Snowmagedon 2014

I guess we'll start on January 27th. The weather starting showing a possibility of snow and ice. I wasn't thrilled. Due to our strict calendar, our make up day is the Friday of Spring Break. Since we already have a Disney trip planned, that means that I would have to waste one of my minimal and coveted personal days if we had a weather day. I went ahead and turned in my leave request form on Monday in fear that everyone in the world would try to take off that day, and I was determined that I wouldn't be leaving Disney early to return for that Friday. I was shocked when they called school off Monday night. I mean, this is my 7th year of teaching and the only other time they've done this was for the National Championship game in 2010 and it ended up being a joke. Shortly after getting the call Monday night that school was cancelled, I received an email explaining since we were under a state of emergency for the state that we most likely wouldn't have to make up the days. In that case...bring it on! Time at home with my babies? I'm all in! Luckily we had been grocery shopping that Sunday so we didn't have to join the chaos that ensued at the grocery stores. We just snuggled together and enjoyed being home! Jonathan went to work Tuesday, as they expected the weather to get worse Tuesday afternoon/evening. After an essential run to Kroger for snow treats (calories don't count when you're stuck in due to weather by the way), the snow started to fall. The girls were pumped to get outside and explore. Payton has really only experienced snow once when she was 1, and Harper really hasn't ever seen it.

Payton trying to catch snow on her tongue.

Making footprints

Harper was freezing.

It kind of worked out because little man hadn't been feeling great so the time at home gave him a chance to rest up. We took him out only for a quick photo op.

Wednesday morning we had snow on the ground and lots of ice. I think the most exciting part of all of this for Jonathan was getting to utilize "the Beast" since it has 4 wheel drive. He was planning to head into work a little later in the morning. About the time he was heading out, the neighbor was walking back to the house because he slid in a ditch less than a mile from the house. Jonathan's day quickly turned into helping people. He's a super nice guy, but I also think he enjoyed utilizing the beast :) Love you, babe! Anyways, he stayed home and the girls went outside in an attempt to make a snowman only to find the snow was too powdery. They settled for snow angels.

We ended up home again on Thursday (three days total) due to the lingering ice as the temperatures stayed below freezing. We're just so thankful to have been at home together after hearing about all of the chaos in Birmingham and Atlanta. We also loved our 3 days at home together! Of course the following Sunday we ventured to park in 70 degree weather to play and feed the fish. This crazy Alabama weather I tell ya!

Harper

Our Harper bug is 2.5 and keeps us laughing ALL the time. We're either laughing or ready to pull our hair out, one or the other. She is such an independent child, but yet loves to be one step behind her sister MOST of the time. She makes sure that her independence is known at times. I'm going to try to capture our little bit at 2.5 the best I can, but these pictures speak a thousand words as far as her personality:

• No lovey for this girl. She cuddles with her farm book every night. When tucking her in, she will ask where her book is and tucks it under her arm. It must stay in her bed at all times. Minnie Mouse is sometimes in there also, but not near as important.
• She can say her prayers, blessing, and Pledge of Allegiance. When saying her prayers at night, she will put her hands on each side of your face. As sweet as it is, she gradually moves her hand to cover your mouth so that she can say "Amen" first at the end. We usually bust out laughing at this point and she proceeds to explain, "I already say amen."
• Her speaking has really taken off. I just love this stage where she is beginning to develop her own ideas and sentences, and not always just answering questions. Her vocabulary seems to be growing so much right now also.
• She has also started singing, especially in the car and to her brother. She wants you to sing with her and really won't take no for an answer.
• I always thought Payton was going to be our gymnast, but I might be wrong. She loves to watch tv in a headstand. 
• She's tall and skinny, not sure where those genes came from. She has no hiney, and has long legs and arms. It's impossible to keep a pair of jeans on her little self. She could wear 18 month clothes if it weren't for her long arms and legs. She's inching into 3's right now.
• She loves going to school and playing with her friends. She'll ask me to tell her who all of her friends are that are in her class. She also adores her teachers. She goes to CDO on Mondays and Wednesdays and preschool Tuesdays and Thursday. She loves preschool so much she keeps up with the days and always asks, "I go Mrs. Carmello class today?" usually followed by a squeal. She even made up a song a few weeks ago about being excited to go to her class.
• Eating is interesting. She may go 2 days without eating anything, and then you can't get her full the following day. She's pretty good about trying new things, even if she then decides she doesn't like it. She loves pizza, bananas, milk, any form of a carb (quite opposite of her sister), chicken (currently circle chicken...also known as chicken bites), etc. She's not big on vegetables but loves lima beans.
• She's been potty trained since about a month after she turned 2. The process was much shorter lived with her versus Payton. 
• She got boots for Christmas and loves wearing them, but will correct you if you refer to them as shoes. They're boots.  
• She got her second hair cut and she is looking like such a big girl. 
• She still takes a pretty good nap. The only problem is if she falls asleep at some point in the morning, even if for 10 minutes, it ruins her opportunity for a good nap. 
• She is very strong willed and keeps us searching for new ways to discipline. The past few weeks have actually been quite challenging. To the point that if there were videos in our home I'm quite sure we would qualify for Super Nanny. We're working hard to try and figure out what works and doesn't because she is definitely her own animal in this department. Prayer. That's all I can say.
• We love our sweet and spunky little girl to pieces. She keeps us laughing and is such a compassionate little thing.
  
