Now, what holiday is it again?

We've been doing a little holiday hopping around here. My children must be thoroughly dazed and confused.

We celebrated Halloween with our usual dress up and trick-or-treating, but since we didn't get to see all the Alabama cousins, Sylvia's sister invited us down in the middle of November for a belated Halloween party and hayride.

BUT, before we left that morning my mom's friend, Bonnie, invited us to get our pictures made with Santa at the Board of Realtors. Needless to say, Keatyn did NOT take a liking to Santa despite the hour I spent the day before in Lowe's holding her in front of a life sized singing Santa. I wish I knew how to download those pictures because they were adorable and pitiful all at the same time.

Much better in big brother's arms than in Saint Nicks...

My friend Iris was there with her adorable Olivia!
So we started off the morning in our Christmas duds, then changed into our comfy "Daddy's Little Pumpkin" Thanksgiving outfit for the 3 hour ride down, and then ended the evening in our smocked pumpkin dress for the Halloween party. It was like starring in our own version of Toddlers and Tiaras with all the costume changes.

Getting reacquainted with her Mimmie...
This little piggie...
Missy and Rick...
We finally got to meet sweet Mallory...
Priceless...
Trace was having so much fun running through the house with his cousins, we never got a true family picture. At least he sat still for Mimmie's.

Alex and Sandi had the yard and house looking amazing! There were spooks and pumpkins everywhere you looked. Alex took us all on a hayride around the neighborhood and the kids had a ball. I'll be picking hay out of the rump of my sweater all winter long.
We are so the minority in this group of huge Bama fans. I cringed a little but figured if it kept her from getting an ear infection it was worth it. ha! Oh, I hope Uncle Andy doesn't see this.


Trace is nearly as tall as his Mimmie...

I don't know if it was being in a strange place or sleeping in the pack and play, but Keatyn was up ALL NIGHT LONG! I mean, not even 30 minutes in a row. It was one miserable night, but we made it through and as soon as daylight hit, look who was ready for a nap? Gotta love her :)
So, today is the day before Thanksgiving, and I know tradition says you're not supposed to put the tree up until after, but...
We had a whole day at home with nowhere to be and nothing to do. Those days are rare and sometimes very needed. So, we talked daddy into getting down the tree and decorating the house a little early. Which, again, I know confused Trace because we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet and already we're getting ready for Christmas. Poor fella.

To my surprise, I look over while hanging the ornaments and who do I see??? Optimus Prime. He's had his Halloween costume on at least twice a week since we got it.
So we're decorating for Christmas, the day before Thanksgiving, in our Halloween costume.
And if you notice, all the ornaments he hung are about 35 inches from the ground in a perfect row. No ladder needed. Oh, I adore that boy!

Keatyn kept herself occupied with her choice of ornaments. Sing it sister.
To top off the day, we hung the window wreaths, lights and greenery outside. This year, we added a new lit angel and star to the house. I love decorating for Christmas, especially with my babies! We have SO much to be thankful for!!

Happy Halloween, Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas to you!

Country's Biggest Night

We went to the CMA's for the second time with Trinity and Eddie and again, it was wonderful!

We ate at Morton's Steak House before the show. Swanky, huh. Cheapo here got a salad and split the Chilean Sea Bass with Trinity. Jimmy got a big ole' honker bone-in filet which was as much as it costs to fill up my car. Everything is "a-la-carte" which is just a very fancy way of saying expensive. The boys got brussels sprouts and creamed spinach as their side... we couldn't believe it. I just kept thinking when the bill came, "Do you know how much I could have gotten at Kohl's for what we paid for brussel sprouts?" ha! I'm kidding, you only live once right. After all, it was country's biggest night! :)
Our seats weren't nearly as good as the first year but my mom, dad, Aunt Gail, Royce, and cousin Casey all met us there and sat right behind us!



We tried to get a group picture but the usher kept shooing us off. Gail and Royce jumped down in the lower section for one quick shot.
Sisty and Granddaddy graciously stayed home and kept our babies while we had a night out in Nashville. I'm not sure if I was more excited about the fancy dinner and show or taking a Lunesta at bedtime and sleeping until my little eyes opened on their own (AT 9:00 A.M.!!!!) I couldn't wait to get home and see the kids. Nights out are fun, but it's always good to come home to precious hugs and kisses!

