It's the simple things...

We had a wonderful Christmas! Here is a highlight that captured some of the magic...

Can you see the sparkle in her eyes as she realizes what she's opening? Isn't it awesome how something like an umbrella can bring this much happiness? And we sleep with it beside our bed. And we got to use it today because it is raining. Bliss.

Fa la la la la ...la la la la

We're so excited it's Christmas time around here!

Holding a pic of baby sister- who we will hopefully get to meet within the next month!!


We have made a couple of visits with Santa thus far but have also had to discuss how we can't see him everyday; he has to go back to the North Pole sometimes; and others like to visit with him, too. Our Christmas list has been so fun listening to this year. It started off very simple with a candy cane. That's what she remembered Santa giving to her last year at the mall and that's what she wanted again this year. Then she realized that things could be requested....and a Dora Umbrella has been the highlight of the list. One Sunday she decided to announce that she wanted "a diamond"- this was totally unprompted and almost made water come through my nose. And to clarify, "a diamond necklace" was added. Yesterday she was sharing with Mimi her list and she added a big elephant. Thank you, Mimi, for explaining to her that they have to live at the zoo!

The Golden Ginkos

We stopped for a romp in the leaves the other day after school. The most wonderful yellow leaves have fallen right around the corner from HK's school so we got out and played in them for a sec.

The Halloween Buzz

So we absolutely loved Halloween this year. It was great to be able to dress up, run from house to house, hay-ride in between, hang out with our friends and cousins, and get candy on top of all that! It was magical! Hope everyone had a spooktacular weekend!

On another note, I'm 29 weeks along and getting ready for our new addition. Hannah Kate could have been the bumble bee from the "No Rain" video - I sure could've been a melon. Hooker will be heavily outnumbered with the arrival of another little Hooker ladybug. We have officially moved HK into her new bedroom to revive the nursery for her little sister (pictures of Hooker's fabulous painting skills will follow soon). And the countdown can start...3 weeks til Thanksgiving, 3 weeks til Christmas break, and then 3 weeks until baby (hopefully)! I'm up right now due to the fabulous inability to sleep that comes along with the belly. But I did need to update the blog, so what does a little sleep matter, right?

Which pumpkin is the biggest?

This blog is way overdue. I haven't given up blogging...just needed some good blog inspiration, I guess. Life has been trucking along. We headed down to the pumpkin patch this morning to get out and enjoy this cold sunshine! Farmer Jim's pumpkin patch in Rolling Fork gave us a good excuse to get out and play in some cold air. We got to pick out some pumpkins and play in some corn for a little while. Nice morning out.

Hannah Kate said, "I am so strong!" as she toted this big boy around.

Better than a sand box: the corn pool!

Our harvest!

New Orleans Ladies

having animal crackers with the jaguars (Props to Viv for coordinating themed snacks with places of interest....animal crackers for the zoo)

mornin' monkeys

The last get away for the summer was a neat girl's trip down to the Crescent City. Nat and I took the girls down to stay with Elise Claire and Vivian for a few days. These cousins (2nd generation)are all within 7 months of each other and really became fast friends. (We went through withdrawals for the first couple of days home) Captured a few great memories between the Audubon Zoo, The Aquarium and the Palmisano house:

This was fascinating to me... I don't think I've ever seen one in person before. Do you know what it is? (It's tail is on the left and it's head is on the right.)

toucans like animal crackers, too.

posing with the penguins (over my shoulder)

petting the sea turtle (notice the themed snacks, again? Goldfish for the aquarium)

performing with the sea otters

All by myself...

Summer has been going full force and we've been going right along. We headed down to Gulfport for the 4th to spend time with my fam and had a great long weekend. Unfortunately, as we were packing up the condo, Hannah Kate found my camera and transposed it into Gigi's purse (after she took pictures all by herself). So Gigi went home with all of my great vacation shots. Can't wait to see my own pictures! It's like waiting on old film to be developed.

We've been busy around Greenville, too. We had a new fence put up around our backyard and a small fence to enclose the pool area! (You get a glimpse of it in the picture above) The pic above is actually of Hannah Kate, who put her swimsuit on all by herself. (backwards, yes, but worn with great pride)

Just a quick snap of Hook and I. Guess who's taking the picture all by herself!

And finally, our little band aid queen. She loves to wear these things. And this one was actually covering up a boo-boo. She decided that Beary needed one, too.

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Pleasantries of a toddler

Hannah Kate is just so amusing these days. She totally picks up on everything and has kept us thoroughly entertained. Some of her latest sayings:

• Party pooper- She overheard me calling Daniel a party pooper and thought this was hilarious. Not for what it was, but because she thought I called him a "potty pooper". And she just giggled and called me a potty pooper and daddy a potty pooper and even herself a potty pooper. That was just ridiculously funny to her.

• Once upon a time- We've started telling stories alot lately. She likes to hear them and has started making up some of her own. Daniel took her to the lake the other day and she kept saying "Once upon a time there was a pig in the house." And that was her story. The end. When we visited Gigi a few weeks ago, we all went for a walk around the downtown. Hannah Kate found a little end of a sidewalk and began to tell the flowers and bushes a story about a mermaid and a mermaid house. Gigi and I just stood there in amazement. We couldn't understand all of the words but she was concentrating on this story with her "audience". We asked her to walk along with us but she "had to finish telling her story".

