life

We have had a lot of fantastic things going on around here.  I have some pictures and lots of good memories that I want to keep forever on this little blog of mine.  I think it will be my New Years Resolution, spending some quality time on this thing - kind of lame - but I enjoy it.  A teeny-tiny bit of 'me' time.  Right now our house is an absolute disaster and contrary to what it may seem I don't do well with chaos and clutter.  So first we make the lists, then we start the cleaning etc., and then I will blog.  Maybe I should make this a 2020 resolution instead... 

'Nothing to see here.' -Winnie

Christmas Carols

Our first ever neighborhood Christmas Carols concert. It may be my new most favorite tradition ever.  I am super proud of these boys and LOVE that they enjoy taking piano with Mr. James.

Santa, I know him!

A Santa tip - the real Santa is at Bass Pro Shop in Cary.  He is f-r-e-e and even lets you take your own pictures and gives you a picture.  He also has a Winter wonderland Workshop temporarily set-up in the store and a gigantic fish tank.  It is pretty much amazing.  We went before 5:00 (also a tip) and had no line at all.  Everyone gave Santa some good ideas - Drums, X-Box and a Golf Cart - even Santa laughed.  Ho! Ho! Ho!

                                       

Winnie was a little skeptical and wasn't about to smile.  But she did sit politely in his lap, ready to sucker punch that gut if needed.  

Theo is all in.  He wanted to write his letter all by himself and did not leave anything off.  One hour later and he put it in Santa's mailbox.

Will you be my Christmas Tree?

Theo's preschool had the cutest Christmas Performance last week.  Theo is quite the ham but I wasn't sure how he would do in front of a real audience.  Nailed it!

A surprise visit from his #1 fan!

Let it snow!

Ohhh the weather outside is frightful...

I was supposed to be on a flight to Palm Beach today.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Getting some serious use out of our fancy sled we got from grand-daddy a few years ago!

Theo loved it this year.  Straight shedding it.

Bros.  Lot of bros.

Oh Christmas Tree!

The picking of the perfect Christmas tree.  It always turns our just as I had imagined.  

So holly.  So jolly.

A little Sunday morning tree decorating. The FIRST ornament taken out of the box was a glass ball with a picture of the church we got married in on it.  Winnie snatched it up, 'A BALL,' launched it across the room as we all pleaded 'nooooo.'  And this is why we can't have nice things.  Not even nice things that we had before kids.

School Pictures!

Winnie's Preschool had school pictures taken outside by a for real photographer.  I dressed her in a smocked dress my Nana made me and did all the funny faces and jumps I could possibly do.  She wasn't smiling.  Not today.

Theo though, my goodness he looks like a handsome teenager.  I attempted no jersey, but this sums him up - a jersey wearing, cast toting, always smiling goob.

A pic of a blurry pic.  Lifetouch still does public school pictures, for better or for worse.  Jackson, a third grader, sighhhh.

And a Nashy all up in First grade.

free!

Look! Hurry! Quick! Four kids, no casts & no stitches!  Theo had a serious posse for his cast removal.  The doctor said his arm healed up perfectly and she hopes we have a good Christmas, because all good boys and girls wait till after Christmas before having to go to the doctor.  Please.

thankful

We had a different Thanksgiving this year - no new traditions that I plan to stick with.  ;) I got to hang with these healthy, happy, fun loving kids and really is there much else you can want out of this life.  We missed daddy (but we didn't feel sorry for him - Vegas - to cheer on the Tarheels among other things) and lots of cousins but made the best of it and ate all the sides.  Does anyone really love the turkey?!

Jackson is 8 but looks 13.  He loves sports and stats and food and a good joke.  He still loves his mama and I still scratch his back and his butt at night - shh, don't tell.

Nash is 6 and has two front teeth missing to prove it.  He loves all the sports, is still so loud, but his teacher says he is shy.  She said it makes her day when she gets that handsome grin, I know, I know.

Theo is 4.  He is a smart, handsome little turd, that rarely slows down.  He has grown very fond of a little girl named Winnie whom he likes to show off - whether she likes it or not.  

Winnie is 1 1/2.  She is a happy girl but makes your work for it.  She has taken a big loving for her daddy and will often scream with joy when he gets home but then give him a frown to keep him guessing.  It's what us ladies do.

