Pre-School Thanksgiving Program

Today was Handley's first ever Thanksgiving program at school.  All the two-year-old classes sang a few songs while wearing their "Turkey Crowns" and it was just about the cutest thing ever. 

All the classes were squeezed in one little room so my video and pictures weren't ideal, but below is a video of her singing.  The first half she just kind of looked around, but then she got into it. At the end of the video you'll see their Thanksgiving prayer.  Notice how Handley tries to close her eyes, without really closing them.  She looks pained!  Ha! Try to ignore the little boy crying and the woman who's camera keeps blocking mine. :-)  

Posing with the leave she made for the school's big fall mural. 

Handley with her teacher, Mrs. Deborah

After the performance there was a big turkey feast for all the families in the fellowship hall.  Robby wasn't able to make it, but we were lucky to have Gigi there with us! 

 

She just gets better and better

If you've been reading my blog for a while you know that my best friend Jen is an awesome photographer and owns At First Sight Photography.  I swear she just gets better and better and I'm going to be getting her to give me some lessons on how to use my new camera soon!  She did a mini-shoot with us a few weeks ago so we could get some new family shots and also did some really adorable ones of Harper.     

I just love this one of Handley 

And the ones she did of Harper are too cute.  I'm going to make a bunch of them into a collage because I just love the age she is at right now and I want to remember it forever!!!  

To see some more - check out our family pictures here and the ones of Harper are here.

Lots of fun at Southern Prep

Today my friends Erin and Gina, and I took our kids to a really fun place called Southern Prep. It's a gymnastics facility that has open play times with everything a kid could want to do.  Tons of trampolines, slides, a giant foam pit, ride on toys, and more!  We had been here for a birthday party this summer and loved it then so we were really happy to get to go back today.  

I didn't take any pictures, but my friend Erin shared these with me.  

Handley and Harper playing together. 

Ella and Handley in the foam pit.  This was where Handley spent most of her time.  

Happy girl!

Here's a video of Handley playing at Southern Prep today.  You'll see that at first she was a little nervous about sliding into the foam pit, but that didn't last long.  

Love seeing them love each other

I just knew that I would love having two kids, but what I wasn't prepared for was how much I would love seeing them love each other!  

Handley going in for a hug and Harper trying to kiss (EAT) her head. 

Harper took advantage of her position and grabbed Handley's bow.  I just love this picture - she's so happy to have the bow!

Of course it goes straight into her mouth

Handley walking her baby

And just for laughs, before we went on our walk Handley and I had this conversation - 

Me: Do you need to go potty before we go on a walk?

Handley (in a very matter of fact tone): No, I already went at 4:00. (It was noon)

Me: OK, then...let's go.

Happy Birthday Gigi

Handley loves birthdays and every time someone she knows has a birthday she loves helping me make cupcakes, wrap gifts, and sing "happy birthday."  Gigi's birthday was on Wednesday, but we were celebrating with her today.  Handley had been patiently waiting all week and tonight she finally got her chance to sing happy birthday and helping blow out the candles.  

Happy Birthday Gigi!  We love you!!!

Finger Foods

Harper has decided that she is done being fed with a spoon and would rather feed herself.  I wasn't quite ready for this and still have a pantry full of baby food, but I quickly moved into finger food mode and she is loving it.  Today for lunch she had peas, watermelon, and cheese.  The transition into finger foods means more messes and towels covering my cloth kitchen chairs, but I love watching how excited she gets about trying new foods and how Handley is so happy that Harper can eat the same foods she can.  

Sydney caught on quickly and has already moved her meal time position from beside Handley's chair to right below Harper's.  She's smart and knows where the food will drop.  

Tonight we got to visit with Robby's childhood friend, Justin, who was visiting from Florida, Justin's girlfriend, and another friend from UGA that we hadn't seen in years.  They came over for dinner and Handley made fast friend with, "those boys."  

 

Loving my new camera...

I am loving my new camera that Robby surprised me with for my birthday and I'm having fun pretending to be a professional photographer. :-)  I'm still trying to figure out all the settings and have a tutorial coming my way, but for now my pictures are still way better than they were before.  Today I took the girls outside to do a mini photo-shoot, just because the sun was shining and the rain was gone!

I've been working on manners with Handley and trying to get her to say "yes" or "yes ma'am" instead of "yeah."  Today we were driving and she said, "look at those pretty trees, Mommy."  I said, "Yeah, I know."  Well wouldn't know my 2 year old has been soaking up more than I thought.  She told me in a matter-of-fact way, "Don't say yeah, Mommy.  Say yes or yes ma'am." :-)