Thanksgiving 2015

We flew to Georgia over Thanksgiving to join my mom's side of the family for the annual reunion at the McGregor farm house.  This was Austin's 3rd time to go and Campbell's first, unless you count when he was in my tummy.  We go every other Thanksgiving.  This year there were 92 family members who came - big group!  We flew to Atlanta on Tuesday, rented a car and arrived in Vidalia that evening.  We stay at the Americinn - the nicest hotel in Vidalia - even has a little lake/pond behind it.  We had the suite - complete with a fold out couch for Austin, doors between the living space and bedroom, and a full kitchen.  Campbell slept in the pac n play in the room with us and Austin on his very own fold out couch.  We ate dinner at David's childhood pizza place in Houston (a chain), Pizza Inn.  It wasn't quite as he remembered it.....  Campbell was sick with a nasty cold the entire time we were there and wouldn't eat at all.  He even refused to eat the ice cream at Pizza Inn.  On Wednesday morning, David let me run outside by the "lake" while he braved the continental breakfast with both boys.  Ha!  Then we went to the farm house for lunch and exploring.  We checked out all of the old barns - with lots of rusty nails and tools.  Very safe for my crazy curious kids!  I picked up pecans and filled my pockets!  Yummy!  Aunt LaLa and Uncle Will had driven down from their new home in Lookout Mt, TN so it was great to see them!  After lunch, we went back to the hotel for nap time.  That evening for dinner we went to Anice's house for the famous Brunswick stew, congealed salads, and cakes galore.  The boys had fun "playing" Anice's piano, riding the motorized tractor and the old fashioned rocking horse.  After tearing up Anice's house enough, we headed back to the hotel for bed. 

On Thanksgiving day, we hung out at the hotel and then headed to the little church by the farm house for a family church service.  Our family easily fills the entire church with some people in standing room only - including me and Campbell, but not because we didn't have a seat.  He is NOT quiet AT ALL.  I kept having to get up with him and go in the kitchen to mask his blabbering.  Oh well.  After church, we all gathered on the porch of the house for a group picture.  We enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving lunch with turkey, field peas (my favorite), sweet potatoes, stuffing, rice, cranberries, gravy, and cakes of all flavors- caramel layer cake, chocolate layered cake, coconut cake, and more.  David and I were in Uncle Don's bedroom that had a little table for Austin, Campbell, Ava, Lily, and James - whose parents were also at our table. After filling our tummies, we went back to the hotel for nap.  Most people go straight over to the Little Pond house to ride horses, hunt, fish, play outside, etc.  We did go, but after nap time.  At the Little pond house, there is paddle boating, horses, campfire, although it was very warm so we didn't really need it, more porch rocking, eating leftovers, games, a swing set, and more.  Our kids were not interested in horses or hunting but would have gone swimming in the pond if we weren't watching them.  I kept trying to get Campbell to eat (going on day 3 then) but he was more interested in climbing to the top of the bunk bed or venturing towards the fire - can't figure out why!!  We hung out there until about 7pm and then went back to the hotel to watch the UT vs Texas Tech football game in the hotel lobby - like we owned it, or at least paid $ to rent the place, but no, we just take over all of the lobby furniture.  It was a close game with a poor outcome - blah!  David kindly went back to the room so that I could watch in the company of cousins and he watched under the bedsheets on his phone - that is what you do when you have kids sleeping in both rooms. Ha!  

We woke up on Friday, packed up, ate continental breakfast (and tried again to get Campbell to eat), and made a last stop by the farm house.  It was great, warm sunny weather the whole time we were there.  We hit the road to the Atlanta airport - making a stop in a small town McDonalds.  This is when Campbell decided to eat - his very own cheeseburger happy meal!  Ha!  He was holding out for fries and a McDonalds burger.  Gross but I was okay with it.  The flight home was uneventful without delays and Campbell was fairly well behaved.  That is a win in my book.  I am thankful for this family tradition and how so many cousins make it a priority to come each year.  We certainly miss Grandmother and her brothers each year - I know she is happy to see it continue, and now with new little ones each year :)

Petting the fake cow in the barn

Found a stick

Sticks are all we need to entertain

Daddy is funny - rocking on the porch

Rocking rocking

With mommy too

Rocking horse - he loved this!

John Deere stylin

Trying to escape church

Family pic - with the gord and all....

