Black Friday Bargin

I bought a video monitor for Gigi during the shopping spree on Friday after Thanksgiving. I had purchased on before but it was soo expensive and so I took it back. These were on sale for 40 dollars!! Not only did I but one but I bought two! Don't know why either. I have always wondered what she did when I put her down and I go to check on her and when I open the door it always wakes her up. So I figued that this would solve both of these problems. I set it up when we got home and could not wait to see what she did and be able to check on her from my nitestand. I put Gigi to bed. Parker crawled up in the bed with me to watch the news and I thought we would also watch Gigi. I was getting in the bed when Parker got hysterical. Gigi OUT. Gigi OUT. He began to cry no sob with his head in his hands. I thought that I was going to cry too. He was demanding about me getting Gigi out and then it became Gigi Out NOW!! I did not know what to think. Did he think that I had put Gigi into the TV monitor? Did he see her in her crib and think she was in a cage? What was it that made him so upset. I could not figure this out since he does not use many words to describe his thinking, so I had to turn it off and go show him that Gigi was in her bed and that she was okay. I guess that my bargin may not have been such a bargin after all!!!

After the Turkey Holiday

We'll we are home from our fun vacation to Mum-Mum's and Pop's, and it is sad that Thanksgiving is over. It seems as if we have been planning it since it was over last year and looking forward to going to Knoxville to celebrate. We could not wait to take a road trip with all the other millions of travelers on the busiest travel day of the year and talk and laugh in the car with the family. We listened to Christmas music and reminisced about life in the Wise family!!! We were all packed up which started weeks ago for me and yet I still seem to forget needed items- like toothpaste, shampoo, socks, and a coat for Gigi!! I make lists and check them over and over and still seem to miss some things. I am convinced that they actually have legs and get up and walk out of the luggage!! We were headed to one of the best holiday meals anywhere because my aunt can cook like no other. We have all been imagining the taste of sweet potato casserole on our lips for months. IT is the best!! And the weather was going to be colder than at home with chances of rain, which is great because I forgot Gigi's jacket!, but it meant that there would be a chance of snow?! And last, but certainly the most important was to see our family and let the kiddos play together. It was so much fun to travel up and even better when we pulled in the drive and saw everyone.
Thanksgiving day was easy, I guess because I did not do anything. The hardest part of the day was trying to figure out which ads to look at and then determine what time we should head out to get our bargains!! The kids played and ran and played some more. The Mum's cooked and we just lounged around to wait on the best meal of the year. And it was- complete with everything to help start the holiday weight gain!! We had Christmas with everyone after the meal, and it was truly like Christmas was here. We got all kinds of special things from books, to clothes, to fudge to decor items! We had paper everywhere and dads trying to get toys out of boxes for little girls and boys!! It was a very fun time. And then it was off to organize out Black Friday plan. We have always been big talkers about getting up really early and going out with the crowds, but this year I meant business. I wanted to get a couple of great deals for Santa and so I need to be up and out by 4AM!!! And you know what, We did it!!! It was crazy and unlike anything that I had ever seen. People, I mean People everywhere and their eyes just feasted on the doors opening and running in to get their bargain. And we were right there with those other crazies!! But, we did really well and I think that some of you reading this will be quite surprised come Christmas morning!! However, when we got home at 9:30 AM we were exhausted and thought we had been out all day, yet the kids were just getting up and I wanted to just go to sleep. So what do you do- Just head back out for more shopping until you all drop and then come back and take a nap!!! And that is exactly what we did!!! Saturday was filled with Football!!! The Tennessee game against Kentucky was a blast to watch and cheer on. And then the Iron Bowl, and that is all that we will say. Sunday we traveled back home in a caravan together because Todd got to come up on Friday! We had a relaxing time in the truck getting to talk and catch up with each other since it seems so busy at home to just sit and talk. It was a great time and we thank Mum-Mum and Pop for the best Thanksgiving and memories that we will never forget!! So now- Merry Christmas!!!

Scrub a Dub Dub...

Two little babies in the Tub!!!! We love bath time. It is the highlight of our day around here. The babies can be in a mood and then I say "bath" and they are instantly happy!! So tonight Todd is out of town and we took a long play time bath. We made hairdos, beards with soap bubbles, played bath basketball, and splished and splashed!! We had a blast. Thought that I would share some of the fun with you!!

The gardens..

