November and our busy lives

Backlog-November 2012

Hope you enjoy reading about just a few of the things we were doing in November.  

My super awesome, super cute, little nephew turned 1!  And of course being the self titled "best" aunt and uncle we had to go to Owen's birthday.  You can see all the awesomeness of his birthday here at Owen's mommy's blog. 

I crafted a super hero mask and super hero cape for my super Owen.  I was a new craft adventure and I really had a lot of fun making it.  I think I added some black on the mask after the picture was taken.

Landon and Arabella had a blast at Owen's birthday.  They always have a great time with him.  They loved their dinosaur hats that Aunt Merry made them for party favors.  What an awesome party favor?!? A handmade hat made just for you that is super cute!

Big Boy Owen turns 1!

While visiting Josh and I got a chance to catch up with one of our old college roomies. The kids had fun after they got over being shy of each other.  Niceville's community park is awesome.

College roomies and their little loves

I joined Merry and Owen on a trip to Mobile, AL for the Marine Ball which celebrates the Marine Corps birthday.  I had the well sought after joy of watching my little nephew so mommy and daddy could go to the ball.  It was Owen's first time with a babysitter.  We had a lot of fun.  We danced, explored the hotel we stayed in for the night, sang, and played with toys.  We also attempted to sleep.  Owen did miss his mommy but she is pretty awesome mommy so I don't blame him. I had a lots of fun.  I was really nice getting to hang out with Jon and Merry.  They took great care of me and paid me well with lots of yummy food ;)

Marine family

After dropping off Merry and Owen, I had lunch with my parents.  Being grandparents, they of course had to spend some presents to "spoil" their grandchildren.  Arabella got Dora sneakers and they both got blankets.  Arabella's is an owl and Landon's is a monster.  They were both vert excited for their gifts, Bella especially!







 FINALLY!!!! After living here for 11 years I finally made it to UF Homecoming Parade.  It was a really nice day out for the parade, cool and sunny but not hot.  The kids had fun but didn't last to the very end.  It was a good time to leave because I think we basically just barely beat the rush of people leaving.  We also got to see Landon's friend Noah, since he was in the parade with his grandfather.

UF Homecoming Parade

 Our favorite  this month was dinosaurs.
We did lots of dinosaur activities.  Landon and my favorite was without a doubt the dino dig.  I found these dinosaur skeletons at an online store for relatively expensive price.  To make it a little extra exciting i froze the skeletons in ice so Landon had to pick at them to free them.  This was well over an hour worth of fun.

Dino Dig

Lego class

As shout out to Jesse Strode for showing us how to us the flat legos vertically.  If you look at the green 12x12 board the white and yellow Legos are vertical.

A few of our activities for school

Arabella was able to balance her creation. She was so proud. But wouldn't hold still for the picture.

Landon's tower and handsome man pose ;)

Reesie trying to get in on the Lego action... or stop it.

So I have to share a little photo collage of my cute little lady bug.  She is quite the helper/ housemaid.  She is always helping me with my chores, sometimes the help is more productive than others but she always has good intentions ;)

Look at that long hair with those curls!

Cleaning the van

She was such a great helper!

It was  beautiful outside so many days in November, we tried to spend lots of time out enjoying the weather.

What a boy he is, loves dig in dirt.

She loves to swing!

A spiky little caterpillar hid in Josh's flip flop.  I found it when I went to borrow Josh's shoes. Ow!

I think they were waiting on Daddy

and having fun while they were waiting.

Love those eyes!

Yes my little loves are full of giggles, silly antics, and frequent comic relief!!

Super warrior just add safety googles? YES!

Undies as hats? YES!

Legos as face accessories? YES!

BIg huge bite? YES!

Copy my brother? YES!

