Thanksgiving & Aby's Baptism

WOW!  It was a crazy week.  Lots of cooking, lots of family, lots of eating and best of all, lots of love.  This was my first year officially hosting Thanksgiving and I am happy to say it went great!  The turkeys were delicious, thanks to Martha Stewart and Andy's mad BBQing skills.  There was two 12lbs turkeys (one oven & one BBQ), dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, peas, and cranberry sauce.  Oh, lets not forget the delicious pies that followed, apple, pecan & two pumpkin.  I had some help from Andy, my Mother-in-law Jenny, and Claira. It was one of the best Thanksgivings I have ever had.
I am thankful for my husband, my children, my parents, my sister, my WHOLE family.  I am thankful that I have such a wonderful life. 

The Feast

Who knew you could wash that many dishes in 3 days.  I felt like I spent the whole time in the kitchen.  If I wasn't cooking and doing dishes it was my father-in-law Dennis washing and Andy loading and unloading the dishwasher.  I have no idea how Andy's grandmother, mother of ELEVEN, did it???
After the feast and events everyone relaxed and napped.  While others played tricks!

When Thanksgiving was all said and done, attention was turned to Abygail.  Her Baptism was Friday morning.  It was perfect. Everyone arrived here at the house and we walked over to the church.  It was a  quite, intimate event. 

May God Walk With Her Throughout Her Life

Father Farrell, GodFather Tim, and Godmother Lucie

Oh how I love my baby girl

Nana loves this baby girl too

And here is my World that I am so thankful for.

Bed Time Cookies

Andy was out of town last week and again this week.  For once Wil & I are dealing very well with his absence but its seems to be taking a toll on our little Claira.  She has been saying, "Mommy, hold me"  Of course my arms are usually full of Aby but I am trying my best.  I hate to admit defeat but my best is just not enough.  As one of my friends said the other night, "you can tell they only have 50% on their normal attention, they are all over me with hugs."  Though it was true and I had noticed, it still broke my heart.  
Like I said I am tying my best, so after all kids were in bed and Claira was still awake I let her get up.  I made two cookies (we have a huge tub of dough thanks to a the neighbor who bought it in a grandson's fundraiser, its neat you just make as many as you want) and we sat down to some cookies and milk.  

She really wanted to have her "hot coffee" on the coffee table so there we sat and I crossed my fingers she didn't spill, this was so against Daddy's rules  But since earlier in the day she dropped her diaper and pooped on the carpet then as I ran to grab her she giggled and peed, I figured what's a little spilled milk?

Anyhow we had a great little tea party.  Then we cuddled on the couch and read 3 books!  I let her flip the pages back and forth, back and forth, BACK AND FORTH!!!! We talked about that, and that, and that, and that, and that....it was Wonderful :)  
She is still singing in her bed, but this time when I put her in her crib she said "night, night, wove oou"  

"I Love you too, Sweat Heart"

Thankful for Monsters

William was an Indian in his preschools Thanksgiving program. It was so cute, the two year olds were the turkeys, the three year old classes were the Indians and the four year olds were the Pilgrims. He was rewarded for his good listening by his music teacher, Ms. Sue, and was given the privilege of being the Indian Chief. This meant that he got to be a drummer!

(He is the Chief with red sleeves and is drumming with is hands)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This is Wil and his best Indian buddy Bart, they both did such a good job.

After the performance they had a traditional feast, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. For some silly reason Wil was so excited about the mashed potatoes and gobbled them down. He was so sweet and shared with Claira, of which she loved the jellied cranberry and they both loved the turkey. I guess I'm not going to have to worry about them being hungry after thanksgiving, they apparently love it!
This is Wil's place mat he made for his spot at the feast. On it it says what they are thankful for. His buddy Bart said he was thankful for "God making the earth" Of course my sons said, "Monsters" Yes, you gotta love those little boys. So lets all be thankful for "Kelly's little Monsters!"

Wil's new bike

The son of Andy's co-worker had out grown this great bike and so thoughtfully cleaned it up and gave it to Wil. It is a Schwinn Stingray, Wil thinks its a new motorcycle. He pedaled around all yesterday and this morning at 6:30 he was bundled up and out in racing around in the frosty hours before school.

The Handoff

Its going to be a long time before he looses that smile

During this time of giving it was a great lesson for both boys.  I had just been talking to Wil about giving up some of the toys he has outgrown.  Today he was happy to give a little boy his old plastic tonka truck that he has grown out of and now plays with a big metal one. It is so sweet to see them grow into such thoughtful little boys.  
Here is the front of his Thank You card, its a picture of his new bike!

He is getting so good at writing his name!

Look at her go!

For the past two months the neighbor girls and I have been working on teaching Claira how to pedal her tricycle.  And to my shock and amazement she put her helmet on last night, climbed on her bike and pedaled away, like she had been doing it for weeks.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Annual Pictures

William Thomas

4 years old

Claira Elizabeth

2 years old

Abygail Kathryn 

2 Months

15 seconds of fame!

