'Tis the Season

Christmas is by far my favorite time of year, but I just can't get into it prior to Thanksgiving. It all gets so lumped together and I feel like we miss out on the fall celebrations by rushing Christmas. Anyway, all that to say we are now officially ready for the season! Uptown decorates to the nines each Christmas and it's become our family tradition to go uptown on the day after Thanksgiving. Carver and Springer loved all the trees, lights, toy soldiers and reindeer. G's family typically spends Thanksgiving with us and joins in this little jaunt. They were not able to come this year and were dearly missed! Carver's pants had matching toy soldiers...he thought that was quite cool!


Springer loved the 'balls' (one of her most favorite words!)

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We spent a wonderful evening with two sets of friends and are stuffed to the brim with G's famous fried turkey and all the fixings. The kids enjoyed playing with their friends and were worn out by the time we got home tonight. At Springer's bed time we sing the song Goodnight, Sweetheart complete with "ba-ba-du-bum-bum"; as soon as she finished her dinner she began singing that part of the song to herself! We end this evening with full bellies and hearts full of thanks; we have been blessed much. Happy Thanksgiving!

Carver & Wesley

Carver, Jack & Ellie

Springer & Walker navigate sharing a wagon and her baby!

 

Caroline's Wedding!

Thanks to Micah and Tricia, G and I were able to sneak away for a wonderfully long weekend at the Four Seasons in celebration of my dear college roommate's (all 4 years!) wedding. We had a terrific time, caught up with great friends and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning enjoying the festivities. Caroline was beautiful and she and Matt are relaxing in Hawaii this evening. Congratulations, Lou!


the three suitemates: me, Caroline and Elizabeth

 

Thank you, Micah & Tricia!

Micah & Tricia, Thanks so, so much for keeping Carver and Springer so that we could get a weekend away to enjoy the wedding festivities. I know they had a ball; Carver has talked and talked about all y'all did together. Thank you for loving them so well. I am so thankful for you three. I hope you got a nap this afternoon! 

A quick, funny story...

So Carver's reading has really taken off of late. Letters and words have always come quickly for him and he's become really good at picking out words on signs we pass on the street or in stores. This has all been quite fun...until yesterday afternoon. The children and I were in Marshalls...long line...very crowded...merchandise all around us...we're just waiting. At the end of the line I noticed a very large display of 'Playboy' merchandise-clocks, I think. Well, as we neared the display Carver suddenly noticed two words he could read and began shouting (truly, shouting) "Mommy, 'Playboy', ' Playboy'. 'Playboy'!" He really must have shouted this 4 times. I am sure I turned a million shades of red as I tried to quiet him, praise him for his good reading and then loudly proclaimed, "Yes, Carver that is a compound word, like we've been talking about-very good reading! (the truth, but in hindsight it sounds pretty desperate!)" That boy keeps me on my toes!

Happy Halloween!

the ONLY picture (of a dozen) where Springer wasn't trying to escape!

Our little bunny

Buzz Lightyear
When Carver's costume arrived he put it on and said, "Mama, now I don't have to PLAY Buzz Lightyear, I AM Buzz Lightyear!" And that he has been-for two days now!

A very tired bunny and Buzz Lightyear are sound asleep after a fun filled round through the neighborhood. After a Halloween dinner of monster burgers and slime (green milk) we headed out for trick or treating. Springer bounced along in the wagon and Carver literrally ran down the sidewalks for blocks! He should sleep well tonight! G and I have tried to perform our parental duty of candy tasting. I'll be the one running blocks tomorrow!

Happy Halloween; we hope your day was filled with as many smiles and laughter as ours!

 

Last One!

As soon as I posted I realized this one didn't attach. It's too cute to miss, I think!

 

Hawaii Part II

Carver as a pineapple at the Dole Plantation. They also have the most delicious pineapple ice cream in the world!

Springer enjoying the train ride through the plantation.

The whole gang; including our family, G's sister's family, and Lola's family! How did we all fit?!

As Carver would say "my cousins" : Josh, Molly, Maggie & Jack. He loved his time with them!

