Christmas Fun

We had a wonderful Christmas. The festivities started early this year. Our first celebration was a neighborhood Christmas party at the poolhouse. Santa and Mrs. Claus were there. As you can see neither of the boys were interested in sitting on Santa's lap.

Tanner did have fun practicing his standing while we were there. Hard to believe it is just a few weeks later and he is now walking everywhere!

Our next stop was the Alabaster Christmas Parade. It was freezing but we had fun.

Hayes was fascinated by the parade

The next thing on the list was picking out our tree. Hayes isn't sure this tree is the right one for us

Then Anne came over to exchange presents. Tanner couldn't wait to open his

They also wanted to help Anne open her presents

Hayes got some Thomas trains and couldn't wait to play with them. He is very serious about lining them up just right

Tanner got a cute hippo that gobbles up blocks when you push it. He loves pushing it around the house!

The boys got to open one present each on Christmas Eve. They both received Christmas pajamas and a new Christmas book. Hayes loves his Frosty the Snowman book

And Tanner looks excited about his new big boy pajamas

Here are my two sweeties under the tree on Christmas Eve

Tanner checking out his new phone. Now he can stop using ours :)

He also loves his new horse Legacy

Hayes got a new train table and both boys love it!

The day after Christmas John and Phoebe came over to exchange presents. Hayes and got Tanner got a play tent with tunnel to crawl through. Hayes is hiding in it but won't let anybody else in


We had a great time celebrating Jesus' birth. It is so wonderful to see Christmas through the eyes of children. We hope you all had a great Christmas too!

Two Things to Melt My Heart

Walking on Sunshine

Playdates, Playdates

A couple of weeks ago Heather was off work so she and Claire met us at Chick-fil-A for lunch and then we went to the park. We have not seen them in so long so it was such a treat. I wasn't sure how Hayes would do since he hasn't seen Claire in a while but they played so well together! Joey and I think Claire is just the cutest thing ever and it is obvious from these pictures that Hayes thinks she is pretty cute too! He would hold her hand to help her cross the bridge and gave her lots of hugs when it was time to go. They were so sweet. Tanner loved playing with them too and hopefully will be walking soon so he can participate more. We are all so busy that it is hard to get together but hopefully we can make more time in the future. The kids had so much fun!

"Hayes, I need help crossing the bridge"

"No problem Claire, let's go"

"Hang on tight!"


All 3 on the swings


Crazy Tanner!


What do you do on this thing?


Tanner wants to do everything big brother does


Playing with pinestraw



Claire giving Tanner a sweet hug




3 Cuties


Time to go but still holding hands :)



Sweet hug and maybe a little sugar



I think Hayes has a new best friend. Barrett lives in our neighborhood and is only a few months younger than Hayes. He has been over several times to play lately and earlier this week we went with him and his mom, Ashley, to Books a Million to play with the train table and then went to Chick-fil-A to eat lunch and play. They have a lot of fun together and are both into cars and balls so they get along well. It is so nice to have them so close by. The boys can play and Ashley and I can sit and watch and talk. Conversation with another adult--I almost forgot what it was like! Here are a few pics of Barrett and Hayes playing together.

Riding the John Deere tractor


Everyone has to push something down the street. I push Tanner in the wagon, Hayes pushes his little wagon and Barret got creative and pushed the cooler!


Getting ready to slide


Playing in Barrett's new circus tent. This was a big hit!




The boys playing basketball


Good defense Hayes!


Chasing Barrett

Thanksgiving and More

We had a wonderful but busy Thanksgiving. Since I am now working part-time at Old Navy, I had to work through the holidays. We were actually open for the first time on Thanksgiving Day so I cooked that morning and after lunch I went to work. I also worked 9 hours on Black Friday and 9 hours on Saturday so I didn't get to spend much time with the family. Nonetheless, we had a great Thanksgiving and weekend and are so blessed. Here are some pictures from the weekend.


Hayes is gearing up for Thanksgiving lunch...


Our wonderful Thanksgiving lunch. We had turkey, dressing (Joey's specialty!), mashed potato casserole, green been casserole, deviled eggs, cheese biscuits and a Hershey's fudge bottomed chocolate layered pie. Yummy!

Hayes thought it was yummy too! He ate almost everything on his plate

Tanner napped during lunch and got up just in time to watch Hayes finish his meal


On Friday my sweet boys sat at their picnic table together for the first time and had a snack together

and some juice!


I worked Friday 4 pm - 1 am and then Saturday 8-5 so once the squirts went down for a nap on Friday I didn't get to see them again until Saturday night. I was in desperate need for some snuggling and they were happy to snuggle up beside me and watch Scooby Doo.


My handsome boys after church on Sunday