Christmas Preview

Christmas morning proved to be more terrifying than fun for poor Callie. I don't understand why this toy is so scary. He's a large red and furry animal. His giggle is loud and creepy. You have no idea which direction he's going to move and he randomly yells "Again, Again" five minutes after you thought he shut off.......

Oh.

Saluda Shoals

Here are a few shots from our trip to Saluda Shoals.

Callie mostly enjoyed cookies.....

Here is what you will find in our house if you leave the refridgerator door open.....

Callie Jamming

So far Callie hasn't been much of a dancer. Even before Carlysle could walk she would "dance" to any music she heard. Callie has seemed liked she either didn't actually hear the music or just didn't care to entertain us. So when Carlysle kept yelling at me from the back seat one day that Callie was bobbing her head to the music....I didn't believe her.....until I caught her in the rearview mirror.....and she has rhythm....who knew.

So I had my phone ready (at a stoplight) to capture her doing it on video. Apparently, it just took a little CCR to get her grooving. Yes, surprisingly enough my girls' favorite songs right now are "I heard it through the grapevine" also called "the vine song" and "Down on the corner" also called "the corner song".

I think the best part of this short clip is how Callie totally acts like, "what?" when I catch her dancing and then she stops.

Carlysle's 4th Birthday

Carlysle turned 4 on October 9. Wow! That's hard to believe! For her party, we decided to have an outdoor movie party. Carlysle LOVES movies and every Friday at our house is movie night. I saw the idea to do a movie party outside in a magazine and knew it would be perfect. Another thing Carlysle LOVES is candy so I knew we would have to have mucho candy. One day I googled "candy buffet" and this gorgeous Martha Stewart candy buffet picture popped up on the screen. Carlysle was looking over my shoulder and her face lit up and she said "let's do that". Normally I would ignore this request but she rarely "requests" things. I usually come up with ideas whether it be party ideas, Christmas presents, room decor, etc. Then when I ask her opinion, I get "I don't know" or "can we talk about something else". So when she got excited about something I was also excited about.......SOLD. Game on.....let's do it.

And that's when I get in trouble........

My mind starts rolling and nothing (literally nothing) can stop it. Which isn't always a bad thing, well this is what I tell Joey when I come home with multiple glass containers for the "candy buffet". Blank stare......followed by......"candy buffet?". Yes, we're having a candy buffet. Isn't that going to be fun?......................Blank Stare.


So this was the candy buffet not quite all put together. We hung treat bags beside it and let the kids go at it...............And the parents LOVED me for that!








Our movie screen! Joey (with a little of my help) made this from canvas clothes, two 2x4s, some rope and tent stakes.

Our movie for the night was Charlie Brown's "It's the Great Pumpkin". The kids all really enjoyed it. And special thanks to Andy Ott for bringing his equipment and setting it all up.




Carlysle kept hiding her face because she gets super embarrassed when everybody is looking at her.

I also decided this year I really wanted to do a tiered cake for Carlysle. I found a girl in Lexington who does fondant cakes and she did a really awesome job on the candy cake. Her name is Jessica and the business is called "Cake it to the Limit".


Ok, I won't deny that clearly this party was for me.......
But I think Carlysle enjoyed it.




Carlysle and Grant deeply enthralled in the movie.


Carlysle and John Andrew were still watching the movie after everyone had left and gone home. I think they would have stayed there all night.....seriously.


Cute Cousins

Callie's Birthday Party

We had a family gathering for Callie's 1st birthday with an owl theme. I'm a little late getting these up but better late than never! She did great for the whole party! She never got fussy and dove right into the cake....soaking up the attention.








These adorable owl cookies were made by my super-talented friend, Mary Catherine. How cute are they? I was so impressed. And they were yummy!






She snagged some icing before we got to sing....




"Oh yeah.....let me at it."














Washing off the BLUE icing! Not easy.






I think I was more into the presents than she was....


Somebody does not like a bow in her hair.


Callie and Mimi


Callie and BeeGee

Callie's Birthday Dinner and Pre-Celebration

We had planned to have a little mini-celebration the night of Callie's birthday because her party wouldn't be until Sunday. Our plan was to let her open the blocks we got for her and enjoy a cupcake. We decided we weren't going to let a 103 fever and some vomit ruin it.


So for her birthday dinner she got.......McDonalds!! Only the best for my kids......




Opening her squishy blocks. She and Carlysle are getting a bigger shared present later. :) But I couldn't not get her anything b/c she will remember that when she's 15.


Carlysle enjoying the celebration b/c cupcakes were involved.




It doesn't take her long to attack the cupcake.


"Puked? Who puked today?"


"Bring it"


"Why have you been holding out on me? "


"Oh, this might not have been a good idea. Too soon, too soon."


"Sike. I'm good."


"Wow. Who made that mess? Well, good luck with that, Daddy."