How much fun they are having....

...being brother and sister. Parker and Gigi have sure enjoyed each other so much lately, and it has been so special to see this bond being shared between them. They love to play chase, play side by side, and laugh at each other. They have begun to tell each other nite-nite when it is time for bed and that just makes my day end so perfectly. Gigi stands up in her crib by the side rail and Parker climbs up the rail and gives her a kiss and hug- too precious!! I am begininng to see how perfect them being so close in age is going to be. I just hope and pray that they remain each others best friends for their whole lives. So here's to brothers and sisters!!! I know I could not live without mine!

Twice is nice at Christmas!!

We had a wonderful and very special Christmas- We had it twice!!! My parents and Jen and Keith came over on Christmas morn and then Todd's parents came Christmas nite. We had more food, presents, wrapping paper everywhere, and special memories by the time we all went to bed Christmas nite!! We had a blast with each one and everyone was so generous and we got so many of our favorites!! Here are some of the highlights from each Christmas party!! Thank you to our families for all you did!!!
CHRISTMAS MORNING





CHRISTMAS NITE

Happy... Birthday Mum!!!

Well today is Mum's Birthday and she is ... 59!!! And looks the best she ever has. I for some reason thought that she was 60- not sure why- but was going to plan a big party, but now I have a year to do that with Jenn! Mum is ever so young and skinny too!! She has a new sassy haircut that is a striking beautiful grey. Mum is looking fabulous at 59. So, Mum, Be proud that you are 59 today and enjoy that you are wonderful you!! We love you and can't wait to Party tonite!! I'll post pics tonite after the celebration!!

To our Granpie...

We are sending this get well wish to Granpie, Todd's Dad. He fell last Wednesday on the ice in St.Louis and broke his arm- pretty bad. Today he had surgery and they put a plate in his left wrist. Since it was short notice and we are not there to give get well wishes we decided to send one on the blog. We all wrapped up our left arms just like Granpie!! We love you and wish you a speedy recovery!! Make Grammie take good care of you!!! We love you!!

All Aboard...

Today, my dad took Parker and I on the most unbelievable trip ever. A train ride with Santa or as Parker calls him, "ho ho". It was awesome and Parker was just amazed at everything. The Heart of Dixie railroad in Calera has the Santa Express and today was the last day. We got to the station and got our tickets and played in the gift store and saw the museum. Then at 12:45 the whistle blew and we climbed aboard a real passenger car. It was the biggest train that Parker had ever ridden!! We got our seats and buckled in for a beautiful one hour ride into the woods. We saw the North Pole and Santa's workshop and then Santa got on board. He saw each child and gave them a bear. Mrs. Claus was with him too!! I am not sure if I was more excited or Parker!! I was not sure how he was going to react. He had said going to the train "No hoho Pap" and Pap responded "No hoho", so when Hoho jumped aboard I was not sure how it was going to go. Parker just grabbed a hold of Pap and stared. I think that the picture says it all.

It was cold but lots of fun and something that Parker will cherish and will not stop taking about. Thanks Pap!!!

I am still here...

...just not all together. I am so sorry that it has been forever since I last made a post and then that post did not even publish right. We'll I am so behind in things that I do not even know where to start to catch up. We went to St.Louis for a week and had SO much fun, more fun than we would have ever had if we had stayed in Birmingham, but I just thought that we had another week in here before Christmas. Grammie we would not have traded coming for anything. My Blog is out of date, my Christmas cards are half signed half stamped and none with pictures in them yet, my house looks like a lonely sad dada lived here with out us for a week and did nothing but sit and cry( or watch TV!!!), and Christmas is like 9 days away. I tell myself every year not next year- I will be prepared, organized and get out the cards on time- like in the single digits of December. Every year I am always promising to change next year and the cycle is just the same. It is worst this year though, because as I have gotton farther behind, I have just gotton even farther behind. In past years, I have gotton behind and it has motivated me to get up and get some things done, However, this year I am just not motivated. In fact I am starting to say slack is good!! and I do not like this attitude. My blog was getting older each day and I just kept putting it off until I guess it was going to update itself, and my Christmas cards just sat on the table like someone was going to take the picture and write the letter, and my house has cobwebs and I guess I thought it looked a little like snow glistening in the corners- So I pulled myself up off the couch and went to bed last nite!!! Again ignoring all that I need to do. I am loving my kids right now. They are so much fun- Parker is talking and having little converstions with you and thanks to my Dad he is asking Why about everything. That is the new word that he taught him!! Gigi is walking!! And getting into everything- plugs in the wall have been her favorite. We were sitting in the floor and looking at the tree and she went around the other side and unplugged the tree. I did not realize that and thought that all my lights in the tree had just gone out!! They are playing so much better together and it is so fun to watch! I am enjoying staying in my PJ's and not doing anything!! But, I am going to try to update the blog and begin to straighten the house and then head out to finish getting stamps and a picture for the Christmas card!! Maybe the fact that it is a little colder today will get me in the Christmas spirit!! So, here are some of the pics from St.Louis!! We are back to blogging and I will do better.

It's a Polka Dotted Christmas!!

We We Are Are Repeating Repeating...

Parker is finally on his way to talking. Mom H. always told me that when he starts to repeat what you say he is almost talking. Of course, I thought that that day would never come, but it has arrived. Yesterday he began repeating the last word that I said. It is not all that clear but I can understand what he says. Now I just have to be ever so careful what I do say, because I am sure I will hear it said back to me!!!