 

My part job that I love- teaching art at Corks and Colors!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. we have so many, many blessings to be thankful.  A huge blessing is spending time with our wonderful family.  We were only missing one family member, Jessica, but we did Skype with her.  We had a delicious Thanksgiving breakfast at Jon and Merry's with the whole family.  Merry made so many yummy foods! Then it was back to Mom and Dad Williams' house to make the big lunch/dinner.  Dinner as always was amazing.  We all did our normal dishes.  I think almost everyone has one or more of their own.  Sally added to all our yummy traditions her own pumpkin cheesecake.  It was a big hit, as was the whole dinner itself.  The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying family, playing games, taking walks,goofing off and just having fun while enjoying each other.

Thanksgiving 2012

Documenting a record.  Kiddo passed out at 4:30 and stayed asleep until the next morning.  Even though we all had dinner and played games in the room with him.

ONe of the best parts of the holidays? Meeting up with college or high school friends.  Such as Ashlee!

Silly Grandpa

Silly Bella kisses

I love how she looks like she is praying

Boy, do I love those little smily kids!

A party, a dinner, a wedding, and a new SISTER!

Back log- October

Sally and Jeremiah's wedding is getting close! So we got everyone who could make it and threw Sally a bridal shower. We did natural, green and white theme since that was Sally's plan for the wedding.

 Thanks to the help of many women, Williams sister, Michelle, Linda, Taylor, everyone else who helped!

The food

If you didn't guess, Little Charlotte's team one.  Who could resist such a sweet little bride and her beautiful dress!!

The Bridal Dress Game

The Presents!

The Friends and Family

Sisters, Mom and Owen ;)

I made out in the cost department.  I found a pristine suit in Landon's size at the Just Between Consignment Sale for $30! I handmade Arabella's dress.  It was my first dress and so thankful it turned out okay.  I am hoping that it still fit in April when Jessica gets married (just a quick change in the ribbon from green to pink or blue). Her dress cost about $15.  If both kiddos can wear them for Jessica's wedding I would say I made out quite well.  I also found a pair of black dress shoes for Landon 2 weeks before the wedding at a consignment store.  Apparently in those 2 week.....he outgrew them :(  Josh had to cut the backs of them moments before we had to walk down the aisle.

Stylin and posing for the preview of their wedding outfits

A week later was the wedding weekend! The kids and I went up several days early to help Sally with the wedding.  Jamiie came up 2 days early to help too.

The Rehearsal

The rehearsal dinner and a little girly sister bonding pampering the night before.

THE WEDDING DAY!!!!!!

Getting ready!

The decorations

It was a gorgeous day and wedding!

The Family and Friends

The BIG EVENT!!!

First Dances

Ooo ooo Garter Toss!

The cake!

Arabella enjoyed the cupcakes

 Merry, Jon, Jamiie, Josh and I decorated Jeremiah's and Sally's honeymoon suite. It was a beautiful room.  We added champagne and some cold meds- poor Sally got sick the day of her wedding :(

The Honeymoon ;)

We are so happy to have Sally as apart of our family.  She is silly, goofy, caring, and sweet and fits in perfectly.

October Explorations

Back log- Maybe now with my new laptop (woohoo!!  Thanks Dad and Mom W) from Josh's family I keep up with my blog a little better-maybe ;)


Schooling
Landon and Arabella are having fun this year with our lessons.  Some weeks are more productive than others but even when we aren't doing a planned/ structured activity I try to take every  to teach.  Sometimes we are playing with our plastic animals and Landon (and now sometimes Arabella)will ask what the animal eats, where they live, or something else related to the animals so we Google it, watch a video or look it up in a book.  We also look up nature related things, physics, or whatever we happen to be playing with and I can use as a teachable moment.

Bella is getting the hang of counting.  She can count to 4 on her own, and count to 3 in spanish on her own.  She knows her colors although she is stubborn with the correct answer when most ask her.  She loves art and music.  Bella loves being read to. She is also learning her letters quite well and loves to "read."  Landon always focused on the pictures at this age but Arabella really studies the letters and runs her fingers over them, as yu would if you were reading and trying to keep your place.  I am thinking she will be reading early but we will see.

