Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU

Getting Ready For SANTA!!!!

He is ready!!

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday Morning I coordinated a breakfast with Santa to raise money for presents for children on our Apple Angel Giving Tree. We did not get the list of the kids until late so I convinced Santa to come down early to help. All of the children are in the Valdosta City School system. I was able to draft my hubby and some his friends to come out and flip pancakes. Thanks guys!! More thanks to my "nieces" for being great servers. Even more thanks to a few of my staff who came in off the clock for this event!!!!

Santa and Leah

Santa and Derrick

Santa With Our Elves

Time To Clean Up

Most of the kids were so happy to see Santa. There were a few who were hot loving Santa. Derrick was quick to tell Santa "poo poo in da potty" (still just a one time shot). Aunt Sylvia made all the kids some super cute shirts.They had a reindeer made with their foot and hand prints. We raised over $200 that morning. I only did in store marketing and a bulletin on my space. I look forward to doing this again next year!!

Long Day

Thursday was a fun packed day. We started with a trip to the doctors office for Leah's wellness check and she is doing very well. 13 pounds 8 ounces and 24 inches. 2 shots and 15 seconds of crying. She took them really well.
Look At Me

I Am 4 Months Old

We then went up to our friend Kristen's pre-school to celebrate her 5th birthday with a cupcake project. We took cupcakes and iced them with white icing for snow. We topped the snow with 2 marshmallows held up by a pretzel for the body. 2 more pretzels made the arms. Chocolate chips made the eyes, candy corn for the nose. A piece of pull and eat licorice made a scarf while a chocolate covered cherry made the hat. Coconut flakes were there for some texture to the snow. The kids had a blast. Leah and her buddy Ryan hung out and watched all the action.

The ingredients

Our birthday girl making her "snow"



The result, minus the hat (too heavy)

Me with the birthday girl and her brother and sister

Ryan (8 months) and Leah

To end the day we were having the 'Stepford" Christmas bash. All the boys and all the girls of the hood got together to enjoy some time together. We did a little gift swapping and some serious eating ( i love homemade cookies yummy). Andrea was so sweet to get Derrick a coloring book, crayons and book to read. Derrick had to share it with Leah.
Next post, Breakfast with Santa...

Leah's 4 Months Old

I have been keeping Leah out of the blog lately so I will make it up with a bunch of pictures. We are going in Thursday for shots. Yuck! She is becoming so alert. She loves to make raspberries at everyone she sees. Leah has yet to roll over but seems to love it when we practice together. She still sleeps all night long. She is so sweet. Derrick is really warming up to her. Today they both napped together on the floor mat, Derrick fell asleep with his hand on her belly it was so cute. See you soon!

IT IS POTTY TIME

Good morning to all 5 of you that read this!!!!!!! Big news! Derrick George made PooPoo in the Potty!!! Derrick is a boy on schedule when it comes to the mornings. As soon as we get him out of the overnight into a fresh one, BAM poopoo. This morning I beat him to the punch. I put that bootie on the potty, he got up and grabbed a book, plopped back down and went to town!!!!!!! We jumped off and went running butt naked to daddy to tell him the big news!! YEA DERRICK GEORGE!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVAN!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Evan

We are all sorry that you are under the weather and hope you feel better soon. The whole family is sad that we can not see you this weekend.

We love you very much!!!

Here is Derrick celebrating for your BIG DAY

Game of Cards

Months ago I picked up a pack of picture cards st the dollar store to play with Derrick George. He is very good with them. He has now taken the cards and teaching Leah. Here is a video clip daddy caught of the bonding.




I think he is starting to come around with his sister. The other morning we heard her wake up on the monitor and Derrick George went running in the room and told her "daddy commin' Leah" Have a great Weekend!!!

One Year Ago

not too much to say right now so I am gonna go back in time...


Where were you this day last year?????

Darn Tagging!!

Fourth Photo in fourth file.....




Here is Derrick George opening his birthday present from Heather, Rob, Kat and Laney. It was a book that he still loves to this day, Peek a Zoo. I think all of you have been tagged by now if not NOW YOU ARE!!

Happy Thanksgiving

We are wishing all of you a great weekend. Good luck to all of you nuts who are getting up at the crack of dawn or not even going to sleep to hit the "big sale"!!Turkey day was a great one. Our group of friends are far from your 9-5 Monday- Friday working crew. They are all the great professions that run for the 9 to 5. Most every year we all manage to be each others family for Thanksgiving. This year began with a rumor that 2 were gonna have dinner at the Cracker Barrel and I just could not have that. We have all been friends for many years and have done thanksgiving together, why change. On Tuesday afternoon (2:30), while i was stuck in pure HELL in Atlanta traffic returning from MADONNA (had a mega blast), I got the call that turkey day was game on and was asked what to bring!! YEA I AM THE HOSTESS THIS YEAR!!! Seriously, no sarcasm there, i was so happy at the thought! Just a bit ill prepared. After what normally took 3.75-4 hours took 5.5 actual driving hours home. I began planning. I was scared to death that I would not have a bird defrosted in time. For the first time ever I went shopping with both kiddos in tow Wed AM and found defrosted turkeys!!! Long story, short, Turkey, can cranberry, green beans, broccoli casserole, bread, and post roast and Apple pie-Me, Squash casserole, mashed potatoes, dressing, apple strudel, the frying of the turkey, pecan pie- My Friends.Bless all of you across the miles.

