November

Happy to be 6 at last!

 

Jane's Favorites at 6:

Color: Purple

Food: Pizza

Book: "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"

Movie: "Beauty and the Beast"

TV Show: Sophia the Princess

Treat: Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream

Sport: Tennis

Activity: play with friends

Song: Rolling in the Deep

 



"J" is for Jane

It was a special treat for Jane to have Grandma McLaughlin here for her birthday

James is 2 months old!

Jane had a Little Chef party this year.  The kids had fun making their own pizzas and decorating their cupcakes.

 



 

 

 

 

Before heading to Dallas for Thanksgiving, we drove to Natchez, Mississippi and had a wonderful time riding our bikes along the Mississippi River and taking in the sights (mostly beautiful antebellum homes) in this town full of southern charm.



Rosalie -- one of the girls' favorites of the antebellum mansions we saw

 



Ready to enjoy a little pre-dinner Razzleberry pie



 17  people at Thanksgiving in Dallas deserved 17  pies (3 chocolate cream, 4 pumpkin, 5 razzleberry, 3 apple, 1 grasshopper, 1 coconut cream.  At the end of the weekend, when everyone left, there was only 1/2 a pie left.  What's better than pie for breakfast lunch and dinner!

We enjoyed the life-sized gingerbread house and Christmas display at the Gaylord Hotel 

 As excited as, well, a kid in a candy shop

The girls having a visit with Santa

October

Abby turned 8! We were so proud of her decision to get baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  It was such a special day, made even more so by having Grandma and Grandpa McLaughlin, Grammie and Grandpa Ward, Aunt Jennie with Josh and Emma, and Aunt Melissa's family all there.   

 

 

 

It was a busy weekend with Abby's baptism and James's baby blessing, but we were so happy to be able to fit it all in with so much family here.  Here James is getting some love from Aunt Melissa after his big day.

and more love from his cousin Austin

 

Abby and her friend Krista (who share the exact same birthday) had a joint party this year.  All the girls got their hair, make-up, and nails done, got to dance and play in the party room, and topped it off with a limo ride after ice cream and cake.  It was the most stress-free party ever and so much fun!

 

Abby's Favorites at 8:

Color: Blue

Food: Cauliflower

Book: The Gernonimo Stilton series

Movie: Rise of the Guardians

TV Show: A.N.T. Farm

Treat: Donuts

Sport: Tennis

Activity: riding bikes

Song: "Blown Away"

Place: Disney World

 

 

Halloween!

 



 We had fun carving pumpkins with Grammie and Grandpa

(Emily's, Abby's, and Jane's pumpkins)

 

 

Grandpa surprised us with his Mitt Romney mask when we drove up one afternoon

Grandpa with the boys

Playing CandyLand



                                            

Baby James meeting Aunt Jennie and Josh

                                            

Grandpa was able to squeeze in a bike ride to the bayou with the kids before Grammie and Grandpa had to leave

Field Day 2012

 

Sweet Baby James

James Matthew

September 5, 2012

8 pounds 14 ounces

21 3/4 inches

Amazing photography compliments of Marci at www.threepeasphoto.com

 

Will has been loving "baby brother"

It was wonderful to have Grammie come and take care of us all for a week!