Polar Express

December 4, 2010

Saturday was Max's annual Polar Express Ride.  Bebe and Big Daddy have made this trip a yearly one that he looks forward to each Christmas Season.  It is a fun day for him and my parents.  I think they both look forward to it with equal anticipation.  This year Mary Kate got to go for the first time.  They both got to see and talk to Santa about their wishes for Christmas.  Max met an elf that obviously grew very fond of him.  That elf keeps showing up at our house and dropping off small gifts and notes for the kids.  Max gets so excited when he discovers that Milo has brought another treat.  He even brought a book that told about him and how he returns to Santa to give him reports on behavior at night.  I am so glad that Max met an elf that is now coming to visit.  It has made this Christmas season even more fun.  I wonder who Max will meet next year on the Polar Express.

Christmas Parties

December 17-19, 2010

This weekend has been jam packed with Christmas festivities.  Thursday night we enjoyed Max's Christmas Program at school.  Then on Friday morning I got to do the Mom thing and help out with Max's class party.  The kids had so much fun!  We made stain glass ornaments and glittered ornaments.  The kids swapped gifts with a fun musical chairs game and then we ate all the goodies they all brought.   Friday night, Jay and I attended the Servpro Corporate Party downtown.  It was a nice time, but a fabulous time being just the two of us.  We enjoyed dinner and then went to the party.  Daddy Mike and Sassy B kept our two little ones so we could have a good time with no worries.  Thanks guys, you are the best!!

Saturday night we attended our annual Christmas in the Culdesac Party.  Wowzers, it was fun and late.  We ate lots of good finger foods and enjoyed the company of our neighbors and friends.  We partied late into the night with the Newlywed Game.  I forgot how hilarious and fun that can be.  We are blessed to have such a wonderful group of people to raise our children with here in the culdesac.  The picture shows all the kidos.....what a busy section of the neighborhood.  Hahaha.

Sunday Jay and I hosted my Big Parsons Family Christmas at our house.  It was the first time in many years that everyone could be in attendance.  Bull and Nanny Margaret where here, Tony and Linda and all their kids and grandkids, and my Parents with all three of us and our families.  It was a very full house, but much needed family time as we have all grown up and apart.  We made a new game this year with Parsons Family trivia.  Everyone came up with various facts and questions about the family and wrote them on cards.  Then we put them in a bowl and Dad and Tony read them and with Bull's help answered them the best they could.  It was an interesting time of learning about our history and telling stories that everyone can continue to pass down.

NAPS Christmas Program

December 16, 2010


Max participated in his first Christmas Progam on Thursday night.  The Preschool he attends holds an annual program for all the kids to sing.  It was extremely cute and to the point.  Each age group takes the stage to perform 4-5 songs that they have been rehearsing in music class.  Max's group of 4 & 5 year olds sang 5 Little Fingers, Feliz Navidad, Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, Suzie Snowflake, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  It was a wonderful performance with minimal skirt flashing, nose picking, and crying.  He had a great time, did a beautiful job,  and a large crowd of family supporting him.

Will Barrett Williams, Max, and Mac Miles

Maddie Floyd, Will Barrett Williams, Max, Mac Miles, & Maddie Tillman

Max and his Best Friend, Kirkland

2nd Tooth

December 3, 2010

Mary Kate got her 2nd tooth this week!

Walking Progression

Mary Kate took some of her first steps back in November and is now wabbling all over the house.  Here are a few quick clips of her steps.

November:

December:

As you can see, she is now independent and moving on her own.  She walks and jabbers all over the house at her leisure. 

Cul-de-sac Gatlinburg

November 5, 6, 7, 2010

Last weekend we had the privilege of spending the weekend with some close friends.  On a whim, our cul-de-sac decided to take a family trip to the mountains.  Camille was lucky enough to find us a cabin with 6 bedrooms.  It was the perfect size for our crew of 10 kids and 8 adults.  We went up on Friday and spend the afternoon shopping, playing at the cabin, and shopping.  Mary Kate hung with the girls all bundled in her winter puppy coat in the stroller.  It was the first real cold weekend of the season.  When we got back we enjoyed some relaxing in the hot tub and some games around the table.  Just FYI, when the description says an eight person hot tub, you really need to be "close" to those eight people, and you do not need to have a fetish about feet if your going to put eight people in the tub,right Roger?  Saturday we got up and enjoyed a home cooked breakfast that included the tossing of chocolate pancakes.  We then headed out for more shopping.  It was too cold to ride go carts on Saturday, so Max decided to go to the Dinosaur Museum instead.  It was full of huge dino replicas and lots of information.  Max was a little intimated by their size, but we finally got him to post for a quick picture.  Saturday night we got the older kids to babysit and the adults (+mKate) were able to enjoy an evening out.  We walked the strip in Gatlinburg until we were numb and even got to do some taste-testing.  Then we headed to dinner and back to the cabin for more games and soaking.  Sunday we took time for family pics with the pretty fall trees and then went for more pancakes.  Yum!  I love pancakes and BACON!  Michael likes BACON too.  Finally before we left it was warm enough for some go-carting.  Quinton won the race and it was then time to head home.  Thanks for a great weekend cul-de-sackers, we hope for it to become an annual event. 

Halloween

October 31, 2010

Halloween was a blast this year.  It literally lasted ALL WEEKEND.  We started off Friday with Max's school party.  Wow! is all I have to say.  Twelve four and five year olds, candy, food, costumes, trick or treating, and crafts.  I was ready for a nap before lunch after helping Ms. Gina for the morning.  We then met Gindy and Love Bug Kerrigan for lunch and trick or treating on the square.  The girls rode in the wagon and Max conquered all the shops for candy. 

Saturday, we started the morning with our last soccer game for the fall.  Yippee, oh, whoops, did I say that out loud.  No, just kidding.  Max played a great game and then they got their trophies for the season.  We headed home and got naps before the annual party at our house. Jay and I spent all afternoon preparing for the soups Halloween party in the cul-de-sac.  We enjoyed the night with about 65 of our family and friends and lots of kids.  The kids enjoyed a night of hide and go seek while the adults got to visit and chat by the fire pits.  We had enough food to feed a small army and I think everyone had full bellies.

Sunday, Halloween was officially here.  We our M&Ms dressed early and visited all the grand and great grandparents.  Max collected more candy that he didn't need and Mary Kate got a bag full of baby food.  Yea!  We got home just as the sun was setting and took off around the neighborhood.  I have never seen so many kids.  On the main drag of the neighborhood, you had to wait in line at the sidewalk to get to the front doors of the houses.  Unb-elieve-able!  and scary!  with so many costumed kids it was difficult to keep track of your own kids.  After loosing Max for a few seconds, we turned and went toward a less populated area of the neighborhood.  It was a great, but tiring weekend.  I love making so many FFMs in one weekend, but it really wears you out.  Jay and I were desperately ready for Monday to return back to work for rest! HAHA


Max and Tristan



Max and Kirkland