Chef Theo

He calls himself 'Chef one arm Theo' and helps with dinner every night since he can't play football with his brothers.  And it has been frustratingly awesome.  

Football Saturday!

It has been a long long long time since we have had a free Saturday.  We were able to fill it up quickly  with making subs (daddy-o), tailgating (Winnie-girl) and football (bros)!  I tagged along for all of it.  And the Tarheels finally got a W!

The Queen, ruling the tailgate scene.

Well, well, well, someone likes the 'Blue Zone' seats.

Bros & football.  All day, err-day.

No stopping Theo, for better or worse.  Might ask to keep the cast on a few extra weeks.

Saturday night lights with my girl.  It was a long day and she kept right on rolling. So many snacks.

All I want for Christmas...

I mean, who doesn't love a good snaggle tooth smile?!  Nash lost his two front teeth (they were dangling) and is all smiles.  He even has a little lisp and it is too perfect.  First graders are the best!

Turkeys

It is about that time! Christmas card pictures and big Thanksgiving lunches.  We started this year off early and strong with lunch at the Farris house with our cousins and an annual porch picture. All eyes open AND looking this way.  Success! 

Reunion!

It has been years in the making and it finally happened, a good ol Tarheel reunion.  All of my best friends came to town this past weekend to hang out at our favorite spots, meet lots of new babies and love on each other like we never missed a beat.  That is the great thing about best friends, it is so easy, I am the luckiest with this crew. 

No kid dinner at Carolina Inn!

A walk by the Chi O house where we all lived at one point and got our learned on...

The big bros playing football.  Heaven.  Hoping for some future roommates that can handle crazy moms that spy on them, have brunch at Top of the Hill and afternoon beers at Bob's.  Just thinking here...

Oh Winnie.

LOOK at all these sweet babes!

And their mamas!

More future roomies... and the ladies man.  Theo has taken full advantage of his cast. 

Trick or Treat!

I said I would never have anything 'Winnie the Pooh' for my girl, 1 1/2 years later and here we are.  I mean, does it get any sweeter?

And an Eeyore.  A warm pajama onesie from Target, I had to do it.

 
And so did he.

Hulk Smash! A very smart one at that.

We ready! If you can believe it, they were not impressed with my Winnie the Pooh themed idea.  Instead we have the Grim Reaper (for real, Nashy was freaking people out all night), Hulk Smash broken armed Theo, the Werewolf Jackson and my sweet Winnie!

Downing Creek pre-treating picture.

Just a mom, trying to hide in the bathroom and look at Instagram and sneak Almond Joys...

pumpkins!

We hit up a garden center down the road for our pumpkins this year.  It was close and easy and I only had to spank one kid and then I was the one who got stung by bugs all down my shirt - so yeah, went as to be expected.  

Cutie rascal.  These are her favorite shoes.  They are too small and thin and white and patent leather and mostly inappropriate to wear, but she loves them, so I love them.  And I hide them. 

Not sure when her 2 biggest brothers go so dang big.

Artist at work.  Theo does pretty well with his cast, but he does get frustrated not being able to climb the tree house or play tackle football, etc. etc.  So, I let them paint.  I am not a let's pull out all the paint person, but we did it outside and they kepy busy for a solid 3 minutes.

I mean is it really even fall if you don't pay to let your kid role around in a bin of corn?! We went one morning with some friends from pre-school and I still have corn in the washing machine.

A field trip to the pumpkin patch with my 1st grader.  Loved getting to hang out with this stud and his classmates.

11 years!

11 years!  We celebrated by going to baseball games and making lots and lots of subs.  Charlie got home just in time to take the big boys to the football game and I got to hang with Winnie and Theo... good thing they are cute!  BUT I stole daddy away the next day and we went on a quick staycation to Downtown Durham.  We stayed at 21c Museum Hotel which was super funky, trendy, artsy and weird.  We did lots of walking and eating and sleeping and it was a perfect 12 hours! 

Handsome bros cheering on the Tar Heels, getting too big.

Dinner with Winnie girl!

Watching the game on tv with goobster.

A little throw back goodness, we barely aged at all...

Actually, Charlie has not aged at all.  Looks thinner and more handsome than ever.  Dudes are punks. And Mateo Tapas, you must go there for dinner.