The Polar Express

Last Tuesday we headed up to the North Carolina mountains to the Great Smoky Mountain Railway. Matt's parents were in town so we hit the road to go on the "Polar Express". Mackenzie was so excited! We were running a bit late after stopping in Asheville and making sure the kids had dinner, so we hurried through the mud and rain to make the train on time. As we were boarding we saw a beautiful rainbow and that was just the first sign of how wonderful our trip would be. Seeing Christmas through your children's eyes is such a wonderful thing and needless to say this trip was MAGIC!

Taking a minute to snuggle up to Granda

Dancing in the aisles to Christmas carols

Ethan's favorite part of our journey was the bell he got from Santa

Mackenzie was so shy until she saw Santa, she just had to tell him she REALLY wanted a microphone for Christmas so she can sing really loud!

Even the little guy was mesmerized by Santa

We took a minute from the hot chocolate and sweets for a family pic

The waiters read the kids the story of the Polar Express

We had the best time! As we traveled through the scenic mountains and darkness fell we traveled all the way to the North Pole where the kids got to see Santa's house and the North Pole Village. This was the perfect trip to get in the Holiday spirit. We hope to go back next year. When we got in the car Mackenzie said "Mom, I had the BEST time at the Polar Express"! Merry Christmas!!

Pilgrims and Indians

Mackenzie had her Thanksgiving school program last Monday. It was a special day because her Nana, Grandma and Grandpa were able to be there to see her sing. The kids were so cute!

1st Haircut

Ethan had his first big boy haircut this morning. He wasn't too happy about it but my car keys seemed to distract him until it was all over. I'm so sad he looks so much more like a little boy but I must admit it was time to say bye bye to the mullet :)

My Sweet Baby Boy is 1!!!

Ethan's Birthday celebration ended up stretching out over a couple of days. We postponed his party once because Mackenzie was sick and then his party took a back seat when my Mom had to have emergency gallbladder surgery. It was a hectic weekend to say the least. We let him open gifts periodically through the day on Friday and then had my Dad, Sister and Neice over for cake on Saturday.

The car in the middle of the table is the cake. Buttercream Bakehouse did a fantastic job. She even made a smash cake tire and a gas pump!

Sometimes the boxes are more fun than the gift!

I think one of his favorite toys was this car Mackenzie gave him, he pushed it all around the house for days

Ethan's one year update: He is such a happy, smiley baby. He is into EVERYTHING, I know I have said this before but truly there is no amount of baby proofing that can keep him from finding things to get into. He is in the 80% for height and 40% for weight. He is saying several words, Mama, Daddy, Nana, no no, wow, uh oh etc. I have tried switching him over to milk and he's not loving it so we are working on that. He may be my child that takes a bottle when he's 5 (just like Suri Cruise)! His favorite thing in the world is playing with his Sister. I can't imagine our lives without this little guy and it brings a tear to my eye to think I have a TODDLER....no that can't be right....he's my BABY!!!!

Halloween Part II

Halloween gets more and more fun each year as Mackenzie gets older. This year I decided to let HER choose what she wanted to dress up as. She was extremely indecisive for weeks and finally settled on a witch. Since Sophie was in agreement (of course they have to be the same thing) we got her witch gear together. They had a great time running door to door (arguing at each door about who got to ring the doorbell)! We also had a wonderful visit from Matt's Uncle Don and Aunt Cathy. They helped hand out candy at our house while we took the kids around the neighborhood.
Ethan came along for the ride too. He's the cutest little dragon I've ever seen in my life!!

This little bug was only in her costume for a short while. Our little pumpkin took a Halloween nap.

This pic is from my MOMS Club Halloween party. She had a great time running around like crazy with all the kids and painting pumpkins. She missed her school Halloween party because she was sick so I was glad she at least got to go to this one.

Halloween Part 1

PUMPKIN CARVING!! It was a little early so I hope they won't be shriveled up by this weekend, but we had to work around Matt's work schedule...so Sunday was the big day! Mackenzie loved it, of course at first she didn't want to get her hands yucky but it only took her a little while to warm up to it and then she spent at least an hour playing with pumpkin guts!

I'll have lots more Halloween pics coming soon! We have Halloween parties on Wednesday and Friday and of course trick or treating. I was in the hospital having Ethan last year on Halloween so I can't wait to enjoy all the fun this year!

New Tricks

Please ignore my screeching! He's walking more and more every day and he practices a LOT! You can tell that he is so proud of himself :)

The Food Hair Rub

He went straight to the tub after this food debacle!

Fire Dept. Fun

Since it's fire safety month I arranged for my MOMS club to go to our local fire station so the kids could see the fire trucks and meet firemen up close! Mackenzie has been really excited about it although when we got there she got very timid and only wanted to look and wouldn't get in any of the trucks (my girl is SHY these days!). Here's a few pics of our visit....

Junior fire marshall

This one can only stay in the stroller for so long before he's over it! Since he decided to voice his displeasure during the presentation on how the firemen get their boots, helmets and equipment on quickly, he got to be free!

Mackenzie is excited to work on our family fire safety plan (we got homework). I think she had a good time, now she wants to go back so she can get in the truck....why couldn't she have decided that while we were there???

Besties

My sweet friend Ali and her daughter Stirling came to visit us for a couple of days. We had so much fun, lots of shopping, playing and fun at the park. Mackenzie and Stirling were baby friends but haven't seen each other in a while, they had a blast getting to know each other again. We miss you girls already and hopefully we can see each other again soon!

Taking a picture break while playing Doctor's office

Had to throw in this little cutie, he tagged along with us shopping and to the park

Rolling around in the grass at the park

fun times cutting loose

Best Friends

Thanks for taking all the pics Ali!!

First School Field Trip

This morning we headed to Nivens Apple Farm with Mackenzie's class for her very first field trip! She was so excited, this is all she's been talking about for weeks. Even though she didn't get to ride the bus and Mommy had to drive her she still had a great time. We left with lots of apples, a pumpkin and apple "spider" that she promised she would share with Daddy.

Paddington's Travels

Mackenzie's Grandad recently went on a long trip. While he was gone he met Paddington and his cousin Paddington. Grandad and Paddington emailed Mackenzie and Sophie so they could learn about where Grandad was visiting. Here's some pics of their travels...

London

The Hague, Netherlands

They also went to the Czech Republic and finally made it back home to Texas

and finally, the Paddington's got to meet Sophie and Mackenzie at the airport today. They were so glad to see their Grandad and their new bears. What a sweet Grandad to think of his girls during his travels!

Race for the Cure

This past Saturday we headed out EARLY to do the Race for the Cure. I was really looking forward to it, we hadn't participated since I lived in Charlotte. We had a great time, Mackenzie hung out in the stroller and at the end she held my hand and we ran to the finish line together. Major props to Matt for pushing the stroller (with 40 lb kid) for almost the whole time! I've been running a lot to get ready for this and it was so worth it! We'll definitely be there next year...maybe with a double jog stroller and little guy in tow too. (Ignore my red face, this is my embrace the camera moment...thanks Holly!).

Little Climber

Good Grief, he's not even 1 yet!