training James may bring a new name to Potty training!! I am not pushing potty training but Tank definitely is showing much interest in using the potty. He understands how to get pee out. I guess when you have a fun toy with you at all times it doesn't take time to figure out how the hose puts out fires. He just thinks it is so much fun to pee all over Ansley in the bathtub. Of course I try to be the parent and tell him not to do that but it is really hard not to laugh when they are both belly laughing. So Tuesday night James got out of the bathtub and sat on his froggy potty (of course it is in the middle of the kitchen). After a minute of standing there watching him roll his train into the wall, I sit down next to him. He finally pushes a little bit of pee out. So I praise him he gets up all proud of himself. To my surprise there is a tiny bit of poop. YAY!!! I turn my head to get a wipe next thing I know James is saying "mommy poop..yay." Yep I turn and see the poop on his index finger pointing at me. GAG!! I try and remain calm so he isn't upset. However, he just got out of a clean bath. I get him clean and send him to the living room to lay down and get a diaper on. I am literally 30 seconds behind him. I hear him scream. See him on the fireplace screaming poop. Awesome. He not only dropped a load on the fireplace but stepped on it. Yep that is great so much for that bath. All in all he is doing really well using the potty! I am sure we are in for some more potty fun!

Name Change

Ansley informed Bob and I that she has changed her name to Twenty. Yep, I am as stumped as you are. Not sure how she came up with this name but we are on day two of this name.  She has been very diligent practicing writing her new name.
Tomorrow I go to my first Parent-Teacher conference! I have been reading through her portfolio. It is amazing how much effort her teacher puts into this book. So excited!! It goes through her reading, math, movement, and social areas. I get to see work samples along with Annotated photos. Below are just two social samples.

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