Christmas Card Photo 2016

These three cuties have been delivered to all our loved ones' mailboxes to spread some holiday cheer. 

Santa Visit 2016

A neighbor who has the nicest pictures of her children encouraged me to try a local photographer who does really affordable mini sessions. Knowing this may be my last year the boys fit on Santa's lap, I decided to buy one of the Santa mini sessions. The boys had such a good time. Santa has a sense of humor! Jack and Santa read The Night Before Christmas aloud, the boys had some cookies that Mrs. Claus baked, and Santa heard each boy's toy request. Jack asked for a Nerf gun. Luke asked for a Minecraft set. I will definitely be watching for this photographer's future mini sessions. She got more good pictures of the boys in 15 minutes than I get in an entire year, and the kids had a blast. 

Santa Sighting

We spotted Santa for the first time this holiday season. The boys even climbed up on his lap and had their picture taken. 

Luke Is SIX!

My sweet little Luke turned six on Saturday. Here are a few of his favorites now that he is six. 

Favorite TV Show- Wild Kratts

Favorite Toy- Legos

Favorite Outside Toy- Balls and Bike

Favorite Animal- Cat

Future Job- Vet

Favorite Book- Star Wars

Favorite Color- Green

Favorite Food- Spaghetti and Meatballs, Cookies, Cake

Favorite Game- Minecraft

There's a lot of sweet things I could say about Luke at six. His sweetness endears him to pretty much everyone he comes into contact with. He's friendly, chatty, and funny. I am very lucky to be his mom. 

2016 School Pictures

Luke- Kindergarten

Jack- 2nd Grade

Hunting Buffalo

I had the teepee set up for the boys when they got off the bus this afternoon. I bet they will play until dinner time. Maybe they will even bring home a buffalo for dinner. 

Halloween 2016

We kicked off the Halloween holiday by taking the boys to see The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra perform The Nightmare Before Christmas. Both boys loved it.

Then last night John took the boys trick or treating while I handed out candy. Jack went as Obi Wan Kenobi this year, and Luke went as Yoda. 

A Story Before I Forget It

This is one of those stories I don't want to forget...

Jack got into some poison ivy a few weeks ago. We waited and waited, and the rash just wasn't getting any better. In fact, many mornings he would wake up and it would look worse. John told him that he had to stop itching it because he was spreading it. I took him to the doctor. When the doctor came in and asked what was going on, Jack had a conversation with him that I want to remember. He told the doctor that his dad told him he was spreading the rash by itching it, but he didn't think his dad was right because he'd been conducting an experiment. For days and days without telling us, he'd been itching the rash and then touching his ankle bone. He thought his ankle bone would be an easy spot for him to remember and thus be able to tell if the rash had indeed spread. The doctor listened, did a double take, and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up to which Jack answered, "A pediatrician like you." Hahahaha!

Cousins

I've been dying to get back up to see my sweet new niece, Ensley, for a few weeks now. Plans kept falling through. But since Helena was here for a visit, we wanted to make sure she got to meet her sweet baby cousin, too. So we made a whirlwind trip up to Knoxville yesterday to see this little bundle of joy. This was the first time the boys have seen Ensley since peering at her in her bassinet at the hospital. They couldn't wait to hold her. She's the cutest. 

Obi's Takeover

My phone and camera used to be full of pictures of my kids. Now it's full of pictures of my cat. Obi's takeover is nearly complete. Thankfully, my humans like to be in pictures with my cat. 

 

This is Luke reading.

I remember once last year, Luke's preschool teacher described him as her "little sponge". He learned all the continents, oceans, and tons of sight words. He had a couple of these little readers he could read then, but since he didn't seem all that interested I left him alone about it. Now all of the sudden, I find him spending time every night reading all these little readers. This was his first time ever reading this book, at least out load to me. He did a great job! 

Violin Lessons

Two and a half years ago, I took Jack to see Peter and the Wolf. And ever since then, Jack has been asking to take violin lessons. I looked into it while we were living in Greenville, but the lessons were quite a hike and unreasonably expensive. Atlanta has a bit more to offer, so Jack took his first lesson yesterday. When the instructor asked him why he wanted to play violin, he told him about seeing Peter and the Wolf and loving Peter's part in the orchestra. The instructor looked at me with a pretty funny expression. He was delighted to hear that violin lessons were Jack's idea and not just Jack's pushy mom's. So, every Tuesday will find Jack getting closer and closer to his goal of one day playing Peter's part in Peter and the Wolf. 

Ensley Kate

The Seaton family has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Annie and Shane's baby since Annie announced last Christmas that she was expecting. For the first few months, we called the baby Chip because somewhere we learned that the baby was the size of a chocolate chip when she told us about her. Then when we found out her gender, she became Chipette. Finally, after Luke told Annie to stop messing around and give her a name already, we anticipated the arrival of Ensley Kate. 

That sweet baby finally arrived on August 21st! She's beautiful and healthy and a most welcome addition to the Seaton family. John, the boys, and I drove up to be there for her arrival and to meet her. It was a special time for all of us. The boys could hardly wait for Ensley and Annie to get a room so they could have a look at her. Then we let the new parents have some time with their sweet girl while we had lunch with Grandma and Grandpa before we left to come back home. Grandma said, "She's as cute as a button." Luke quickly corrected her, "She's way cuter than a button, Grandma!" And she is! Now I just cannot wait to get back up there to see her again! Welcome to the world, sweet Ensley.