6th Annual Pink Pig/Santa Trip

Since Handley was 18 months old, we have been going to ride the Pink Pig and see Santa with Tiara and Avery.  A few years later Christy and her kids joined our Christmas tradition and now it is one of the most anticipated outings we have during the year.  This was our 6th year and our 1st year stroller free.

We met at the mall right after school today and the combination of it being Monday and being a rainy day worked in our favor because we only had a wait a few minutes for the ride.

For those who aren't familiar, the Pink Pig is a ride that is long-standing Atlanta tradition each Christmas.  It's like a virtual story-book about Pricilla the Pink Pig.

The kids were all excited to ride and Hudson loved it.

After the ride it was time to head off to see SANTA!  The kids had written letters to Santa yesterday in preparations for our visit today.

Waiting in line was tricky because the kids were so excited they kept trying to sneak peeks at him and Hudson couldn't help himself from trying to inch his way closer and closer.  It wasn't long though and then it was our turn!

The kids shared their lists, had a quick little chat with Santa and then posed for a sweet picture.  They hugged him goodbye and walked away all smiles. It was a magical moment.

We ended our outing with dinner at the food court and then cotton candy treats from a kiosk they had spotted earlier.  It was quite possibly our best year yet!

Birthday Parties and Gingerbread Houses

Our weekend started a little early when Harper played hooky from school to go to a birthday party.  A friend in her dance class (who only goes to school 4 days a week) was having a Paris themed party and I gave Harper the option of missing school to go to the party or missing the party and going to school.  She had the hardest time deciding, but ultimately decided to go to the party. I figure this is the last year where she can really miss school for stuff like this and have it not matter. The party was precious and she left with one of the prettiest cookies I had ever seen.  

On Saturday she had another birthday party for her best friend at school, Katelyn.  Katelyn's party was a fairy party and her mom planned every perfect detail.  It was a drop-off party, which Harper was thrilled about!  She painted a fairy house, got decked out with a fairy crown and wings, and learned special directions for using the fairy dust she came home with.

This afternoon the kids had a gingerbread making extravaganza.  Gigi planned the whole thing and put together every thing last night after they went to bed. Today all they had to do was decorate, eat lots of candy, and complete their masterpieces.

Hudson, who at first though the icing was glue, seemed perplexed when he got some on his finger and we told him he could lick it off.  After that he was pretty much done decorating and on a full-time mission to eat as much icing as possible.

The girls took their decorating very seriously and worked hard to complete their houses.

The completed village looks just perfect and the entire project was so much fun for them to do (and us to watch).

Our Elf on the Shelf, Elfie, must like sweets too because this morning the kids found him roasting his own marshmallows.  :-)

The start of the Christmas season!

We are back to the grind this week, but it seems more bearable knowing that the count-down to Christmas break is on.  The kids are so excited about the Christmas season and loving all that goes along with it.  Christmas will feel a lot different since we aren't in our own home this year, but Gigi and Papa's house looks extra festive and the kids helped us decorate the Christmas tree and put out some outdoor lights on Sunday afternoon.

They are loving watching Christmas movies, reading Christmas books and listening to Christmas music.  Everyday they are excited to talk to Santa or the Elves on the Hallmark "Communicator" that Gigi gave them this year and also look forward to their chocolate advent calendars.  Our Elf on the Shelf, Elfie, arrived this week and has been making his way around the house each day.

I'm thankful the girls are also celebrating the real meaning of Christmas.  Monday afternoon I found them acting out the Christmas story...complete with a Lalaloopsy doll as baby Jesus and their stool turned upside down as a manger. I was cast as the role of all three Wise Men so I played along too.  They were so cute!

Tonight we had Handley's end of the season cheerleading party.  The girls had fun running around, doing crafts and eating pizza.  They also got their trophies which Handley was excited about since it was her "biggest trophy" yet!

UGA vs. GA Tech

Yesterday the kids got to experience their first UGA game.  They all love the Bulldogs and were so excited to go to a game in person!  My cousin, Bryn, works for the GA Tech Athletic Dept. and was able to get us all tickets.

A HUGE thank you to Bryn for getting us tickets! 

Handley kept asking why we were going so early before the game and I was trying to explain to her what tailgating was.  She couldn't quite understand and seemed confused.  However, after we got parked and were walking through the crowds of tailgaters looking for our friends I looked at her and said, "THIS is tailgating!"  She loved it!  There was music, food, and lots of fun. :-)

We tailgated with a big group including my Trey, Stefanie and Sophia.  Bryn was able to sneak away from work for a little bit to join us, too.  Her mom and dad (my aunt and uncle) and her brother were also in town visiting for Thanksgiving so it was a big family affair.

