Christmas Songs

My uncle Tommy wanted each set of Great Grands to sing some songs for my grandmother at Christmas this year. My three were delighted to do so. We have been singing "Go Tell it on the Mountain" ever since Grayson learned it for his preschool Chistmas program. We sing it every night while doing baths. He also taught his brother and sister "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and the hand motions. I think they did a really sweet job. Just don't listen to my voice!!!! :)Notice how Aubree gets in some of the words.

Get a Clue

I grew up loving board games! Anderson has really been on a board game kick this last month. Mattie got him Toy Story Yahtzee and he played it at least 10 times a day. Grayson got the hang of playing it too so that was good for both of them. About a week and a half ago I was out Christmas shopping and saw the game Clue. I LOVED this game growing up and was pretty good at being tricky and winning! We have Clue, so that night we had a Clue game night with Bryan and Jenn and of course I won! Anderson got really interested in the game and had to sit with us to try to figure out the game. The ages on Clue are 8 and up, so I didn't think he would "get" it. That Sunday Brandon taught him the concept of the game and by Monday he was wanting to know how to play strategically like tricking people the way I do. Brandon only had to explain it to him once and he understood. He wants to play everyday and has it set up for as soon as Daddy gets home. Well fast forward a few days and he beat me and Brandon! Yesterday he beat us again! This boy surprises me everyday with him smarts! Needless to say there are a lot of board games on his Christmas list this year.

Sew What Mommy!

SEW..... That's where I've been! Sewing A LOT!!! If I'm not driving the kids around, taking care of them, running errands, doing chores or sleeping, I'm sewing. I love it! I have been hard at work making some super cute outfits for Aubree for the fall and Holiday season. I'm a sucker for Holiday outfits so why not just make my own, right? They have turned out so cute! She gets comments everywhere we go in her "homemade" things. Lots of people want to know where I buy them because they want to get one for someone, and since you can't buy them, I thought I would offer a way for people to see what I can make. With the help of my partner in crime, a.k.a Jenn (whom I have introduced the love of sewing and embroidery to) we have made a blog that people can come to in order to get some of the cute things we are creating! We've both done some sewing for others this fall. I made some stuff for a little girl in Anderson's class and have several other people I've done things for. It's a fun outlet for us since we have both been staying at home with the kids for 6 and a half years. If you want to check out our site, it's http://www.sewwhatmommy.blogspot.com/. I also have a link to it under my blog links. It's not really a business venture, it's more of a service that we are offering and it lets us be creative!

FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!

Our sweet little Grayson, today you are four! It seems like yesterday you were put on my chest with your squished little nose, squinty eyes and single dimple. You looked so different than we expected you to look. We didn't know how different you would be. We LOVE LOVE LOVE your differences though! You are unique. Although it seems like yesterday you were born there are times where four years has seemed like forever! It seems like you have always been here and we have to remind ourselves lots of times that you are two years younger than your brother. You have grown into such a big boy here recently. You have really come along way since having trouble talking and having issues with your ears. I was just thinking today that you sound so much more grown up than you did yesterday. We are so proud of you for so many things. You are such a big boy going to school now and since you have adjusted, you are doing so much better. You have such a sweet little heart and we love you so very much!

On Saturday, we had a "Mickey Go Fishing" Party at our neighborhood lake front park! Ya know, like when Mickey tries to catch the Big Red Gooey fish in one of his episodes. It turned out really cute. We had several kinds of goldfish, swedish fish and even sour gummy worms to eat. We got cane poles for the kids to fish with and a few even caught some fish. Grayson had a great time.

Kessie got one!

So, Aubree like the cupcakes

Uncle David found a toy to put on his Santa list

Happy 4th Bday Grayson! We know this coming year will be even more fun!

Halloween.. Finally

We had a "Happy Halloween" this year! We had several Halloween related activities to attend and got plenty of use out of our Halloween garb. Anderson HAD to be Agent P a.k.a Perry the Platypus. I decided I would take on the responsibility of making his costume since there weren't any for sale. I found a website with a "how to" and headed out to the cloth store to see what I could come up with. I think it turned out really cute. Grayson picked a pirate out of our dress up box, and our little princess was Snow White which my mom made for her. She's convinced that she is a princess these days. One Sunday we headed over to Boo Blast at Carowinds to trick or treat. You would have thought Anderson was a celebrity the way people pointed, stared and said "Look it's Perry the Plataypus"... even old men knew who he was.

