Riding Bicycles

Since the weather was beautiful and warm yesterday, we rode bikes all down the driveway and through mud puddles and ditches.   Colton rode his old bike because he is still learning to peddle his new one.  He knows how to do it but he forgets he can't go backwards and it makes him stop.  He will get there.  Gracie is still getting used to a bigger bike.  She is so scared to try new things, so I may have pushed her a little bit yesterday.  With that being said she was so very proud of herself after she did it.  I also had to run along side her to make her okay with it the first time.  She really needs to be more confident in herself but I guess that will come with time.  Hayden has already mastered her big girl bike and rides it like she has had it for years.  She is the one who will not give up on anything she is determined to learn how to do things right then. 

Hayden and Colton had fun riding fast through the mud puddles.  Gracie didn't want to get dirty or take a chance of falling in the puddle.  Probably a good choice for her since she was already learning lots of other things.  The best part of the puddles was Colton.  He was wide open and didn't care how dirty he got. 

Hayden and Colton also rode through the ditches at the end of the driveway.  They were splashing mud all over the place, having a blast.  Gracie didn't try the ditches either but she practiced riding her bike the whole time.  She would cry out "look mommy I am doing it" about every two minutes.  Of course we did have a couple of crashes too.

Linda also came over and we went riding again.  She had her bike too so she rode with them.  This time Gracie was a little bit tired but went anyway.  Linda and I let them ride and play for a little while, well that is until it started getting cold.  I made Gracie ride down a hill and keep going.  Thank goodness she didn't crash until after she got down the hill.  She wasn't real happy with me but she was glad to see she could go down the hill. 

It was a great time riding and playing in the mud!

Christ.mas 2014

Once again Christmas came and went all too fast.  We have enjoyed each and every one of our traditions though.  We made rice krispy Christmas trees, cookies, icing and popcorn.  We also strung some popcorn, although it was a little time consuming that Gracie and Colton decided to eat it instead.  Hayden did string a little bit and enjoyed it.  We read Christmas books every night,  W"e talked about how Christmas is Jesus' birthday and not just about presents.  It was a great holiday season.  The kids got every thing they asked for and more.   They were very excited Christmas morning and they have managed to play with every single thing. 


Christmas Eve we spend with my Mema and my family.  Mark cooked boston hiney we are not allowed to use or say the work butt at our house.  It was all yummy and the kids enjoyed it.  It is still a little different without Pop but we all made it through it happily.  The kids got lots of gifts to play with right before Santa came.  When we got home, we took baths, put Santa's key out and read the Night Before Christmas while eating popcorn.  They were all sleeping soundly at about 10pm.  Then Santa made is arrival sometime after that!

Christmas morning we get up early and do Santa, then we go to Grandmama's house for breakfast.  Mark and Pop cook omelets and we all bring some casseroles and it is always so good.  After fun at Grandmama's house we go to open presents at Mimi and Pop's house.  The presents from Mimi and Pop and Kim and Artie looked like Santa came again.  They all got exactly what they wanted and their surprised faces were priceless.  Hayden got lots of clothes and jewelry (man she is growing up).  She also got a surf board from Kim and Artie.  Boy was she surprised with that and of course she loved it.    Gracie got her radio and Singing Olaf, Anna, and Elsa.  She also got clothes and jewelry too.  Colton got lots of trucks and tractors but most importantly he got his blue tractor from Kim and Artie.  He also got drums from Mimi and Pop! He plays them very well.  The kid is a natural!  Mark and I also got more than we could have imagined.  I am blogging from my new laptop touch screen and Mark got every thing he needed to finish his Jeep the way he wants it. 

Thank you every one for every thing.  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family.  We love you all and now to celebrate the New Year of 2015!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS THE FLU

Hayden had her musical play Thursday night.  She was a beautiful singer.  She sang her little heart out and enjoyed every minute of it.  We got home and every one was tired so we all got ready for bed.

Gracie woke me up in the middle of the night complaining that her stomach hurt.  Then by morning she had a fever of 102 and felt terrible.  I took Hayden to school because she had her ice cream party Friday afternoon for passing all of her multiplication facts thru the 12s.  Way to go Hayden!  After dropping her off I took Gracie to see Aunt Kim.  Aunt Kim confirmed that Gracie had the FLU. She called in some medicine to help my sweet baby. 

She felt terrible.  She wasn't even hardly moving or eating and drinking.   She pretty much gave me a good scare.  When it was time to pick Hayden up I soon found out that she too had the FLU.  She didn't say anything because she wanted to be there for her ice cream party.  I guess she figured she had worked hard enough to learn all the facts she deserved to be there. 

They have felt terrible and they all missed having their pictures with Santa on Saturday but they are feeling a whole lot better today.  They are actually eating and drinking and have moved into the living room instead of bed. 


Thanks to every one for helping us out while the babies are sick.  We love you all!

Santa at GWA

Santa was at GWA on Tuesday morning.  I took Colton to see him also.  He wasn't scared at all.  He went right over and told him he wanted a garbage truck....I do not know why but he does, chain saw so that he can cut wood with Daddy, Eugene and Richard, bike...that looks like a motorcycle, and grill.  He is easy enough to please!  Right? 

We did get to see Hayden and Gracie before we left.  I wasn't able to hear what they told Santa but I bet it was....

Hayden probably said....bike, American girl doll puppy and bed, real doctor stuff...to be like Aunt Kim, and a pull up bar...what can we say, she is athletic.

Gracie told me what she said... Zoomer...the robot dog, American girl doll cat and bed, and doctor stuff too.  She was very upset that she forgot to tell him about the bike she wanted.  So I convinced her that he knew and she would see the real Santa on Saturday for pictures. She was ok after that!