Today we went to Aldridge Gardens with our friends Susan, Chloe, and Mason. We had so much fun being outside in the beautiful weather and seeing the gardens. They are full of flowers, trees in beautiful fall colors, little paths winding around a lake, geese, and metal artwork. It was our first time to the gardens and certainly a place that we will go back to visit. The kids had a blast playing in the grass, watching the geese, and climbing on the metal statues!! Here are some pictures of our day!!

Why is it...

...when it rains it pours? This post is not about the kids- sorry!! It is about one of those days when everything went wrong. Every time that the phone rang I wondered what now. It started with getting up late and Parker had school. So I hurried and got us out the door and to school only 15 minutes late. When we got there he started crying, I mean screaming, and not wanting to stay at Moms Day Out. He has not done this since way earlier in the school year and it makes me so sad to leave him. But, I had so much to do and Mum was going to pick him up for me. So I hurried to do my errands. I ran to Walmart before Gigi needed a nap and when I got to the checkout my debit card would not work. It said to call some 1800 number and activate it. Okay- I have had this card for two years and there was no reason to activate it now. And I knew that there was money in the account and that the card was not expired. I thought to myself- lady- I need these groceries now in order to get home before this one year old throws a fit because it is nap time! She said you may go to the service desk and call and see what the problem is and I will hold your groceries here. No- I thought I am not the problem, what if it is your machine. So I put them on the emergency credit card which I never use just because I needed to go!! So here in all this time since our flood I have not used the emergency card and I had to just use it over Walmart groceries because my card does not work and my child needs a nap! So I rolled my groceries out to the car and hurried home to put Gigi in bed. I thought to myself I'll have enough time to put them up and clean up the house before Mum comes home with Parker. I put up the groceries and decided to start a load of laundry. As I entered the laundry room, there was water all over the floor. I mean what? Yes, water and I have no idea where from. Luckily it is all tile in there now and so I looked to see where the water was coming from and there was no source to be found. I turned off the water behind the washing machine, I learned this from last time, and got some towels to soak up the water on the floor. I called Todd and no answer so I called my dad. He said dry it up put a fan on it and he was coming. During my conversation my other line rang three times and it was my mom. I thought what now, she said her car would not start and she was getting someone to jump start it at her work and thought that she would not be able to get Parker. This meant that Gigi's nap would be short and that would be a problem in and of itself. So, I managed to finish cleaning up the water and straighten up before I had to wake up Gigi and head out to get Parker. My mom called about 30 minutes later and her car had just quit on highway 31 at a busy intersection at a red light. She was freaking out and did not know what to do- I thought I got enough going on here that I do not know either!! So my dad had to go and help Mom and then go to court so the water in the laundry room had to wait. I got in my car to go get Parker and looked at the dash and the check engine light was on!! I mean is it a day for car trouble or what? I picked her up and headed to get Parker with Mum. He was so excited and glad to see her- which was the only highlight of the day it seemed. So my question is why does everything seem to go wrong all at once?

We are almost off...

...and walking!!! Tonite, just now, Gigi stood up all by herself. She was playing with Todd in the floor and then just stood up! Todd clapped and said "way to go Gigi", and she with her stubborn and persistent personality, kept on showing us how she could stand. She was determined to stand up and then raise her hands above her head. She then would lose her balance and tumble on her royal "hinus" and give herself a big clap. Too sweet to watch- the pictures do not really show all of her effort into accomplishing this or her excitement for herself! Hopefully it will be just a couple of days and I will be telling you that she is walking and getting Parker back for all the times he has run off and she could not get him fast enough! Parker better watch out there is a new kid coming to his play world!!!

I think that we are getting it...

Today Parker has decided to begin putting words together. I have waited for this time when we could begin conversation and I could understand what his precious little mind was thinking. I got onto Gigi for getting in to something and said..."Halle Grace no!". Parker kindly reminded me "No mama, Gigi grace!!!" So we started talking about middle names. I told him that Grace was Gigi's middle name. He said "One Gigi, Two Grace"!!!! Yes- her first name is Gigi and her second name or middle name is Grace. So all day he called her Gigi Ace- the Gr was silent!!! It made my heart melt and I felt like his mind was beginning to put concepts together, be them small concepts, but we are making progress. At bedtime- I told him that he had a special middle name and that it matched Pap's and Mum's. So I explained to him that We had named him Parker Wise. He said no- Bubba Wise!! And yes, this is what he calls himself so technically it is Bubba Wise!!! And then he started putting the names together for Mum and Pap! Mum Wise and Pap Wise and then the little genius said and JenJen Wise!! He is so smart and I am so glad that we have gotten to this point. I believe that conversation is about to take off. I may be posting later that I wish he would stop talking but for now let the talking begin!!!