Snow White on the Snoopy Train

On the Friday before Halloween we went to the Lake Wylie Moms club Trunk or Treat. Another opportunity to wear our costumes and get some candy!

Aubree and Mena "sharing" candy

Agent Snow White

And Lastly, Looking at our loot on Halloween night after Trick or Treating

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not...

My sweet little Grayson... boy he's such a little work of art! I mean that in a good way. He's always been my challenging one and the child that keeps me on my toes. He's been struggling with the fact that he can love more than one person at a time now for about the last 5 months. So for the last 5 LONG months he hasn't loved me (or so he says..although I'm the one he wants to snuggle with before bed every night). He only loved Daddy! He would say "No I don't love you" when I told him numerous times a day " I love you Grayson." I know he loves me, but it's kinda hard to hear you child say that he doesn't! Well today he had an epiphany!.... Out of the blue, with the cutest little grin on his face he said... "I love you now!" I was the happiest mommy on the planet! I got so excited and swept him up off of his sweet little feet and we danced around and hugged and kissed! I made such a big deal out of it! I was SOOO happy that those sweet little words came out of his mouth. It's been a long five months!

I "Heart" Fall!

Even though it felt more like summer today rather than Fall, I felt a simple post about Fall would sum up the last 50 or so pictures on my camera card. I love Fall. It is my favorite season for many reasons. Before yesterday I longed for College Football season, but the way Clemson's season is now going, I may retract that one. I still love my Tigers, they just need to get it together once and for all. I love the smells of fall and the cooler temps as well. Along with that comes pumpkins, apples, and more! This is our first Fall to have the kids play soccer. Anderson is playing in the U6 league and LOVES it. He is really improving too! He's being more aggressive and is starting to figure the game out. Grayson is playing in the U4 league and isn't so in love with it! He gets out there and runs a little, but isn't really into it. He's still a little young though, but at least it's exercise. So now, I'm officially a "Soccer Mom"... Especially on those Saturday's Brandon has school all day and I get to do Soccer all by myself! Here's a few shots from my soccer boys.

We took Aubree to the Clemson/Miami Game and she did ok despite the game was right during nap time. She climbed the bleachers a lot and probably drove everyone around us crazy, but she had a blast. She loved the "oons".. Balloons as we would call them.

We took the gang to Boo Blast at Carowinds last Sunday and rode some kiddie rides too. Here's my attempt at capturing the Snyder and Holby's all looking at the camera..

Everyone got a baby pumpkin to bring home.

On Thursday while the boys were in school, I took Aubree to Windy Hill Apple Orchard to pick some apples, go on a hayride and have some homemade apple cider. I took Anderson here when I was 8 months pregnant with Grayson and I just have the sweetest memories of that day. I never got the chance to take Grayson by himself, but maybe one day. I'm going with him on his field trip Tuesday to the pumpkin patch so that will be our little one on one time.

Aubree loved the pumpkins!

Stuffing the Scarecrow

The Girls were not loving the Hay

And of course, I had to make her an appropriate outfit for the occasion! I do have a slight problem! :) The first step is admitting the problem right?

Anderson's Birthday Party

We celebrated Anderson turning six at Mattie and Pappy's this year the Saturday after his birthday. We had a small little swimming/wipeout party for him after soccer games that morning. Anderon loves the show Wipeout so that was what kind of cake he requested this year. The pool was a little chilly, but the kids didn't mind too much.

Look who's Six!

Anderson's reaction to the "Wipeout" cake Mattie made for him
Lego Man attempting the Big Balls like on Wipeout

Love this picture

Since my brother and I have birthdays one day apart in the summer as well as swimming parties, we shared many of birthday cakes on this picnic table. It brought back some old memories.

Getting Baseball goodies from Uncle David, Aunt Bek and Keslynne