A Visit With Santa Claus!

Last night we took the boys to see Santa Claus!

This is the first time we have done this with our boys.

why you might ask?

well..elijah has always been the type that if he doesn't want to do anything or is unsure of something...he just sort of 'loses it'!

Now, that he is a big 5 year old and Kindergarten, i just knew he would do a great job =)

he told me he wasn't going to talk to Santa, though. ha!

John Daniel, on the other hand, i knew would do great!

he has always done great with 'new' things!!

we didn't have to wait too long and just so happened that our parents had to go to the mall last night too for some things!

so, they waited in the line with us and helped us entertain the boys!!!

i kept saying how all the kids were doing a great job and no one was screaming!

i began to get nervous at this point.

i thought, leave it to my boys to make a scene. ha!

literally, i began to sweat and my heart started racing.

i was so nervous about elijah showing out!

so, the closer we got to Santa the boys watched and were asking all kinds of questions.

does Santa live in THAT house?

what does Santa eat?

i asked Jim to take the pictures while i got the boys situated and asked my parents to be on stand-by...not that i would need them b/c my boys were going to be perfect little angels and smile and tell Santa everything that they want =)

so, it's our turn...

i'm holding john daniel and elijah is right by me.

i told elijah to go and sit on Santa's lap!

and

HE DID!!!

no issues, nothing...i breathed a sigh of relief!

the moment i go to put john daniel down on Santa's lap...

he starts sobbing and asking for Papa!! ha!

i mean, really, this kid wouldn't stop.

i thought, if i can just get him to sit on his lap and take a picture

i would be happy. crying or not.

nope didn't happen.

i tried sitting on his lap while holding john daniel.

still...sobbing!!

so...i gave john daniel to papa...b/c that was all he wanted =)

thanks dad!!!

while john daniel is melting down...

i look over and

Elijah was talking to Santa Claus!

i was so proud!

although, Santa told me that elijah was telling him that he wasn't going to talk to him! ha ha!!

eventually, he warmed up and told him what he wanted =)

here are the pictures as it all unfolded...

waiting in the line to see Santa =)

love this picture of John Daniel...
trying to sit on santa's lap and the crying continues...
this is when he's telling me wants papa =)

elijah on santa's lap!!

the boys when we got home!

overall, it was a fun night and john daniel isn't scarred for life from the experience!!

he was all smiles right after we left santa and then he kept saying

'i want to see santa again'

i'm glad we took them and have the pictures and memories!!

maybe next year they will both sit and smile and talk to santa!!

a mom can dream....right?!?!?

a little of this and a little of that

Yesterday, i was quite productive =)

i love the way being productive makes me feel...

i should do it more often. ha!

i was determined to:

1 - go to the gym and run 3 miles - check.

2 - wrap the gifts that i've purchased so far -- check.

3 - clean -- i can't put a check next to this one.

i did clean some but, i didn't finish. boo.

AND...we finally had a night at home so, i made a pot of Lentil Chili

b/c it feels like the North Pole around here.

it's so surprising for GA to have this kind of weather in December...i'm loving it =)

it will be nice to have a cold, Christmas in GA instead of 70 degree weather - ha!!!

i'm secretly praying for a white christmas!

a girl can dream, right?!?!

i'm really looking forward to Elijah being out of school and not having a schedule to follow.

i have a few things up my sleeve to do with them while we are on Christmas break!!

Elijah is counting down the days til Christmas and i love seeing the 'JOY' and 'EXCITEMENT' in his face =)

John Daniel, is also getting in on the excitement and it's so much fun.

Whenever he sees a christmas tree he thinks it should have a train ornament b/c ours does and this boy LOVES, LOVES, LOVES trains =)

there is a christmas tree at the gym that we have to look at everyday...and each time he says...

mommy, this 'christmas' (tree) doesn't have a 'cwane' (train) -- ha!!!

he has a 'cwane' book that he has taken everywhere the last few days...

(it's poor quality b/c it was taken with my phone)

i love all his little sounds he makes while playing with his trains!!!

he's so animated and funny =)

i love the ages both my boys are right now!!!

they both have the cutest personalities and can be so funny!!

as hard as being a mom is sometimes...i love it to pieces!!!

it is one of the most rewarding things i've ever done =)

****************

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

My Boys

the whole reason i started this blog was to 'scrapbook' my boys daily activities.

so...today is SOLELY dedicated to them =)

it's going to be picture overload!!!

we had a busy but fun weekend.

however, the hubbins had drill all weekend =(

we had a birthday party for one of my dearest friends -- her lil man was turning 1!!

he is the cutest lil thing...makes me almost want to have another baby.

