Thanksgiving Break

These are some pics from our Thanksgiving break.... It was interrupted by the flu, Saylor had it bad! The boys spent 3 nights away from us in hopes they wouldn't get it. That was a long time for us and it was so great to get them back in my arms. Thanks to our parents who really stepped up to help during their break too!

Sissy girl with Woody when she started going down hill.

We had a great day of cooking at the beginning, the boys are really old enough to be helpful and not just in the way... kind of.

Kayla had her 4th birthday party and it was a circus, literally, it was so cute and the cotton candy machine was my favorite! (Looks like it was Harrison's fav too! haha)

Here is Mawmaw and Aunt Barbara with the newest member to the Nelson family, Hanna Brook, she slept most of the party until she woke up and was ready to go home, I think she will be a home-body like Hudson.

Joel was the parent on Thanksgiving and took the boys to the Nelsons for lunch and then to the Pierce get together that afternoon. It was so pretty outside, they played football, tag and hit the baseball with Pappy.

We got all of our decor up and this was the night that the boys came home, I wasn't the only one glad to see them back ;)

This is a picture of Joel when he was 5 (he thinks) and it is a striking resemblance to Hudson...don't you think?

Pappy was giving him instructions on how to hit :)

This was the night they stayed with Nanny and Pop in Hattiesburg, they wore some of Grayson's (11 year old cousin) clothes and they thought they were big.

Where is Saylor?

Although we had a non-traditional Thanksgiving, I have to say I am so thankful for the health of our family, young and old. We have all been blessed beyond measure with health and after seeing my sick baby girl this week I don't want to take that for granted. I'm thankful for parents who live close and aren't scared to take on two 5 year-olds in a pinch, and I am the most thankful for my children and husband. It is so fun to just be at home together and laugh and play.... as my boys are yelling "Mommyyyyyyyyyy!" from their beds, let me go and get 2 cups of water and 2 blankies and 2 hugs and 2 kisses...rituals I don't really mind.

The first sparkle

I feel like the holidays officially started on Friday....my birthday! I say this every year but it gets better and better with kids... the holidays that is. Its so fun! Here is what our weekend looked like....

We had to go to the bank and my van was DEAD because someone had left the back windshield wiper on and was listening to kid songs from the CD player...and the only one who knows how to operate that...rhymes with schmudson. It's not often, maybe ever that I've taken all three in the truck with just me, it was neat having them all sitting together right behind me. They love to go to the bank for the suckers!

Tonight we are having a pallet party so they can watch the new Disney Princess movie, Sofia the 1st! Harrison has been worried about missing this all week!

My toy soldier said, "Momma look I'm a toy!"

My parents had all their grands at their house for the first time in awhile so we attempted some pictures at various locations and what do you know that the best one came right from Nanny and Pop's front porch...we should've known. Love all these precious kids, they play so well and so hard together.

The "gun show"...Saylor and Lucy are in good hands ;)

They made movies on the ipad .... kids these days

A few of my oldest and best friends happened to be free for dinner on my birthday which is very rare, we all needed some laughs and adult conversation. Food was great and company was even better!

We have started our slow process of Christmas decor.... and let me say that the magic of this season is like no other especially when you hear the gasps of little boys and a girl at the beauty of a little Christmas tree lit up in the dark.  Everyone went to get in the bath and Harrison grabbed my hand and said,"Will you please take my picture by my tree, it is so clean and sparkly"

Sissy Sue is 1.5

Our little sugar and spice turned 18 months old last weekend! She deserves her own post. Saylor is a sweet girl who seems to be pretty mild mannered so far. She will throw down on the floor but not for long and I just walk away and she gets up and moves right along...I'm sure that wont last but for now its not too major. She knows what she wants and most of the time it is one of these: Take her outside, put her up in my bedroom chair (with pacifier, blanket and juice and she knows when one is missing!), or spread her blankie out on the floor and smooth it out so she can lay on it! She has really gotten into her babies and being a Mommy in the past couple months. She still takes 2 good naps a day and will go to sleep at night around 8:30 and wake around 6:45. She loves to be outside the most. She doesn't talk (word wise) very much but she gets her point across. She is going to her Khaki's house every Mon-Thurs from 8-12  and loves it there, which makes it easy for all of us. She reaches for her every morning and walks to the door smiling saying "Momma!" when I come get her! She leaves her bows alone in her hair (so far) and loves shoes, wants them on all the time or wants to change them. She is a happy girl and will give sugars but if she does not know you don't get your feelings hurt because she does not hand out smiles :) In fact our mail lady calls her "Poker Queen" because of her poker face, ha.