Another rocking horse in the hotel lobby

Family rocking selfie

Kids table - complete with crayons and markers

Open pond, fire, 4 wheelers, horses....danger

Family shot -and future Christmas card photo

Swinging like a big boy

4 Wheeler - no keys attached

Fun fun!

Giant waffles at the hotel

Sticks again

Stick cane, farm house behind

Austin smiling big

Last porch rocking

Loving his happy meal

McDonalds fries are the best!

Halloween 2015 - Buzz and Woody

This year for Halloween the boys were a duo - Buzz Lightyear and Woody!  Austin has been very into Toy Story for the past 9 months or so - we have all 3 movies and he rotates between them.  So when I asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween - he said Buzz, so naturally Campbell didn't have a choice and he was Woody.  I purchased the whole get-up - jumpsuit, wings, and light up helmet.  I left out the laser, which Austin asked about, but I purposely didn't provide.  Even though I thought the wings were really cool - he refused to wear them.  Campbell, on the other hand, was totally into his costume and even kept his cowboy hat on most of the time.  We went to our neighborhood party on 10/24 at the playground.  It was sprinkling rain but still okay for the time of the party.  Of course Austin was all about the snacks and treats.  Campbell insisted on repeatedly filling a cup with water from the ozarka water dispenser even though he proceeded to just dump it on his Woody costume.  We left once it started raining harder and boys had their fill of treats.  On Wednesday 10/28, we went to our church's trunk or treat where we handed out candy and played games with the kids from Cornerstone ministry.  Austin liked it this year - helping hand out candy and play bean bag toss and washers with the kids at our community group's tail gate themed car.  He also liked trick or treating at the other cars.  I remember last year he was scared of all of the costumes and masks at trunk or treat.  He's growing up, or should I say, he figured out he gets lots of candy if he is a big boy and says "trick or treat".  On Halloween day, it was so rainy so we couldn't really do anything outside.  They were having a Halloween party at the library where Campbell and I go to story time on Thursdays.  So DiDi and I took the boys to this -it was pretty simple, but something to do and a reason to be Buzz and Woody.  After that, we went in costume to the mall food court to eat chick fila for lunch.  After naps, thankfully the rain took a break for the evening so we could go to our neighbor's Halloween-ie (hot dog) party.  They had hot dogs, beer, and other food, a mini bounce house, and plenty of kiddos.  We went from there to trick or treat, with Buzz leading the way and asking for M&Ms at every house, and Woody in the stroller.  Buzz would ask for a piece for his brother at every house.  So cute!  He even only asked to eat one that night (I think he had like 2 brownies and 3 cookies at the party so maybe that cured his sweet fix).  We had a great Halloween with these two - to Infinity and Beyond!

Collecting his prize

Woody at the BGP party

Focused on the Cheez Its

No smiles but still cute

Woody wanted Buzz's helmet

He managed to get it on

Buzz flying high at the library

Woody was not in the mood for a hug (pretty much every day at our house)

Good smiles Buzz

Buzz chomping on a brownie, Woody can't believe it

Campbell at 18 months

Campbell turned 18 months on October 7th. We visited Dr. Pielop on the 14th and Campbell weighed in 21 lbs 9 oz, which is 15th percentile.  He was 33 3/4 inches, which is 88th percentile.  His head grew to 18 3/4 inches which is 86th percentile.  

At 18 months, Campbell is running everywhere, climbing everything, and always on the lookout for mischief.  It's like he walks into a room and looks for something to open, tear, climb, hide in, put in his mouth, etc, etc.  He copy anything Austin does, which is not usually a good idea.  At the same time, he gets very mad at Austin for constantly trying to tackle him and knock him down.  I don't blame him at all.  He has bitten and pinched Austin multiple times for continuing to do this after repetitive screaming bouts.  He is learning to stand up for himself. 

His favorite foods are waffles, sausage, pizza, hot dogs, turkey meatballs with pasta and red sauce,  pears, apples, sweet potatoes, animal crackers, graham crackers, and of course, ice cream.  He has learned to share Austin's unhealthy obsession with ice cream and anytime the word is said, Campbell immediately screams "I- SEEM".  Other new words he says are uh-oh, apple, "oh-oh" for what a monkey says, "e-ouw" for what a cat says, "ouch", "wad-e" for water, "affel" for waffle, doggie, "bodin" for pumpkin, "seep seep", for sweep and when he sees a broom, and "Jees" for Jesus.  He still doesn't say Yes or No, which is crazy.  I thought toddlers usually say "NO" very early.  Campbell nods his head for both yes and no.  I am sure he will say them, especially No, soon.   He is very good at expressing what he wants and insisting on things.  When I tell him no, or not now, he will arch his back and throw his head back with a fake whine/yell.  Sometimes it turns into a real tantrum and he lays on the floor screaming.  Terrible 2's here we come....