These are the things they have consistently said they want for weeks so hopefully they have been good enough to receive them from Santa.  Hayden if you are reading this then you know to tell Gracie and Colton to be good and stop fighting with each other.  Those two seem to butt heads pretty well.  Gracie does stand up for herself though.  In fact, yesterday she pushed little Colt Man across the hall and he fell down.  Of course, she got in big trouble for it! Of course, Colton kept coming back for more too, he isn't going to loose.  It can be quite entertaining at times.  Sometimes I literally have to stand in the middle of them.   Then other days they get along so well and share all their toys.  You just never know.  Hayden and Gracie butt heads at times too, usually because Gracie won't do what Hayden wants her to but they usually work it out pretty fast.  Hayden and Colton don't fight to much.  Guess the 5 year age difference keeps the peace!  With all that being said...they are really well behaved kids and they all love each other very much!

Christmas is really coming fast this year.  I know that I cannot wait to see their faces Christmas morning, especially Colton.  He is so excited this year. 

Here are a few pictures.  I finally got them back together to place them on the blog

 

This are from the parade last Thursday...

 

 

 

Scar

So the other night while watching the Voice with Mark and I, Hayden wanted to know why she didn't have a scar.  We were a little confused, so we asked her what she was talking about.  She said that when you have surgery you are supposed to have a scar.  She went on to say that when she had her surgery and that sock was on her arm.  She looked at her arm and she pointed out that she didn't have a scar.  Mark and I just looked at each other.  We don't really ever talk to her about what happened just because.  I told her that she does have a scar and she insisted that she didn't.  So at that point I pointed out her scar in her beautiful head.  She looked really confused but she didn't ask anymore questions.  I looked over at Mark and he had to get up and walk outside so she didn't see him crying.

This whole conversation happened while we were discussing what everyone wanted for Christmas.  My 8 year old angel showed me that I already have every thing I want.  We are blessed in so many ways.  We have our 3 healthy, beautiful kids!  And that is all I will ever want is for them to always be healthy and happy! 

Monroe Parade

Gracie had her first baton performance in the Monroe Christmas Parade last Thursday night.  She was such a big girl and most importantly...She loved it!  I was so worried she would get scared and want to quit but nope, not this time, she was all smiles and ready to twirl.  She followed along very well.  I also got to be in my first parade at the age of 35, it was so dark that the Moms all walked behind their little girls so we could help keep up with them.   It was neat walking down the lit streets of Monroe.  I couldn't believe how many people actually came to the parade.  It was packed! 

Gracie was supposed to be in the Loganville Parade on Saturday but it was cancelled due to rain.  She will be having a recital in May.  She is ready to get her cute little outfit and twirl away!

It was hard to get a good picture since it was dark so I will do much better for the recital. 

Thanksgiving/Decorating

Thanksgiving was lots of fun.  The best part was that Daddy had four days off of work.  Talk about some excited kids to have their Daddy at home, especially one little boy.  Colton did everything with Daddy all weekend....cutting wood, hanging out with Richard and Eugene, checking for deer, and even going to the store.  He was a happy boy and I think Daddy enjoyed it too.  He is finally old enough to tag along with Daddy.  Kind of made Mommy happy too.  He now knows that when you want to say a bad word you say Dadgumit instead and under no circumstances ever do you say the word butt.  We call Colton the butt police because he will give you a verbal citation every time.   I love this little boy so much.  You just don't ever know what he may say or do. 

Thanksgiving was spent with all of our family.  It was all delicious and I am pretty sure we all ate way too much.  The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins that they don't see all the time.  Colton and Lucas really hit it off.  They stayed outside viewing all of Uncle Richard's tractors and stuff.  Hayden and Gracie played with Maeleigh.  After we filled our bellies we went to get our Christmas tree from the tree farm.  The girls were excited and Colton was too but he was also very confused.  This is the first year he is really enjoying all the Christmas stuff and Santa Claus.  We got all the decorations out Thanksgiving night and put the lights on the tree.  Colton was amazed at how our house transferred in a couple of hours.  Then Friday night we decorated the tree.  The girls pretty much did it all by themselves....Ok, Ok I did move a couple of things, just some of the things that needed to be hung on stronger branches.....Dang OCD wins every time!  I must say they did a great job, especially Hayden....Gracie still kind of puts every thing on the same branch.  Colton did not enjoy decorating the tree.  He didn't want to put any of his special ornaments on the tree because he wanted to play with Jake, dump truck, tractor and lighting McQueen instead.  After lots of compromises I finally got them all on the tree.  

Oh and Chipper and Snowflake made their arrival on Thanksgiving night.  Those silly elves are already up to no good at all.  The first night they had a popcorn party and literally threw popcorn all over my living room!  Colton said "mommy those elves are going to be in big trouble they messed up our living room."  Hayden and Gracie made sure we knew that it wasn't them that made the mess.  The next night Chipper took Snowflake on a bike ride...using Gracie's American girl doll bike.  Then the next night Chipper tied string around snowflake and hung her from the ceiling fan.  Last night those darn elves put toilet paper on our little tree beside the fireplace and made a huge mess.  Colton still says that they are bad elves.  He doesn't remember last year.

Hayden and Gracie got to go to the Georgia game or whatever you want to call the game on Saturday with Mimi and Kim.  This was Gracie's first time and she really enjoyed herself.  Except that she was cold and restless at times.  She said she still had fun and would like to go again.  Hayden has been before and she loves to go.  They also got to have Varsity and of course they got a few gift too.