Family Day

Today was a pleasant mix of rest, relaxation, and activity. We definitely needed some recovery time from the holiday. Our sweet Hampton was wore out this morning.

For the past couple of days Everett has been asking if we could go to Target. I guess he shares my love for the place with me, or maybe he caught wind of their 2-day sale.

I dressed Hampton in Christmas clothes because I was just so excited to finally do so.

Every store parking lot should have this!

Later on for lunch we had warm chicken salad on big, fluffy yeast rolls. So good!

After long naps for all of us, we had potato soup for dinner. We then watched portions of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Nutcracker. Everett loves The Nutcracker. He dances along with the ballerinas and has an appreciation for the music.

Then things got silly.......

A rare moment where Maggie and Everett are getting along.

A Georgia Thanksgiving

Yesterday morning, about 7am, we loaded our van (Yeah a van! Last week we purchased a Toyota, Sienna which has been, without being too dramatic, life changing. I have wanted a van since having Everett and I feel so blessed we've finally been able to make this upgrade-a much smoother trip!)......anyways, we headed to Athens, Georgia to spend Thanksgiving with Eric's family. We had prepped Everett with how to say "Happy Thanksgiving" and we named all the family members we would see there. He was very excited! We also taught him what a turkey says, "gobble gobble." I just love his sweet little toddler voice (unless he is defying me and saying "no!").

At first Everett was a little apprehensive around his cousins Zeke and Daniel, but he warmed up in no time.

They were both apparently very interested in something here.

Handsome boys. Hampton did not take a nap the entire time we were there! We definitely paid for that on the drive home.

Zeke is ready to eat!

Is he a turkey or a Ham!?!

Hampton enjoying a snack while we ate. He is getting much better at picking up puffs and cheerios.

Everett on the other hand did not want to eat much. He was too busy to eat.

Uncle Jason is almost a celebrity in Everett's eyes. He just loves him.

After lunch we did some outside play. Everett had fun playing with this little car.

Eric also tried to teach him to ride a scooter. He did surprisingly well for a 2 year old.

Zeke took us on a "tour" of the neighborhood and checking out this tractor and steamroller was one of the stops.

The cousin train.

Everett playing on the swing set with the boys.

Hampton was just wiped out by the end of the day.

Family. The only one missing is Gigi, who took the picture!

With full bellies (I think I had two slices of pumpkin cheesecake and dirt cake!) we headed home. Everett instantly fell asleep and Hampton pretty much cried the whole way. Halfway through the trip Everett woke up and started to quietly babble. We listened closely and we figured out he was recounting all of the events of the day. I guess he had a good time. So sweet my little boys.

Fun Weekend

This past weekend my sister Mary came for a visit. Friday evening we went to Biltmore Park for their Christmas lighting. It was really fun. Saturday we did a little shopping and decorated for Christmas. Sunday was church and then we went to Biltmore Village, which was also decorated for Christmas. The babies love their Aunt Mary and we had a great time!

I couldn't wait for the babies to wear their Christmas jammies!

Everett has been really good about the tree. He hasn't touched any ornaments yet!

A little hat shopping......we love Target! And Starbucks!

I caught Everett fishing around Mary's purse and he tried on her sunglasses.

Hampton at Barnes and Noble.

Aunt Mary and her date.

Everett's very special gingerbread cookie that Eric got him.

Chocolate Face and Crazy Hair

We had a busy morning today. We went to MOPS and then had to head over to the cardiologist for Hampton's appointment. To appease Everett on the ride over to the doctor's office, I gave him a granola thin that had chocolate on one side. Maybe not the smartest idea, but I was in survival mode. This is the face that greeted me when we got there. So cute.


Thankfully, they both took longer naps. This is the bed head that greeted me this afternoon. Again, so cute.

P.S. I don't know how many, "Wow, you've got your hands full" I got at the doctor's office today. I guess I looked pitiful hauling around a baby and toddler that were having meltdowns. The cardiologist himself offered to assist me to the car. I gratefully refused, but I must have been a sight!

Antler Hill Village

Last Friday evening we went with our friends David, Sally Ann, and their little girl Abigail to Antler Hill Village at the Biltmore Estate. We visited the petting zoo and then had an evening picnic on the lawn.

Everett warmed up to them instantly and they brought a soccer ball for the little ones to play with. Everett had so much fun with that ball. We'll have to get him one for Christmas. He is surprisingly coordinated for a 2 year old.

They were all decorated for Christmas!

It ended up being really chilly as the evening progressed. We wrapped our babe in swaddling clothes.

Everett was a little afraid of the horses, but he seemed to like the other animals.

A Snapshot

Our babysitter, Yvonne Kolev (Yvonne Kolev Photography) happens to be a very talented photographer and she took these pictures of our family a couple of weeks ago. I think she did a great job!