Saylor's Favorites:

Macaroni and Cheese

Juice

Warmed Milk

Popcorn

Playing babies

Walking outside

Checking the mail

Visiting the horses

Going Bye-Bye

Riding by Lowe's to see the giant Santa blow-up (she squeals in delight!)

Doesn't this look cold? It was! She is a tall girl in the 75th percentile!

This is her first cup at a restaurant with a straw and she LOVED it, was such a big girl.

Well....she has two older brothers and they dressed her as a power ranger with the belt buckle and sword.

Today she explored painting for the first time and was very responsible! This is new territory for me because the Pierce boys never got a chance to do things like this unless I wanted it on the ceiling and floor :)

She will tell them fast when they have invaded her bubble or are not doing what they are supposed to, she even tattles on them (Hudson) when they wont do something by pointing and screaming and pulling me to show me. I think she will be is the boss.

Snapshots

We (USA) elected President Obama for a second term this week, it was a 50/49 race. Very close! We were Romney supporters but will trust that this is what America wanted and it will work out for the best. Here are some recent sweet pics from my phone I wanted to share!

This is what I look at while in the restroom....every.single.time.

But, no complaints, she's good company!

On our way home from church at night the boys take turns pulling into our driveway, they are getting pretty good!

Fall 2012 Soccer season is over and they received medals! They both had a great year and are getting better with each game. Hudson has come out of his shell this season and made many goals and improved on his agility. Harrison scored many goals too and loved showboating around the field, he would always look to see if I was cheering for him and if I wasn't he would stop and get my attention :)

UPS came today and Hudson ran around front to see what it was and came back with this!! Early birthday surprise spoiler for me! Yay!! This was WAAAY too much JP!

Saylor and her new toy she discovered in the playroom, Woody. She kisses him and holds him like a newborn :)

Daddy is so fun! They love when he gets home and we are all outside.

Halloweenies

For Halloween I had planned on taking the kids out in Laurel to Trick-Or-Treat to start a tradition in our town. Well the boys had to set me straight that we already had a tradition and that was going to Nanny's. They were right, we had done that since they were old enough to go! They love to hand out candy and actually I think they like that more than actually walking around Trick-Or-Treating. They call the kids that come to the door "customers". This is Saylor's first big Halloween that she could participate in...So we tried her costume (a lamb) on her early and here are the results....

Get this off my head!

Get it off!

Waaaa!! (Kicking and screaming)

Her first Trick-or-treat at Mrs.Tammy's, the next door neighbor I grew up with!

Harrison was a Pirate by day and a Jedi by night!

Hudson was Hulk Hogan by day and a Cowboy by night!

Nanny and Daddy escorted us around the big block.

Here is the crew on our way out!

First Trim!

Saylor needed her hair trimmed, it all of a sudden grew so fast that the ends were pretty scraggly. So, knowing how she is with all medical personnel or even the poor lady that tried to measure her foot one time, I knew it was not going to be a walk in the park. I am a firm believer of not sitting in the chair with them if at all possible so we got her a booster and a sucker (the cape was a no-go obviously) and Mrs.Vanessa went to town! It took about 5 minutes and she was done! 

She didn't scream or really shed any tears she just fussed the entire time....see below!

I just snapped this quick pic, Hudson took it upon himself to put our buggy away at Lowe's yesterday, he is starting to "help" with the manly things without being asked. He helps bring in groceries, helps Saylor in and out of the car and other sweet little things.

Their class went to the Pumpkin Patch at the FUMC in Laurel like they do every year. Mr.Ben read them a precious story and they all picked out a pumpkin. Love these kiddos :)