"The Stupids"... or as we say around here "The Sillies"

When I was preggo with Trace, Jimmy and I had several talks about our favorite childhood books. He remembered this book about a family named the "Stupids" that he thought was hilarious as a kid.

(Imagine Amelia Bedelia family-style.)

So for Christmas that year, I reached way back in the 70's archives (since he was much older than me, I'd never heard of these books ;) and ordered fairly good conditioned copies of the series, for him to one day read to our little bun in the oven. It was a fun surprise to watch this soon-to-be-dad open them on Christmas morning, knowing that in a few years, he would be doing this...
I'll admit I was a little disturbed by the whole "stupid" reference. Apparently in the 70's it was perfectly politically correct to refer to someone as stupid. However, in 2012, we have evolved and realize children don't need to grow up with such phrasing and have now opted for terms like "academically challenged" and "special." ha!

So, when he spent the night at Granddaddy and Sisty's the other night, they pulled out their old copy of "The Stupids Step Out" and like the wonderful grandparents they are, changed the name to "The Sillies." So the next night, I got down the series I've had in his bookshelf since Christmas 2006 and they piled up in his bed for a few new bed time stories.
Yes, those are holes in his walls. No, they're not from a horrid preschool tantrum or fist fight. That just happens to be where his rocking chair used to sit and I got a little carried away with the rocking and singing one night and knocked his lamp post through the wall with the chair.

Oops!

We're planning on redoing his "baby" room for his birthday, so that will be patched, covered and painted. Long overdo!

Where, oh where have these 5 years gone???

Celebrating Abel

Not much tops celebrating babies. Although we've yet to meet sweet Abel, he is already loved and hopefully after Sunday's shower, equipped with everything he will need.

We had Sara's shower at Fuji. It was a great day celebrating such a blessed event!





We can't wait to meet this sweet new addition!

BUT he needs to simmer about 4 more weeks. :)

"more sketti please..."

Her first spaghetti dinner was a success...

This chickadee will eat ANYTHING. I've yet to find anything she turns her nose up at. She eats beets, black olives, salsa, chili, avocado, kidney beans and every vegetable I've offered her. I hope it continues because her brother's nutritional spectrum basically consists of fruit and cheese, PB&J's, steak, and corn. Oh, and bread. He wouldn't be a true Thaxton if he didn't love a good O'Charley's roll slathered in butter now and then. Or seven. Ever heard of the food pyramid son?

I put her in the bath with me and it felt like we were floating in a tub of noodles. I had to scrub down the tub surround when we were done because there was spaghetti sauce from her little hands all over it.

I now know why my mom used to put rubber pants on my head before I ate.
or a Mickey Mouse hat...
Pretty much anything to cover the tresses and cut down on the clean up will do.

Mama knows best.

Da Bears...

We've embarked on a new season of life around here.

Basketball season.

Meet "The Bears"...

It's too early in the season to declare them the "Bad News Bears" but after 3 practices and 2 games, it could go either way.

Jimmy is the assistant coach and Mike (my friend Lu's husband) is the head coach.
They are SO cute to watch. The head honcho of the league warned Jimmy that the first season they would spend the entire time teaching the difference in offense and defense. Boy, he wasn't kidding. Trace plays defense the WHOLE game. No one ever passes him the ball because his back was always turned "guarding" the poor 5-year-old who happens to be wearing the same color wrist band as big T. (That's how they determine who guards who.)
I videoed some of each game and hid in the bathroom the rest of it. No, I'm kidding.

Trace somehow drew lucky #13.
It is just so funny to watch him and his little "basketball" dance as he's self described it. At this point he looks more like a Sugar Moc than an actual basketball player, for all you Chattanooga folk. Maybe it was just nervous energy because he isn't quite sure what he's supposed to be doing, but I'm exhausted just watching him.

Rehydrating...


This one's gonna be a HANDFUL to keep up with! Luckily, I have the grandparent brigade to help. I'm so blessed!

Jimmy keeps questioning whether he's too young to have started this year. Almost everyone on his team is in Kindergarten already, although he's as big as them all. I figure, it's a learning experience either way and he's making new friends and learning the "team" concept. And a few new dance moves in the process.

GO BEARS!!!

**Walking** right into Twenty-Twelve

Look who's walking...Woo-Hoo!!!
Despite amoxicillan, a 102 degree fever, and crusty weak eyes, little Sassy learned to walk. She's been working on it for weeks, but the night before Christmas Eve it became official. She walked all the way across the living room to cheers and screams and once she fell to the ground, proceeded to give herself a roaring round of applause. She's still got the Frankenstein walk going but she's really moving and has even mastered taking a drag off her sippy cup while strolling, which looks a lot like public intoxication, but is ADORABLE.
On Christmas Eve, my dad was putting her in her carseat at their house and she raised her hand and said "Bye" in the cutest little voice. Walking on night, talking the next.

She is getting such a personality and (thanks to her brother) is as tough as nails.
On New Years Eve, we went with Leslie, Sean, Iris and Ronnie to Table 2 for dinner. We ate at 5:30 with the blue hairs but ended up staying until 9. They actually kicked us out of our table and offered us a free glass of champagne if we would move to the bar. Ahhh... sure. :)

I look like I've been slapped in the face. I've never been able to hold my bubbly!
The next day we went to Trinity and Eddie's for their annual New Year's Day party and cookout (literally, it was 65 degrees and the kids played outside while the guys grilled.) We borrowed one of her SIX Christmas trees to grab a picture in front of.

We had a fantastic New Year with dear friends. Hope the rest of 2012 is as good as the start!