Nights of Lights

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is going to Lake Lanier to see “The Magical Nights of Lights” Christmas light display.  It is something that we all look forward to.

After we get through the gate, we let the kids sit in our laps while we drive through the park.  They love getting to do that!

We were able to get some pictures with the Coca-Cola bear – a true Atlanta Christmas icon!

After we picked out our family ornament (which I never took a picture of…grrr!), we went outside to the firepit to roast some marshmallows. 

Mikayla had a lot of fun stuffing her face full of “roasted” marshmallows.   Mikayla is not much of a true (in my eyes, at least) roaster.  She likes to stick it in the fire for about two seconds – I’m not sure it even warms it!  She likes there to be NO black on there ( in my opinion, the more charred the better!).  Oh well, she has fun and that is all that matters.

Now, Gavin LOVES to roast the marshmallows, but he will not eat them ( or much of anything else, for that matter! ).  Again, as long as he is having fun!

I love creating these kind of memories with our growing family – I hope this tradition is one that carries on for a long time.

Thanksgiving Programs and Feasts

Sorry I am still so behind – I am hoping to be caught up by the end of January!

I had so much fun watching both of my children in the Thanksgiving programs this year.

Gavin was a little turkey – and a very cute one at that!  This was his first official program at preschool.  He did such a great job!

Sorry for the less than stellar picture quality – it’s hard to get a really good picture in the Sanctuary at the preschool.

Afterwards the preschool had their traditional Thanksgiving “Feast”….at 10:00am!  They even had food for the parents – I didn’t think I could stomach chicken nuggets that early! Ha!

Me and my sweet little boy.

 

Later that week, Mikayla’s Kindergarten held their own Thanksgiving Feast and program.  Mikayla was dressed as an Indian.  I think by the end of the day she wished she had picked to be a Pilgrim.  She felt that the grocery bag vest was too uncomfortable – I thought she was cute!

Their feast was actually during their lunch time.   It was a good meal, too!  They had turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, plenty of veggies, bread and some very yummy desserts!  Gavin and I snacked on some bread and cookies.

Mikayla loved having her brother there at her feast – it was a little difficult on my end.  It is definitely much easier when I am able to leave him at home with Jeremy.  The room can get crowded pretty quickly and Gavin can be a little impatient at times. 

This is Mikayla with her classmates singing some Thanksgiving songs.  Doesn’t her teacher look fun?  Well, she is!

After their program, the children split up into groups and did some fall and Thanksgiving crafts.  We have some very creative and hardworking Room Moms.

Mikayla showing off some of her handiwork.

I’m so grateful that I am able to be at all of these school functions with my little ones – it definitely makes me a happy mommy!

First Field Trip!

Back at the beginning of November, Mikayla’s Kindergarten went on a field trip to the INK Children’s Museum.  I was so happy that I was able to chaperone and go with her.  It was so fun to see her with her friends and teachers.

Mikayla and a friend of hers milking a cow.

Mikayla and some of the other students cleaning their teacher, Mrs. Brown’s, teeth.

Mikayla getting a great hair style from a little boy in her class.

Playing with the musical instruments.

They had a very old (like probably early 20s) fire truck that had a little Dalmatian in the front.  Mikayla really enjoyed this.

Mikayla driving the police cruiser.

I was so grateful that I had the opportunity to share this “first” with Mikayla – I will never forget it!

Halloween

This year, I had to work Halloween night (the downside of being a nurse).  So that I could see my cuties in their costumes we went down to my parent’s house for a little dinner and I left for work just before they went trick-or-treating.

Buzz Lightyear

Super Girl!

My little ones with their cousin, Andrew.  He’s a cute little raccoon isn’t he.  My sister made the costume!

I am not big into dressing up, but when you work at a children’s hospital it is kind of required.  So I donned some butterfly wings and lots of glittery hairspray.  I loved getting hugs from my little trick-or-treaters before heading into work.

Halloween Parade

This year, at the preschool, they decided to have their annual Halloween parade outside.  Gavin was having a great time showing off his Buzz costume…until he caught sight of Jeremy and I.  After that, I had to finish the parade along with him. 

This is Gavin holding on to Jeremy for dear life!

Afterwards, his class had a little party and then they went trick or treating to all of the classrooms.   He almost stopped after he got that first sucker.  He’s easily pleased!

Pumpkin Patch

We made our annual trip to our local Pumpkin Patch shortly before Halloween.  It was unseasonable warm which was nice, but it didn’t feel like a good fall pumpkin patch visit.  We had a great time though. 

This year they had some of their animals at the end of the covered area where the pumpkins are.  They were very calm animals that seemed to tolerate all of the attention.  Gavin loved the goats and Mikayla was mostly intrigued with the cow.

Mikayla cooperated quite nicely with letting me take a “pumpkin” picture….Gavin, yeah, not so much.

We went on the hayride around the farm – the kids always love this activity.

I just love these two little people!

About half way through the hayride, the let you stop at their pond that is full of very big catfish.  They have food that you can give them which just brings the catfish all around the dock.  There is definitely no question as to what makes those catfish so big – they probably get fed about 20 times a day! 

See! They do love each other!

I always love these opportunities that we have to go on a fun family outing.  With our busy schedules, it doesn’t happen as often as I would like.  That just makes me appreciate these moments that much more. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Gavin!

Well, now that the craziness of the holidays is over and I am starting to feel human again, I am going to attempt to get caught up on how we rounded out 2010. 

On October 22nd, my sweet boy turned 3!  He has grown and changed so much over the past year – it just amazes me.  One year ago, he said maybe 5-10 words – now I can’t get him to stop talking!   He is such a fun and energetic little boy.  He brings so much joy to our family and we love him so incredibly much!

Gavin had a breakfast of blueberry muffins – he just LOVES “cake.” 

The best close up picture that I could get of the birthday boy at his party.  He was just too busy to sit still.

My crazy and sweet little kiddos.

Gavin starting to open his presents…..

He got some Buzz and Woody Potato Heads from his Aunt Ashley.  The were a big hit!  (Almost too the point where he wouldn’t open anything else!)

We were able to encourage him however to move on to the others.

This is another grouping of some of his faves.  He got some Buzz wings from his Grandma.  Jeremy, Mikayla and I got him a Buzz and Woody that talk.  He LOVES them and still plays with him daily.

Birthdays with my children are always bittersweet.  I just love to see them grow and develop into little people….I just wish it wasn’t so fast!

Fun side note for personal documentation….it was the very next day that we found out we were pregnant!  I woke up the next morning throwing up.  I knew there was a possibility I was pregnant, but it was still a little early for a home pregnancy test.  I went to the doctor’s office where I found out I had a kidney infection (the cause of the vomiting) and that I was pregnant!  It was a pretty nice way to find out I was sick…I just didn’t seem to care as much anymore.