New Year's Eve Baby!

Happy New Year's Eve to me!  My beautiful niece, Hannah Noel Fowler was born early this morning, holding strong at 9 lbs. and 21 in. filled with love.  I don't know if I am going to be able to wait a whole month to bite those cheeks.  I am so proud of my little sister and brother-in-law and cannot wait to watch (and learn) from them as they become parents.  Happy Birthday Miss Hannah!

I think I will be her favorite aunt, I mean we do share December birthdays and the same middle name!

10 months!

This monkey was 10 months on Christmas Eve.  It took until today to finally get a picture where he was not crying from a fever, coughing his little lungs out or sporting snot down his chin.  Nothing is worse than your little one being under the weather.  If something is going around, Nash gets it.  Maybe this means his immune system will be strong and he won't be as sick next year, right?  When he is not sick he likes to walk.  Not so much in his walker but while holding my hands.  If he isn't walking he likes me to hold him while I am walking.  Good thing he covers me with mouth wide open slobbery kisses and shares all his stocking candy.  

Dirty-thirty

Someone is the big 3-0 today.  I wish I could say I don't feel 30, but some days I feel more like 33.  I think people feel bad for those of us who have birthdays around Christmas, so instead of getting 'combined' presents I actually get extra presents and celebrations and cakes and drinks and loves.  This birthday was fabulous, complete with a little 'surprise' birthday dinner, and I hate surprises.  But I loved every minute of this one, well done my love.

 Lord have mercy on my next thirty years... 

(good ol' Tim McGraw, I couldn't help myself)

Merry Christmas

 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

santa!

Jackson went to a Santa Pancake supper this weekend with his dad, grandparents and cousins.  Nash and I had to stay behind because of a lingering cough, runny nose, fever Christmas festivas.  Jackson told me he asked Santa for a guitar but he did not want to sit in his lap ever again!  

Let up on that tight grip Santa!

Just how many cookies can I fit in these cheeks...

cookies!

Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

1/2 bag mini pretzel twistsd
2 sticks of butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1 bag of chocolate chips
Sea salt

Line a pan with aluminum foil and spread pretzels evenly over the bottom Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Set aside, and melt butter and sugar in a medium sauce pan on medium heat.  Bring to a boil, and stir continuously until mixture sticks to the bottom of the pan and forms a smooth caramel.  Let it bubble and get nice and thick before you pour the caramel evenly over the pretzels.

Place sheet in oven for 5 minutes, remove, sprinkle chocolate chips over the top, and place back into the oven for 1 more minute.  Spread the chocolate around with a spatula until it is mostly melted, then sprinkle generously with sea salt. Let the pan sit on counter top for about 5 minutes, and then place in the freezer to harden for at least two hours.

So the picture does this Christmas bark no justice.  Just trust me, make some now and try to not eat it all!  I made some for a 'Cookies & Cocktails' get together.  They almost went faster than the wine.  For something a little more kid friendly how about Candy Cookie Cones. Yep flip over a waffle cone and turn it into a Christmas tree.  Jackson is pretty disappointed in my lack of Christmas tree 'decor.'

We need M&M's! Tat-Tat has M&M's!

Christmas Performance

Jackson has been practicing his Christmas songs for a few weeks now.  He has been telling me about his 'moosicc' and singing jingle bells, wisp you a muerry christmas and red nose reindeer.  Apparently no one told him that he would be singing this in front of an audience.

His Uncle asked him this evening how did his singing go. He said 'ohh noo I did not sing.  I did not sing anything.'  Maybe next year.

I told Nash about what happened.  In true brotherly fashion he thought it was pretty hilarious.

Jackson said if you want to see something so 'hilarious' take note of those big gap teeth.

snoozin

Every Thursday Grand-mama comes over for an afternoon visit.  I usually hit up Target for some alone time.  (yep Target is my go to 'me' time, you know you do it too)  They all 'play' and get all their 'energy' out. Last week I came home early to a very quiet house.  I figured they must be outside and then I discovered this...

