Christmas Cookies

Sydney and I made Christmas cookies today. I pulled out the cookie press I've had for at least three years and finally used it. We made spritz cookies. My neighbor gave me two thumbs up on the cookies. Since I prefer chocolate to anything, I wasn't so sure of the cookies. Sydney had a great time decorating them. We used every sprinkle in the house except red and green (since we didn't have them). I couldn't tell if we were celebrating Christmas or Mardi Gras.

Polar Express

We ventured out as a family to Bryson City, NC for the Polar Express. Since it is the year of the train for Mac, we thought he would enjoy riding on a real train. We all had a great time. The hot chocolate was yummy and we got the Christmas card picture! I call that a success.

Thanksgiving

We had a great time with our family during Thanksgiving. We kicked off the holiday with Sydney's Thanksgiving Feast at school. We had chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese and green beans. I am certain the pilgrims and Indians ate the same at the first Thanksgiving. It was fun seeing her dressed up in her Indian vest and feathers. She acquired the Indian name "Rain Princess."

We then went to Alabama to spend time with family. I snuck away to meet up with some of my sweet college friends in Birmingham. We ate at Chez Fon Fon. It was yummy, but the company was better! My beloved Auburn Tigers really stunk it up in Tuscaloosa and that is about all you can say about that.

Unfortunately, there was a death in the family over the holidays. Bart's grandfather passed away. He was such an extraordinary and great man. There are so many lessons to be learned from his life. He lived a life of no regrets and had a special way of connecting with everyone he met. He knew just the right way to love each family member. He will be greatly missed.

Bobbing for 'bobbies!'

One day I was checking my email and the kids were playing. Sydney was playing nicely in her room, and Mac was running from room to room. I know I should have been right with him, but I just wanted to check my email. Then I noticed that it was quiet, which is never good. Then I hear Mac flushing the toilet in my bathroom. I called for him to come. As he rounded the corner, I noticed that his forehead was wet and he had a pacifier, aka 'bobbie,' in his mouth. He escorted me back to the toilet, which was running, to show me what he had been doing. Yes, my son had been bobbing for 'bobbies' in the toilet!!! Needless to say, we bought some new 'bobbies!' Disgusting!!!!

Did I just say that?

Do you ever find yourself saying things that you never thought you would say? As a parent, it seems to happen a lot. My son is quite the master at provoking these types of comments.

I started bringing some of the Christmas decorations down from the attic this morning. The first thing I always put out is the kid's Little People Nativity. Mac had a great time playing with all the animals. Well, today I was on the phone with a friend when Sydney yelled, 'Mac is eating baby Jesus!!!!' Then I yell back, 'Mac don't eat baby Jesus!!'

I had no idea when I woke up this morning that I would say that.


Poor baby Jesus!

Leaves!

We have new neighbors. They have two sweet little girls about our kid's ages. It is perfect. Our street is crawling with four-year olds! Sydney and Emily have hit it off and they really enjoy each other's company.

I must tell you about the first time they came over to our house. I had been at church, so Bart was home with the kids all by himself. My husband is so sweet, kind, the best father and husband, but he is a man and doesn't notice the things a woman would notice. When I got home, I hurried us out of the house to meet the new neighbors because they were outside in the yard. Bart was changing Mac's stinky diaper and had stopped unloading the dishwasher midway through the load. After playing at their house the kids wanted to come to our house. Let's just say - it was embarrassing. Bart left the dishes on the counter - mostly sippy cup parts, which I just don't understand how you stop midstream? That wouldn't have been so bad, but he left the stinky diaper OPEN on the end table in the den!!!! I couldn't believe it. Luckily, they are still our friends!

Trick or Treat

Halloween fun was had by all. We had a great time trick or treating with our friends in the neighborhood. We had pizza at two houses before we started on the candy adventure. There were lots of princesses, superheros and angelic bugs fluttering about. I think we discovered a few things: Superman's kryptonite is smarties, Spiderman's kryptonite is a puddle of water, Batman refused to wear his costume, the Knight in Shining Armor's kryptonite is a juice box and the girls just need to hang on while riding the golf cart. We also discovered that when you leave a cauldron of candy on the front porch while you trick or treat, it will be empty when you get back. I guess the honor system doesn't work on Halloween. It is okay - that is why we bought it and believe me we have plenty left over!!!

Bart and I even joined in on the fun. Bart was Elmer's glue and I was a #2 pencil. Sydney kept asking 'why are you dressed as a pencil and glue?' She said she wanted Daddy to be a golfer - had we only known!

My kids love the pursuit of candy! Mac kept up with the big kids all night long. His first words on Saturday were 'CANDY?!'


Lisa with Sydney and Ava

Mac and Thomas trick or treating.

Bart dressed as a tube of Elmer's glue with Superman.


Ready to start the fun!


The Street family


Sydney, Emily and Grace

Sydney in her Halloween parade at school.