My Little Book Worm

Olivia is dying to learn to read. Seriously, the child wants it so bad...yesterday at Target she asked if she could have a book and headed over to the teenage section. She wants books with NO pictures. She will sit with her American Girl book or Wizard of Oz book forever, just staring at the pages. So, I decided she was ready for she and I to start reading a chapter every night before bed of Kit Kittredge. So far, she loves it. She listens and asks questions. I think I was as excited as her the first night...I myself was a book worm at one time (you know, before kids, when you had time to read books other than The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Pinkalicious).

She's getting too big...

Rocky Top Sign

Believe it or not...I had actually been considering ordering this sign for Michael's office...then the unfortunate coaching news broke...

Oh well...I guess Knoxville always will be Home Sweet Home no matter who our coach is!

My Girl Likes to Party All the Time!

In this long, cold and basically depressing month of January, my kids have partied! We have had three birthday parties since Christmas--Olivia LOVES to go to birthday parties (I think, in part because of goodie bags!). But last Saturday night, this little pumpkin face went to her first birthday party. Her little friend Cole, from The Little Gym had a party there and they invited Ana Blair and Olivia.

About a thousand years ago when Olivia was in classes at the Little Gym, she had a class with this little guy (he's the big brother of the birthday boy) and by chance Ana Blair ended up in class with their second child. I actually have a picture of Olivia and Keylar when they were close to Ana Blair's age I will post.

Then, that same night we headed to another gymnastics party. This time, a friend of Olivia's from church. Ana Blair loved sitting on the trampoline and letting some of the bigger girls bounce her around.

Said bouncing

And Olivia got to go to a party at The Groovy Pad for her buddy Kaitlyn...she loves that girl and loves that place, so it was a win-win.

Olivia and Kaitlyn after their makeovers...Olivia was especially excited because they put EXTENSIONS in her hair...yes. You read that correctly, extensions.

Snow-ish Day!

Last week we had a snow day! Not really a lot of snow here, but the roads were icy and we stayed home all day (never mind the fact that it was Friday and we would have been home all day anyway!). We started out the day all bundled up in what else..."shoes" pajamas!

And we played. And played and played...do you see all that junk behind them?

And all of that before 8am...don't forget Ana Blair is an early riser! Daddy made cinnamon rolls for breakfast, yum!

And we made hot chocolate...and we took about 2 sips of it and asked for water in order to be more "healthy" (read: because we don't like hot drinks)

And we changed clothes 800 times

And we finished the weekend off by running in after church Sunday night to watch the last minute of the Tennessee basketball game...

Yay! Go Vols!

Fancy Times with Lexy and Lilah!

Last week Olivia, Ana Blair and I were finally able to meet up with Wendy, Lexy and Lilah for "Christmas." We were supposed to do this the week before, but the stomach bug got in the way! We ended up meeting halfway in the glamorous town of Athens. The plan was to eat a normal lunch, then take them to McDonald's for ice cream and playtime...little did we know the playground was outside, so playtime turned into driving everyone in the restaurant crazy.

Sweet Lilah and Ana Blair...so happy these two will get to grow up friends like Olivia and Lexy have!

Super classy group shot in front of the trash cans at McDonald's. Notice how my child is chewing on Lilah's Christmas present?? Let me make a recommendation to you...DO NOT buy another child a baby doll just like the one you have at home just because you think she will like it. Second child will think it is her's and scream if anyone takes it from her!!

And finally...this picture is so telling of the afternoon!

15 Months!

This little pumpkin face is 15 months old!!

She went for her 15 months well visit today and weighed in at 22 lbs. 8 oz. and was 30 1/4 inches long. She is almost running, and starting to climb. She DOES NOT like the word NO!! She is finally starting to get into books and her favorites are Dog and Cookie's Week. She talks a lot, and even has several phrases she regularly says..."I Got It," "I Want That," "What's This?" and "I Dropped It." She continues to be a great sleeper, she sleeps for 12 hours at night and naps between 3 and 4 hours every day. She is still an early riser though! This month she realized how much she loves her sister and hugs her every morning when she sees her and in the bath. She also takes her hand and leads Olivia up and down the hall, so cute!

This is big sister at 15 months...do you think they look the same?

Happy 2010!

Happy New Year everybody! We had a great new year ringing it in with old and new friends. The Roller's came into town and we went to dinner and then went to a little get together at a neighbor's house...lots of laughs to say the least.