  

Anderson at 5 months

We celebrated Anderson's 5 month birthday last Monday. He continues to be a pretty happy guy! He's growing like crazy, although I don't have his measurements since there's no dr. visit this month. He's wearing mostly 3-6 month sleepers and 6 months clothes. Throughout the month we have started feeding him solids more consistently. We've been feeding him a container of baby food at his 6:00 feeding along with his bottle. He's become quite the little sleeper so he has started not taking another bottle before bed since he's usually down by about 7:30. Therefore he's been getting hungry in the mornings. I think we are going to start feeding him at breakfast also since he is going so long at night and has cut out a bottle. Typically he's down to 4, 6oz. bottles per day give or take our schedule. He's wearing size 3 diapers now and has plenty of room to grow in them.

Over the past month he has become so much more active. He's a rolly poly these days and is constantly batting at toys and trying to pull them towards him. Soon after his four month birthday we took him out of the swaddle. I was worried it would be a nightmare but it wasn't at all! I think he's actually sleeping a little better now. Like I said, he sleeps from about 7/7:30-5:30/6. He does sometimes wake up crying at night, but it's usually just a fuss rather than a full blown cry and he's actually still asleep. Usually I just let him fuss for a few minutes and he's over it. Occasionally I do have to go in there and get him back to sleep, but that is rare. We are SO thankful for his good sleeping habits. When people ask me how tired and worn out I must be with 3 kids, my response is.... I'm thankful the baby sleeps!

He wants to be up and looking around most of the time. He does get tired of sitting in his bumbo and jumperoo after a short time. It's just musical chairs between the floor, someone's arms, a toy, and even sometimes the hair chair. He definitely is showing signs of teething and constantly gnawing and chewing on things. Since I'm posting a week late, I can even say that I'm pretty sure I see his two bottom teeth about to break through even though you can feel them yet. His hair has also grown a lot this month and is still a sandy brown color.

It's safe to say Mommy and Daddy aren't the only one smitten with this little guy!

Payton

Our sweet Payton will be 5 in February. Seriously. can't. believe. it. The thought of this being her last few months in preschool literally brings me to tears. She is such a sweet, kind hearted, precious girl and we are so proud of her.

(Pictures are from her ballet demonstration in December-thanks to Nana for the pictures.)

I just wanted to give a little update of our little girl at 4 years, 10 months.

• Is super silly, but gets easily embarassed when she's around others she doesn't know.
• Loves to sing!
• Has a smile and laugh that can light up a room.
• Loves going to school! She is such a smart girl. We have been reading the decodable BOB books together beginning this summer and Santa brought her another set. She has AMAZED me with the way she has picked up reading.
• She LOVES art. Anything to do with it- scissors, tape, markers, crayons, anything. She loves to create her own masterpieces.
• She also loves writing and has written some sweet messages.
• She's currently taking ballet. Although she recently told us that she wants to start back gymnastics because you don't have to wear all of the clothes that you have to wear for ballet. ha! Bamama and Grandaddy gave her gymnastics for Christmas, although she will continue ballet at least until the end of the year.
• Speaking of which, she is her daddy's child when it comes to her internal temperature! She is so hot natured, especially in the car. She sees no necessity for a jacket at most any time.
• She has a heart of gold. She adores her brother and sister. At any given moment she is over singing and playing with Anderson. She also takes great care of Harper and looks out for her, eventhough they might argure over toys at times.
• She's still a pretty picky eater, although she has gotten 'a little' more open to trying new things.
• She still takes a nap most days. She can go without, but will often fall asleep at some point during the evening if she does.
• Like I said in the Christmas post, she adores all things having to do with Christmas.
• In keeping it real, she has been known to have an attitude at times. Overall, she is very well behaved though. I know the sassiness is only the beginning :)
• So picky about her clothes...this mostly goes back to getting hot.
• She's still a pretty adventerous girl.
• She's gotten really into Auburn football this year. Her daddy has taken her to several of the games (in the Beckwith Club I might add). She actually got upset with me when we went to the AL game because she said it was her turn to go, not mine. If she sees anything Alabama, she makes it clear she is not a fan of them. Although she knows nothing about the game, she loves to cheer at the television.
• She's such a snuggle bug!

How in the world is this sweet angel getting so big? It feels so weird at times that we can carry on full conversations. We love her to the moon and back.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning the girls slept tip after 7, which NEVER happens! Santa had come to visit!

