Stone Mountain Christmas

Just look at these two!  No doubt this will be in a slide show one day in the very distant future!  It always amazes me to watch Cooper and you play together.  You two absolutely love each other and really are the best of friends.  "Pooper" is adored by you and it isn't unusual for you to talk about him at least once a day.  We spent a lovely Saturday with Carmen, Brandon, Cooper, Tessa, David, and Camalai at Stone Mountain.  If there is only one word I can use to describe that day, it would be "magical".  Yes, it cost us a small fortune, however, the day was perfect!  We started off with a visit to the top of the mountain.  It was so cute, when we pulled into the parking lot and that huge mound of granite was staring at us, you announced, "We need a yadder."  We had no idea what you were talking about, so after several minutes of Daddy playing 20 questions with you, you finally said in a very frustrated voice, "We NEED a YADDER to CLIMB the MOUNTAIN."  Oh, how you make us laugh.

 On top of the very cold mountain, and no, we didn't climb to the top on a ladder, however, once again, you proved to us that you have absolute no fear.  You stood at the very edge of the sky lift looking out the door and when we got to the top, you ran straight for the fence.  Good grief.  Nolan, you were less than impressed. 

 Down at the bottom, still cold, but almost cracking a smile.

 Walking though the light arches.  The way they had the lights set up, was amazing.

 Eating supper outside waiting for the parade to start.

 You fell in love with this man who worked at the park and blew bubbles at you.  He had all of these special tools in his bubble solution and you would just follow him around popping all of the bubbles.

 You are beautiful.

 Look at that face.

 Now it was over 2 hours past your bedtime and you and Cooper were still trucking around.  It helped that you both took little cat naps on the train ride.  I think all of our caroling lulled you to sleep.  :)  At 9:45 p.m., the snow princess flew over us and showered us with snow.  It was so neat! 

 You and Daddy trying to catch all of the snow.

 This one just cracks me up.  The snow was blowing in both of your faces!

December 11, 2010

Mackenzie 27 months

It has yet once again come and gone.  Another month older and another month wiser.  Ha, ha!  That's so true, sweet girl.  You're growing up so fast and amaze everyone around you with your vocabulary.  You are a wondering type of gal, always asking what something is, and how it works.  Your memory is outstanding and it blows our minds on a daily basis.  You're most favorite thing to do right now is play hide and seek with Daddy.  You're always asking him, "Count for you, ok?"  This translates to, count to 10 while I go and hide under the table or in my tent.  You're pretty good at it too!  One time, you hid up against the wall, and when you decided it wasn't the best place, you quickly ran into the kitchen and hid under the breakfast table.  You're loving to dance too.  You're usually caught wearing your tu-tu and jamming out with your teddy bear that sings, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.  This often turns into a dance party with the whole family including Nick and Stetson.

December 4, 2010

Christmas Cards Take 1

My crazy self that the most wonderful idea to drag the entire family down to the freezing cold sand on a windy Saturday evening to take family pictures.  I had an idea in my head and dog gone it, I was determined to make it happen.  Again, Mackenzie and Nolan, you were both such troopers.  To say it was cold, would be an understatement.  It was so windy and the sun was setting so fast and I was starting to get a bit paranoid.  Between two different cameras flashing and snapping away we did walk away with the picture that I was hoping to get.  Below is a collection of the one's that didn't make the cut, but looking at them now it just cracks me up!

Nolan, you were far too distracted by that darn tree to look at anything else.  Mack, you and Daddy must have seen something too!

 Mackenzie, you can tell that you were saying, "Cheese!" however, you weren't looking anywhere near the cameras!

 Now I think you (Nolan) were getting a little annoyed at hearing your sister say, "Cheese!" over and over.  I wouldn't be surprised to know that it was probably making you hungry. 

 Mackenzie, you asked to hold your "brugger" and this it what happened, he was determined to get to that sand!

 Nolan, you were sliding down getting closer and closer to the sand, and Mack, I think you just realized that Nolan didnt' have any shoes on!

 My boys.  My loves.

 And melt down begins.  Poor baby, I know you were so cold, but goodness, I love that face of yours.  Daddy was trying to convince you to smile and was even offering Chewies, but no way.

 And while melt down was in full force, you just kept on doing your thing.

 Now that the sun was practically gone, I was waiting to start noticing snow flurries...it was that cold.  And we were barefoot.  What was I thinking?!

 My everything.  Without Scott I would be a mess.  The past year has brought so many surprises (Nolan!!!), hurdles, leaps of faith, sorrow, happiness and joy and without each other I know we would not have made it.

 Two of the funniest, most loving people I know.  My mom is amazing.  And well, my "step" dad, he's just that, a dad.

 My sweet Rollen, Rollen, Rolen.  Poor guy, that will forever be your knickname.

November 27, 2010

Saturday Beach Fun

Since it was clearly far too cold to enjoy any type of water activities the next best thing we did was shop!  Well, I guess I should say window shop.  I'm not a fan of over priced beach shops, but Pier Park in PCB is such a fun place to stroll around on a sunny, windy Saturday. 

Nolan, I love you.

 There was this little amusement park at Pier Park and once Daddy saw it, he went on a rant about how it was just over priced, unsafe rides.  Well, it took one phrase out of your (Mackenzie) mouth and Daddy had a serious change of heart. That sweet little phrase, "Oh wow!  Wook, Daddy!  It's RIDES!!!!"  So, needless to say, $25.00 later, Mommy and you, Mack were flying high on the hot air balloons.  Sidenote: these rides were not old and rickety!

Mackenzie, you are our free spirited wild child with a heart of gold.  This is you below with your hands in the air!  You decided to do this.  Once you had your arms up, and I was holding onto you for dear life, you then told me, "Mommy, arms up!"

 Nolan, you may have made the weight requirement, however, you did not meet the height one.

 See your sweet feet?  Daddy HAD to buy you a pair of Converse shark sneakers.  :)

 As we were walking away from the ride, you were so excited to see Daddy and tell him all about it.

 Next stop, the carousel.  You both actually rode for free, however, Mommy and Daddy did not.  That's okay though.  Look at your face!!  You LOVED it.  And Nolan, you were too busy looking at yourself in the mirror. 

 For some reason, you freaked out mid ride and demanded to sit down.  Maybe you were getting a tad sea sick? 

 You and your Gramma are so silly.  You found this bike rack outside of one of the stores and you played on it for some time.  You kept putting your head through it and eventually convinced Gramma to do the same.  The second I snapped the picture, you pulled your head out leaving Gramma looking silly!

 While sister was napping, you enjoyed the calmness of the ocean with Mommy and Daddy.  You were loving the weather.  And again, those eyes...sigh.

November 27, 2010