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.