PICTURES!!!!!

I Know that these are WAY LATE but it seems that everything is behind. I have gone back to work now and so far behind. I hope to start Christmas cards now to have them out by New Years Day.

Big Derrick's first time Carving a pumpkin

Little D checking out his hot new ride!!!OK I made toddlers police car. I am very impressed with my mad skills with a can of spray paint and a glue gun!!!!!

Our Family


The cop cars!!!

Off to Trick or Treat

Derrick and his buddies

Our pumpkin Family

Slept the whole time! Being a bee is a hard job!

We now have batteries, that recharge now!!!

SLEEPY-

I have not forgotten about you all this past week. I went back to work and I am BEAT DOWN!!!! I will get caught up with you all soon. I still have to show off my Halloween pictures. Check with me Thursday!!!!!!!!

Dead Batteries!!

Have I mentioned that at times I hate living 20 minutes from civilization???? My camera batteries are dead. I will head to town Sunday to get some more so I can upload all the pictures I could get. See you soon!!!!

Halloween Round One

Man am I sucker for a holiday or what?? Here are a few pictures to get us started!

Derrick Before Breakfast!!!

Any guesses on what he will be????

Our Pumpkin Family

And our pet's pumpkins

The baby PUMPKIN

With all her pumpkins

thanks melissa for our first hoilday outfit!!!!

Picture Time!!!!

We did make it out to get some updated pictures of the kids. Thanks to grandma for picking out some great poses and for spending the last week with us. We all had so much fun. Here are a few that we took.

Hope everyone is ready for Halloween!!!!!!!!!

VSU Homecoming 2008

Can I call it homecoming if l live here?

Last weekend was VSU's homecoming. There was stuff going on all week but we made it to a parade and a concert on the lawn. I know all of you that even looked at a picture of VSU's campus knows what a great front lawn it is. Man, the grass is made of silk and there was not a single bug to be found.!! Expect Mine!!

it got a bit cool outside thus the non-matching clothes, I had to put her in a frog jacket and peach striped pants all over her blue flowered dress a combo of the 2 back up outfits i have for her!

Anyway, the parade was, let me just say, sad. There were only a few organizations that participated in it, that is including the Greek. I only saw 4 of the candidates for queen, a couple Greeks, International Studies and Gay Straight Alliance. So Disappointing...

can you just see the joy in the girls faces??

Derrick had fun with candy...

Leah got a paper flower...

After the parade we set up camp with another family to hear the concert. The kids jumped endlessly in the bounce houses. Who was playing??? A band that was hot when I was a student.. Sister Hazel. Opening act Ocean Street.



We hung on the lawn dancing with the kids. Never in a million years when I was in school I thought I would be one of the moms out on the lawn dancing with their kid, and now I am. PROUDLY!!!!!!

My Kiddos

Leah

She changes everyday. Each time I look at her I just wonder what the world has in store for her. I wonder what is she thinking. Leah is much harder to read than her brother. She is far more laid back. She is pretty content just watching Derrick and I from the view from her bouncer seat.I still feel I just do not know her yet. Leah is slowly beginning to awaken. She is noticing her surroundings. She will give you the biggest smile, but you have to be fast they are short and sweet, just like her. I still think the best smiles in the world are sleep smiles. You all know what I am referring to. She will be out cold, deep in REM sleep and out of nowhere, the biggest smile is on that face and disappears just as fast as it came. The coos and goos are music to my ears.

Leah's look changes all the time. There are times where she looks like a spitting image of her older brother and others where she looks like my mother.

I do find myself comparing the two of them far more than I think I should. I need to break this habit before she gets too big. But, what else do I have to go by? Having her worry about following in her brothers foot steps is not something I want for her...

"It is always Derrick, Derrick, Derrick" (that is to be read like the Brady Bunch 'Marsha, Marsha, Marsha'"

She is now 10 pounds 6 ounces with 23 inches in length and thriving. She is gaining that head control. He has been holding it up a bit while on her tummy.

Derrick

Wow has this baby grown fast. I have some of my favorite pictures from last Halloween framed up and look at them everyday. I sware it feels as if it was 4 months ago. You remember that cheesy pictures on the front porch. OK if you do not remember...

I look at this one and think how freaking cute he is. He has the most adorable smile and kind heart. When he sees his BFF Ryan, he is always greeted with a hug. He is very good on his pleases and thank yous. He can tell when I am not doing so great and will just lay his head on my shoulder and that tells me things are good. Derrick loves to run and play football and do flips (somersaults) in the front yard. He will yell "CAR" or "TRUCK" when one comes by. There is always a friendly wave for everyone who passes by weather it be in a car, truck, scooter, bicycle, ATV or his fave golf cart. It is a different story when they stop. He will hug onto my leg for the first few minutes or so. He may or may not decide you are worth talking to. But he will every time tell you "Bye, bye" He may not be up for conversation but a salutation is game on.

I would love to say that I wish they will stay this young forever but that would be a lie. I can not wait for them to grow up. I can not wait to see what silly questions they will ask. I can not wait for the first ball game. There is so much out there for them to experience, who am I to deprive them of that? There is a ton for bad out there please do not get me wrong. I can only pray that we have given them all the tools that they will need to make it.