• God is great- She is a great blessing sayer. She was doing it "all by myself" ( which is the norm these days) the other morning and covered all her bases. Something like this: "God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Bless us oh Lord in these thy gifts which we are about to receive. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Amen."

Not just what's for supper...

Yep, that's right. Hannah Kate's going to be a big sister! We have a little Hooker on the way. Expecting our new addition towards the end of January. We're about 8 weeks now. We actually thought we were a little bit further along when we shared with our families but the doctor's first ultra sound gave us a later due date. So, as for us, we're having alot of down time and naps so far this summer!

Daddy's latest adventure

She was trying to give me a thumbs up!
Daniel got a bike and found a new riding buddy. He loves the exercise and she loves the time with daddy (and the sights).

Crawfish fun...

Crawfish cookouts are a good reason for getting together around here. We cooked out a few weeks ago and just enjoyed a night with friends. All of our babies seems so blond right now. And most of us parents aren't. Maybe it's the brown Delta water?

It's tough getting all these eyes in one direction. But this was my best shot. Hannah Kate was being the drink bandit and obviously had one too many drinks in her hand during all of our picture taking.

End of the year performance

Hannah Kate had an end of the year performance early in May that we truly enjoyed. We finally heard all of the songs that we'd gotten bits and pieces of....My love for Jesus is bubbling over, I've got peace like a river, He's got the whole world in His hands, This little light of mine, and Wheels on the bus. And saw all the hand motions as they were intended. And she loved the hand motions. She also went out and sat down in the audience on her own. And played with the mic stand. And walked around. But for 2, I'd say it was an outstanding performance. No biases.

Sorry this picture is scary. I tried to lighten it up so we could see all of the faces...and now everyone has the 'glare' in their eyes.

Market Street Festival in Columbus

We went to Columbus at the beginning of May for our first trip over that way since Christmas. It was a great little weekend with my family. It was also Market Street Festival dowtown, so we had to walk around and enjoy the fest!

Waking up a Gigi's house with Emma. Always a fun realization that someone is waiting to play when you wake up!

Hannah Kate got to meet the renowned Mother Goose while strolling along Market Street. She is a celebrity in Columbus. She's been Mother Goose since I was Hannah Kate's age and is always asked to be a special guest becuase she is so very loved by all. I still smile when I see her!

Congrats to Uncle Carl and Robin for graduating! He also accepted a job offer this week! So hurray for you! We are proud of you.

We cooked a little crawfish, thanks to Aunt Natalie and Uncle Tripp. I forget how much I really like them until I start peeling. Good cooking, fellas!

Our new play space?

Okay, so I said last time....Hannah Kate found a new hiding spot. Isn't there some safety rule about not hiding in old appliances? I was only 3 feet away loading the dishwasher and I could hear her keeping busy- just had no idea what exactly she was getting in to. We're cleaning house today and I needed a break so I sat down to post these. Happy Saturday!

Hoppy Easter

What a fun Easter weekend we had. Thursday morning we started off at school with an Easter party and egg hunt. Here we were hopping out the door.

Then, Saturday we went to Breakfast with the Bunny himself. HK took her sweet time warming up to this life size rabbit. She was awfully concerned when he left the room but, as you can tell with her body language, she kept to herself when he came close.

HK eating solid food before the candy came in to play.


Getting closer.....

She found a prize egg in the egg hunt but when it came time for Mr. Bunny to hand out the prizes, she braced herself for a quick get-away.

Gearing up for Church hunt (#3)....she was so funny to watch hunting. Hannah Kate likes the idea of finding eggs. But what she likes more is finding the candy inside each egg. She was in no hurry to find other eggs once she realized that candy was already in her basket.

Mrs. Bunny was passing out more candy (thanks, lady).

Hannah Kate and Mary Glenn sitting in the parade vehicles. We went out to Mimi and Papaw's neighborhood for a parade and egg hunt. Mimi always takes special care to make sure we are riding in pimped out Easter rides.

Can't you see these two in a few years....watch out Lake Lee!

Papaw and Hannah Kate after the hunt, juice, and cookies.

And then home to dye eggs! (Please note the paper towels soaking up the spilled dye!) We had to take an extra long bath to not have blue and orange hands for Easter morning! But she was fascinated by the coloring of the eggs.

And guess who stopped by Saturday night while we were getting our well deserved rest...

Lunch with Mimi and Papaw after Easter Mass.

So it was a great Easter weekend. One question came out that I wasn't sure the answer. "Where did the Easter Bunny go?" I know that Santa lives at the North Pole but wasn't quite sure where to direct this answer. So our Easter Bunny lives in the forest somewhere. On another note, Hannah Kate has been learning to hop, just like the Easter bunny. She can now get both feet off the ground for an official hop! I guess her motor development is kicking in because she's been climbing up the walls, too. On top of tables every time I turn around. ...up shelves...she can even climb her own high chair and get in it with the tray still on...not that this was something that I was wanting to see her do. She just showed me the other day. Also we have a new hiding place. Found her in the dryer as I was loading the dishwasher the other night. I'll post those pictures soon!