Anderon got diapers, bottle liners, baby food, and an outfit! Harper and Payton pretty much got duplicated gifts for the most part, but only because that was their request. They each got a new baby doll, kite, sleeping bags, books, stocking stuffers, Minnie dresses, and a trip to Disney!!! We are going in March over spring break! I wasn't sure how much that would set in with them since it's 3 months away, but they seem excited anyways!

Waiting at the top of the stairs until they can come down. Sorry, we didn't brush hair. That's what makes it Christmas morning pictures, right?

Walking into the living room!

Bandaids!

Toothpaste!

Could he get any happier?

Chilling with Uncle Andy. Yes, we even got him up early!

The girls showing Anderson his gifts.

Payton putting baby Jesus in the manger. This has been another favorite again this year, the nativity countdown!

Uncle Andy managed to find the girls a recorder! 

After seeing what Santa brought and opening gifts from Bamama, Grandaddy, and Uncle Andy, we headed to Nana and Pop's. After opening gifts there, we went to Great Bamama's house for breakfast. I realized I hadn't gotten a picture of just the three of them in their pi's. This is the best they could do for me at that point.

Harper putting her baby to sleep in her new bed.

We did a very poor job of pulling out the camera after first thing Christmas morning. After enjoying breakfast at Great Bamama's, we went home, got changed, and headed back to Nana and Pop's for dinner. Whew! It was exhausting, but SO much fun! I think the girls are sad that Christmas is over, and it makes me sad especially that Anderson's first Christmas is over, but we've enjoyed hanging out at home playing with all of our new things. Thanks everyone who spoiled us all!

Christmas Eve

This Christmas has been magical. That's truly the best way to describe it. Every small detail of Christmas makes the girls just light up, and it brings so much joy. The both LOVE listening to our Christmas CD in the car. They have memorized so many of the songs, love spotting lights and squealing when they see them, and the list goes on. Jingles made his way to our house shortly after Thanksgiving. Payton had been asking about him for some time. Just as I anticipated, Harper got really into finding him also. It's a great way to get everyone moving at 5:45 AM! Luckily, Jingles isn't really a mischevious elf and just likes to move from place to place. This was the most trouble he stirred up while he was here. Unfortunately, he did fly back to the North Pole for two days during the month while the girls were not behaving their best. After Payton wrote him a letter asking him to come back and improved her behavior, he did make his way back. 

All that about Jingles, but seriously, Payton really understands the reason for the season. I let her choose a Christmas design shirt and she wanted the nativity above Santa or any other of the cute designs. She loves telling the story of baby Jesus and is often a great reminder to all of us. She's tried really hard to teach Harper the true meaning also, telling her it's not all about gifts and Santa. That girl's heart I tell ya!

We've been lagging a little on the decorations this year. Not all of them got put out, rather just sat in tubs scattered across the house for the entire month. Finally, the weekend before Christmas we managed to buy some gifts and get them wrapped under the tree. It's just been a busy month I guess. I guess a little something to do with working full time and raising 3 kiddos under 5...maybe that's the reason!

Another tradition that we continued this year was unwrapping a book each (or almost each) night. I wasn't planning to do it again this year because I felt like last year it just got crazy, but Payton asked about it so of course I had to follow through. The girls loved reading Christmas stories together in front of their Christmas trees. Sadly enough, I didn't get a picture of theirs, but they each had a cute little tree in their rooms. We figured brother can get his next year.

Christmas Eve Eve, we made a stop by Haisley and Benton's house to exchange gifts. Don't you think the girls love the high heels? Again, you can tell Payton really got it more this year because she kept asking, is tomorrow Christmas Eve? We would then have to explain to her one more day, then one more day. 

The boys just hanging out.

We went to Nana and Pop's house to make a decorate a gingerbread. Everyone sits on the kitchen table in a princess dress, right? Oh, we thought that was normal.

Christmas Eve morning I braved Wal-Mart with all kids in tow, trying to get everything we needed. We came home for good naps and then headed to Trippi and Lisa's.

Checking out the train.

After there, we went to Mom and Dad's house for our traditional Christmas Eve get together with my family. 

These pictures are quite challenging.

And......brother's feelings about it all. I adore the way Harper is kissing his hand to tell him it's okay. Those gestures are so typical.

This girl...IS.A.MESS!

After leaving mom and dad's house, we went to Nana and Pop's. The cousins got to open one gift!

Do you think they liked their matching pjs?

Just a little glimpse into how crazy it was! We had some excited kiddos on our hands. So fun!

Aunt Jennifer read The Polar Express and we even heard Santa's bells!!!!! 

 It was time to head home and great ready for Santa! The girls were so excited to head home and get ready for Santa! They jumped in the car quickly (without any whining, which NEVER happens) and Payton searched for Santa in the sky the whole way home. We put out reindeer food and cookies for Santa. Harper was exhausted and ready for bed, but when getting Payton down she told me, "Hurry mommy and turn off my lights so that Santa can come." 

(Not sure why it looks like they have white hair...maybe they're frozen)

Magical!