William and Claira are in Southern Mississippi Living Magazine! Page 146, top right corner. It was from when we went to Lynn Meadows Discovery Center to see Bob The Builder.

VOTE!

W- "Mommy what did Daddy call about?"
K- "He wanted to know where our polling place was?"
W- "Polling Place?"
K- "Yeah, its the place you go to vote for the new President."
W- "Can I take my toys there when I go vote?"
K- "Sweetie, you can take a toy but you don't get to vote?"
W- "WHY!?!?"
K- "You have to be 18 to vote."
W- "WHAT? How come they don't let 4 year old vote? Maybe next year they'll let me vote."
K- "Maybe"

I thought it was a cute conversation...and its never too early to discuss the importance of voting with your kids. He watched some of the debates with us too and told me it was a boring...I have to agree with that statement.

Don't forget to vote!

William turns 4

Four years ago when I became a mother I had no idea what this truly meant nor did I know I was going to enjoy it as much as I do. This little boy can make me die in laughter and make me so frustrated I want to scream...but just as he grows so do I.  I love him so much!
Yesterday he had his 'knight' party. He was very easy to please this year. There was maybe 8 kids he wanted to invite and he just wanted it in the backyard. I think his favorite part was when they 'slayed' the dragon pinata or it might have been all the sword fighting he got to do with Mr. Tim and Bart.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This morning thanks to daylight savings he was up playing in the playroom by about 5:15, Claira followed at about 5:50 and Andy was ready for work just after 6. With all this extra morning time Wil had fun opening Rescue Heroes from his sisters, a HUGE book from Papa and cards from others. Even after all this he had time to play with the new toys, watch his new Rescue Heroes DVD, eat left over Pizza for breakfast, and we still had time go to the store to pick up some flowers and muffins for one of the office ladies who's birthday is today too.
Today at school he had a special Dora and Diego snack in celebration of his and Megan's, one of his good friends, birthdays. I also arranged his Spanish teacher to sing "Felis Cuplianos" to him and Megan.  When he got in the car he said, "Mommy they sang Happy Birthday in Spanish AND English!"  

Now that he is home my Mom, Nana, called on ichat and she gave him her gift...a pirate ship!  He exclaimed as he opened it, "just what I asked for!"  

Tonight he has a few more gifts to open and his Great Aunt Cata & Big Erik bought him a pizza to be delivered by the pizza man, this should surprise him and make an end to a wonderful birthday!  

Andy's 28!

I think I can speak for Andy in saying he had a great day. The morning was full of gifts and a wonderful few cups of coffee made with his new percolator and coffee grinder.  
Mid morning was filled with honey-dos getting ready for Williams party, which turned out to be a big hit. After Wil's celebration and naps the spotlight was turned back onto Andy.
Friday the kids and I took Andy to the new local cheese shop, Epicure. What a wonderful place and a very nice owner. He let Andy taste all the cheeses he wanted. Almost an hour later we left the shop with a little bag of delicious goodies made of moldy cow milk and bacteria filled goat milk. It sounds gross with you call it what it is but it was AWESOME cheese. We enjoyed this cheese with our very good friends Rachel and Glen. They have just returned home from a wonderful trip to Italy and Paris  and Rachel volunteered to make an authentic Italian five course meal for Andy. I can't thank her enough, it was delicious. We began with Andy's cheese and spicy salami, enjoyed some pasta, melt in your mouth pork roast, a salad with a homemade honey mustard dressing to die for (i think it was the authentic olive oil). The feast was concluded with a third bottle of wine and some tiramusiu. I'm a little jealous I didn't get this royal treatment on my birthday.
After the big kids went to bed Andy finished his birthday by giving Aby a bath and look at the smile. Now that is a happy baby!

Halloween

Halloween did not go as planned.  I left with Aby in my arms, Claira holding my hand talking my ear off, and William running up ahead in pure excitement.  At the third house we went to we met the first group of kids.  This group was nothing scary, so I thought.  Claira started screaming, "NO SPIDYMAN! SCARRRRYYYY!!!!"  She insisted she was "all done, go home!"  So with her in my left arm gripping to me in total fear and Aby in my other dead asleep I walked back down the street with William telling Claira, "its ok, I'll share my candy... I'll bring you back lots... their just pretend Claira".  After taking Wil out around the block we came back only to find Claira yelling, "NO SPIDYMAN!"  every time the doorbell rang or someone knocked.  Poor little girl, and poor Daddy.  Andy was ready to call it a night by the time the sun had set.

By the end of the night she was asking if it was a fairy or a scary man?  If it was a fairy she would come running to help Wil fill their bag with treats.  Maybe next year she'll come trick-or-treating.