Hudson loved tailgating.  He kept running around, playing football with anyone who would throw with him, high-fiving the Chick-fil-a cow that walked by, and was in awe of the guy playing music at our tailgate. He stood there for a good 10 minutes just listening and watching him.

Hudson was so tired by the end of the tailgate that he grabbed his paci and layed down for a rest amongst all of the noise.

The girls had fun also.  They were happy to see all of our family, watch for cheerleaders who we spotted several times, and play corn hole.

When it was time for the game we made our way to the seats and watched what was a really bad 1st half.  I got worried that UGA wouldn't be able to come back, but thankfully we pulled out a win!  The kids loved cheering, eating popcorn and drinking sprite!  We didn't make it for the whole game because Hudson was starting to fade and we wanted to beat the crowds out of the stadium.  We listened to the rest of the game on the radio though.

They all did so great that I'm hoping we can make it to Athens for a game next year.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.  Yesterday the kids helped me prepare our contributions to our feast.  We are a house divided when it comes to sweet potatoes so we do a half-and-half combo with marshmallows on one half and nuts on the other.

This morning we all cuddled up on the couch to watch the parade and the kids loved seeing all of the balloons, performances, and dancers.

Next we got ready to head to Ryan, Heather and Rylan's house for our family Thanksgiving.  They were so gracious to offer to host our Thanksgiving this year!

The kids had fun doing turkey crafts, running around and playing together. It was such a fun afternoon and we all feasted on too much yummy food.

 After our feast we watched a Christmas movie and then came home, put on our pajamas and watched the Christmas Tree lighting on TV that we usually attend.

I do love Thanksgiving and taking the time out to be able to show appreciation and gratitude for things in our lives, but I'm most excited about the Christmas season we are getting to enter into now.  I am super thankful for my hardworking, loving husband and my sweet as sugar children who bring me so much joy (and headache) every single day! I've always said that celebrating holidays is so much more fun with kids in our lives and I can't wait to make the very most of the Christmas season with them.

***Potty-training note for anyone that cares:  I gave a great attempt yesterday morning for our day 3 of boot camp and Hudson was much more willing and happy to try.  However, all he did was pee on the floor while playing (3-4 times) and it didn't seem to bother him one bit.  So, I made an executive decision that he wasn't quite ready and that I would try again in a few months.  Until then, he's happy in diapers!

Day 2 - Not What I Expected

Day two of Hudson's boot camp potty training was not what I expected.  He decided to do a total 180 and totally resist going potty. He knew he didn't want to pee in his pants, but he also knew he didn't want to go on the potty.  The result was a lot of crying and screaming because he was so uncomfortable, him doing the pee-pee dance because he recognized the feeling to need to go, but not actually wanting to go and complete tantrums and meltdowns by both of us.  This went on for several hours until it was finally naptime and I put a diaper on him and put him to bed.  

To throw another unexpected factor into our day, Harper had been complaining about a sore throat yesterday and today she was in tears saying how bad it hurt.  I left Hudson and Handley with Gigi and took Harper to the doctor this afternoon.  They confirmed what I suspected...she has strep throat.  I hated to hear it, but was glad to know that after a few doses of antibiotics she will be feeling better by tomorrow.  

Hudson was happy in his diaper all evening since I was gone with Harper and I am second guessing him being ready. I'm going to reevaluate tomorrow morning and make a decision, but I'm leaning towards just holding off for a another few months until he's a little older and possibly a little less stubborn (doubtful, but I can hope). 

I'll spare y'all the picture of Hudson having a meltdown, but will share this one.  Handley has really been wanting for me to help her with her sewing machine and while Hudson was napping and Harper was resting this afternoon was the perfect time.  Before I know it she'll be slapping monograms on everything (just like me!). :-) 

Hudson's Potty-Training Bootcamp - Day 1

Today was day 1 of Hudson's potty training bootcamp and I'm happily surprised with how the day went.  Granted, he had plenty of accidents and we went through at least 8-10 pairs of underwear (if not more - I lost count).  However, he seems to slowly be getting it and had a few great success today.  We ended on the best note though.  We were sitting eating dinner and all of the sudden he exclaimed, "Mommy, pee-pee!" so I grabbed him, we ran to the potty and he went! Each time he's gone he has gotten to pick a prize out of the box that he is loving and that motivation has really been key for him. I filled it with different kinds of candy, matchbox cars, dollar store dinosaurs, and stuff like that.  Today he earned 4 prizes (M&M's, a car, conversation hearts and a lollipop).  He also hand plenty of opportunities to practice since I was offering him every kind of yummy drink I could think of (chocolate milk, juice, tea, and milkshakes).  

I can tell the biggest challenge for him is what I would imagine most little boys have a hard time with...stopping playing long enough to go.  He has no problem sitting, but if something doesn't happen right away he is quick to hop up and say all done.  We'll see what day 2 has in store for us tomorrow!