Tutu cute

Every baby girl needs a tutu. A pink one, no doubt.
I just couldn't pass this one up on the clearance rack at Belk.
Look, she's already plea'ing. (I have NO idea how to spell that word.)
HOWEVER...
Girls over the age of 10 should probably refrain. Wonder if hers was 65% off too?
I'll admit, I took this in the bathroom at the CMA Awards (more on that later.) Classy I know, but I just had to. Jimmy asked me when I came out, "Didn't Keatyn have an outfit on just like that yesterday?"

Yes, yes she did.

Minus the bedazzles and heels.

(Now the secret's out as to what he's really doing while I'm in the bathroom.)

I'll admit, I'm LOVING dressing this little girl. I'm a fanatic about getting a good deal and think it's utterly ridiculous to spend a fortune on clothes they'll literally be able to wear for a few short months and then end up with spit, snot, and carrots all over them. But, finding bargains is so much fun.

Speaking of...
I've already started her holiday collection for next year. Again, gotta love the tutu!

Notice the tag says $36.00. Uh, no way...
I paid 36 CENTS!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Most of her Halloween/Thanksgiving stuff I bought second hand from a friend of mine at church.

Daddy's Little Pumpkin...


It's funny how she can go from "Sweet Baby Tutu" to "Baby in Black" in a matter of seconds...
and then channel Johnny Cash with a little Walk the Line.
Sweet, sweet!

A Halloween hayride 'round the hood

I'm typing this very quickly while Keatyn is sleeping and Trace is so entralled in Team Umizoomi that he doesn't know I just raided his Halloween loot of all Twizzlers and York Peppermint Patties. He's getting much more observant, so this will probably be the last year Jimmy and I can sneak candy out of his bucket without him noticing.
I better get while the gettin's good!

We had a FANTASTIC Halloween. Last year, as several were pushing my huge, pregnant rear up the very steep hills of Carrie's neighborhood, it occurred to us that we own a trailer. A very large one. So, this year we decided to do Halloween lazy style.

I believe a new tradition was born. (I mean, once you go lazy, do you ever go back?)
We bought $60 worth of hay, (which Jimmy was able to return the next day... thank you Ace!)
battery operated strobe and skeleton lights, and stick on pumpkins to decorate the trailer.

The leisurely ladies laid in the shade while the boys worked their magic...
He's such a good daddy... and always tries to humor me and my crazy ideas.
Speaking of crazy ideas...
She's even looking at me like...seriously Mom???

Between her Nana, Papaw, Uncle Andy and a host of other family. How many seconds do you think she actually spent in that pack-n-play?
My beautiful butterfly...

Granddaddy was sick, but Sisty came for a little while and ate with us. They were in Florida a few weeks ago and have both been sick since they came home. They have seen the kids for about 30 minutes in 2 and a half weeks. I know to some that is nothing, but around here, it's unheard of. I think my kids are having withdrawls. We are so incredibly blessed with amazing parents that are such a part of our daily lives!
Practicing her butterfly kisses with Unc...
Keatyn and Aunt Kadi...
Our little Ninja all grown up...
Shark Week. I LOVE it!
Group picture... you can imagine the chore that was.
Lucas just makes me smile! He has the sweetest little face and swingy hair and I adore him! He's become a huge Thomas fan so we now have something in common. I can name them ALL.


Loader up...
In keeping with tradition, I again, was the hysterically screaming trick or treating mother, trying to keep my child out of the road and with the group. He was one loaded little Transformer, primed and ready to roll. It seemed we just held him back with our slow moving entourage. He could have had that entire neighborhood covered in a matter of minutes if it weren't for having to wait on us. Life is tough. I'm sure at one point, the good people of River Chase were thinking to themselves, "Trace, (whoever you are) please slow down and come back to your mother so she'll shut up.)

Thank goodness for his Lightning McQueen light up shoes. They were often the only recognizable part of him. I could see those little red lights blazing through the darkness as he bounced from house to house. Jimmy balked when I came home with another pair of them (he's more the Nike, Adidas, New Balance type), but I explained that there is a very short time in a boys life where light up shoes are acceptable and it's quickly drawing to a close. If he's still wanting some in high school, we'll put our foot down. Pardon the pun.


Nana about had to sit on them to keep them down...
Every year, we stop in this yard to get a picture in front of their blow ups.

2010

2009

Boy, how time flies.

The Dierks 2011...

Hopefully it was a Halloween the boys will always remember. I love making these memories together!