 

Aloha (& Mahalo Granddad, Dad & Lola!)

four generations of Hiatt men

With granddad

Carver & Springer with Kapuna and Tutu


After ten wonderful days in Hawaii, we are home and adjusting to the time as well as weather change. We left Honolulu with sunny, 84* skies and arrived in Atlanta to a cold and rainy 50*. Needless to say we had a wonderful time with our family, spent lots of time at the world's most beautiful beaches and G and I even snuck away to Maui for a few days ( a big thank you to David and Paola, Dad & Lola!). We're still searching for a cd with many more pictures, but until then enjoy these favorites!

And We're Off!

We are still alive and well; it's just been a busy two weeks. We headed out of town for a long weekend in Virginia and now we're preparing to leave for a two week vacation beginning tomorrow. As you can imagine there's lots to pack and plan for when you consider two little ones on a 9+ hour flight. So, in lieu of pictures of the kids (which I just haven't had the time to upload lately) here is a picture of one of our favorite spots in Hawaii and where we hope to spend a lot of time while we're there! There will be lots of news when we return, I am sure! Until then, Aloha!

Some things you're just born with....

Springer's love of shoes for example. You could say she inherited that love from me, but I'll give all credit to my Granny. She is the queen of shoes-more pairs and colors than you can imagine. As a child I loved to play in her closet and try on all her shoes. I especially remember a pair of bright green sandals with a great cork heel. I'd love to have those today! Anyway, Springer has taken to shoes and anytime she finds an empty pair she quickly tries them on for size. "Soos", "soos", "soos". It's so funny to watch her get so excited. Here she is trying on a pair of mine.

Outside Fun

The weather over the past week has been delightful. As the cool breezes increase and the mosquitoes decrease, we've enjoyed a lot of outside time. I pulled out Carver's car from years past and let Springer take it for a spin. As you can see, Carver took great joy in showing her the ropes-and then hitching a ride!

What's WRONG with this picture?

So G's gone to a meeting, Springer's napping and I am feeling quite productive as I breeze through my little to-do list. Where's Carver? He is quiet. Not usually a good sign, but it's so hard to think of disturbing him when I'm getting so much done. You know the drill.... After some time of him "playing quietly and creatively" (my assumption) he came to the sun room and spoke the words that make all mother's stop dead in our tracks..."Mama, come see what I did in the laundry room." Here you have it-our little handy man. Thankfully he decided to show off his work prior to retrieving his stool which he claimed was needed in order to finish the upper part of the door! Daddy, I'm sending him your way!

Saturday in the Park

One of our favorite September activities is Festival in the Park. It's a great event held around the lake at one of our larger parks. They host various artists, food vendors and carnival rides for the children. We spent our Saturday morning strolling along the lake and then headed to the rides. Carver was very excited and begged to climb the rock wall (it must have been 50 feet tall). I managed to talk him into a carousel ride with his sister and then the slide. They both loved the carousel and he thought the super slide was tons of fun. It was a really tall slide (especially as I stood at the top) that we rode down on potato sacks. G and I each took our turn accompanying him and I think we enjoyed it as much as he did!

SOCCER SHOTS- a week in pictures part 2

After waiting through the rain last week, Carver finally began his soccer clinic, Soccer Shots, this week. Although we 'played' soccer with this same organization last year let's just say that Carver preferred running off the field to give me a play by play over actually following Coach Jeremy's directions. I was a bit hesitant this year, but boy does a year make a big difference in a little guy! He did really well and only came off the field once (and that was at the end after he had been hurt). I can't tell you how cute it is to see all these 3 and 4 year olds running around in soccer shorts, doing drills and learning how to dribble (our word for the week). While it tickles me, it THRILLS G to see his little man following in his footsteps. Needless to say we are counting the days until next Wednesday!

Springer enjoyed a big time of her own...she loved playing with (and attempting to eat) the balls and served as Carver's official 'water girl'. If her daddy has anything to do with it, she'll be out there playing with the best of them in no time!