(almost)

here is a picture of elijah and my 6 week old nephew, andrew =)

here are me and the boys...the boys are watching hampton open his presents.

they wanted desperately to 'help' him open! ha!

on sunday after church i took the boys to the christmas parade!

and to say it was cold would be an understatement.

brrr....

i packed the boys a lunch to eat while we waited for the parade to start.

my friend hillary & me

me & my mama who's hair is slightly wind blown =)

i should point out that my mom is holding andrew under all those blankets!!!

trying to get a picture with the boys!!

maybe one day we all be looking at the camera!!!

our sweet friend 'suzi' as the boys call her!!!!!!

that would be my crazy hair all up in the air! haha

my cute boy...

trying to shield the sun from his eyes!!!

i loved this float and this phrase!!!!

the boys waiting to get candy...

he was so excited about all the candy!!!

we had a great time at the parade...

i look forward to taking them each year =)

i asked them both what their favorite parts were:

elijah said: the army people and candy

john daniel said: candy!!

of course!!!

the boys love taking baths!

so, i brought out the camera the other night and snapped a few of them having fun!!!

john daniel pouring water and elijah being silly!!!

this is john daniel's 'model' face =)

elijah had had enough of john daniel pouring water on him...

here is returning the favor!

i love this shot!!!

my handsome boy!

he's all about making silly faces lately!!!!

we had a great weekend!!!

i love christmastime and all the fun activities!!!

i have always loved mariah carey's christmas cd...

this is one of my favorites off the cd...

'JOY TO THE WORLD'

enjoy!!!!

hours of fun??

we are in the process of packing up our house.

so what better thing for our boys to do?

yep, play in the boxes!!!

these boxes have provided hours of entertainment!!

so...why do we buy them toys??

we are getting settled...

i just wanted to give a quick update while i'm on my friends computer!!!

things are going well -- i'll have to write a 'longer' post on all the drama of the 'move'...but, that will have to wait til another day!!

my honey will be home soon -- yipee!!!

the boys are adjusting to the new house and we are trying to make this new house a home!!!

i miss reading and checking in on my 'blogland friends'...i can't wait to be back online.

i didn't realize how much i loved blogging and how much i would miss having access to a computer!!

until next time...

FUN AT THE PARK

one morning about a week ago i took the boys for fun at the park.

it was about 900 in the morning and they needed to burn some energy :)

i knew elijah would have a blast but, i wasn't quite sure about john daniel. for all you friends in bloggerland who i've never met, john daniel, is super attached to me. at times it drives me bonkers that he won't go to anyone else but, i love that he wants just to be with me. i am savoring this time because i know all to soon it will be gone.

we had such a good time this particular morning.

we went about 900ish so the weather was perfect.

elijah took off on his own leaving me and john daniel in the dust & trying to catch up. ha!

they both had a ball {and i did too} :)

i've posted quite a few pictures -- they were all so cute i just HAD to post them all :)

ENJOY!!

elijah's 'cheese' face :)

is he cute or what?

look at that pose? - ha!!

i'm thinking he could be a child model?!?!!

{make mommy & daddy some money...ha!ha!}

loving the 'oversized' hat ;)

there is nothing like watching your boys playing together :)

too cute for words...

sweet john daniel

he LOVED the swinging

he is also loving that he can walk...

cutie-patootie :)

checking out his {1st} gumball!

AREN'T THESE BOYS THE CUTEST THINGS EVER!?!?!

TELL ME...WHAT ARE YOUR ENERGY-RELEASING ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES?

random pictures...

last saturday we went to a pool party for a friend of the family.

elijah was so excited about swimming and let me tell you once he got the hang of it

he was FEARLESS.

jumping off the diving board & loving it!!

we also had e's 4th birthday.

we already had a party for both boys when jim was home.

however, knowing how much i love birthdays and wanting the person to feel special -- i just had to do something for my little man!! :o)

i loved this cake!!

trying to elijah to smile for a picture...

elijah with his GA visor, big boy boxer briefs & new nike's :o)

the 3 of us...

about to blow out his candles!!

another year has gone by and i can't believe it!!!

i hope everyone has a great weekend :o)