December Wildness

I am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Christmas is really over. Each year I feel like the month flies by and this year proved no exception. Despite my best planning and organizing (I ordered my Christmas cards in September!) things snuck up on me. It probably wasn't helped by three trips to the doctor: Springer was diagnosed with 'almost asthma' and had a terrible bout with a cough; Carver came down with a high fever/upper respiratory/ear infection the last week of school and I had a maddening chest cold-even fractured a rib from so much coughing! Add to that a Christmas Open House with 125+ folks dropping in and a quick two day trip to Georgia...well, you get the idea! So in lieu of a daily update all month long let me bring you up to speed with a story in pictures.

Our month started with lots of coughing and many a late night outside snuggled under quilts. Those times proved to be good for the lungs and the soul!

Oh, Christmas tree!

Springer and Mae enjoyed strawberry cake (along with who knows what else they managed to snag from the dessert tables!) at the annual Christmas Open House.

Springer, Skylar, Ellie, Anna Wade and Abby at Christmas Tea.

Springer's Christmas music at school...they moved around so much that most every picture blurred.

Christmas snuggles

A short trip to Columbus and some ice cream making with Granny and Sara James

Back up to Atlanta for Family Christmas...

Carver, Smith, Springer, Madison, Isabella and Sara James

Micah gets some baby love from sweet Smith

Children's Christmas Eve service (and party) at Covenant Presbyterian

Mae and Springer as princesses at our Christmas Eve dinner

The train: Springer, Carver, Sam, Jack and Mary Gray on Christmas Eve

Digging in to the new presents!

Rock'Em Sock'Em robots with Daddy

Post present rest time...Springer loves her huge bear from her great grandfather, but didn't want to part with her new scooter either...perfect solution!

Thanksgiving Week

We enjoyed a wonderful five days with G's sister, Paola, brother in law, David, and their four children. Carver and Springer loved every second with their cousins and miss them terribly. Sweet days.... Springer and Aunt Paola
They worked tirelessly to outfit Camp Carver...complete with signs, chairs and a play kitchen.

Our little frog princess, Maggie.

Springer wrestling with Uncle David.

A little Jonas Brother concert (check out the boom mic his cousin, Molly, made for him!).

Molly (11), Maggie (9), Springer (3), Jack (7), Carver (6) and Josh (15!).

the sweet 'girl cousins'

and our fellas

Springer LOVES playing with her 'big cousin' Josh

Carver and Jack really enjoyed each other. I don't think they spent 5 minutes a part all week.

Thanksgiving Celebration

Springer, Giorgio and I enjoyed a sweet Thanksgiving service and lunch at her preschool today. It was the perfect way to kick off Thanksgiving week!

Sweet Friends

What started as a fully dressed playdate with Mae ended something like this!

Renaissance Festival

After Carver's last soccer game of the season we headed up to the Renaissance Festival. At the last minute some friends offered us their tickets and we knew it would be something interesting do see and do if nothing else. It certainly did not disappoint. Out in the middle of the woods is this entire Renaissance 'town'...lots of food, animals, rides, music, jousting-most anything you could imagine. One of the highlights of the day was Carver and Springer's ride on a camel. It was all smiles and laughter until....
Springer spotted the elephant next to her. THAT was not at all what she wanted to see; and she proceeded to cover her face until he was out of sight! We still don't know why this typically fearless child (and lover of elephants) got so upset over the sitting elephant. I think that elephant made as a big impression on her as her camel ride!

The jousting was another favorite...we watched a tournament and then the children decided to try their hand at it. Yes, they each left with a shield and have enjoyed many a sword fight over the past 24 hours! (I vetoed the wood swords opting instead to go with the foam swords we have at home...I had images of visits to the emergency room with two wood swords flying around.)

A little lesson in archery.

Meeting a 'real' knight

So our Saturday didn't go quite as we planned, but boy what fantastic memories were made. They're already talking about what they want to do when we come next year!

Halloween Night

I thought that if I heard "How much longer till Trick or Treating?" I may scream. The day seemed to drag on and on; thankfully dusk did indeed come and after a yummy specail Halloween dinner we headed out.

Tomato Basil soup (aka: monster mash or monster blood-depending on who you ask!) , Mummy dogs and broccoli (thrown in for good measure to counteract all the sugar that would follow!)
Our little ballerina waiting and waiting and waiting....

The scariest little mummy ever!

All wiped out and back home to munch on goodies and hand out candy to our own trick or treaters.

The evening was a great success. Carver and Springer had the best time and seemed especially grown up this year. Several times, out of habit, I would say "Carver wait up for your sister" and then realized SHE was way ahead of him. She got the hang of things real fast and never looked back! Carver's spent the better part of the last year working up the nerve to go to the "scary house" (what this particular house is called year round). This house scared his pants off 3 years ago and he hasn't quite forgotten it. So, we headed back first thing and after G shouted out "Small children version, please!" we headed down the "spooky path". The scary wolf man kept his chain saw off long enough for them to grab some candy and head out. Neither were too tickled with it while we were there, but by the time we hit the side walk they were basking in their bravery!

Party at the Preschool

Today Springer had her fall festival at preschool. She decided to go as a Davidson cheerleader...taking her role quite seriously.... Exhibit A
Exhibit B

Painting pumpkins (it may never dry)

The bean bag toss

"Bobbing" for apples with Anna Wade and Abby

Have you ever tried wrangling fifteen 3 year olds for a picture? Fifteen three year olds in costume? Not an easy task!

The Mouseketeer

Springer adores Mickey Mouse and the movie, The Mouseketeers, is among her favorites. As I prepared dinner the other evening she disappeared (rarely good news around here). Imagine my laughter when she rounded the corner dressed in my brown suede boots singing one of the songs from the movie. She considered herself part of the gang and after serenading me went off in search of her sword!

Pumpkin Carving

After a stop by our local pumpkin spot we headed home for an afternoon of carving. There is always great discussion about just what kind of face to give our Jack-O-Lantern. This year Carver and Springer decided on a big smile with lots of teeth. They especially enjoyed digging out the 'goo' and seeing who could spit and throw the seeds the furthest. I think everyone was happy with our results and most importantly we all enjoyed making memories together.