Grandmama got caught.

welcome back

Jackson and Nash have welcomed us back loud and clear.  Nash won't let me out of his eye-site and Jackson keeps requesting 'sumfin special' to do?!  They woke early again this morning and in a sleep-deprived mishap I pulled out the pots and pans.  Anyone want to join me for a few cups of coffee? 

  Rise and shine

And give God the glory, gloryRise and shineAnd give God the glory, gloryRise and shineAnd give God the glory, gloryChildren of the Lord

vacation!

Ohhh Mexico...  Charlie and I took a post 5 year wedding anniversary trip to Mexico.  All-inclusive goodness at the Excellence Rivera Cancun.  All inclusive food, all inclusive drinks, all inclusive sleep, I repeat, all inclusive sleep!  We booked through cheapcaribbean.com which I highly recommend.  We were there 4 nights, just long enough to start aching for my babies.  We also had to get out of there before the Mayans really started celebrating for December 21st, the end of the Mayan Calendar!  The boys were in good hands with grandparents doing more crafts and baking and venturing than I will do with them all year... Glad they still like me!

Christmas Cards

I love Christmas cards.  Once a year we get some real mail!  The past 2 years of Christmas cards have been a huge success (2010) (2011).  This year not so much.  I am wanting to get the boys picture together, in Christmas gear, maybe smiling?  This is what I am working with so far...

Get me out of here, my brother is crazy!

Now mom you know Jackson is not gonna look at the camera while Dinosaur Train is on. 

Hey, stop grubbin on my puffs!

Someone please help me.

What you mean we can't eat the lights?!

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

 

workin'

 

 

We got an entertainment center for our den.  I did not know just how bad our den looked until we got this, wow.  Slowly but surely this house is coming together.  Jackson was just as excited as me about this new cabinetry.  He came down from a nap one afternoon and saw it spread out on the floor.  He started climbing on everything and when I told him to get off he told me, "It is time to use your imagination."  I obliged.  We decided to wait until he went to bed before we put it together, but he just wasn't having it.  Maybe we have ourselves a future construction worker.  He is very serious about what he does.    

crafting

Dang pinterest.com has got me thinking I can get all crafty again.  How about a Christmas wreath hand print plate for the grandparents, should take no time at all, ha.  How quickly I was reminded of why I don't do paint or play-doh inside my house.  A few tears and a few baths later, I think they turned out pretty good.  We used Jackson's hands and Nash's feet, hence the picture of Jackson painting his feet was also a surprise to me when I walked in the kitchen.

 

An apple a day...

keeps the doctor away.  I hope!  Nash is feeling back to his normal self after a yucky cough and runny nose over Thanksgiving.  We have been drinking lots of milk and loading up on fruit and veggies.  He loves an apple.  He throws his hands up and down when he sees me getting one for him and has a meltdown when I take a huge chunk out of his mouth.  

Just let me eat my apple lady...

2 1/2 YEARS!

This little (big) boy also turned 2 1/2 this past Saturday.  He is a funny little dude that does not miss a beat.  We have to really watch what we say around him because he will repeat it.  And if he can't think of anything to say he just makes something up.  Currently he says 'your a boggy mommy!' 'baby Nashy is a gamer!'  I don't know what boggy or gamer means and I am not sure that I want to know, but I admittidly have started saying it myself.  

boggy - gamer - time!

9 months!

Height - 29.21" (82%)

Weight - 22lbs. 6 oz. (87%)

Head - 19.13" (100%**)

True story - Every single time Nash has a doctor's appointment they measure his head at least 3 times.  First the nurse does it and plugs it into the computer.  Then we look at the 'growth chart' with his doctor and his head measurement is literally off the chart.  She says that it must have been entered wrong on the computer and we will re-measure.  I smile knowing that it is the correct measurement.  They measure again and say it is a little smaller but still off the charts.  The doctor measures it herself and smiles.  Well it doesn't look that big.  We got big heads around here.  When Charlie and I dated in high school a friend said if we ever had kids they would need a kick-stand for their head.  Yep we got big heads around here but they don't get any cuter than this.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

A turkey for me, a turkey for you...