He is wearing all size 18 month clothes.  Some of the pants and shorts are still a little loose around the waist but he is tall so needs the length.  He is still in size 3 diapers. He sleeps with his bunny and elephant lovies at night and I still put him in a sleep sack hoping that it may prevent him from trying to climb out of his crib.  He still cries some when in our church nursery, at Mothers' Day Out, or when he stays in the babysitting room at Austin's school when I am volunteering.  He just doesn't like to be away from me....how special!  He loves singing - I can begin to make out "ABC's" and "Happy Birthday".  He likes Itsy Bitsy Spider, 5 Little Monkeys, Wheels on the Bus, and Jesus Loves Me.  He is growing up too fast - wanting to do all the preschool things already - color with crayons, lay on Austin's twin bed (yes, he can climb on it by himself), play the iPad, do puzzles, eat ice cream, brush his own teeth, and sit in Austin's car seat (he can climb in the car by himself and goes straight to Austin's seat).  He had his first haircut on 10/5.  He didn't cry and wasn't nervous at all.  I think he has watched Austin get one so many times and was ready for his own!  

Campbell - you are hilarious and always on the move.  You keep us on our toes.  Your smile lights up a room.  We love you little guy!

Checking out the fire trick at BGP Fall Family night

Cutie

Enjoying a view of Austin's soccer game on Uncle Stephen's shoulders

Covered in blue soggy cupcake icing at Meredith's 5th birthday

Swinging smiles

Just before the haircut...I think he was ready!

The curls are gone now....tear

Feeding the Lakeside ducks some crackers.  He is a little too fearless of them. ...

Quack Quack

First Haircut. driving the car

Chopping off the curls

So handsome

All grown up

looking good!

So serious

Riding a dog at a new indoor trampoline place....fun! 

Ha! Batting helmet might be a little too big!

First Days of School - 2015

As I mentioned before, Austin started Pre-K on September 8th at Christ Memorial Lutheran Early Childhood Learning Center.  On the first day, he refused to take a picture before school and he went to school with red eyes from crying and throwing a tantrum.  Oh Austin!  After I picked him up, we went to Jason's Deli for lunch and free ice cream.  Before I would let him go in the restaurant, I made him pose for a picture....so I did get one.  He is in the Dalmatian class and his teachers are Mrs Karen, Ms Becky and Ms Mary Ann.  There are about 13 kids in his class, which is great that it is so small.  He goes M-F from 8:45-12.  I have the option for him to stay until 2:30 but am not in a rush to do this since we plan to hold him back and have him do a "bridge" year before starting kindergarten.  The bridge class is until 2:30 every day.  He has been practicing writing his name every day and has improved greatly since the start of the year.  His favorite part of each day is the playground, ha!  His friends are Ben, Parks, Jay, and Price.  We have played outside of school with all of them and they are crazy boys together.  Teachers are amazing - they can get even those crazy boys to listen and obey.  I am impressed!  They are learning a letter and number each week- they practice tracing, recognizing and learning the sound of each.  Ms. Ako, the science teacher, told me in carpool one day "Austin is so smart!"  :)

Campbell started Mothers' Day Out at Tallowood Baptist on Monday September 14. He is in the Caterpillar class with Ms Marian and Ms Leticia.  He goes Mondays 9:30-2:30.  The first day he was so excited to go!  He dragged his backpack and lunch box down the sidewalk.  I think he was used to seeing Austin get out each day and wondered "what is so great about this school thing"?  He was happy his first day but did not nap AT ALL.  His teachers said he wasn't upset but just wanted to talk in his bed and was loud of the other toddlers.  Ha, sounds just like Campbell.  He is supposed to sleep on a nap mat on the floor but they bring in a crib on wheels for those that need it.  He definitely needs it!!  Haha.  Silly guy would much rather socialize.  After 4 times, he still cries when I drop him off and cries some throughout the day.  Poor little guy!  I keep telling myself it is good for him, and good for me. :)  

First day pictures