Landon loves math.  He can add fairly well with number under 10 that equal 10 or less.  He also love science.  Landon loves our science experiment.  He has also starting to really love painting.  Art in general is not his favorite.  Landon has started being able to sound out words and spell with very little guidance.  I think if he wasn't so stubborn he would be able to start reading.

We are proud of them both.  We love that they are both so into animals and nature but learning in general.

Science Fun!- Baking Soda, Vinegar and food coloring experiment

Landon and Arabella have both been really enjoying painting-canvas, paper, ceramics.  When I have time and am creative enough I try to make lunch or snacks go with our lessons for the day or week.  Below is the grape caterpillar, flower, and insect snacks I made (Landon made sure to tell me my insect was missing a set of legs since insects always have 6 legs).  I have been trying to get really creative with our lessons.   Legos, wiki sticks, and lots of science experiments.  For one of our weather lessons we did a rain cloud experiment with shaving cream, water and food coloring.  It was a big hit!

Art, Science, Food, and Fun

We took a field trip to one of the parks near our house.  The park has a play ground, a huge field and is next to a small farm.  We was an exciting trip because we found deer tracks!

Nature Walk at the Park

Landon is still enjoying his Lego class and getting some extra time with his great friend Joshua.

The Bolins and us joined our MOPS group for a fun outing at the Natural History Museum.  It is always fun at Natural History Museum and joining the ladies with their little ones in MOPS.

MOPS Natural History Museum Playdate

Halloween weekend there were about a million and one things going on in Gainesville for families and children.  We picked 3 to go too.  First stop was the Lubee Bat Festival.  Landon was so excited to run into his friend Ben and Ben's sister with their grandmother.  We walked with them for a little bit checking out the bats and the little stations the festival had set up for the kids.

Lubee Bat Festival

 Trinity United Methodist is where my MOPS group meets. Every year they have a pumpkin patch.  It didn't feel too much like fall with 80+ degree weather but we still had fun checking out the pumpkins.

Pumpkin Patch

After Halloween every year I take all the pumpkins, cut them up, puree them and cook the seeds.  I love adding fresh pumpkin to recipes- family favorite is pumpkin banana bread and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! We all LOVE cooked pumpkin seeds too!!
I let Landon and Arabella help this year.  Landon was excited to use a real knife (under very close supervision of course) but didn't like digging in the pumpkin and getting dirty.  Arabella liked getting the seeds out though.

Pumpkins!

Halloween decorations, dress up, dirt and worm snacks

We joined the Fairows and we to the Panhellenic Goblins, Ghouls, and Greeks.  The kids had fun.  Landon and Arabella walked the whole time.  I was quite impressed how well they did.  I guess all that candy fueled them.  Josh made a yummy dinner and we had a late dinner at the Fairrows house.  The Fairrow boys have snakes and while waiting for dinner Landon was thrilled to hold one.

Trunk or Treat at UF

A happy fun visit from our great friend Chris and her little girl, Daphne

Fun out and about and at home

Our little cuddle bug

Who loves her baby dolls/stuffed animals

My Surprise Birthday Present

I realized somehow I failed to mention my awesome surprise birthday present from my husband.  

He came home from work at lunch time a couple of weeks before my birthday.  He ran in, grabbed something to eat quick and then ran outside.  He yelled from the door for me to bring him something.  So I run to get it, run to the door, walk outside.....to find a van!  We have been wanting a van and looking for one for many months with no avail.  Well he found one on Craigslist, listed with incorrect spelling so the guy selling his company van hadn't had offers on it.  Josh got a great deal on it and I love my van!  It is so nice and roomy compared to our little 2 door Honda Civic that I love but is just entirely too small for a family of 4 with 2 big dogs and 2 cats.  

Both kids love it but Landon considers it a birthday present to him as well.  He really Loves it!

So happy birthday to me from the best husband!