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

afternoons

Everyday when Jackson and Nash wake-up from their afternoon siesta we head outside.  With it getting dark so early and babes that like to stay up so late we have to burn off some energy while we can.  Around 4:00 I can usually count on a mass text from a neighborhood mom wondering if we should head to the park, ride bikes, jump on the trampoline, etc.  Jackson hops on his bike and Nash into the Bjorn and we are off.  This is my favorite part of the day.  My boys 'playing' by my side, some adult time and knowing that daddy will be home soon.

"Don't worry it's just me mommy."

''Just ya'll wait till my mom let's me down!" 

workin'

I went to go brush my teeth this morning.  I took Nash with me.  I was gone 2 whole minutes.  Jackson went downstairs, got the hammer out of the tool box, came back upstairs, climbed up the couch on to his kitchen set with the hammer (?) and took down some alphabet letters.  He shouted out to me 'I do work mama!'  That is when I glanced down the hall to see this...  I repeat I was gone 2 whole minutes.

"I need some nails and batteries for this."

cheeks

What you got in those cheeks boy?  Nash is over his pureed fruit and veggies.  He grabs for any and everything that anyone else is putting in their mouth.  His favorites are apples, brown sugar dinosaur oatmeal, veggie soup, ice cream and leaves.  He is also finally taking a bottle like a champ and sometimes I even sneak formula in it.  Although I would love to hang out with him 24/7 it is nice to be away for more than 3 hours every once in a while.  We are still working on sleeping through the night.  One thing is for sure Nash will not give up easily on the things he wants in life!  

game day

Jackson went to his first Carolina basketball game this weekend with his cousin Farris, grand-daddy, and 'my daddy.'  Highlights included the bus ride to the Dean Dome,  the popcorn and the bus ride back home. Go Tarheels!

Sweet cousins!

I wonder if Jackson ever actually turned around...

dinner discussions

Nash had some very important things to discuss last night at dinner.

sweet boy

Upon seeing me with my hair down and not pulled back in a pony tail.

Jackson - 'Why you do your hair like dat mommy?'

Me - 'I decided to dry it and wear it down for dinner with daddy.'

Jackson -'Oh, you look so nice mommy.  Have fun.  See you sooooon. Lub you!'

cold time

We have been passing around some snotty sore throat nastiness around here.  Jackson gets a runny nose from school, comes home and repeatedly coughs in Nash's face, who wants me to hold him all day and believe it or not we all end up sick.  Please tell me this does not continue all winter long.  I guess it is time to pull out the crock pot and make some chicken noodle soup, or this chocolate-chip-brownie cake because I am pretty sure it will make anyone feel better.

'pick me up lady!'

vote

I am proud to be an American on this election day and every day.  How awesome is it that we have the freedom to go out and proudly vote for whomever we want.  I hope to raise my kids as smart independent thinkers that respect the opinions of others but also fight for what they believe in. It won't be long until they are screaming 'you gotta fight, for your right, to party!'

trim up

I hated to cut such an awesome comb-over at such a young age but it looks like Nash is happy with the results!  He looks so much older.

Finally I can see the tv!

costume change

I always thought Halloween in college was a wild night, turns out dressing up as Franzia boxed wine and walking on Franklin Street has got nothing on month long Halloween festivities with kids.  You have parades and festivals, candy highs and candy lows, cute costumes and big spit ups, pumpkin carving and pumpkin painting, the list goes on and on.  I was planning to dress up Jackson as a football player and Nash as his football, but our neighbor brought over a Spiderman costume and that was all she wrote...

Spiderman on the way to dinner. It was still the month of September.

Hanging with my friend Van at a Halloween/Football/Birthday Party Tailgate.

Apparently the perfect pumpkin had rolled under the bushes.

Thanks to Aunt Sarah on the idea of painting a pumpkin instead of carving one, much safer, not so much cleaner.

Before the neighborhood parade and carnival.  I didn't want to give up the football idea and I will use any excuse to dress up in comfy pants and a jersey.  Peyton Manning!

Spiderman getting his first tattoo.  He was a little embarassed by his choice of a pumpkin instead of a ghost.  

Pre trick-or-treating pizza date.

Trick or Treat!

What Nash ended up wearing on Halloween, very appropriate

'Now we go to 'nother house daddy? Dis is awesome!' -Jackson